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5 min
12/12/2025
A quick look at the non-vegetarian foods from Amritsar that are popular during the winter months. They are also known for their warmth during cold months. Non-vegetarian foods are generally tandoor-style and prepared with a lot of spices.
The tandoori-style has become an integral part of the Amritsari way of life with its unique use of smoky flavours and rustic methods. In this sense, many Amritsaris do not think about food as a meal during the colder months; they think of it as a cultural experience and a way of connecting with their roots.
When you walk through an Amritsari street after sunset, you can smell it before you even see it, as the scent of coal, spices and meat being put into the tandoor becomes part of the community's identity. The Tandoor is something that the people of Amritsar take pride in, not only as a cooking instrument but also as a representation of community and warmth through shared meals. It brings a level of comfort through the smoky quality of food, which is not possible to replicate using electric grills or skillets.
During the colder winter months, this comes to the forefront of life in Amritsar; people bundle up and gather outside under the stars at local dhabas and enjoy hot and delicious dishes that can be served steaming right off the tandoor, providing them relief from the cold.
Amritsar is known for its butter chicken that has a distinct style, which is what separates it from all other parts of the country. The gravy has a lot of thickness, silkiness, and an incredible amount of richness to it and is perfectly suited for cold winter evenings when you want something warm with the comfort that only butter and cream can give.
Traditionally, the chicken is roasted in a tandoor before being placed in a velvety sauce, resulting in that wonderful combination of smoky and creamy, which is characteristic of Amritsari cuisine. It is traditionally served with roomali roti and/or naan, creating a feeling of complete comfort during the winter months.
When it comes to staying warm during those colder months, nothing compares to Amritsari tandoori fish, which is a dish that truly shines when temperatures are low. Many different places around town serve tandoori fish, each with slightly different styles but all share a common thread: fresh river fish, an ajwain-based marinade, and blazing tandoor heat.
The taste of Amritsari tandoori fish is incredible. It is soft, flaky, and has a very slight smokiness and a delightful spiciness that will warm you up from the inside out. It is not unusual for this dish to be included on most lists of the best non-veg food in Amritsar.
Amritsar has a wintertime ritual that consists of enjoying a plate of mutton tikka or champ with friends and family. This is how Amritsar does mutton! Slow-marinated, heavy spices, and cooked in a tandoor to create some of the loveliest caramelised tablefare. You will know, after trying this, what I mean by Amritsar's bold and rustic style – instead of delicate kebabs, here are your big, smoky mutton pieces that, when paired with mint chutney and onion slices, create the perfect plate of mutton during wintertime.
While tandoor is king, there are many other slow-cooked gravies that Amritsar embraces during the peak winter. The gravies have been bubbling for hours and contain spices such as:
These gravies lend themselves to lengthy evenings and the enjoyment of sharing hot tandoori rotis.
The city of Amritsar produces large quantities of winter food that does not contain any lightness or subtlety but instead, as someone once told me, "gives your body a hug." The tandoor, when seen in Amritsar, is not simply utilised for the purpose of baking; rather, it tells a very special type of story.
