Indian cuisine

What does the term ethnic food mean to you? To me, I think of the different countries and the cuisines they have to offer. One such type of food that greatly prevails all others is Indian Food. Well what does Indian cuisine consist of you may ask? Indian food is derived from India and uses a blend of subtle herbs and spices. In this form of cooking, there is a great amount of variation in the meat, vegetables, and spices used. The majority of Indian cooking is made up of vegetables and yet there are several meat and poultry dishes as well. Within India, there are two main yet distinct methods of cooking seen in both North India and South India.
Common Food Found in Northern India:
- roti: a traditional Indian flat bread eaten with Indian curries or cooked vegetables
- naan: resembles the western "pita" bread and is eaten with Indian curries or cooked vegetables as well
- kulcha: another form of tasty flat bread, usually found from Punjab
- tandoori chicken: form of chicken that is marinated in yogurt and tandoori spices, it is cooked in a large clay oven
- palak paneer: cooked spinach with minor cheese cubes and marinated with curry powder
- channa masala: chickpeas smothered in zesty sauce and marinated with curry powders and masalas
Common Food Found in Southern India:
- dosa: a type of South Indian crepe and made from rice and black lentil
- idli: a small spongy cake made from rice and black lentil
- vada: a small snack made from lentils and containing small pieces of onions as well as green chilies
- sambar: a thick spicy soup consisting of lentils and vegetables
As you can see, the above dishes are quite unique from western foods such as hamburgers and fries. In Northern India, there is a considerable amount of curry powder used in specific items. Whereas in South India, the spices are not strong and are much less filling than North Indian food.

Indian cuisine is as diverse as the country itself. It is true that the first image that comes to mind, when thinking about Indian food, is the image of a row of colorful spices. Indian cuisine is not necessarily spicy, though - but it can be! Indians like to add garlic, turmeric, ginger, cumin and red chili powder in almost all dishes. Dried red chilies, mustard seeds and curry leaves are added much more discriminating.
Regional cuisines vary a lot: following the variety of soil types and climates, they use locally available spices, vegetables, fruit and herbs. Influenced not only by natural factors, Indian cuisine is also heavily under different religious and cultural influences. Because of Dharmic believes, Indian cuisine is particularly shaped by vegetarianism.
Many Indians consider eating beef taboo, consumption of which is banned in some states. Jain vegetarianism excludes eating root vegetables, because when the vegetable is pulled up from the soil, organisms living around the root die too.
There are numerous historical influences that have shaped the Indian cuisine, for example there was a strong Central Asian influence on the North Indian cuisine. Potato, now a staple of Indian diet, was brought by the Portuguese, as well as chillies and breadfruit. In turn, Indian spices influenced cuisines around the world.
What food regular Indians eat the most? Breakfast is important for Indians. They begin the day with an obligatory cup of tea or coffee, followed by roti, parathas, and a vegetable dish with pickles and some curd in Northern India. Dhokla and milk are preferred in Western India, and in South Indian idlis and dosas, accompanied by various chutneys.
Lunch consists of a main dish of rice in the south and east, and whole wheat rotis in the north and west. Two or three sorts of vegetables are included in the lunch, and sometimes kulcha, naan, or parathas are eaten as well. In some parts of India, there is a tradition of eating betel leaves after lunch. Dinner is considered the most important meal of the day in India.
Typically, food is eaten not with the cutlery, but with your right hand, while the role of the left hand is to serve yourself. Roti may be used to scoop curry, especially in North India. In South India, banana leaves are used for serving food.
Indian cuisine is still evolving, as it continues to be shaped by different cultural influences in today's interconnected world. Indian cuisine has been spread around the world thanks to the bountiful Indian immigration.