In Bhutan, chillies are not just a spice to add to food, they’re a vegetable in themselves. And their national dish, Ema Datshi is a testament to how chillies can shine as the main ingredient in a dish. The name in the local language Dzongkha translates to “ema” meaning chilli, and “datshi” meaning cheese and these two ingredients form the essence of the dish.
Ema datshi consists of red or green chillies that are sliced, stir-fried, and then simmered in a sauce made from rich cheese, typically a yak’s milk cheese in the original recipes but any creamy cheese can work just as well. It is traditionally served with rice or the steamed bread tingmo, and occasionally accompanied by ezay, a chilli-based condiment. For a taste of this Bhutanese delicacy at home, try this simple recipe that’s enhanced with the flavours of Britannia The Laughing Cow Cheese Block, perfect to balance the heat.
Ema Datshi Recipe – Serves 6
Prep time: 10 mins, Cooking time: 20 mins
Ema Datshi is a fiery hot dish from Bhutan made with tons of spicy chillies and contrasted by the creamy richness of cheese.
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredients |
| 10-12 | Jalapenos, quartered |
| 100 gms | Britannia The Laughing Cow Cheese Block, grated |
| 6 | Green chillies, slit |
| 1 | Onion, sliced |
| 6 | Garlic cloves, chopped |
| 1 | Tomato, diced |
| 2 tbsp | Butter |
| To taste | Salt |
| As needed | Water |
| As needed | Oil |
Method
- Begin by removing the stalks from the jalapeños and cutting them into quarters lengthwise. Slit the green chillies, slice the onions, roughly chop the garlic, and dice the tomatoes.
- In a pan, combine the prepared jalapeños, green chillies, onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Add the salt, vegetable oil, and water.
- Place the pan over medium heat and cover with a lid. Allow the mixture to boil for 15 minutes, or until the jalapeños have softened.
- Once the peppers are tender, turn off the heat. Add the butter and grated Britannia The Laughing Cow Cheese Block, stirring until the cheese has melted. Ensure the heat is off to prevent the cheese from curdling.
- Taste and adjust the salt as needed, considering the saltiness of the cheese.