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FOOD
Contrary to popular belief, not all Hindus
are officially vegetarians. Although you'll find vegetarians everywhere,
strict vegetarianism is most prevalent in the south (which has not been
influenced by meat-eating Aryans and Muslims) and in the Gujarati community.
There are considerable regional variations from north to south, partly because
of climatic conditions and partly because of historical influences. In the
north, much more meat is eaten and the cuisine is often Mughlai, which bears
a closer relationship to food of the Middle East and Central Asia. The emphasis
is more on spices and less on chilli; grains and breads are more popular
than rice. In the south, more rice is eaten, there is more vegetarian food,
and the curries tend to be hotter. Another feature of southern vegetarian
food is that you do not use eating utensils; just scoop the food up with
your fingers - though not with those of your left hand.
There's more to Indian food than just curry - the country has more than
15 different regional cuisines (curries are favored in the south). Thali
(pronounced TAR-ley) is the most ubiquitous meal in India. Served either
as a vegetarian dish or with meat, it consists of rice and chapatis (similar
to heavy flour tortillas) with five sauces and curds. Even those afraid
of spicy food will love the mild chicken tandoori or Kashmiri-style dishes
or, in Kerala, fish flavored with coconut, ginger or fruit. Any dish prepared
in the Kashmiri-style will be delicate and have lots of fruits and nuts
(in Kashmir itself, find a restaurant offering a wazwan, a traditional feast
containing as many as 17 meat dishes). Pakoras (fried vegetable fritters)
also provide an easy introduction to Indian cookery. Samosas are breaded,
fried vegetable triangles. Dal, an Indian lentil soup, can be found anywhere,
and if the name of a dish has the word paneer in it, the dish contains cubes
of compressed cottage cheese (it's better than it sounds). Dum aloo is a
wonderfully spicy potato dish found in the north. Buff refers to water-buffalo
meat, and mutton is usually goat. The breads are superlative - there's none
better than naan (baked in a tandoori oven), but do try papadum, a wafer-thin
lentil-flour bread, at least once. For dessert, try kheer (rice pudding).
Fruit lassis are a yogurt-based drink that can be very refreshing; curd,
a very mild yogurt, is often served with meals. We generally advise against
eating from street stalls, unless the food is freshly cooked before your
eyes. Indian food is eaten with the fingers of the right hand only. In addition
to Indian foods, Western and Chinese restaurants abound. Beware of ice cream
and dairy products except at the finest hotels. If you're in an area where
you don't trust the food but are really hungry, buy a package of the ubiquitous
glucose biscuits, a bland (but safe) cookie. Steamed rice cakes, known as
idli, are available almost everywhere and are considered the lightest and
safest meal for sensitive stomachs. Beware of vendors selling soft drinks
that are not normally available in India (whatever's in those bottles, it's
not what it says on the label). Don't accept ice in your drinks, except
from the absolutely finest hotels - the water that goes into the ice might
not be so good. Some states prohibit the sale of alcohol. |
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