What is traditional Indian food?

Traditional Indian food is a rollercoaster of terrific spices and tasty flavors! The eating routines of Indian culture are based upon ancient cooking customs. While many Indians are vegetarian, there are dishes that include meat such as chicken, beef, or lamb. Pork is frequently left out due to religious requirements. India is a huge country, so traditional dishes variate depending on the region. Here in Shalimar, we love exploring lots of cultures of India producing different dishes for you to delight in, and with our food delivery service, you can enjoy them in the convenience of your house! Now we will discuss a few areas of India and their traditional dishes so you can have a much better idea of what traditional Indian food is.

In south Indian cuisine, the different states offe their own delicious variants of meals. To get a much better understanding of south Indian food, think about steamed, spiced, and coconut flavored dishes. One of their standard breakfast items are paper-thin crepes made of fermented rice and/or lentil batter called Dosas and depending on how you serve them, their name can change. Masala Dosas are stuffed with mash potatoes and onion while Rava Dosas are made from semolina. It is typically accompanied by a tasty lentil soup called Sambar and coconut chutney! A popular dish for lunch/supper are Uttapams. A fermented rice and lentil batter is ladled on to griddle resulting in a fluffy and delicious pizza/pancake hybrid that can have different toppings such as tomato, onion, carrots, coconut, and more. Like many South Indian dishes, it tastes excellent with chutneys! Among my favorite Indian treats are banana chips and for a heavier meal, I like Biryani! It is a delicious dish made with rice prepared with meat, veggies, and wholesome spices such as turmeric, cardamom, bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, and pepper. While this is a dish made in the entire country, the ones from the south are my personal favorite ones. For dessert, you can find a delightful sugary rice pudding called Payasam made with milk topped with cashews, almonds or cardamom.

Continuing with the north part, we’ll talk about their rich and fragrant gravies, stir-fries, slow-cooked meat, and incredible desserts. North Indians really like dairy, so one of the most popular dishes is their packed Baati. This bread treat is cooked in ghee and typically, it is stuffed with paneer. A standard way to eat them is to smash the Baati and after that pour ghee and chutney! Another example of their love for dairy is their Shahi Paneer, this is a vegetarian cheese curry prepared with paneer cheese, onions, almond paste, and a tasty tomato cream sauce generally accompanied by naan, roti, or puri (Indian bread). For meat fans, Rogan Josh is a lamb curry where the pieces of lamb are typically stewed in a rich gravy made with onions, garlic, yogurt, ginger, and various aromatic herbs and spices. Like lots of Indian dishes, it is accompanied by basmati rice and flatbreads.

As you can see there is a huge variety of Indian food and we strongly suggest you try it all!