Generally, when you ask someone about Indian food, they will say adjectives like hot, spicy, rich, fatty, and curry. However, trying to characterize Indian cuisine in a few words is an incredibly daunting task. The country is home to a wide variety of regional cuisines, and food has 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 blend of spices and ingredients that makes it an art. So let’s tackle some of the many misconceptions about cooking with these 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Indian Food.
- Not all Indian food is spicy. In fact, most Indian dishes incorporate a variety of spices, but this is not what makes particular dishes spicy. Many recipes call for chilies or other “hot” spices, but these can almost always be omitted as a matter of taste. Also, some dishes have a very simple spice profile and others require only one or two spices.
- Indian food is healthy. While it’s true that many curry dishes can be a bit heavy on fat content, Indian food is really what you make of it. Just as you wouldn’t expect all Japanese dishes to include rice, you shouldn’t expect all Indian dishes to include fat either. Many recipes can be increased with respect to oil or fat content, and there is a wide range of dishes that do not call for oil at all. Indian cuisine is also full of healthy vegetables and spices cooked to taste rich and satisfying. Turmeric, ginger, garlic, and green chillies are commonly used in Indian recipes and are all known for their health benefits.
- Indian food can be easy to cook. Some recipes require time and effort to fully develop the flavors, but this is true of almost any cuisine in the world. Some of the most popular Indian dishes are really quick and easy. Tandoor chicken, mutter paneer, bhindi ki subji are just a few examples of easy to make recipes.
- There is no such thing as “curry”. To inexperienced eaters, curry seems to be the only ingredient in Indian food, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. First of all, “curry” is generally a collection of spices known as garam masala. The basic ingredients for garam masala are similar, but the final recipe can even vary between households.
- YoIndian food has various regional characteristics. Whether you are talking about North/South/East/West or various provinces of India, the cuisine varies significantly. North Indian food is probably the most popular internationally. Meats and vegetables cooked in a tandoor are common, and the cream is often used in marinades. However, Indian cuisine is incredibly diverse, so you can enjoy trying new and interesting varieties from all over the country.