A Quick Guide to Indian Cuisine

Indian Cuisine – A Quick Guide

Indian cuisine, one of the world’s most ancient and evolved cuisines, is characterised by its sophisticated fusion of herbs and spices. Vegetarian dishes play a major role in authentic Indian cooking, though many traditional recipes include chicken, fish, beef, lamb and goat.



Indian Cuisine – Geographical Variations

1. North Indian Cuisine
   Dairy products such as yoghurt, paneer (cheese), milk and ghee are all typical ingredients in Northern Indian cuisine. Aromatic saffron, chillies and nuts are also often added to the mix. A large coal fuelled cylindrical oven known as a ‘tandoor’ is used to bake naan bread, and cook tandoori chicken.
   
   
2. South Indian Cuisine
   The flavours of South India are characterised by the use of milder spices (as opposed to the stronger spices of Northern Indian Cuisine), with a greater emphasis on the use of rice, and liberal use of curry leaves, and coconut.
   
   
3. Indian Cuisine in the East
   Eastern India is renowned for its sweet dishes which are now popular throughout the entire country. Not surprisingly the coastal states of West Bengal and Orissa are home to some fine fish and seafood dishes.
   
   
4. Indian Cuisine in the West
   Many parts of Western India such as Gujarat and Rajasthan have a hot dry climate. These climate conditions means less vegetables are available. Due to the relative scarcity of fresh veg, chutneys and pickles are a popular way of preserving vegetables in these regions. Many people in these North West regions are Hindu, so vegetarian recipes play a predominant role in local cuisine. Further to the South, the lush coastline of Goa with its good supply of fresh fish, is home to some of India’s finest seafood dishes.

Indian Cuisine Takes the UK by Storm

With curry being voted as Britain’s favourite dish in a recent Gallup poll, the growing international popularity of Indian cuisine is unquestioned.

Who would have thought Fish and Chips would have been knocked off the menu by an Indian dish? From London to Glasgow, the message is clear – curry is King! So established is Indian cuisine in the UK, that some even argue the Indian curry is now very much a part of British culture.


Indian Cuisine Finds a New Home – Glasgow

Each year UK cities battle it out in the ‘Curry Capital of Britain’ awards. This year, the Scottish city of Glasgow was awarded the title of ‘Curry King’ after being voted as home to some of the best Indian restaurants in the country. Award winning restaurants such as the Dhabba located in Glasgow’s Merchant City abound, serving up authentic North Indian cuisine in trendy and sophisticated environments. Glasgow looks set to take Indian cuisine into the 21st century.