Guest Post by Pauline Davis
There is no denying that one of the best things about visiting India is enjoying the authentic cuisine that is on offer. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the best meals that you should enjoy while in this amazing part of Asia. Just remember though: if you haven’t been to India before, it might take your body a bit of time to adjust to the food here!
Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken is a type of curry that is served with rice. It is actually the most popular dish served in restaurants in India. It is believed that Butter Chicken was likely to have been developed during the era of the Mughal Empire. Obviously there have been a lot of different versions of this dish made. Nevertheless, authentic Indian restaurants will marinate the chicken in yogurt and a spice mixture. The spices incorporated typically include turmeric, ginger, pepper, chili, cumin, garam masala, garlic paste, coriander, and lemon or lime. Genuine restaurants use these spices and cook via the traditional method. You will not get the true taste of Butter Chicken by taking shortcuts. The chicken is cooked in a tandoor, whilst the sauce is created by mixing tomato puree, butter, Khoa, and an array of spices. These tend to encompass the likes of cloves, pepper, cumin, coriander, fresh cream, fenugreek, and cinnamon. As you can see, this is an intricate dish that incorporates an array of exciting flavors, so it’s definitely worth a try when you are exploring India.
Aloo Gobi
Another dish that you simply cannot miss while you are in India is Aloo Gobi. This is a dish that combines cauliflower and potatoes – a winning combination. They are mixed together with an array of Indian species. The dish is yellow in appearance – not surprisingly, considering that turmeric is one of the ingredients. You will often find curry leaves and kalonji incorporated into the dish as well. Other common ingredients include cumin, peas, tomato, coriander stalks, onion, garlic, and ginger. The result is a dish that has heaps of flavor, and so you will often find it in many restaurants around the country.
Thali
If you want to get a true taste for India then you definitely have to try the Thali. After all, going on holiday is all about getting a true sense of the culture, right? Thali is a meal that consists of approximately eight small dishes. You will find that this is eaten in homes situated all over India. Indian people thoroughly believe in having a balanced diet. Their meals reflect this – often incorporating at least three different vegetables, as well as protein and carbohydrates. Thali is a perfect representation of this. It provides an array of different nutrition, colors, flavors, and textures, and thus offers the complete meal. You can expect everything from curry, dal, vegetables, chapati, chutney, raita and poppadoms.
Pav Bhaji
And last but not least, why not try Pav Bhaji? This is one of the most popular street foods found in India. If you are not aware, India’s streets are home to an explosion of taste, colors, creativity, and texture. The Pav Bhaji is a recommended choice because it is a vegetarian dish – and when it comes to vegetarian dishes, Indian chefs really know what they’re doing. Vegetarian food is a dominant part of Indian cuisine, after all, as a huge proportion of India’s population is actually vegetarian. It’s always a good idea to try a vegetarian offering, then, if you truly want to embrace the culture. Even big meat eaters may be surprised! The main part of the dish is the Bhaji – this is a thick potato-based curry. It is usually garnished with chopped onion and coriander. It is served with a Pav – in other words, a bread bun.
So there you have it: some of the most delicious dishes that you should definitely give a try while you’re in India. In this amazing part of the world, you’ll soon see that the cuisine is a tourist attraction in its own right.
