Walking the streets of any town in India your senses are
assaulted by a heady and mouthwatering concoction of smells.
There are
street vendors and restaurants everywhere, all
competing to satisfy your need to feed. If anything lets you
experience the
true heart of India it surely has to be its
fantastic
cuisine.
The food in India does not let the country's reputation for diversity
down, there is no national dish but there are
many regional
specialties and variations, so much so that
you need a huge
belly, or many lifetimes, to sample them all.
The food that has come to represent Indian cuisine in the United Kingdom, and across the world,
is not necessarily the food that you should expect to arrive on your dinner plate in India. Much of
this food is a variation created for the Western palate and some of it is a complete invention.
However, most of the food we recognize probably originates from the Punjab.
The curry is another anglicized invention. Kari, the Tamil word for black pepper, was used by the
British to describe any food that was spicy, which is where the name originated. A curry in India
would usually be referred to as a wet dish.
Despite the spicy reputation, many Indians prefer their food without chili and if you do too, this is
something to consider; garam is the word for hot, but it means temperature not spicy. So if you
ask for your food not garam you'll get something that is cold and spicy!
Here is a small sample of some of the things that you may want to try on your travels.
Goa and Kerala
In the costal areas in the southern part of the country the culinary tradition is to make use of the
widely available coconuts and fish.
Fish caldeen is a specialty in Goa; it is fish, simmered in
coconut milk with ginger and cumin.
Kerala is famous for its
appam, pounded rice pancakes.
Gujarat and Tamil Nadu
These regions are famous for their
vegetarian cuisine with many mouthwatering dhal to choose
from.
Tamil Nadu is the home of the
dosa, in particular the masala dosa, which is a crepe made
from lentils filled with curried potatoes and onions.
Vegetarianism
Many people in India are vegetarians and those that are not may not eat beef (Hindus) or pork
(Muslims). There are many good vegetarian dishes to choose from. However, mutton and chicken
are available, especially in Christian and Muslim communities. Unless eating in a higher end
establishment it is advisable to eat the veggie dishes, no matter how much of a committed
carnivore you are, as the meat may be of questionable quality.
Thali
Thali meals are a wonderful introduction to the cuisine each
region and are served in higher end establishments as well as
places for those with a more
modest budget. Usually there is a
choice between a vegetarian and a non-vegetarian thali. They are
presented on a platter, with little
dishes on the platter of wet and
dry dishes along with rice or bread (naan, roti). Many restaurants
have all you can eat thali meals and the waiter will top up your
platter as you are eating.
Street Kitchens - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
The good news is that you can eat well and cheaply all over India, and some of the best places to
eat are on the streets. You get to sample the food as the locals have it, which can be a wonderful
or stomach churning experience depending on what you choose, and immerse yourself in the life
and culture of the place that you are in.
However, Bombay belly, or
Delhi belly, are both famous phrases for a reason, so there are a few
things you should consider, like the amount of local people buying from traders, before tucking
into that spicy kebab! However, don't be afraid to experiment, because for every dodgy chef there
plenty of good ones.
Drinks
It is important to drink plenty whilst travelling and preferably this should be water. It may sound
obvious, but do not drink the unsterilised water, bottled water is readily available. However, always
check the seal to ensure that it has not been refilled from a dodgy source, and avoid ice! There are
plenty of safe and good alternatives for you to try.
Nimboo pani is a type of traditional
lemonade that is popular and widely available. You could try
coconut juice or faluda a Muslim specialty flavored with rose and made from milk, cream and nuts
with vermicelli.
Lassi is a
yoghurt drink, which is a brilliant aid for your digestion after all that spicy food. Lassi can
be savory or sweet and is popular throughout India.
Chai - If you miss your tea while travelling and wish daily for a decent cuppa then you're in luck in
India. It may not be Yorkshire tea but it's certainly a good brew. Chai is sweet and milky, flavored
with cardamom in winter and ginger in summer. It can be bought almost anywhere and is
very
refreshing. If you decide that chai isn't your cup of tea then black tea is available; try the light and
refreshing
Darjeeling or
Assam tea. Coffee is available widely in Southern India.
Alcohol is not usually served with meals and in some states there is prohibition, if you really need
to drink in these states you can apply for a permit. There are now many good Indian beers, wines
and spirits on the market.