The Rich Diversity And History Of Indian Cuisine

Considered as one of the world's most diverse cuisine, Indian cuisine is truly varied and diverse. The food dishes from this country is characterized by the sophisticated use of spices, vegetables, grains and spices. Also, each region has a wide and comprehensive collection of dishes and cooking techniques that are unique to their own state and area. India's religious and ethical beliefs have also played an important part in the overall growth and development of its cuisine. As vegetarianism is an integral part of many religious sects and beliefs, this is widely reflected in the cuisine of the country as well. 

Over the years, India has been subject to a number of invasions. All this immigration and intermingling of cultures through the decade but obviously impacted the cooking technique and culinary culture of the country. Many recipes can be traced back to the initial Vedic period where a normal diet consisted of items like vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy products and honey. As this was a predominantly Hindu period, the concept of ahimsa was prevalent which forbade the killing of animals. So a lot of the diet in this period was vegetarian in nature, a concept that was reinforced with the advent of Buddhism as well. As time passed, invasions from Central Asia, Arabia, the Mughal empire, and Persia, had a fundamental effect on Indian cooking. The Islamic conquest of medieval India introduced many new fruits such as apricots, melons, peaches, and plums to the Indian cooking.

This conquest also meant the beginning of a new range of non-vegetarian dishes like rich gravies, pilafs and non-vegetarian fare such as kebabs, giving rise to Mughlai cuisine (Mughal in origin). As the Mughals were big patrons of cooking, cooking techniques and recipes reached a new high during this period with lavish dishes were prepared during the reigns of Mughal rulers especially Jahangir and Shah Jahan. It was during this period that there was a blending of Mughlai and Telangana cuisines in the kitchens of the Nizams who were the historic rulers of Hyderabad state. This resulted in the creation of Hyderabadi biryani, a traditional celebratory meal made using goat meat, basmati rice, yoghurt, onions, and spices. Further, India's diverse climate which range from tropical to cold has made a wide range of ingredients easily available to all cooking enthusiasts. This has resulted in a range of cooking flavors, techniques and dishes that today form an integral part of Indian cuisine.

Indian cuisine is divided into four integral divisions namely North, East, West and South. The cuisine of North India has a predominance of dairy products like milk, paneer, ghee and yoghurt. Most of the dishes of this regions are gravy-based and some of the staple food include a variety of lentils, vegetables, and roti (wheat based bread). Further, Mughlai cuisine forms an integral part of the food habits of this region. The East of India is popular for its sweets and deserts like sandesh, rasgulla, chhena gaja among many others. These dishes are now popular in many other parts of the country as well. Over all Bengali cuisine is balanced and some popular dishes include rice, pantabhat, doi-chirey, doodh-muree and fish. The menu of South Indian cuisine is marked by a greater emphasis on rice as the staple grain and the liberal use of coconut, particularly coconut oil and curry leaves. Some of the popular dishes include different variations of sambar and rasam, a variety of pickles, dosa, poori, idli, vada, bonda and bajji. 

These dishes from South India form a major crux of their cuisines and are today popular in many South Indian food restaurant as well. South Indian food is also extremely diverse and rich with some dishes like the dosa gaining popularity all over the world. Today, the popularity of dosa is such that there are many dosa restaurants that have opened up all across the country in order to cater to the growing demand. The western part of India comprises of three food groups namely Gujarati, Maharashtrian and Goan. There are two main types of Maharashtrian cuisine, defined by geographical divisions. The coastal regions consume more rice, coconut, and fish while the the hilly regions of the Western Ghats and Deccan plateau consume more of jowar and bajra. On the other hand, Goan food is a amalgamation of various types of sea food which forms the crux of their cuisine. 

Gujarati cuisine is predominantly vegetarian and many of their dishes have a hint of sweetness due to the usage of sugar. And lastly, food from the North East is very different from that of other parts of India. North Eastern cuisine is strongly influenced by neighboring Burma and the China, and therefore their dishes uses very little of Indian spices and techniques.

Over all Indian cuisines is extremely rich, diverse and comprehensive. With such a lot of influences and patronage by different rulers, Indian cuisines is extremely popular and well-know in many regions around the world. With dishes that suit different palates, Indian cuisine has something to offer to everyone. 

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/The-Rich-Diversity-And-History-Of-Indian-Cuisine/9576205/

The History and Evolution of South Indian Cuisine

                         

The cuisine of South India is extremely diverse and is well-known for its light, low-calorie appetizing meals. Traditional South Indian cuisine is mainly rice based and there are many dishes like dosas, vadas and uttampams that are made by mixing rice with lentils. Considered as extremely healthy, South Indian food is a perfect blend of flavor, color, taste and nutrition. In other words, South Indian food comprises of dishes from four major states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. So while there is a common thread running through the dishes from all these regions, they differ in terms of preparation and spice content.     

                           

Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh: Food from Andhra Pradesh is extremely spicy because of the generous use of chili powder and tamarind. Andhra Pradesh cuisine has three different variations based on region. As the Telangana region is closer to some regions of Maharashtra, there are certain influences from this region. Jowar and Bajra roti are common and is widely consumed in this region. As the Rayalaseema district shares borders with eastern Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, their influence cannot be undermined. The regions that are closer to the coastline, but obviously have a rich variety of sea food as well In addition, Hyderabad (capital of the city) has its own distinctive cuisine which is different from other areas. Here the Nizams influence the cuisine to a great degree and dishes like Hyderabadi biryani have achieved cult status not only in the region but around the world. 

                     

Cuisine of Karnataka: As this state has a higher percentage of vegetarians, most of the dishes in this region are vegetarian in nature. The mildest among all South Indian Food, chilli powder is used sparingly in all the dishes. On the other hand dishes in these region makes liberal use of palm sugar or brown sugar. In addition, Udupi food is an integral part of the cuisine from this region. Udupi Hotels are extremely popular in many regions of North India and the menu of this restaurant is greatly influenced by the cuisine of Karnataka. The famous masala dosa traces its origin to Udupi cuisine and was subsequently popularized by Udupi restaurants.   

                        

Cuisine of Kerala: Many of the food items of Kerala cuisine are made using coconut which is found in abundance all over the state. As this region is extremely popular for its backwaters, Kerala is a paradise for seafood lovers who come here from all over the world. Some of the popular dishes from this region include aviyal, olan, shrimp coconut curry, fish poriyal among others. 

                     

Cuisine of Tamil Nadu: A typical Tamil meal consists of both spicy and non-spicy dishes. Except for Brahmins and a couple of non-Brahmin castes, Tamils eat more non-vegetarian food. In Tamilian cuisine, food is classified into six tastes namely sweet, sour, salt, bitter, pungent and astringent. Traditional Tamil cuisine recommends that one must include all of these six tastes in each main meal. Each taste has a balancing ability and including some of each provides complete nutrition, minimizes cravings and balances the appetite and digestion. 

Today, South Indian cuisines is extremely popular not just in India but on the global stage as well. This is proved by the growing popularity of South Indian based restaurants that are today offering a wide variety of South Indian dishes based on authentic taste and flavor. In other words, today South Indian cuisine is enjoyed by people all over the world and the popularity of this cuisine is only set to increase in the future as well. 

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/The-History-and-Evolution-of-South-Indian-Cuisine/9553648/

South Indian Food: A Delight For Vegetarians

                          

 

Good food is the basis for a healthy life. Everything we eat impacts our mind and body in diverse ways. A quality diet that is rich in all types of minerals and proteins is therefore the main way to stay fit and healthy for longer duration. In addition, there are many ways in which an individual can stay healthy from consulting nutritionist to good diet to regular exercise.

Here are some reasons why a vegetarian diet is the best way to attain a healthy mind and body.

Health: This is the most important reason why you must adopt a vegetarian diet. Meat consists of very high levels of high saturated fat and cholesterol which can causes a lot of heart problems. Moreover it is a proven fat that except for b-complex, meat does not contain any significant vitamins. So it is always a good idea to lower your meat intake and increase vegetables and fruits in order to ensure a more balanced and healthy diet.

Environment: Adopting a vegetarian diet is good for the environment. Today, environmental issues like greenhouse emissions are causing large-scale damage to the planet. It is a known fact that the greenhouse effect and fossil fuels are increased due to the creation of meat. In addition, livestocks lead to the destruction of forests which are natural filters for air supply. Forests are destroyed in order to create more land for livestocks. In other words, adopting a vegetarian diet will go a long way in saving the environment and planet.

Two other important reasons why adopting vegetarianism is a good idea is because it because it prevents killing of animals who have a equal right to life. Secondly, adopting vegetarianism results in more savings as a vegetarian diet is more economical in comparison with non-vegetarian diet.

Vegetarianism has always been an integral part of Indian cuisines. That is why there are so many restaurants throughout the country that specializes in vegetarian dishes that are healthy, tasty and nutritious. South Indian Vegetarian dining restaurants are today an integral part of the culture and lifestyle of many cities including Delhi, NOIDA and Gurgoan. These cities have over the past few years seen a growing influx of people from all over the country who come here in search of a proper job and education. That is why Delhi is considered as the melting pot of various cultures and traditions. This in turn has lead to the establishment of a number of food joints and restaurants that specialize in a variety of cuisines and food cultures that are now an integral part of the culture and lifestyle of the city.

Delhi, along with its NCR namely Gurgoan and NOIDA are now home to some of the best South Indian restaurants which serve authentic South Indian cuisines that are extremely delicious, tasty and healthy. Further, these restaurants are now gaining immense popularity not just within North India but on a global stage as well. In addition, as these restaurants offers customers numerous facilities like trained service, amazing interiors and authentic cuisine, they are the ideal place for customers to meet their family and friends. In other words, the growing popularity of restaurants based on South Indian cuisine is valid proof that this cuisine is being appreciated by people across the state who want to enjoy their meals in a modern yet contemporary manner.

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