Dhekia Xaak Bhaji – Traditional Assamese Fiddlehead Fern Recipe

Dhekia Xaak Bhaji is a traditional Assamese vegetable dish made with fresh fiddlehead fern. It is simple, healthy, and packed with natural flavour. In Assamese cuisine, Dhekia Xaak is commonly cooked with garlic, onion, green chillies and mustard oil.

This easy stir-fry is perfect with hot steamed rice and dal.

🌿 Ingredients

• Dhekia Xaak (Fiddlehead fern) – 300 g
• Onion – 1 medium, finely chopped
• Garlic – 5–6 cloves, finely chopped
• Green chillies – 2–3, slit
• Potato – 1 medium, optional
• Mustard oil – 2 tablespoons
• Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon
• Salt – as required
• Dry red chilli – 1, optional

👩‍🍳 Step 1: Clean the Dhekia Xaak

Wash the Dhekia Xaak thoroughly under running water.

Remove the hard stems and chop the tender fern into small pieces.

Drain the excess water and keep it aside.

🥔 Step 2: Prepare the Potato

If using potato, peel it and cut it into small pieces.

Keep the pieces small so they cook quickly along with the Dhekia Xaak.

🧄 Step 3: Heat the Mustard Oil

Heat mustard oil in a pan.

Add chopped garlic and sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.

Add the chopped onion and green chillies.

Cook until the onion becomes soft.

🍳 Step 4: Cook the Potato

Add the potato pieces and a little salt.

Cook for 3–4 minutes until the potato starts becoming tender.

🌿 Step 5: Add Dhekia Xaak

Add the chopped Dhekia Xaak to the pan.

Add a little turmeric powder and salt.

Mix everything well and cook on medium heat.

🔥 Step 6: Stir-Fry

Cover and cook for about 7–10 minutes.

The Dhekia Xaak will soften as it cooks. Stir occasionally to prevent it from sticking to the pan.

Cook until the water released by the greens evaporates and the vegetables are tender.

🌶️ Step 7: Serve

Once cooked, turn off the heat.

Your traditional Dhekia Xaak Bhaji is ready!

Serve hot with steamed rice and dal.

🍚 Serving Suggestions

Dhekia Xaak Bhaji tastes delicious with:

• Hot steamed rice
• Dal
• Khar
• Masor Tenga
• Aloo Pitika
• Green chilli
• Assamese pickle

💡 Cooking Tips

• Always clean Dhekia Xaak properly before cooking.
• Use only the tender parts of the fern.
• Mustard oil gives the dish an authentic Assamese flavour.
• Avoid overcooking; the greens taste best when they retain a little texture.
• Add potato if you want a more filling version.

❤️ Why You’ll Love Dhekia Xaak Bhaji

Dhekia Xaak Bhaji is a beautiful example of traditional Assamese cooking. It uses fresh seasonal greens, simple spices and mustard oil to create a flavourful everyday dish.

If you want to explore authentic Assamese food beyond curries, this simple stir-fry is a great recipe to try.

Serve it with hot steamed rice and enjoy a traditional taste of Assam!

📌 Recipe Summary

Recipe: Dhekia Xaak Bhaji
English Name: Assamese Fiddlehead Fern Stir-Fry
Cuisine: Assamese
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Serves: 3–4 people
Difficulty: Easy