If you have been following Bigg Boss 20, you may have heard a Kashmiri dish come up in the house. Srinagar-born singer Qazi Touqeer, who won Fame Gurukul back in 2005, told fellow contestant Gullu that his mother and wife make Mirchi Korma at home in Kashmir, and invited him over to eat it. Food writers picked up the moment, and suddenly a lot of families were asking us the same thing: what exactly is Mirchi Korma, and where can we try it when we come to Srinagar?
This is our family-friendly answer. We will explain Mirchi Korma, walk through the other wazwan dishes you are likely to meet on the same copper plate, and share how we plan a wazwan evening so that both grandparents and five-year-olds go to bed happy.
D2 Holidays is not affiliated with Qazi Touqeer or Bigg Boss. We are a J&K Tourism registered tour operator in Srinagar, and we simply love talking about Kashmiri food.
What is Mirchi Korma?
Mirchi Korma is also called Marchwangan Korma. It is a traditional Kashmiri mutton dish with a deep red gravy. The colour comes mainly from dried Kashmiri red chillies, while fennel (saunf) and dry ginger (saunth) give it that unmistakable Kashmiri flavour. It is usually cooked in mustard oil and eaten with plain rice.
Food writers describe it as a classic, near-essential dish of the wazwan feast, and one that cooks take their time over. The gravy is ready when it turns glossy and deep red.
A word for parents: Kashmiri chillies are known as much for colour as for heat, but Mirchi Korma is still a chilli-forward dish. Many adults love it. Many small children will want just a taste, with plenty of rice and yoghurt nearby.
Wazwan in one paragraph
Wazwan is the multi-course Kashmiri feast, cooked by master chefs called wazas and traditionally served at weddings and big family gatherings. It is mostly meat, usually mutton and chicken, with a few vegetarian dishes. Guests share food from a large copper platter called a trami (also spelled traem), usually four people to one plate. Rice comes first, the dishes follow, and the meal ends with something sweet. Sharing one plate with your family is half the fun.
The wazwan dishes you are likely to meet
Mirchi Korma is the one that has been in the news, but it rarely arrives alone. Here are the dishes most often named as part of a wazwan, with a quick family note on each.
Rista
Soft meatballs in a red gravy. Rista are made from finely pounded mutton, so the texture is very tender. The red gravy can carry some heat, so test it before handing it to a child.
Rogan Josh
Probably the most famous Kashmiri dish outside the valley. Mutton is slow-cooked in a red, aromatic gravy. It is rich rather than fiery for most people, and many older children enjoy it.
Tabak Maaz
Lamb ribs, cooked and then fried until crisp outside. This is often the dish kids remember, because it is easy to hold and has no thick gravy. Watch little ones with the bones.
Daniwal Korma
A mutton korma flavoured with coriander. It tends to be gentler on the palate than the red dishes and pairs well with rice for younger eaters.
Aab Gosh
Mutton cooked in a milk-based gravy. Pale, mild and comforting, it is often the safest bet for a child who is wary of chilli.
Safed Kokur and Zafran Kokur
Chicken dishes, one in a white gravy and one flavoured with saffron. Good options for anyone in the family who prefers chicken to mutton.
Methi Korma
A korma flavoured with fenugreek (methi). The herb gives it a slightly bitter, earthy taste that some children find unusual, so offer a small spoonful first.
Gushtaba
The big finish. Large, very soft meatballs in a yoghurt-based white gravy. Gushtaba traditionally comes near the end of the meal, and it is mild enough that many children who skipped the red dishes will happily finish theirs.
You may also see seekh kababs early on. The exact list, order and number of dishes vary by kitchen and occasion, so treat this as a guide, not a menu.
Where families can try wazwan in Srinagar
We are not printing a restaurant list here. Kitchens change, cooks move, and we would rather match a place to your dates and your family than send you to a name that has changed hands. What we can tell you is how it usually works:
- The old city (Downtown Srinagar). Wazwan cooking has deep roots in the older neighbourhoods. A visit here pairs well with a walk through the lanes, but plan it with a local guide or driver who knows the area.
- Around the Boulevard and Dal Lake. Many tourist-facing restaurants and hotels in this area serve a shorter wazwan-style meal, often with a few dishes rather than the full feast. This is usually the easiest option with young children.
- Your hotel or houseboat. Many stays can arrange a wazwan dinner or a selection of dishes with a little notice. If you are staying on the water, ask about it when you book your houseboat night.
- Through our Srinagar desk. Tell us your dates, the size of the group and how spicy you want the evening, and we will help arrange a suitable wazwan meal as part of your trip.
Our Srinagar destination page has more on where families usually stay and what is close by.
How we plan a wazwan evening with kids
From years of planning family trips, here is what tends to work:
- One feast night is enough. A wazwan is rich and filling. One special evening is memorable; two in a row is hard on small stomachs.
- Choose a light day. Do not book the feast after a long drive to Gulmarg or Pahalgam. A Srinagar sightseeing day, with an early evening shikara ride before dinner, works beautifully.
- Say "mild for the kids" early. Tell the kitchen when you book, not when the plate arrives. Ask whether Aab Gosh, Gushtaba or a plain chicken dish can be served for the children.
- Keep rice and yoghurt on the table. They are the best reset for a chilli moment.
- Vegetarians should ask ahead. A classic wazwan is a meat meal. Vegetarian Kashmiri dishes exist, but they need a separate order.
- Start early. Agree on a time that gets everyone back before bedtime meltdowns.
For a fuller look at eating in Srinagar with children, including street snacks and hotel meal plans, read our Kashmir food trail with kids.
A few quick answers
Is Mirchi Korma too spicy for children? Often, as a full portion. Let kids taste from your plate and keep milder dishes like Aab Gosh or Gushtaba alongside.
Is wazwan only served at weddings? Traditionally it is a celebration meal, but in Srinagar you can find shorter wazwan-style meals at restaurants and many hotels.
Can you arrange a wazwan dinner in our package? Yes, we can help plan one evening around your itinerary. Mention it when you ask for a quote, along with the children's ages and any dietary needs.
Plan your Srinagar food evening with us
Whether the Bigg Boss chatter made you curious or you have always wanted to sit around a trami with your family, Srinagar is the place to try it. Tell us who is travelling, how adventurous the eaters are, and whether you want a wazwan night booked in. We will shape the rest of the trip around it.
Call or WhatsApp +91 70062 71178, email info@d2holidays.com, or visit us on Boulevard Road, Srinagar.
D2 Holidays is not affiliated with Qazi Touqeer or Bigg Boss. References to the show are for cultural context only.