National cuisine of India for gourmets. Authentic recipes, delicacies and specialties

India’s fragrant cuisine is known for its generous use of spices (ginger, chili pepper, and others) and vegetarian dishes. Most of the Indian cuisine includes vegetables, fruits, herbs, and dairy products. Food varies from region to region: if fish is eaten near the coast, then chicken is popular in the mountains, and lamb is eaten in gently sloping areas. Indian diet also depends on religion. For instance, Muslims do not eat pork, while Hindus stay away from beef, and many Indians do not eat meat or fish at all. There is a popular spice blend called “Garam Masala” which is made from black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, cumin, and cinnamon.

Chicken is the favorite meat of Indians. It is eaten marinated with tomato sauce or sprinkled with spices and marinated in yogurt, served with a paste made of chili pepper and coconut, roasted in the oven, in a pan or grilled. They also eat “shami kebab” – a spicy kebab made from mutton, lamb or chicken with lemon juice, egg, onion, and sometimes fresh cucumber and pasta. Mutton is also eaten with ginger sauce, “biryani” (rice with spices and venison), eggs and raisins. For “talakaya kura” they cook the head of a sheep or goat. It is believed that such food heals bones. “Tala hua gosht” is a dish prepared from lamb with onions. Those who live in the coastal areas eat shrimps, often replacing meat with them in dishes.

Potatoes, legumes, peppers, tomatoes are the main ingredients of Indian vegetarian dishes. Cauliflower is fried in spices, while French beans are eaten with rice and chili. Rice with lentils is very popular. Chopped vegetables are often added to it. “Naan” bread is baked at low heat in an oven, made of earth. Garlic naan is especially delicious. “Paranta” is bread baked using a large amount of butter. It can be a plain loaf or have potato, bean, egg, and other fillings. Concerning fruits, Indians prefer bananas, mangoes, figs, pears, tangerines, oranges, peaches, sugar-apples, apricots, papayas, among others. There is a huge amount of fruit varieties in India. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

India is the birthplace of many interesting, tasty and healthy drinks. The well-known drink called “falooda” is a sweet and cool drink, which is especially good for quenching one’s thirst during the heat wave. It is often drunk especially in big cities. Milk, ice cream, pink syrup and other ingredients that give an unusual taste are added to the drink. Coconut water is equally a favorite drink for Indians. It is sold in many stores in the country and is adored for its refreshing taste and great health benefits. “Nimbu Pani” is lemonade in which ginger, lime, salt or mint may be added. The choice of drinks in India is huge, from creamy mango drink, turmeric milk, to tea with masala, buttermilk, and milk with dried fruits. Coconut alcohol drink “feni” can be drunk only in Goa while white “toddy (palm wine)”, also from coconut, can be easily found in any bar.

All residents of Indian are big sweets lovers. The world-famous dessert called “gulab jamun” is the pride of India. These are sweet and tender fried balls, which are made from dough with the addition of Indian dairy product called “khoya”.The wonderful “Sandesh” is made from curd with cardamom, a very unusual combination. Frozen delight “Kulfi” is almost an ice cream, always with a fruity flavor. Pink and tea ice cream, milk pierogies in sweet syrup, coconut muffins, rice and nut puddings, yogurt with chocolate and whole strawberries are just a small part of the sweets that can and should be tasted in India.

On holidays, Indians eat wholeheartedly. The beginning of spring is celebrated with a yogurt drink called “bhang” with nuts, and they eat lots of halava. Holidays rarely go without salads with tomatoes and mint, rice pudding, and dishes decorated with dried fruits. Indian table etiquette is different from Europeans’. Guests are ushered to seats at the table, and it is forbidden to change them. Food is served first to the oldest man, then to the rest of the men, afterward to the children, and the turn of women comes last. Until the oldest begins to eat, no one can touch his/her food. Before eating, hands are washed thoroughly, because many dishes are eaten with hands. They are again washed after eating. You do not need to thank your hosts for the food as this is regarded as payment.

In India, there are a huge number of restaurants, cafes and other establishments in which chefs and cookery experts are happy to prepare excellent dishes for visitors. There is an unusual café in Delhi called “Kunzum Travel”. It was created specifically for travelers. This is a kind of club where you can converse with like-minded people over a cup of tea or coffee, and also read or buy books related to travel. Here they sell wonderful cookies, and the payment for these pleasures is symbolic. In Bombay, there is a café called “MoMo”. The place is spacious and bright, has large tubs with plants between the tables, and serves great Indian food. In Hyderabad, lovers of the unusual can find the restaurant called “Taste of Darkness”, where visitors eat in absolute darkness.