Indian cuisine can easily be divided into various categories because it changes according to region, religion, tradition, culture and much more. Simplifying it would be an enormous task to undertake so what we are going to do is a quick basic introduction to Indian food. It is beyond the regular tandoor and curry but less than a detailed view of every possible cuisine of India. Knowing this will also help you in reading the menus of restaurants in India when you book last minute flight tickets from US to India on Tripbeam.
Hindu is the predominant religion in India and people usually are vegetarian. Hindus believe cows to be sacred to their religion, and Muslims will never eat pork. So you won’t be finding beef or pork options easily on Indian restaurant menus apart from specific regions in India.
The names in the menus are based usually in the local languages, especially if you go to the hole- in- the- wall food joints. So it would obviously be impossible to learn about all of them if you are going on an India tour. We have a tip for you. Google the translations in the local language for chicken, fish, mutton, beef and pork no matter where you go in India. That makes it easier to identify what you would like to eat instead of fumbling to find your way.
What are the popular ingredients for Indian restaurant menus?
- Murgh– chicken
- Gosht– red meat, often mutton or goat
- Memana– a young animal, e.g. kid (goat) or lamb (sheep)
- Samudri bhojan– seafood
- Machli– fish
- Jhinga– shrimp / prawns
- Paneer– fresh Indian cheese
- Aloo– potato
- Palak– spinach
- Saag– any leafy greens such as spinach or mustard leaves
- Chana– chickpeas
- Baingan– eggplant
- Chaaval– rice
Also Read: 10 Reasons Why Traveling To India Is A Must In 2023
What are the popular ways of food preparation in India?
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- Tandoori- It is basically large pieces of marinated meat or paneer pieces, roasted in a clay oven
- Tikka– The technique is quite like tandoori and has small skewered meat pieces
- Biryani- Made primarily of a base of heavily spiced rice with meat, seafood or vegetarian options
- Curry- A gravy based dish with the regular Indian spices
- Korma- It is a thick milder version of curry because of the use of cream or curd in the gravy
- Momo- Steamed dumplings with vegetarian and non- vegetarian fillings and soup
- Rogan josh- A heavily spiced, fragrant and flavorful lamb curry
- Pakora- Regular fritters made with a batter along with ingredient of choice
- Vindaloo- Known for being a spicy curry with meat, seafood or vegetarian options, usually found in Goa
- Bharwa- The item of choice has a filling of various things
- Masala- An Indian spice blend with more fiery hotness
What are the famous menu options?
Thali Platter
This is a full meal, usually served during lunch or dinner in Indian restaurants. You can consider it as the Indian version of the Japanese Bento boxes with something of everything. It is super- filling for anyone, even for those with large appetites and is easy on the pocket. It can consist of anything from a minimum of 5 to more than 20 dishes served up on a platter.
Lighter food options
If you are someone who prefers bland foods or lighter meals that won’t fill you to the brim, here are some options.
- Soups- A lightly filling flavorful broth with meat, seafood or vegetarian options, you can also choose the manchow version if you want to have a topping of fried noodles
- Dal- This varies by preparation of the lentils but it is usually served in limited portions
- Fried rice, Steamed rice, Stir fried veggies and noodles
If you want to try it out personally, book last minute airline tickets from US to India on Tripbeam and go on your own culinary journey throughout India.
Also Read: Stunning Natural Wonders Of India You Need To See Once In Your Lifetime
