Myths and truths about indian food

 

Many first-timers to Indian food and cuisine carry age-old thoughts (read myths) about the food of India. In the article below, get to know the facts and background of some myths and some truths about Indian food.
All Indian food is spicy
Though Indian cooking is hot and spicier compared to European or Western cooking, there are many regions in India where the food is bland, even sweet. If you to try something less-hot, go taste some Gujarati dishes.
Gujarati cuisine has a touch of sweetness in almost all of its dishes. Traditional South Indian cooking (except Andhra Pradesh) is generally less-spicier than other regions in India. Kashmiri cuisine also incorporates sweet tasting dishes in its menu. So when someone tells you Indian cooking is spicy, don't entirely believe them.
Indian food is only vegetarian
This is partly true. Hindus, being the majority community in India, are mostly vegetarian. However there are so many different sub-sects with the Hindu religion, that many of them follow their own food practices.
Contrary to popular belief, many Indians are meat-eaters and cook them well too. Chicken dishes are perhaps the most popular meat in India. Cow is considered a sacred animal and is avoided by Hindus though Muslims and Christians eat beef. Sea food is also popular in coastal regions like Goa, Mangalore, Kerala, West Bengal and others.
There is no variety in Indian cooking
Many, especially foreigners and first time visitors to India, are of the opinion that Indian food doesn't have so much of choices. Indian cuisine is perhaps the most varied food-culture in the world!
With more than 29 states (counties), each region in India has its own unique style and flavor. Add to this, the many ethnic groups that have their own recipes for generations. While North Indian regions prefer Roti (Indian bread) as their staple dish, South India has rice as a must in the daily menu. Some specialty regional cuisines of India include Udupi cuisine (from Karnataka), North-eastern cuisine, Chettinad cuisine (from Tamil Nadu) and Marwari cuisine, to name a few.
Indian food = Chicken Tikka
This is a popular myth made famous by ethnic Indians in England. Chicken Tikka was originally a Persian dish brought to India by the Mughals. This was later adopted by the people of Punjab (in India and Pakistan). They created their own version of Chicken Tikka and took the recipe with them when many of them migrated and settled in Britain. Though it is highly popular in UK, it is not so much in India where it has to compete with hundreds of other local dishes.
Indian food is all about Curry
Curry is something that was again made popular by British-South Asian ethnic groups. in While Curry abroad may refer to a thick and spicy gravy dish, India takes a different meaning altogether. In South India, Curry may refer to a vegetable side-dish that is often served with rice.
These are generally fried vegetables without the gravy. Curry, in Tamil Nadu, South India actually means meat - either as a gravy or as a fried dish. Origins of British curry come from the Tamil word for Kari. In North India and other popular forms of Indian cooking, the word curry is not as popularly used. Sabji or Masala are common terms for gravy dishes in Indian cuisine.
Indians eat food with their hands
Sometimes shocking to a visitor to India is the practice of eating food with hands. This is true as Indians consider eating with their hands as tastier as well as ritualistic. Also, most Indian dishes are difficult to be eaten with forks and spoons. Many Indians today use their hands as well as forks & spoons.
You will also find that in certain Indian regions, food is served on a banana leaf or an areca nut leaf. These traditions have been passed on to families since many generations and many modern Indian continue to follow then regardless of caste differences.

Whether you are new to Indian food or you are a long time lover of the cuisine, you certainly can't deny the dishes are delicious. Yet, for many people from Western cultures, there are a lot of mysteries about Indian food. Indeed, there are also many myths. From the complexity of preparation to the healthiness of Indian meals, misconceptions about this cuisine abound. Here are some of the top myths about Indian food debunked.
Indian Food is Best Left to Expert Chefs
Because of its rich, complex flavours, Indian food seems like it would be incredibly difficult to cook, or at least difficult to cook well. While a beginner cook might face a few challenges when attempting to conquer Indian cuisine, this is probably true of most major cuisines in the world. For example, some Italian dishes take hours to prepare properly, but we don't normally hear people lamenting how difficult it is to make an Italian meal. So, if you are interested in whipping up some Indian delights, start by familiarizing yourself with the ingredients and the basic cooking techniques, and you'll find this food as easy (or complicated) as any other type of food to prepare.
Indian Food is Unhealthy
Some Indian dishes have a fair amount of oil, but like with other dishes you can adapt your recipes to your tastes. Moreover, rich, oily foods are not the only options available on an Indian menu; in fact, Indian cuisine is incredibly diverse. Depending on the region of Indian, you will find that the style of cooking and ingredients used will vary significantly. Many dishes are prepared by boiling, steaming, roasting, or grilling which are all considered healthy means of preparation. So, when it comes to whether Indian cuisine is healthy or not it really depends on what you are eating. Certainly, there are dishes that you do not want to eat for every meal, but there are many interesting, delicious, and healthy Indian foods that you can add to your diet guilt-free.
Indian Food is Too Spicy
Again, Indian dishes are very diverse, so while some dishes are very hot this does not mean that all Indian food is spicy. Plus, if you are cooking at home, you can adjust the spice level to your personal taste; if you prefer, you can leave the spicy ingredients out entirely.
All Indian Dishes Contain Curry
Finally, many foodies who are not familiar with Indian cuisine often believe that curries are synonymous with the cuisine. While curries are an important feature of Indian dishes, they account for a very small fraction of the styles of food available in India. Moreover, curry powder is actually not a common ingredient in Indian dishes, instead, many homes create their own unique spice blends that appeal to their individual palates.