Role Of Basmati Rice In Indian Cuisine

“One type of rice nourishes one hundred types of people.” – Author Unknown

Meet the type that nourishes one thousand types of people – Basmati! It is an aromatic variety, with long, slender grains, that have a slight nutty flavour. In my previous article on EzineArticles.com, I referred to it as “India’s most prised culinary gift to the world”. India exports it all over the globe, and it is used in a variety of dishes, including pilafs, puddings and salads. But ever wondered, how do we Indians use it? I enlist for you, probably the three most common uses of Basmati in India.

Biryani: A spicy (I am saying spicy, not hot!), robust curry with succulent pieces of mutton (The term in India almost always refers to goat meat.) / chicken/ fish is layered with “just done”, soft and fluffy Basmati in a large pan. The layers of rice are sprinkled with saffron-infused milk, dices of butter, fresh coriander, and refreshing mint leaves. Topped with browned onions, the preparation is then sealed, the lid of the pan held tightly into place with some wheat dough. Finally, it is placed on a small fire, some burning charcoal placed on the lid, to give heat from both top and bottom. Since the contents of the pan are sealed, no aroma is lost. The rice soaks up the juices from the meat.

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Relish the Varied Tastes of Indian Sweets

Indian cuisines and spices are famous worldwide for their exotic tastes and aromas. With diverse cultures, religions and castes across the country, tastes and traditions differ largely. Different traditions give rise to different food habits and recipes. Indian sweets are no different. They can be categorized into a wide variety of types starting from mouthwatering desserts to sugary delicacies to special confectioneries. A wide variety of sweets originate from different parts of India, gaining popularity across the whole world.

Let us discuss in this article some of the most popular types of Indian sweets or Mithai that are famous worldwide:

Rasgulla: Rasgulla is a famous sweet that is popular all across the country, but mainly found in West Bengal, which is its origin. It is also one of the most well-known sweets in Orissa. To make Rasgullas, casein sugar is boiled in sugar syrup and left to dry.

Parwal ki Mithai: Famous in all parts of Bihar, Parwal ki Mithai is made with parwal stuffed with sweets that are made from milk products. This exotic sweet is a perfect blend of being dry and juicy, and is used largely in various special occasions like weddings, religious rituals etc. Continue reading “Relish the Varied Tastes of Indian Sweets”

A Review of Leith’s Indian and Sri Lankan Cookery

Sri Lanka is a tropical paradise with a civil war that has been happening in the northern part of the island for over twelve years. This fact didn’t stop the Sri Lankan culture especially the recipes from continuously blooming and improving, making Sri Lanka meals one of the most sought after meals.

Sri Lankan food is can be called a home-cooking essential as well as a form of art, since this is how the Sri Lankans regard their cooking. Hoppers are the most famous Sri Lankan meal. They even have pancakes that are thin and crispy at the same time called dosa that is most of the time topped with curry.

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Bananas, The Instant Energy Source

If you want a quick energy booster, there’s no better snack than a banana. Bananas have three natural sugars; sucrose, fructose and glucose-combined with a fiber, a banana gives an instant and sustained boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 minute work out.

Unripe bananas contain resistant starch, so called because it cannot be digested by the small intestine-which then ferments in the large intestine, often causing wing. Because ripe bananas are very easily digestible and rarely cause any allergic reactions, they are a popular solid food for babies.

Bananas are also found to beneficial to preventing or curing these ailments: Continue reading “Bananas, The Instant Energy Source”

Rich and Varied Heritage

India is always remembered as a land of diverse cultures. The geographic position, climate and the extent of exposure to foreign cultures have totally influenced the traditions and culture of the different regions at different periods. The greatness of Indian culture has been in adopting the best from all the invaders and intermingling their customs and styles with the existing and this is visible in all aspects of culture.

Indian culture have always been attached to the great river systems, the watersheds of the Indus and Ganges, the Deccan plateau and South India.

Secular India is home to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and other innumerable religious traditions. Hinduism is the dominant religious faith followed by the majority of the population. Colorful traditional festivals are almost 400 that have been happening for centuries. Not a single day passes by without a festival in one region or the other. It is an occasion for men to put on a new traditional costumes and jewelery. Continue reading “Rich and Varied Heritage”

The Best Home Remedies For Natural Heartburn Relief

A pleasant sunny day can be ruined when the scorching heat behind your chest calls your attention. Heartburn -rightly termed, as a hearty party of the previous night can ruin couple of parties in the coming weekend. Many grabs the over the counter drugs and get rid of heartburn and even the thought of it. This easily available solution does not only stop us from bothering about heartburn, but also blocks us from seeing where our health is leading. If taking antacid is unavoidable, opting for home remedies and treating heartburn naturally will reduce the effect on the health. I prefer these easily available home remedies to cure heartburn over antacids as these are also otherwise beneficial for health.

1. Asafoetida. Asafoetida is an Indian spice commonly used for cooking. As Indian food is generally spicy, adding asafoetida to help digestion tells a lot about its effectiveness on reducing heartburn. Continue reading “The Best Home Remedies For Natural Heartburn Relief”

A Healthy Food Guide For The Vegetarian Diet

The general viewpoint is that you can’t go wrong with a vegetarian diet; it is nutrient rich with plenty of fiber, vitamins and antioxidants. But did you know that vegetarian diets can be low in protein if adequate beans, lentils, and/or dairy are not included? For example, a vegetarian meal that only consists of a leafy green salad with a side of whole grain bread is low in protein. Adding beans to the leafy green salad, a side of lentil soup, and/or a serving of non-fat milk or yogurt are easy ways to include protein in the meal. Also, eating the same lettuce salad for lunch every day can also mean that your diet lacks variety. Eating a variety of vegetables and fruits ensures that you are getting different nutrients from naturals foods on a regular basis. Whether you are eating at home or in a restaurant, there are websites with free tools that you can use to look up the nutrition data of foods and recipes. Continue reading “A Healthy Food Guide For The Vegetarian Diet”

Incredible Heritage of India

India is synonym with ‘diversity’ and this bears in the rich heritage of the country. The perfect blend of religions, cultures, languages, customs and traditions is reflected in the rich heritage of the country. One of the oldest civilizations is a treasury of art, architecture, philosophy, classical dances, music, flora, fauna and much more. The natural beauty of the country, the landscapes ranging from deserts to mountains…beaches to plains, the varied temperatures all make it a must visit country for avid travelers. India has also been the birthplace of yoga and meditation.

India is also the birth place of four of the world’s major religious traditions; Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. Religion has played a vital role in shaping India and its heritage. One of the most religiously diverse countries in the world, India is also a hub of spirituality, yoga and Ayurveda; which attracts millions of tourists from around the world. Continue reading “Incredible Heritage of India”

Various Pulses Used In Indian Cuisine

The Indian cuisine includes a wide assortment of various kinds of pulses such as masoor dal or the red lentils, toor dal or the yellow gram, urad dal or the black gram and moong dal or the green gram. Most of the pulses are used as whole and dehusked. Split pulses are also widely used in the Indian cuisine. Both North Indian and the South Indian dishes contain a wide amount of different types of pulses. The Indian cuisine is incomplete without the use of these delicious and healthy pulses.

Benefits of Urad Dal

The black gram or the urad dal is one of the most popular and widely used Indian pulses. It is usually grown in the southern parts of Asia. It is highly cultivated in India as it has numerous health benefits. Black gram is often ground to paste to prepare different culinary dishes idlis and dosas (traditional food in South India). It has a wide number of health benefits which are mentioned below. Continue reading “Various Pulses Used In Indian Cuisine”

Why and How Indian Sweets Are So Famous!

India is world famous for its authentic cuisine and spices. Even if we talk about Mithai, Indian Mithai include the widest range of sugary delicacies, confectionaries and deserts. Throughout the South Asia region, Indian sweets are very famous and in high demand. Understanding this fact, many sweets manufacturers have come up with online Mithai shops to make their customers happy. That means now you can easily order Indian Mithai online, without any hassle.

Online Mithai shops avail a wide variety of Indian sweets and deserts that will leave you with a mouth watering experience. Moreover, they are available at affordable rates. They even allow packaging and distribution or delivery of their exotic sweets anywhere in the world. So, when are you planning to order mithai online?

Since India unifies many cultures, traditions and cuisines thus, the cooking style and ingredients varies from one sweet to another. That’s how Indian sweets can be categorized into a huge variety. You may get Indian mithai such as tirangi burfi, rasgulla, sohan papri, halwa, etc. in different colors, shapes, flavors and sizes. In fact, in India sweets have their own importance and relevance. In every festival, ceremony or occasion, it is essential to make sweets as a part of the meal. It is believed that any meal is incomplete in Indian without a proper mithai or Indian sweet. Sweets signify prosperity, happiness and affection. Continue reading “Why and How Indian Sweets Are So Famous!”