A visit to Himachal isn’t complete without immersing oneself in the culture of the mountains – Pahadi cuisine.

Today I take you back to childhood to a time when strong village women carried wood and haystacks on their backs as they traversed the giant mountains of the Himalayas collecting fodder and exotic mountain herbs and vegetables.One day as a child, I peeped into their bag of goods wondering what mysterious plants they had collected from the Himalayan terrain. The lady smiled and picked out a funny looking vegetable that seems quite erect at the stalk until it curls like a spiral near the tips. 
“Luguru,” she called it and laughed. I too joined in the laughter at its apt name. She told me to come again after a few days as she would prepare a special pickle and also cook part of it as a vegetable. When time again, she ushered me into a small room with a few more ladies who looked as though they had sneaked in a break from their work to have a little “Lunguru,” party. I was delighted and joined them. With nothing but some roti, I savored in the slightly tangy flavor of lunguru, and thought it was one of the best vegetables I ever tasted (for as a child vegetables in general were not delectable). To this day, the flavor of “Lunguru,” still lingers, and I wish all our guests who visit Himachal get a taste of this snow line fern. It is also found in Uttarkhand where they call it “Lingra.”

It comes from the family of “Diplazium esculentum,” and it is as old as the mountains- the pahadis have savored it for almost as long! 
One may have heard that tasty food is rarely healthy, but this vegetable is certain lay an exceptional- not only is it delicious but it’s full of vitamins such as A, B complex, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium and many minerals.
This special little vegetable is part of the heritage cuisine served at resort which may be relished before the season is gone. Mostly available in the summers and a little after. 
I hope you too let the taste of “Lunguru,” linger on as far as the roads take you on your journey.