Wazwan
Encyclopedia
Wazwan is a multi-course meal in Kashmiri cuisine, the preparation of which is considered an art and a point of pride in Kashmiri culture and identity. Almost all the dishes are meat-based (lamb, chicken, fish). It is popular throughout Kashmir
and served internationally at Kashmiri food festivals.
Guests are seated in groups of four and share the meal out of a large metal plate called the trami. The meal begins with invoking the name of Allah and a ritual washing of hands in a basin called the Tash-t-nari, which is taken around by attendants. Then the tramis arrive, heaped with rice, quartered by two seekh kababs and contains four pieces of methi korma, two tabak maaz, one safed murg, one zafrani murg, and the first few courses. Yoghurt
and chutney
are served separately in small earthen pots. As each trami is completed, it is removed, and a new one brought in, until the dinner has run its course. Seven dishes are a must for these occasions — tabakh maaz, rista, rogan josh
, daniwal korma, aab gosht, marchwangan korma and gushtaba. The meal ends with the Gushtaba. Nowadays the count for serving the dishes has reached 40.
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
and served internationally at Kashmiri food festivals.
History
Nilmatapurana informs us that Kashmiris were heavy meat eaters. The precise origin of the Wazwan word is likely from Sanskrit. In Sanskrit vyaJjana, means related to cooking while the Kashmiri Van (surely originating from Sanskrit Vania) means shop. The word Van surely seems to be a tight fit. The descendants of these cooks, the Wazas, are the master chefs of Kashmir. The ultimate formal banquet in Kashmir is the royal Wazwan. Of its thirty-six courses, between fifteen and thirty can be preparations of meat, cooked overnight by the master chef, Vasta Waza, and his retinue of wazas.Guests are seated in groups of four and share the meal out of a large metal plate called the trami. The meal begins with invoking the name of Allah and a ritual washing of hands in a basin called the Tash-t-nari, which is taken around by attendants. Then the tramis arrive, heaped with rice, quartered by two seekh kababs and contains four pieces of methi korma, two tabak maaz, one safed murg, one zafrani murg, and the first few courses. Yoghurt
Yoghurt
Yoghurt, yogurt or yogourt is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yoghurt are known as "yoghurt cultures"...
and chutney
Chutney
Chutney is a a condiment used in South Asian cuisine that usually contains a spice and vegetable mix.Chutneys are wet or dry, having a coarse to fine texture. The Anglo-Indian loan word refers to fresh and pickled preparations indiscriminately, with preserves often sweetened. At least several...
are served separately in small earthen pots. As each trami is completed, it is removed, and a new one brought in, until the dinner has run its course. Seven dishes are a must for these occasions — tabakh maaz, rista, rogan josh
Rogan Josh
Rogan josh is an aromatic lamb dish hailing from Kashmir. Rogan means "oil" in Persian, while josh means "heat, hot, boiling, or passionate". Rogan josh thus means cooked in oil at intense heat. Another interpretation of the name rogan josh is derived from the word rogan meaning color and josh...
, daniwal korma, aab gosht, marchwangan korma and gushtaba. The meal ends with the Gushtaba. Nowadays the count for serving the dishes has reached 40.
List of main dishes
- Maithi maaz
- Rista (meatballMeatballA meatball is made from an amount of ground meat rolled into a small ball, sometimes along with other ingredients, such as breadcrumbs, minced onion, spices, and possibly eggs...
s in a fiery red gravy) - Lahabi Kabab or Moachi Kabab (flattened mutton kababs cooked in yogurt)
- Waza Kokur (two halves or two full chicken cooked whole)
- Daeni Phoul (mutton dish)
- Doudha Ras (mutton cooked in sweet milk gravyGravyGravy is a sauce made often from the juices that run naturally from meat or vegetables during cooking. In North America the term can refer to a wider variety of sauces and gravy is often thicker than in Britain...
) - Rogan JoshRogan JoshRogan josh is an aromatic lamb dish hailing from Kashmir. Rogan means "oil" in Persian, while josh means "heat, hot, boiling, or passionate". Rogan josh thus means cooked in oil at intense heat. Another interpretation of the name rogan josh is derived from the word rogan meaning color and josh...
(tender lamb cooked with Kashmiri spices) - Tabak Maaz (ribs of lamb simmered in yogurt till tender, then fried, can be served as a snack/side-dish)
- Daniwal Korma (a mutton curry with lots of coriander)
- Waza Palak (green spinach cooked with small pounced mutton balls known as Paliki Riste)
- Aab Gosht (lamb cooked in milk curryCurryCurry is a generic description used throughout Western culture to describe a variety of dishes from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Thai or other Southeast Asian cuisines...
) - Marchwangan Korma (an extremely spicy lamb preparation)
- Kabab (minced meat roasted on skewers over hot coals)
- Gushtaba (a velvety textured meatball in white yogurt gravy,a specialty)
- Yakhni (delicately spiced yogurt curry)
- Ruwangan Chaman (cheese squares with Tomato gravy)
- Dum Oluv (potatoes cooked in yogurt gravy)
- Nadir Yakhn (lotusWater caltropThe water caltrop, water chestnut, buffalo nut, bat nut, devil pod or Singhara or Pani-fol is either of two species of the genus Trapa: Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis...
stem in a delicate yogurt sauce) - Hakh(with nadir/vangan) (a local variety of greens)
- Nadir Palak (lotus stem with spinach)
- Muji Chetintin (a sharp radish and walnut chutney)
- Phirni (a dessert of semolinaSemolinaSemolina is the coarse, purified wheat middlings of durum wheat used in making pasta, and also used for breakfast cereals and puddings. Semolina is also used to designate coarse middlings from other varieties of wheat, and from other grains such as rice and corn.-Name:The term semolina derives from...
thickened in milk set in earthenware cups with nuts and varq-silver leaf)
See also
- Rogan joshRogan JoshRogan josh is an aromatic lamb dish hailing from Kashmir. Rogan means "oil" in Persian, while josh means "heat, hot, boiling, or passionate". Rogan josh thus means cooked in oil at intense heat. Another interpretation of the name rogan josh is derived from the word rogan meaning color and josh...
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