6 Indian Food Myths and Truths – What is True and What is Not?

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. Continue reading “6 Indian Food Myths and Truths – What is True and What is Not?”

Indian Cuisine Recipes and Indian Cuisine Food

India has a wide range of cuisine. India is known to the world for use of spices in food. The “Indian Curry” is famous world over. India is a vast country; therefore there is a difference in the cuisine in different parts of India. The south Indian food has its own distinct flavor, while the food in north is different and spicier. The cuisine in different parts of India is influenced by the local culture prevailing there. It is also dependent upon the vegetation found in a particular geographical region.

Indian cuisine has evolved over a period of time and it is influences by various cultures. As India came into contact with the outside world, it also influenced the cuisine of India.

The Middle East and Europe brought its flavor to Indian cuisine and it blended beautifully with the Indian cuisine. Indian food has also been influenced by religious beliefs. India is home to many religions. Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Hinduism were born here. Islam and Christianity also came Jains and Buddhists are strict vegetarians while Muslims and Christians use a lot of meat product in their food. All these influences have mixed with the present day cuisine in India. Continue reading “Indian Cuisine Recipes and Indian Cuisine Food”

The Magic of Indian Food Cuisine

Indian food/cuisine and the variety in it is a true reflection of the country’s essence of being and its unity in diversity. Its cuisine (comprising curry, dessert dishes and the like) is therefore an amalgamation of a number of regional cuisines which are known for their respective gharanas with distinctive flavours and style of cooking

Coming to think about it:

• Most of these Indian curries have the reputation of being spicy and rich, and are famous all over the world for their unique taste. This is so because these various types of curry and dessert dishes incorporate the use of curry powder (mixture of spices belonging to South Asian cuisine) and a list of exotic ingredients to infuse the delicacies with piquancy that is way above the ordinary and exclusively Indian.

• The curries and dessert dishes can be enjoyed at several restaurants, food joints, eateries and roadside ‘dhabas’ that promise to offer the real taste of Indian cuisine. You can even prepare the various types of curry or dessert dishes at home with the careful use of ingredients sauteed/ simmered/ roasted with the choicest curry powder renditions to help you bask in the glory of the ultimate culinary delight. Continue reading “The Magic of Indian Food Cuisine”

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Indian Food

Generally when you ask somebody about Indian food they will spout adjectives like hot, spicy, rich, fatty, and curry. However, trying to characterize Indian cuisine in just a few words is an incredibly daunting task. The country is home to a vast array of regional cuisines, and the food evolved over thousands of years based on internal and external influences. Those who are passionate about Indian cuisine would argue that preparing the food involves an intricate blending of spices and ingredients that make it something of an art. So let’s address some of the many misconceptions about the cuisine with these 5 things you didn’t know about Indian food. Continue reading “5 Things You Didn’t Know About Indian Food”

The Health Benefits of a Simple Egg Sandwich

This is the typical conversation most mornings and sometimes at weekends during snack time, between my wife and my 4 year old daughter.

“Mum, I’m hungry.” “What would you like to eat?” “Egg sandwich.”

She wants a fried egg, cooked in a small dab of virgin olive oil over moderate heat with a sprinkling of freshly ground pepper in a sandwich of freshly baked wholegrain homemade bread. I introduced her to eggs when she was a toddler. Eggs are easy to chew and should be part of a daily diet given to any child of one year old or older. I remember when my daughter as a toddler would eat the egg white first and then pop the whole yolk of a hard-boiled egg straight into her mouth. I still remember when I was a child and my mother used to give me a hard-boiled egg whenever I was hungry. What happened to the good old fashioned days when eggs were given as snacks? Continue reading “The Health Benefits of a Simple Egg Sandwich”

Are Parents to Blame For Childhood Obesity?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over the past three decades the obesity rate for children between the ages of 6-11 has tripled. As a result the cases of childhood Type 2 diabetes has exploded, as has the number of cases of bone and joint problems caused by excessive weight. Our super-sized society is literally jeopardizing the health of our children. From big gulps to “biggie sized” fast food meals – society promotes unhealthy eating habits in our children.

Yet, even inside the home we continue to encourage poor feeding habits. Typically parents will tell kids to eat everything on their plate, yet our plate sizes have grown over the last decades. Nine inch diameter dinner plates were once the norm. Now eleven inch diameter dinner plates are commonplace. May not sound like much of a difference but realize that an eleven inch plate holds 33% more food than a nine inch plate. The result – we are simply over-feeding our children. What can you do to help fight the epidemic of childhood obesity? Try these tips. They’ll encourage healthy habits in your kids and keep more of your hard earned money in your wallet. Switch to smaller plates. Continue reading “Are Parents to Blame For Childhood Obesity?”

Fusion Food – A Multicultural Feast

What is fusion food?

Fusion dishes combine elements of various culinary traditions while not fitting into any one of them specifically. It is food that offers the best of both worlds. In culture and tradition menus are limited to the availability of food.

The lucky thing about a country like Australia is the wide range of fresh, seasonal produce – fruits, meats, herbs, spices – available to us removes some of those limitations. The inclusion of uniquely Australian flavours and produce into other the food of other cultures offers an exciting menu opportunity not available anywhere else in the world. Continue reading “Fusion Food – A Multicultural Feast”

The Different Kinds of Cooking TV Shows

Cooking shows have proved to be quite an effective method of driving the ratings up for a network. The premise of cooking TV shows is fairly simple. You find a great chef, create a kitchen for him or her, place the chef in the kitchen and have him or her prepare mouthwatering dishes. Many people may think that this is boring and that it’ll hardly work, but numerous shows have proven them wrong.

Reality Cooking TV Shows

Cooking shows are popular. In fact, they are one of the most popular daytime shows. People generally love the idea that these shows have to offer. With the popularity of reality shows, reality cooking TV shows are inevitable. Combining reality TV and cooking is actually brilliant because this removes the boring factor associated to cooking by people who are not actually interested in the art. Reality cooking shows effectively introduce cooking to people who are looking for edgier programs. The idea is this — even if you don’t like to cook, you’d still get entertained. People get hooked, not by the actual cooking, but by the excitement the show generates. People come back week after week just to see what will happen next. Continue reading “The Different Kinds of Cooking TV Shows”

Spumoni – Part 3 – A Delicious Easy Recipe

Well, I’m sure by now you’ve decided that, while spumoni might well be a delicious Italian Dessert, it’s WAY too much work. I wanted to provide a reasonably authentic recipe for this delicious dessert for those who wanted to hone their cooking skills. However, the tedious and time-consuming recipe listed in the previous post is not one that everyone will care to try.

With this in mind, I sought out an easier, more user-friendly recipe that would enable more people to try spumoni without the huge investment of time, energy and skill. The recipe I’m bringing to you today will be easier and faster to prepare and offers the opportunity to be selective in the ingredients for those who are fat, calorie and carb conscious.

Easy Spumoni Continue reading “Spumoni – Part 3 – A Delicious Easy Recipe”

Indian Tasty Breakfast (Upma) Receipe

Upma, also known as Uppindi, Uppumavu, Uppittu, Kharabath, Uppeet, and Rulanv is an Indian dish made of semolina or rava. The name is an amalgam of two words: uppu means “salt” and maavu means “flour”. Upma is a common South Indian breakfast dish. It is usually made with refined wheat grains, which Indians generally call suji.

A variety of upmas can also be made with both vermicelli and thick, brown wheat grains. Upma is simple and easy to prepare. You can also add vegetable to enhance the taste and make it more nutritious and healthy dish. Upma may also be garnished with a variety of beans (raw or sprouted), cashew and peanuts.

Semolina is most commonly made from Durum wheat, which is thicker and yellow in color with a higher protein and gluten content than Rava. Rava on the other hand is specifically semolina made from soft wheat also known by the trade name of Cream of wheat or farina (food), which is a softer white cereal. Continue reading “Indian Tasty Breakfast (Upma) Receipe”