Indian Food, Part I

A number of people have asked me what the food is like in India. Well, given my newfound expertise in the subject, I thought it an adequate an interesting topic to write about.

Indian food is an acquired taste. The food here hasn't been spicy, per se, but it has been over-spiced. The main courses tend to be meats and/or vegetables in really thick and distinctive tasting sauces, served over white rice or with a plain tasting bread. Fried foods are also common. Everything is very heavy and, despite what the American perception is, I would say that the majority of Indian foods - despite being heavily laden with vegetables - are unhealthy.

DRINKS

Chai - chai or spiced tea is extremely popular. It can be found absolutely everywhere and is really cheap. It's nothing more than hot tea combined with milk and sugar.

Chai Tea

Milk - almost all dairy products come from water buffalo and milk is no exception. I've pretty much stayed away from milk for that reason - and because it is sold in bags in the grocery story. Yes, unrefrigerated bags.

Lassi - another popular treat, lassis are essentially milkshakes. They are made from cream and are served plain, salted, sweetened or with a fruit.

Sweet Lassi

Juice - because there are so many tropical fruits available, juices are very popular. Watermelon juice is a favorite... I don't see how it's anything more than red tinted water. Mango and pineapple juices are also fairly common.

Alcohol - while it can be found at restaurants and wine shops, alcohol seems to be a luxury enjoyed by wealthier Indians and foreigners. This is likely in part due to its relatively high cost (by Indian standards). While there are a variety of liquors, the beer selection seems to be pretty limited. For the most part, Kingfisher is the only brand of beer. It's similar to an American lager.

Kingfisher

BREAKFAST - some foods from the West are normal here, such as eggs, cereal, fruit and toast. But there are a lot of heavy Indian foods.

Eggs - same as in the U.S., but a lot of people eat whites only. Might be for vegetarian reasons.

Porridge - looks like oatmeal, widely eaten. Haven't tried it, nor will I.

Fruit - lots of mangoes, pineapple and bananas. Usually pretty good. I try to only eat fruits that have a rind or peel.

Indian Breakfast - there are a lot of Indian foods served at breakfast. Usually fried and/or very heavy. I usually stay away from these.

BREADS - served with every meal, breads and rice are a staple of the Indian diet.

Naan - by far the tastiest of Indian breads. It's like a thick flour tortilla shell or a pita. Soft and warm, sometimes served with butter, garlic or cheese, but most often plain.

Cheese Naan

Roti - a wheaty, round, flat bread, sort of like a corn tortilla.

Parantha - very similar to naan, but a little fluffier and shallow-fried. Very rich, very good.

Papram - usually served as a complimentary appetizer, this flour-based bread is paper-thin and crispy. It sort of tastes like fish. I'm not a fan.

Rice - Indians eat a TON of rice. I was really surprised. Usually it's plain, but there are a few rice dishes like biryani, which is similar to fried rice, but with cardamom. The rice is almost always basmati rice, which is long-grained.

Chicken Biryani