Ema datshi

Ema datshi is a cherished staple in Bhutanese cuisine, widely regarded as the national dish of Bhutan. The name itself reveals its primary ingredients: "ema" means "chili" and "datshi" means "cheese" in the Dzongkha language. This spicy, cheesy delight can be crafted with various types of chili peppers, including green, red, or even white (which are sun-dried green chilies).

The cheese in ema datshi is typically homemade from cow or yak milk curd. After the fat is removed to make butter, the remaining curd is used for the cheese. Nothing goes to waste—the watery liquid left over from cheese-making is often turned into a soup, commonly served with rice.

Ema datshi has several delicious variations. For instance, kewa datshi replaces the chilies with potatoes. Other versions incorporate ingredients such as beans or mushrooms, hence the names bean datshi and mushroom datshi. There are even variations that feature different vegetables or meats, like beef datshi.