Pahaadi Pijja, Mountain Pizza from Kufri, Himachal Pradesh

Pahaadi Pijja, they call that for Mountain Pizza!

And that is what we had as sweet dish at a dhaba (roadside inn) on our way to Chail from Kufri. After a sumptuous lunch, the dhaba owner was very keen to treat us to this specialty of his place. We were a bunch of travel bloggers touring Kufri, we had just gobbled up every dish he served and now we were keen for the dessert.

“You must taste this mountain pizza” he insisted… “this is much tastier than the ones you get in your cities” he bragged. Call it as a local food of Kufri or dessert of the hills.

He got me curious.. he says it is a sweet dish and then he says it is a pizza.. what could it be?! I positioned myself near his chulha (stove) burning bright with pieces of red hot coal, to take pictures and learn the way he makes it.

Mountain Pizza from Kufri

He started off with a rolling out a roti (Indian bread), lightly heated it up both sides. It wasn’t fully cooked yet. This looked simple, at least I can start on my own at home… I thought.

Mountain Pizza Pahadi Pijja

His wife had grounded some golden colored molasses. Next he sprinkled those grounded gud (jaggery) on it and then poured ghee (clarified butter) very generously over the whole roti. “It is not going to take long” he kept assuring while going through the process.

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“This will keep your body warm” he said, as if to highlight ts food value. The ingredients looked fine and easily available types to me.

Dessert of the Mountains

Dessert of the Mountains – Pahadi Pijja

Next he placed it on a mesh grill and placed it directly on the coal burning bright inside the chulha. Soon the aroma of ghee wafted around, it was making me impatient and curious. The ingredients that went in should definitely produce wonderful results.

Making of Mountain Pizza

Making of Mountain Pizza in their tandoor

Needless to say the result was mouth watering. The gud (molasses) and ghee melted and mixed; and was sizzling and teasing. The golden glow on it was a stamp of perfection, a little more heat would have spoiled it, I concluded. This beats all pizzas at pizza festival in California Kitchen.

The chef now ran his pizza cutter on the freshly made mountain pizza criss-cross. It took lot of effort from my end to not grab at the pieces.

Dessert slices of pahadi pijja

Dessert slices of pahadi pijja – Mountain Pizza from Kufri

Forgetting all my worries of calories I placed a piece in my mouth. Slowly I chewed on it. It was different! A crispy pizza oozing with sweet juices! It looked amazingly simple contrary to the first impression I got when he said pahaadi pijja.

One more to the types of pizza in India, a sweet desi pizza. Such local flavors enhance the joy of travel!

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