Indian Cuisine

Leticia Celentano Author: Leticia Celentano Time for reading: ~6 minutes Last Updated: November 03, 2022
Indian Cuisine

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)



Japanese ramen, Vietnamese pho and nema, Georgian khinkali and khachapuri are replaced by Indian naans and curry, along with chutney, chapati, daal and much more. Let's find out what all these obscure words from India mean and also what they taste like.

Japanese ramen, Vietnamese pho and nema, Georgian khinkali and khachapuri are replaced by Indian naans and curry, along with chutney, chapati, daal and much more.

Let's find out what all these obscure words from India mean , and what they taste like.

 

Curry

Curry in India is called both a seasoning and a thin-thick dish made of stewed vegetables, legumes and meat. Curry seasoning is a mixture of spices based on turmeric root. Turmeric itself, despite its intense aroma, has a very weak and indistinct taste. Therefore, turmeric is usually strengthened by adding other components: coriander, fenugreek, fennel, ginger, cinnamon, mustard, as well as various types of pepper, for example, cayenne, white, black and allspice. There is no clear composition of the curry seasoning: the mixture is made "by eye".

A curry dish is also prepared on the basis of curry seasoning . It usually consists of vegetables, beans or meat stewed in gravy with the addition of turmeric-based spices. The sauce-gravy in the curry is thin and dense, the consistency of the dish resembles Hungarian goulash. In European cuisine, the term "curry" defines all food prepared with the addition of curry powder - whether it is potatoes in gravy or grilled meat seasoned with this spice.

 

paneer

It's cheese. A regular cheese made from milk, white in color and a little brittle. Something reminiscent of Adyghe cheese. Due to the fact that the cheese does not melt, it does not lose its shape after heat treatment. That is why paneer is used to make kebabs, and it is also boiled, baked or fried in a pan. Or they prepare it on the basis of curry.

Paneer goes well with vegetables, seafood and fish, meat, berries, fruits, and greens. In India, it is eaten as a main dish , and it is added as one of the ingredients in salads, soups, snacks, side dishes and desserts.

 

Chapati, naan, papadam

Naan, chapati, papadam are all varieties of Indian bread. In India, there is no bread in the usual sense for us - loaves, for example, buns or baguettes. However, there are many different breads that are served with all other dishes .

Chapati is a wheat flour bread that looks like a thin pita bread. This bread is first prepared in a dry pan, and then baked over an open fire. At the same time, the bread swells from the steam to such an extent that it becomes round, like a ball. Chapatis are broken into small pieces, which are then dipped in sauces or these pieces are used as a spoon, grabbing a variety of dishes with them . In the northern part of India , chapatis with fillings are common: mashed potatoes with fried onions are the most popular.

Naan is also a bread that is prepared in the oven from unleavened wheat dough. Various additives such as minced lamb, vegetables, cheese or potatoes can be used as a filling. Naans are eaten both with soup or tea, and as a main course .

Papadam is a very thin round bread, usually well toasted and crispy. Papadam dough is made from lentil flour or a mixture of lentil and rice flour. The addition of various spices and herbs - pepper, paprika, cumin, garlic - gives the loaves a spicy and piquant taste. Since padam dries up very quickly, it should be prepared before the meal itself or at most two hours before the meal.

 

Daal

Aka dhal, aka dal - a traditional vegan spicy puree soup. This soup is made from different types of beans: red lentils, mung beans, chickpeas, peas. The beans in the soup must be boiled, that is, they need to be boiled for a very long time. Curry powder, coconut milk, lemon juice, tomatoes, garlic and fried onions are also added to the daal for flavor. And this soup is traditionally served with the warm bread described above.

 

Humility

Pakora, aka bhaji, is a deep-fried snack. It is small pieces of vegetables, chicken, cheese, etc. fried in dough. In India, pakoras are sold in all roadside cafes and shops, and are also often prepared at home as an everyday dish . The most popular are onion, vegetable, chicken pakoras, as well as spinach and paneer pakoras. Vegetables for pakora are recommended to be thinly sliced ​​so that they can be fried sufficiently. Potatoes, eggplant, cauliflower, pepper, broccoli, tomato, zucchini can be cut into circles, onions into rings or half rings, cheese and chicken fillet into cubes, spinach is finely chopped, mixed with dough and fried in the form of small patties.

 

Lassi

Lassi is a popular Indian yogurt-based drink with added spices, water, fruit and ice. There are savory and sweet lassi. Savory ones are usually prepared with the addition of ground cumin and turmeric, and sweet ones are made with fruits, sugar and the addition of mango pulp.

Another type of lassi is Bhang Lassi. This drink contains bhang - a liquid derivative of cannabis. The effect of "liquid hemp" is the same as that of other types of grass. Nevertheless, the sale of Bhang Lassi is completely legal in many regions of India , moreover, this drink is always sold during the Holi festival (the same one during which people throw paint at each other). And sometimes on such holidays, bhang is added not only to lassi, but also to pakora.

 

Chutney

Chutneys are traditional Indian sauces that shade the taste of the main dish . Spicy chutneys complement normal fresh dishes (such as boiled rice, for example) well and decorate the table with their bright color. To shade the taste of the main dish , 1-2 spoons of chutney are enough, which are served on the table in small saucers or placed on a plate next to rice.

Chutney is prepared from both vegetables and fruits. The most popular in India are tamarind and mint chutneys, as well as coconut, mango and peanut chutneys.

 

Samosa

Fried triangular pies can be called the national fast food of India . They are prepared with various fillings, usually vegetable, and sold on the streets and markets, in buses and trains. The dough for samosa is kneaded fresh, sometimes puffy, but the filling in a triangle is usually very piquant and spicy. Most often, potatoes, beans, carrots, peas, green beans, onions are used for the filling, and many spicy spices are traditionally added: chili, cumin, coriander, turmeric, etc. These pies are fried in a large amount of oil and served hot.

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