What they eat in India: traditional food and local cuisine

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Indian cuisine is a mixture of various cuisines of the peoples inhabiting India. Given the different cultures and climatic conditions, dishes under the same name can differ significantly from each other. The food that Hindus eat depends on the chosen religion, as well as traditions and cultural preferences.

History

Historical events such as foreign invasions, trade relations and the era of colonialism have played a role in the emergence of certain products in the country. For example, potatoes were brought to India by the Portuguese along with chili peppers and bread. Indian cuisine has had a major impact on the cuisines of Europe. Spices from India were sold to all European and Asian countries.

Indian cuisine reflects a long history of interaction with different peoples, which has led to a variety of tastes that are found in modern India. Today, lentils, rice and whole wheat flour are staple foods.

Special attention in Indian cuisine is paid tovegetarian dishes: sabji - vegetable stew with a lot of spices or rice with fresh flatbread.

Forbidden food

In India, it is forbidden to eat beef, because the cow for the Hindus is a sacred animal, personifying purity and holiness. Since the cow provides milk from which the products for the vegetarian menu are made, in India she is revered as a motherly figure. The bull is a symbol of dharma (moral principles).

Ingredients of Indian cuisine

The staples of Indian cuisine are rice, wheat flour, lentils, peas, mung beans and beans. Many dishes are cooked with vegetable oil, in the north and west of the country they often eat peanut butter, in the east - mustard and coconut oil, and in the south they love sesame oil, which gives dishes a nutty flavor.

What kind of meat is eaten in India? The use of pork meat is uncharacteristic for Indian cuisine - Indians eat chicken and lamb, but in very small quantities. Fish is cooked only in coastal areas, as well as in the north-east of the country.

Spices

Spices are the most important part of all Indian cuisine. The most popular are: chili peppers, mustard seeds, cardamom, cumin, turmeric, ginger and garlic. Often used is garam masala, a mixture of spices, the composition of which differs depending on the region.

Drinks

The main drink throughout the country is tea, as India is the world's largest tea producer. The most popular varieties are Assam, Darjeeling andNilgiri. Indian tea is made from a mixture of boiled water, milk and spices (cardamom, cloves and ginger). It is customary to serve cookies with it.

Another popular drink is coffee, which is also grown in parts of India.

Lassi is a traditional yoghurt-based drink. Lassi is sometimes flavored with ground roasted cumin, sugar, rose water, mango, lemon, strawberries, and saffron.

Sharbat is a sweet cold drink made from fruits. It is sometimes served as a puree that can be eaten with a spoon or diluted with cold water.

Food during the day

What do they eat for breakfast in India? Hindus consider breakfast to be especially important for human he alth. In the morning they prefer to drink tea or coffee, eat vegetable dishes and cottage cheese, rice, fresh cakes and fruits.

What do they eat for lunch in India? A traditional meal usually consists of a main course and two or three kinds of vegetables. Usually Indians eat sitting on the floor or on very low chairs (pillows). In South India, hot dishes are often served on banana leaves, which add a special flavor to the food.

What do Indians eat for dinner? In the evening, Indians prefer paneer dishes (young and unleavened cheese). These can be sauces, soups, purees and pastes. Pilaf with thin flatbread is also often served for dinner.

Tips and Warnings

Often, tourists who travel to the country for the first time wonder: "What can you eat in India?" Firstly, you need to eat only in well-tested places, and not in streeteateries. Experienced travelers advise drinking only bottled water purchased from stores and avoiding drinks that contain ice. Secondly, for those who are not used to eating hot, peppery dishes, it is better to avoid a large amount of spices when cooking.

Popular traditional dishes

• Chikken tikka - small pieces of boneless chicken marinated in spices and yogurt and baked on a roasting pan. The meat is usually eaten with green coriander, onion rings and lemon.
• Tanduri chicken - chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, baked in a tandoori oven. After cooking, the chicken becomes a characteristic red color. Used with rice and wheat flatbread.

• Aloo gobi is a vegetarian dish made from potatoes, cauliflower and spices. The dish is yellowish in color due to the use of turmeric. Other ingredients are garlic, ginger, onion, tomatoes, peas and cumin.
• Baati is an unleavened bread that can be stored for a very long time. Baati can be plain or stuffed with onions and peas.
• Bhatura - airy bread made from yogurt, ghee and flour. There is a bhatura filled with cottage cheese or potatoes.

• Chaat is a savory snack that is a mixture of potato slices, crispy bread, chickpeas, hot spices and yogurt.
• Chana masala is a dish of chickpeas, onions, finely chopped tomatoes, coriander seeds, garlic, chili, crushed pomegranate seeds and garam masala.

Kitchen of someregions of India

The cuisines of Indian regions are very different from each other. It depends on the geographical location (proximity to the sea, desert or mountains), and on the season (which fruits or vegetables are ripe). So what do they eat in India?

Andaman and Nicobar Islands - seafood dishes play an important role in culinary traditions.

Ankhra Pradesh - A lot of spices are consumed in this region. The staple foods are rice, lentils, stews and curries. Pickled cucumbers and tomato marinade can be called an integral part of the local cuisine.

Arunachal Pradesh - Rice, fish and meat with lettuce are popular in this region. The most popular drink is rice beer, made from fermented rice or millet.

Assam - The cuisine of the region is a mixture of different local cuisines. Here, the use of spices is somewhat limited, with rice, river fish, duck, chicken, and turtle being widely eaten.

Bihar - The region's cuisine is simple and he althy: dishes of spinach and cottage cheese, fried eggplant and tomatoes, s alted wheat flour bread, lamb and curry.

Daman and Diu - this territory used to be a colony of Portugal, so the cuisine here is mixed. Since this is a coastal region, seafood is very popular. Alcohol is often consumed in this state, and all well-known alcohol brands can be easily purchased at the store.

Delhi is famous for its street food. What they eat in India in Delhi is a mixture of different dishes and recipes: here you can try traditional Indian ice cream and sweets, as well as Europeansandwiches and burgers.

Goa - this state has a tropical climate, which means that they use a lot of spices. Goan cuisine is mainly seafood, rice and meat. Since this is a touristic place, you can find many cafes serving international dishes.

Those foods that are eaten in India, according to tradition, should be taken only with clean hands and cooked in a clean kitchen. You need to eat in moderation, do not overeat and be sure to take into account the compatibility of products.