India is the world’s seventh biggest country, located in South Asia between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, and is the world’s largest democracy. India is well recognized for its spices, and Indian food has had a significant effect on other cuisines all over the world. India has historically been one of the leading spice dealers in Europe and is currently the world’s top rice exporter.
India has 28 states and 8 union territories, each of which contributes something unique to Indian cuisine, making it the second biggest cuisine in terms of the number of dishes.
Categorizing Indian food by region would be the most logical method to learn about the popular meals in India. The following are some popular dishes depending on where you are in India.
- Northern India – Mughlai Dum Biryani, Chole Bhature, Naan, Kashmiri Pulao, Baati Chokha, Butter Chicken, Butter Paneer, Chicken Tikka, Paneer Tikka, Tandoori Chicken, Various Paneer and chicken curries/dishes, Nihari, Keema, Aloo Chaat, Aloo Parathe, Various stuffed Parathe, Samosa, Pakoras, Pani Puri, Momos, Dal Makhni, Dahi Bhalla, Dahi Jalebi, Malai Kheer, Gulab Jamun, Phirni.
- Western India – Vada Pav, Poha, Sabudana Khichdi, Bombay Duck, Goan Fish Curry, Thepla, Dhokla, Khakra, Laal Maans, Gatte ki Sabzi, Misal Pav, Ragda Pattice, Dahi Puri, Amras, Khandvi, Dabeli, Dahi Curry, Batata Vada, Bombay Sandwich, Ghevar, Chikki, Shrikhand, Motichoor Laddo.
- Eastern India – Litti Chokha, Dalma, Assamese fish curry, Thukpa, Gundruk, Khichdi, Doi Machch, Fish Fried Rice, Bhel Puri, Arisa Pitha, Cham Cham, Khaja, Rasmalai, Rasgulla, Mishti Doi, Sondesh.
- Southern India – Hyderabadi Biryani, Keema Methi, Malabar Paratha, Idli, Dosa, Sambar, Rasam, Uttapam, Coconut Chutney, Medu Vada, Masala Vada, Pongal, Upama, Karemeen Pollichathu, Fish Molee, Payasam, Appam, Rice Puttu, Coconut Barfi, Coconut Laddoo, Kesari Bhat, Khuhbani Ka Meetha, Beetroot Halwa, Mysore Pak.
Most Popular Indian Foods You Must Try:
The diversity and depth of the cuisine may be easily estimated from the items listed above. The following is a summary of the aforementioned few most renowned meals:
1. Mughlai Biryani and Hyderabadi Biryani: Biryani is a popular meal in which basmati rice is cooked with spices, meat, veggies, and dairy products such as cottage cheese. It originated in Mughal cuisine and is prepared in a variety of ways throughout India. Mughlai biryani is popular in Lucknow, but Hyderabadi Biryani is a method of making Biryani in Hyderabad. Both of these dishes are well-known over the world and may be found in any Indian restaurant.
2. Chole Bhature: Chole is cooked chickpeas combined with tangy and spicy soup, while Bhature is deep-fried sourdough (all-purpose flour mixed with soda) bread. It is a popular breakfast in North India and is a filling meal that may last all day. It goes great with a pickle, sliced onion, and a cup of yogurt.
3. Baati and Litti Chokha: Baati is wheat dough balls that have been cooked over heat, whereas Litti is similar but includes roasted gram flour filled within the dough balls. It pairs well with Chokha which is mashed roasted potato, roasted eggplant, and roasted tomato with chilies and other spices.
4. Butter Chicken and Butter Paneer: Butter chicken is soft chicken served with a smooth and rich sauce comprised of tomato, onion, garlic, and butter. For vegetarians, Butter Paneer uses cottage cheese instead of chicken. It is very popular in India’s capital city Delhi.
5. Chicken Tikka and Paneer Tikka: Chicken Tikka is usually boneless chicken pieces barbecued over charcoal after marinating with spices. Paneer tikka is a vegetarian variant of the dish that substitutes paneer for chicken.
6. Aloo Parathe and Other Stuffed Parathe: In North India, Parathas are a popular morning meal. It is a shallow-fried bread composed of wheat dough that has been packed with various fillings such as cottage cheese, potato, radish, onion, cheese, and mixed vegetables. Aloo Paratha is stuffed with mashed potatoes and spices.
7. Vada Pav: Simple and famous Mumbai cuisine is also known as Bombay Burger. Deep-fried mashed potato fritters are served inside a bun (pav) with fried green chili. It is an all-day snack that is widely accessible on Mumbai’s streets.
8. Poha: Poha is the most popular breakfast dish in several Indian states. Flattened rice is soaked in water and cooked in a skillet with spices before being served with lemon, green chile, and onion.
9. Dhokla: Dhokla is a classic Gujarati dish made with a fermented batter of mixed lentils and rice. It is a great all-day snack that is also quite nutritious to eat.
10. Idli: Idli is a famous South Indian dish that is made by steaming a fermented batter of black lentils and rice. It is regarded as a nutritious breakfast, and it is growing popular in other areas of India in addition to South India.
11. Dosa: Dosa is a thin pancake made with fermented black lentils and rice batter. It is rolled and served with sambar and coconut chutney, or it is sometimes packed with various fillings to give it a distinct flavor.
12. Sambar: Sambar is a lentil-based thick soup with a wide range of vegetables that goes well with Idli and Dosa.
13. Malabar Paratha: A somewhat crispy and highly flaky all-purpose flour flatbread is called Kerala Paratha due to its popularity in Kerala. It’s made in a pan and goes well with anything with curry and thick consistency.
14. Pongal/Chakarai Pongal: Pongal is simply boiling rice, while Chakarai Pongal is a variation in which the rice is sweetened with jaggery during cooking. Chakarai Pongal is cooked during the Tamil Pongal festival.
15. Gulab Jamun: A dough of all-purpose flour and Khoya is made, and little balls are formed from it. After that, the balls are deep fried in clarified butter and drenched in sugar syrup. Gulab Jamun is a popular after-meal dessert in India.
16. Jalebi: Jalebi is a circular sweet dish consisting of all-purpose flour that is deep fried in oil and drenched in sugar syrup. In North India, Jalebi is eaten in the morning rather than as a dessert after supper, and it tastes best with Rabri (Condensed Milk) or Yogurt.
17. Kheer: Kheer is a pudding-like dessert prepared from rice cooked in milk with spices such as cardamom. On top, saffron, dried fruits, and grated coconut are sprinkled. It may be served hot or cold and tastes delicious either way.
18. Rasgulla: Rasgulla is a wonderful delicacy made from little dough balls of semolina and soured milk solids boiled in sugar syrup. It is a Bengali sweet popularly known as Rosogolla over there.
The foods listed above are only a glimpse of Indian cuisine; to really experience it, one must spend a significant amount of time in India. Because of its variety, spices, and method of cooking Indian food is often regarded as one of the greatest.
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