Nirvana 37 is a vibrant, tower-style vegan and gluten-free dish composed of 37 unique ingredients, offering a layered culinary journey through the Indian subcontinent. The dish features sweet, sour, spicy, and savory elements, with textures ranging from crunchy vegetables to fluffy noodles and juicy mangoes. Designed to be mixed at the table, each bite delivers a different flavor profile, making it a dynamic and immersive eating experience.
Washington DC
Karizma Modern Indian
Nirvana 37
Mango / Greens / Noodles / Spicy chilies / Mustard oil / Fennel / Mango chutney / Crunchy vegetables / Salad greens
Signature Dish
From Prep to Plate
Seth heads to Karizma Modern Indian restaurant in Washington, D.C., where Chef Ajay Kumar presents Nirvana 37, a vibrant, towering dish composed of 37 different ingredients, including noodles, greens, mango prepared several ways, and sweet-spicy chilies. The dish is a fusion of ingredients from different Indian cuisines, layered like a canvas and brought tableside to be mixed in front of the guest.
The signature at Karizma is Nirvana 37, so named for the number of ingredients that go into the vivid salad and the joy it brings. Picture a colorful alp of food — crisp chickpea-rice noodles, mango, mashed potatoes and mustard seed oil are just the tip of the berg — that’s knocked down with a spoon and tossed in its big bowl by a server. A joint production from chef-owner Sachin Mahajan, the riotous, sweet-tangy heap was inspired by three different dishes and designed to show off the vastness of India.
Tom Sietsema, The Washington Post
