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Kashmiri Mutton Rogan Josh Pic Courtesy: Hamiast
dried Cockscomb flower powder, called meat to paste of an exact consistency using
Mawal, which are used to give that rich a wooden mallet and the tree trunk of a
red-ochre colour. The food is cooked in large specific tree. Just imagine hundreds of
nickel-plated copper vessels over dried kilos of mutton is pounded as two of the
firewood of a specific tree. The cooking signature Wazwan dishes – the Rista and
process is actually a long two-day affair – the Gushtaba is made using this pounded
not just because of the number of different meat. Another example of tradition is the
dishes or that some dishes require to be Tasht -i- Naer - a copper wash basin and a
cooked on a slow fire, but also the fact copper jug used to wash your hands after
that with time a particular dish acquires a you are seated on the ground to eat. The
distinctive taste. Waza usually accompanies this ritual. This
All cooking is done under the direct has not changed for generations – perhaps
supervision and guidance of the Vasta to introduce the Waza himself to the guests.
Waza. Just imagine, hundreds of kilos of The food is served in a large copper plate
meat have to be cooked in several dishes – called the Trammi. Any 4 people share this
to perfection. The kitchen is open-air and is plate and is served heaped with rice and
generally a 10–15 feet long brick and stone is semi pre-plated. A few dishes like the
fire-place. Fire-wood is used as fuel. Heat of Tabak Maaz, Methi Maaz, and the Seekh
such fires is very easily regulated for mass Kebab come with the Trammi. Hence forth
cooking. This is the skill of these Wazas the meal is consumed in a specific order
and they ensure that strict traditions, and and the Waza will himself serve it from
instructions have to be followed to the a massive vessel. Starting from the pre-
hilt ensuring only specific utensils only plated dishes the Waza will serve it course
which can be used - again approved and by course and follow it up with the Rista,
supplied by the Waza himself. There are furthermore with some more meat items,
specific people who are meant to pound such as Rogan Josh. The finisher of the
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #17 | NOVEMBER 2020 37
