Food
Indian cuisine
The Indian sub-continent is featured by an enormous variety of culinary styles which is collectively referred to as the great Indian cuisine. Perhaps no other part of the world could boast of such a vast variety of styles in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Unfortunately, for the Western world, Indian cuisine is a set of hot and spicy dishes though it forms only a part of the gala affair. Indian cuisine is also the first of its kind to introduce the concept of recipes.
Regional varieties
A wide variety of culinary styles are practiced in India which differs according to the region, climate and culture. Though vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes are common in all regions, vegetarianism is practiced strictly among certain communities like the Brahmins. However, there are exceptions to this like the Bengali Brahmins whose cuisine includes fish delicacies.
The major staple foods of India are whole wheat flour (atta), rice, pearl millet (bajra) and pulses. The cooking medium is vegetable oil with regional variations. While coconut oil is used along the western coast, mustard oil is used in eastern parts and peanut oil in western and northern parts. Sunflower and soybean oil are also used in some regions.
History of Indian cuisine
Indian culinary system has a proud legacy of over 5,000 years from the period of the ancient Indus valley civilization. The later Vedic period saw the origin of recipes. While vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets, including vegetables, fruits, dairy products and meat were popular during the Vedic period, the arrival of Buddhism saw large-scale admirers for vegetarianism.
16th century and later period witnessed the ethnic Indian cuisine embracing foreign styles which resulted in some creative genres like the Mughlai cuisine with Persian and Turkish influences.
Bamboo Shoot Fry
Here’s a fairly simple recipe for fried bamboo shoot that can get you started on trying your hand at some Indian food. There are lots and lots more coming up!
Serves: 3 - 4
Ingredients:
Read more...
Banana Rice
Wherever you may go in India, you will find food that makes eating an experience in itself.
Serves: 4
Ingredients :
2 cups of rice, cleaned and washed
6 green chillies, finely sliced
1 Read more...
Coconut Rice
The recipe of this South Indian dish will certainly bring back fond memories for South Indian food enthusiasts.
Ingredients :
1 whole coconut, grated
2 cups uncooked rice, cleaned and washed
Read more...
Coconut Yam Curry
For those who love Indian food, this recipe from South India is well worth a try.
Serves: 4 - 6
Ingredients :
1 kg yam, cleaned and cut into square pieces
1 big coconut, grated
2 tbsp o Read more...
Dry Meat cooked with Ginger and Garlic
Though the foreigner may mistake Indian food to comprise only vegetarian fare because of India’s non-violence and Yoga, its spicy non-vegetarian dishes are among the best in the world.
Read more...
Fish Fried Rice
A number of Indians, especially among the lower middle class and the poor, prefer fish to the other non-vegetarian food. Not only is fish tasty and healthy, it is also within their financial reach. A Read more...
Egg shoap
In the average Indian home, snacks are meant to be served to guests or had at tea-time. The munching of snacks – usually processed ones - at any time and at any place is still largely a phen Read more...
Fish Pitika
Indian fish preparations offer a wide range of choices to suit any palate.
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
500 gm boneless fish, steamed
2 tsp of mustard paste
2 tsp of lime juice
1 tsp of garlic p Read more...
Grapefruit Sharbat
Sharbats, popularised by the Mughals, are known to have medicinal value among food and beverages and are common in India.
Serves: 10
Ingredients :
4 cups of grapefruit juice
2 tbsp of l Read more...
Honey Sharbat
Honey, known for its medicinal value - is an unusual base for a Sharbat, usually made with fruits or flower petals.
Makes 2 cups
Ingredients :
6 tbsp of honey
2 cups of lime juice
Read more...
Fried Chicken
The Indian palate likes it hot and spicy. As such, fried chicken, in its umpteen forms, has always been a favourite.
Serves: 4
Ingredients :
1 medium chicken, cut into 8 pieces
½ cup Read more...
Omelette Curry
Indians have a knack of Indianising anything that they like in another culture. Check out the omelette curry!
Serves: 4
Ingredients :
3 omelettes, made of 3 large eggs
2 onions, Read more...
Sweet Potato Halwa
The Halwas of India are rich, dense confections loaded with sugar or honey and ghee.
Serves: 4 - 6
Ingredients :
½ a kg of sweet potatoes, peeled and grated
2 litre of mi Read more...
Mashed Fish and Rice
This Indian food item is something you can cook up in a jiffy when you want rice but not plain old rice.
Serves : 4
Ingredients :
1 cup rice, cleaned and washed
2 cups of fish, boil Read more...
Fried Coconut Pitha
Fried Coconut Pitha is a special Assamese dish. This Indian dish is made of coconut, sugar and rice flour.
Serves: 4 - 6
Ingredients:
2 cups of desiccated coconut
2 cups of sugar
1 cup of Read more...
Ghila Pitha
Rice flour is a common ingredient in Assamese cuisine. This Indian snack made of rice flour and jaggery is a traditional Assamese dish.
Serves: 6 - 8
Ingredients :
1 kg rice flo Read more...
Misa Mach Poora or Grilled Shrimps
Gourmets and foodies are always on the look-out for good recipes for the expensive but popular shrimp. Check this special Indian sea food.
Serves: 4
Ingredients :
3 cups of shelled and de-veined sh Read more...
Jackfruit Pitha or Katthal Pitha
The Assamese have many sweet dishes made of rice flour in combination with fruits and other ingredients. These are known as pithas.
Serves : 6
Ingredients :
1 kg of ripe jackfruit
½ kg Read more...
Koat Pitha or Banana Pitha
Koat Pitha is a special sweet dish, made of banana, jaggery and rice flour from Assam, India.
Serves: 4
Ingredients :
6 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup grated jaggery
1 cup rice flour, sieved
Read more...
Jatti Lau Tenga Anja
This Assamese fish curry has a distinctive sourness from the added gourd and tastes lip smacking.
Serves: 4
Ingredients :
250 g of gourd, cut into fine pieces
500 g of fish, cut into pieces
1 Read more...
Machor Boar or Fish balls
Crumb-fried fish has always been popular with the fish-eaters. Machor Boar can either be a part of a meal or used as a short-eat.
Serves: 4 - 6
Ingredients :
1 kg fish, cooked and mashed
4 potatoe Read more...
Orange Sharbat
Sharbats, popularised by the Mughals, are known to have medicinal value and are common in India.
Serves: 8
Ingredients :
2 cups of orange juice
1 cup of lemon juice
1 cup of diced orange piec Read more...
Amritsari Lassi
The popular Indian drink lassi, a yoghurt drink, originated from Punjab. It may be either sweet or spicy and is usually had at lunch time.
Ingredients:
200 g of plantain (poo Read more...
Pineapple Cooler
A glass of cold pineapple juice has always been a never-fail to beat the Indian summer.
Ingredients:
500 g of Pineapple
200 g of Chikku
One Lime Juice
25 ml of Ginger Juice
Sugar to taste
Metho Read more...
Grapes Punch
The word punch is the Anglicised version of the Parsi drink called Panj, persian for five, because it combined the five ingredients of arrack, sugar, lemon, water and tea or spices.
Ingredients :
20 Read more...
Pomegranate Delight
In India, the Pomegranate is valued for its medicinal properties. This revitalising drink combines its potency with the goodness of apple and lemon.
Ingredients :
200 ml of Pomegranate jui Read more...
Vegetarian
For those who love Indian cuisine, these vegetarian recipes are well worth a try. These recipes are made of ingredients that are easily available and packed with goodness.
Banana Rice
Coconu Read more...
Non-Vegetarian
Famed for its taste and richness, these recipes will let you have a peek into the secrets of making mouthwatering non-vegetarian Indian food.
Dry Meat cooked with Ginger and Garlic
Fish Fr Read more...
Snacks
These nutritious Indian snacks offer an authentic taste of Indian cuisine.
Bamboo Shoot Fry
Egg Shoap
Ghila Pitha
Machor Boar or Fish balls Read more...
Desserts / Drinks
Here are recipes for an unforgettable cuisine experience, for the best loved desserts and drinks of India.
Sweet Potato Halwa
Fried Coconut Pitha
Jackfruit Pitha or Katthal Pitha
Koat Pitha or Read more...