3 South Indian Dishes That Are Healthy And Delicious

South Indian cuisine has a very rich and interesting history behind its evolution and growth. Encompassing the cuisine of the four South Indian states namely Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the food from these states is both rich and delicious. Andhra cuisine is considered as extremely spicy and hot because of the generous use of chilli powder and tamarind. On the other hand, Karnataka cuisines is very diverse and has a whole range of delicacies with generous use of jaggery, palm sugar and minimum chilli powder. Since the percentage of vegetarians are higher in the state, vegetarian dishes enjoy a lot of popularity. In addition, Udupi cuisine is an integral part of Karnataka cuisine. Kerala cuisine is very diverse and is a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. While the Hindus, particularly the Nambudiris and Nairs enjoy vegetarian dishes, the Muslim communities enjoy non-vegetarian dishes. A typical Tamil meal has a combination of both spicy and non-spicy dishes. Except for Brahmins and some non-Brahmin castes, Tamilians enjoy non-vegetarian dishes. Many of their dishes are typically mixed and eaten with steamed rice, which is the staple food of the region. So overall, South Indian dishes are not just diverse, hot and spicy but are healthy and nutritious as well. In this article, we explore three food items from South India that are high on not just flavor but nutrition as well.

Idli: A classic dish that is an integral part of the South Indian cuisine, idli is made from fermented rice and black gram. Mostly eaten at breakfast or as a snack, idlis are generally served in pairs and are generally accompanied with chutney or sambar. Some of the health benefits of idlis include the following:

• Each idli has only 39 calories and contains almost no amount of fat, saturated fat or cholesterol. Consuming less than 16 grams of saturated fat and 300 milligrams of cholesterol reduces the risk of heart diseases and stroke in a substantial manner
• A single idli has 2 grams each of protein and dietary fiber as well as 8 grams of carbohydrates. This is therefore one of those few low carbohydrate dishes that you can snack on without gaining weight. For maintaining a healthy body, a person requires 50 grams of protein and 225 grams of carbohydrates on a daily basis. When a person has adequate protein it facilitates muscle repair and carbohydrates provide energy for daily activities. On the other hand, fiber promotes healthy digestion. While men need between 28 and 34 grams of fiber and women between 22 and 28 grams daily
• Idli is steamed so it is easily digestible while the use of dal and rice is a good combination as the amino acids present in them, complement each other perfectly

                           

Sambar: One of the most common dish in the South Indian cuisine, Authentic Sambar is a lentil based vegetable stew or chowder based on a broth made with spices and lentil. It is tasty, spicy and an amazing low calorie accompaniment. The spices which include turmeric, cumin, curry leaves, etc. contain a lot of antioxidants and promote a healthy mind and body in various ways. The lentil provide protein while the vegetables in the sambar act as fiber. Additionally, adding sprouts to sambar is a good idea as this helps to lower the cholesterol and provides nutrients like folate, magnesium and vitamins.

Dosas: Made from lentil and rice batter, dosas are thin, crepe like pancakes that are a essential part of South Indian cuisine. Some of the major nutritional benefits of dosa are as follows:

Calorie and fat content: Dosas are healthy because they are low in calories and fat. An 86 gram serving of dosa contains only 162 calories which is very less compared to the daily recommendation of 2,000 gram. Additionally, they also contain very less saturated fat (2 grams) which is a good thing as saturated fat increases the risk of heart diseases. According to the American Heart Association, saturated fat should be restricted to about 16 grams per day so that the risk of heart disease is decreased effectively.

                

Protein: Dosas are relatively high in protein, as it contains 5 grams in each 86 serving. This amount is 1 gram less than the protein amount found an egg provides, but is 0.5 gram more than what a normal pancake would provide. Protein is extremely important in the human body as it helps to build muscle and may help you to reduce weight if you consume a reduced calorie diet.

Besides, these three dishes, the menu of a South Indian restaurant contain a number of dishes like rice, various types of vada, utthapam and desserts. These food item are aimed at making your meal experience not just enjoyable and tasty but nutritious and healthy as well. Further with so many South Indian restaurants that are gaining immense popularity across the country, enjoying a South Indian meal is now a very easy and convenient affair.

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/3-South-Indian-Dishes-That-Are-Healthy-And-Delicious/9180983/

South Indian Food-The Best Choice for Vegetarians

Almost all people are turning into vegan, these days, and the number is increasing every year. For vegetarians, the challenge is how to come across food that's versatile plus tempting which lets you remain within your dietary framework. It seems that Indian food, rooted in centuries worth of tradition in vegetarianism, is the ultimate food for vegans.

“Generally, it is obvious that vegetarian food is better for people," says Deepak Chopra, whose name has turned out to be synonymous with wellbeing and medicine. "Vegetarianism is better for environmental science and less vicious on life as a whole. Eating habits are established on culture, geography as well as affected by religion." And above all, Vegetarian South Indian food menu is extraordinarily varied in its flavors, too.

Grains, pulses, as well as spices make up the basis of South Indian vegetarian food. There are the famous instant go-to dishes like dosa, idli sambar, vada, uttapam, the hot, soupy authentic sambar, as well as the range of vegetable-based dishes plus pickles that form a South Indian meal.

It's a fact, people are drawn to South Indian food menu, firstly for its health benefits and particularly if they are in search of vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free choices. What's actually tempting, however, is that this sort of food is both healthy and super-tasty. Dishes in this cuisine tend to include diverse flavors as well as ingredients from the typical North Indian fare that people are used to.

These days, people are exploring a lot of the cuisines; therefore I think that also lends itself to the increasing fame of these dishes.

South Indian dishes are light as well as fresh, and the flavors are complex and completely exclusive. A lot of the recipes are focused around rice, dals as well as seasonal vegetables and spiced with coconut, black mustard seeds, chilis plus a host of added seasonings. Curry leaves are special in this cuisine and offer a fresh herb and citrus taste. In this cuisine, there are diverse treatments of pulses, including, you can stir fry it in rice and grind them for batters and chutneys. Moreover, yogurt is also used a lot in Southern part of India. It is present in almost all meals in any south Indian vegetarian food restaurant.

Every one of these flavors — hot, sugary, tangy with fresh vegetables as well as herbs — come together in nearly all South Indian Vegetarian dining.

For more details about South Indian Vegetarian dining visit http://www.vaango.in/

South Indian Food Menu-Full of Aroma and Nutrition

If you like the aromatic stews, rich curries, and nutritious dals of the Indian cuisine familiar to the majority of Americans, then you’ll love the well-known dishes made by cooks in southern India. “South Indian Tamil Brahmin food is largely vegetarian and is centered on the concept that food shapes the personality, mood, as well as mind,” explains Viji Varadarajan, a writer on South Indian Vegetarian Cooking. “Food is always prepared with a great deal of attention given to the balancing of dietary balance, taste, quality, as well as variety.”

Rice is the main food item of all the southern states

The role of Rice in South Indian Cuisine.

South Indian food recipes are focused on rice or rice-based dishes. Rice is mixed with Sāmbhar (a soup-like lentil dish tempered with whole spices as well as chilies) and rasam (a hot-sour soup like lentil dish), dry as well as curried vegetables with a host of coconut-based chutneys as well as poppadums (deep-fried crunchy lentil pancakes). Rice is mixed with lentils to make tasty dosas, idlis, vadas and uttapams. These items are wonderful and mouth-watering besides being nutritious and digestible (because of the fermenting procedure). They are mixed with Sāmbhar, rasam, dry and curried vegetable as well as pachadi (yogurt). Lemon rice and rice seasoned with coconut, peanuts, chilies, curry leaves, urad dal as well as fenugreek seeds are a number of the famous rice based dishes.

Chutneys in South Indian Restaurant menu

South Indian chutneys are prepared from tamarind, peanuts, coconut, dal, cilantro and fenugreek seeds. Chutneys are eaten as an accompaniment with the main dish. Usually, Chutneys are wet or dry that has a thick to good consistency. The wet paste prepared is pan-fried in vegetable oil. Numerous kinds of Chutneys are Coconut, Mint, Tamarind, Onion, Tomato, Mango, Yogurt chutney and several more.

Few of the preferred south Indian dishes are:

Idli

What is it? A heavy South Indian breakfast item. A fermented batter of powdered rice as well as lentils, steamed in small round moulds.

Dosa

What is it? Crunchy, flat bread (just like a crepe or pancake) prepared of rice batter, served with a lentil sauce (sambar) and a range of chutneys.

Vada

What is it? A South Indian snack prepared from a lentil or flour batter deep-fried into a doughnut form.

Vaango is the best dosa restaurant chain in India for the best south Indian vegetarian dining.

Source: http://goarticles.com/article/South-Indian-Food-Menu-Full-of-Aroma-and-Nutrition/9118690/

South Indian Food -Extensive in Nature

South Indian food is pretty extensive in nature. Each of the four Southern states have various regional dissimilarities in terms of the styles of cooking, utilization of spices, etc.

South Indian cuisine is well-known for its greater emphasis on rice as the staple grain, the abundant usage of curry leaves and coconut oil, and the ubiquity of sambar as well as rasam at meals.

South Indian cooking is a lot more vegetarian than north Indian cooking. Garam masala is usually avoided here in cooking.

The dosa, idli and vada sambar are typical South Indian snacks.

As, South Indian food is rice based, rice is mixed with lentils to make delightful dosas, idlis, vadas as well as uttapams. These items are wonderful and tasty besides being nutritious and edible (because of the fermenting procedure). They are mixed with sambhar (dal), rasam (tamarind dal), dry as well as curried vegetable and pachadi (yogurt).

Their rice preparations are also masterworks for example; lemon rice and rice seasoned with coconut, peanuts, tamarind, chilies, curry leaves, urad dal as well as fenugreek seeds.

Coconut water is a regular kind of a drink in such restaurants. Coffee is extremely famous in all South Indian restaurants all over. The South Indian food recipes are an excellent amalgamation of tastes, colors, seasoning, dietary balance, aroma, flavor, and visual appeal.

Every one of us might be in love with authentic idlis or dosa choices offered at various South Indian cuisine restaurants offering authentic south Indian food menu, however when it comes to experiencing the same authentic aromas as well as flavors of this vast cuisine, choices are limited. This cuisine seems more or less limited to humbler establishments.

Vaango is an exclusive concept where one is able to enjoy authentic South Indian food in a modern atmosphere. It is the new restaurant chain launched by Devyani International limited as a part of its expansion venture. Vaango stands for come in or welcome in Tamil.

Built on the QSR model, the list of options has old-style delicacies from South India. The brand caters to all age groups who’re eager to try something different, fun, however with an authentic flavor. This exclusive brand features have been designed considering consumer insights and likings authenticated in the internal study that was conducted between the brand’s target audiences in key markets.

So, go to Vaango to experience the modern way of having south Indian food. For details visit www.vaango.in

Source:  http://goarticles.com/article/South-Indian-Food-Extensive-in-Nature/9111718/

South Indian Food : A Delight for Foodies

South Indian dishes have over the years gained immense popularity not just in India but in all over the world. One South Indian dish that has become extremely popular is idli sambar which is served in almost all south Indian restaurants. A traditional breakfast in all south Indian home especially in the states of Kerala, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and countries like Sri Lanka. As they are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils and rice, it is an extremely healthy yet delicious dish. Due to the process of fermentation, idlis break down the starches so that they are easily metabolized by the human body.



Idlis are usually served with coconut chutney of various kinds and authentic sambar that add to the extra flavor and taste. A lentil based vegetable stew based on broth made with tamarind, sambar is extremely popular among south Indian food lovers as well. Though the origins of the dish are unknown, legend has it that it was first made in the 19th century kitchen of Thanjavur Marathas ruler Shahuji in Tamil Nadu. According to the legend, Shahuji was trying to experiment and in the process discovered the dish sambar. It is a reflective of a broad and ancient tradition of lentil based dishes that are integral to the cuisines of South India. In regions that grow coconuts, sambar is made from a paste of fresh, grated roasted coconuts and spices instead of the usual sambar powder. Usually served with steamed rice, sambar is an integral part of daily south Indian cuisines. Also served with vadas, dosas and idlis, they are extremely popular as breakfast or evening snacks all over the country. Roadside vendors and restaurants more often than not offer free refills of sambar and chutney when eaten with idlis, vadas or dosas.  Today, there are various types of authentic sambar which taste very different and unique in different restaurants.

A South Indian soup, rasam is prepared by using tamarind juice as a base with the addition of tomatoes, chilli pepper, cumin and types of seasonings and spices. Currently, rasam powder is easily available in the market and this contains all the seasoning required to make rasam at home. Eaten either as spicy soup or with rice, it has a distinct flavor that is different from sambar though they both might look similar. Rasam has many health benefits as it provides the human body with a good dose of vitamin A and C due to the tomatoes and acidic fruits that go into making it.  It is a very good source of protein especially for those who are vegetarians and are not able to get the desired amount from fruits and vegetables.

In conclusion, south Indian food is one of the most healthy and tasty dishes that are now easily available in south Indian themed restaurants. Also as they are extremely popular, there is now a large number of such restaurants that are opening across the country.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/South-Indian-Food-A-Delight-for-Foodies/9028015

For more information visit:http://www.vaango.in.

South Indian Cuisine: Taking India to The World

Indian cuisine is considered as one of the most diverse and unique in the the world and is characterized by the sophisticated and fine use of spices, vegetables, grains and fruits. Each geographical region has their own technique of cooking that reflects the rich culture and tradition of that particular place. Further, the religious beliefs have also played a crucial role in the growth and development of Indian cuisines as many Hindus, Buddhist and Jain communities practice vegetarianism to a great extent and this is reflected in the meal preferences as well.



As India is a large country, there are various types of dishes that come together to form Indian cuisine. The four main parts of India namely North, South, East and West have their own set of food items that are unique to their culture, region and tradition. While dishes from North India are greatly influenced by thick spicy and creamy gravies, Eastern India has food items that are generally steamed and dried in nature. Dishes from West India are normally less spicier and more sweeter as compared to other parts of the country. South Indian cuisine has a dominance of spices because these places have always been a center of trade since time immemorial. Some of the major spices include cardamom, cinnamon, pepper and cloves among others. Besides spices, South Indian food is also known for its abundant use of coconut and also has a good range of non-vegetarian dishes as well.

Further, each of the states of South India, namely Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka have their own unique style and method of cooking that adds the distinct flavor to all their food items.  So while sambar are prepared in all the four states, a true food connoisseur can easily tell the difference between the preparation of all the four states. Food from Tamil Nadu forms an integral part of the South Indian cuisine and balances between both spicy and non-spicy dishes. Some of the popular Tamilian food items include rice sambar, various types of dry curries, rasam, idli, pongal, dosai, aval (flattened rice), puttu, idiyappam, appam among others. Though people from the state do consume non-vegetarian items especially sea food, it is much lower in comparision to Western countries. Food from Kerala also has an assortment of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Since Kerala is famous for its coconuts, it invariably finds its way into a number of meals within the state. Seafood is pretty popular within the state as well and consumed on a daily basis. The food of Andra Pradesh is considered to be extremely spicy and are very hot and tangy as well. They have both vegetable and lentil based dishes in this region of the country.  Among south Indian food, Karnataka dihes are considered the most mild and has generous doses of jaggery, palm sugar and minimal use of chilli powder. As the number of vegetarians are more in the country, vegetarian meals enjoy immense popularity both within and outside the state.

Over the past few years, South Indian food has begun to enjoy a lot of popularity both within the country and across the globe. This is evident from the number of South Indian themed restaurants that have been established in various parts of the world. Additionally, the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, vegetarian and non-vegetarian, South Indian meals are sure to make every meal both delicious and satisfying for people across diverse tastes and preferences.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/South-Indian-Cuisine-Taking-India-to-The-World/9023719

For more information visit:http://www.vaango.in.

Explore the Best in South Indian Cuisines

An essential part of the Indian cuisine, south Indian food is very popular not just within the sate but in a number of places around the country. The food in this region uses a good and generous amount of spices and coconut, which are present in almost every dish that have their roots in this region. Further, most dishes are tempered with oil, mustard seeds, curry leaves, dried chilly and urad dal for extra flavor and taste. While the state of Tamil Nadu is famous for a number of dishes like idlis, dosas, sambar and vada among many others, the Malabar Coast in South India is well-know for its use of spices that attracted many foreign invaders in the past as well. Cardamon, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves are some of the prominent spices that are used in many South Indian dishes. Further, rice is the staple food of South India as compared to wheat which is consumed in a greater quality in western India.



Food in India is therefore completely unique and inspired from the culture and heritage of that particular place. As breakfast is considered as one of the most important meal, South Indian breakfast dishes are impressive both in terms of variety and taste. They are also very easy to prepare, tasty and extremely healthy as they provide all the necessary vitamins, nutrients and minerals. Some of the popular dishes in a South Indian breakfast menu includes idli, medu vada, various types of dosa, upma, appam, etc. These dishes have over time not just gained popularity within the states but are enjoyed in the same manner in other states of India as well as around the globe. Another prominent aspect of south Indian dishes is the authentic coconut chutney that serves as a perfect accompaniment to many  of the dishes. As coconut trees are found in abundance in almost all the states of South India, it is very popular and served with a number of dishes as well. Further,coconut chutney is an integral part of any meal that is served in India and if a meal does not contain it is considered incomplete.

Due to the immense popularity of South Indian cuisines, a number of restaurants catering to this particular cuisine have opened up around the country, especially in and around the capital. Gurgaon, situated in the National Capital Region (NCR) also has a number South Indian restaurant that cater to people of that region by providing them authentic South Indian food in a contemporary ambiance. This means that in case you want to enjoy authentic South Indian food in Gurgaon you are never far from some of the best options in the region.

Article Source: http://goarticles.com/article/Explore-the-Best-in-South-Indian-Cuisines/9020569


For more information visit:http://www.vaango.in.