The mention of India is usually concomitant with its cuisine – the mouthwatering flavors, spices, sweeteners, aromas, and the overall culinary experience that makes you slip into a great gourmand experience. Having visited and trotted most of India, I am in love with the flavors of my country. They are vivid – spicy, tangy, fiery, zesty, pungent, simmering – and complicated in a wonderful way.
When you visit India, here’s my list of ten flavors you should not miss. I have tried including both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delights so that there is something for everyone. Do note that these are authentic flavors rooted in India’s culture, so you may need to venture out to the local streets and roadside vendors to sample them. You may have been warned not to, but here goes the list, anyway:
Pasande Kababs – Pasande Kababs are spicy lamb steaks from Jammu & Kashmir. Sold in most of the streets of Srinagar, pasande kababs are made out of soft lamb meat cooked in yogurt, ginger powder, asafetida, cardamom, cinnamon, and almonds. A dollop of ghee (clarified ghee) is added to complete this dish that boasts of ecstatic aromas and strong flavors. It is complemented with green mint chutney and lemon/onion juliennes.
Samosas - Further down in Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow, Allahabad, Varanasi), something you must sample is the samosa, served so often at the local halwai (sweet) shops. Samosas are available everywhere and varies according to the part of the country you’re in. That is precisely the beauty of samosa – triangular patties that may be stuffed with potatoes or peas or even cauliflowers and then cooked in Indian spices.
Shami Kebabs – Most of the former princely Indian states have a treasure trove of kebabs! Shami kebabs of Lucknow and Bhopal are famous the world over. These are minced lamb meat cutlets, flavored with spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom. They melt into the mouth and taste best with thin rumali rotis (super thin Indian bread), onion juliennes, and mint chutney
Pindi chole and butter naan – This is a Delhi specialty. This dish is made of chickpeas cooked in a spicy onion and tomato gravy. The uniqueness in the flavor comes from the garnishing of pomegranate seed powder. Butter naan is bread prepared out of refined flour and yogurt, smeared with lots of butter.
Dal Kachori – These fried patties are a delightful snack found throughout India, especially in the northern part of the country. The dal kachoris in Rajasthan are supposed to be the most authentic. These are fried refined flour patties with a filling of skinless dried black lentils flavored with cumin, anise, and coriander seeds. The crispy feel of these patties in your mouth is to die for!
Poha-Jalebi – This is the staple snack of central India available practically at every corner. Poha is a dish made of flattened rice steamed with anise seeds and minimal spices for a subtle flavor. They are served with jalebis, a fried and syrupy sweetmeat usually made and served in the morning hours. It is flavored with saffron, pistachios, cardamom, and rose water. The combined subtle and sweet flavors kick start your day in a great way.
Sukit bombil chatni – Dry fried Bombay duck, spiced with tamarind, garlic and green chilies. This fish-fry is a non-vegetarian’s delight. The Konkani flavors are best enjoyed in fish served on the local tekris.
Hyderabadi Biriyani – Hyderabadi Biriyani is served at most non-vegetarian restaurants in Hyderabad and even in other cities! The dish is prepared with special basmati rice with chicken/mutton slow cooked in spices like – black pepper, nutmeg, curry leaves, cardamom and saffron. The intermingling of the rice, spices, and meat impart a unique flavor to this all-time favorite dish.
Chettinad chicken dry – Savor the fiery taste of Tamil Nadu with chicken chettinad which derives its fierce taste from a combination of coconut and curry leaves. Chettinad chicken dry is a popular appetizer in the south for its spicy and tangy taste.
Nariyal Pani – Coconut water, available everywhere across the Indian coastline is the most refreshing drink you can ever have. It is extensively used in many food recipes and is supposed to be a great detoxifier. Rich in nutrients, this drink refreshes you to the core and is a great accompaniment to many of the dishes mentioned above.
So the next time you are in India and visit any of these places, look out for these unique regional specialties and indulge your senses.
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in February, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
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