Srinagarites relish Hookh Sioon as mercury dips

Srinagar, Dec 8: Amid freezing temperatures, Srinagar is dotted with vendors selling sundried vegetables popularly known as Hookh Sioon

People relish sundried veggies believing that these help them to beat cold and keep them healthy amid harsh winters. Markets in Downtown and adjoining areas are dotted with vendors selling these vegetables, which are usually relished in winter. Sundried vegetable sellers set up their stalls in the early morning in various markets of Srinagar,

“We have been selling dried vegetables here for decades. It is a family business that our generations have carried forward. As the temperature dips in Kashmir, many vegetable growers supply dried vegetables to us, and we sell them here. The harsh winters are yet to arrive, and the sales are likely to go up,” said Adnan Ahmad, a vegetable seller.

Over the centuries, the harsh winter of Kashmir has pushed locals in Srinagar to sundry almost every kind of vegetable, including green leafy vegetables. The markets contain dried Brinjal, Bottle guard, Tomato, turnip, spinach, and others.

“These sundried veggies are tasty. Srinagarites are very fond of these vegetables, and when the locally produced vegetables are scarce amid snow, people rely on dried vegetables. There are special recipes that are popular due to dried vegetables in Srinagar. During summers, we sell green vegetables, and we switch to these dried veggies in winter,” said Asif Ahmad, another vendor from Downtown.

Many customers visiting these vendors said that dried vegetables constitute a good part of their daily consumption. Many locals in Srinagar make queues at the stalls of these vendors to make purchases.

“I love dried vegetables as I have consumed them since my childhood. The vegetable supply used to be scarce in winter, and we relied on dried vegetables. Although now there is not much dearth of these veggies, but the tradition of consuming these vegetables continues to live in our homes,” said Ghulam Rasool, an octogenarian

In addition to trades, many Srinagarties with kitchen gardens indulge in drying these vegetables during summer and early autumn for use in winter. In areas like Srinagar outskirts where, many people are associated with farming dry vegetables to sell and consume at home.

Historians believe that Kashmir's Central Asian roots, unique climate, and topography have made dried vegetables part of culinary culture for centuries.