Cuisine : Ema Datshi - How to make this traditional Bhutanese dish

 

Ema Datshi is a traditional Bhutanese dish made with chili peppers (ema) and cheese (datshi). Here's a detailed preparation method:

Ingredients:

- 10-15 green chili peppers (adjust based on your spice preference)

- 200g of Bhutanese cheese (datshi), or substitute with feta or another soft cheese

- 1 large onion, thinly sliced

- 2 tomatoes, chopped

- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced

- 1-inch piece of ginger, minced

- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

- Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Begin by washing the chili peppers and removing the stems. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can deseed the peppers, although traditionally they are left whole for maximum spice.

2. Cut the cheese into small cubes or crumble it into smaller pieces.

3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan or skillet over medium heat.

4. Add the sliced onions and sauté until they turn translucent, about 3-4 minutes.

5. Add the minced garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for another 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

6. Add the chopped tomatoes to the pan and cook until they soften and release their juices, about 5 minutes.

7. Once the tomatoes have cooked down slightly, add the chili peppers to the pan and stir well to combine with the other ingredients.

8. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chili peppers are tender.

9. Once the chili peppers are cooked to your liking, add the cubes or crumbled cheese to the pan.

10. Gently stir the cheese into the chili pepper mixture until it melts and forms a creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a little water to thin it out.

11. Season the dish with salt to taste, and adjust the spiciness level if desired by adding more chili peppers.

12. Remove the pan from the heat and serve the Ema Datshi hot with steamed rice or Bhutanese red rice.

Enjoy your authentic Bhutanese Ema Datshi!