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Food & drink
in India
When many people think of India, they picture steaming cups of chai and heavenly spiced curries. And we have to say, delving head-first into this mouth-watering cuisine is always a highlight on our tours to India.
Due to India’s intense heat, it quickly becomes difficult to store food before it goes bad, so almost every dish is infused with a blend of delectable spices to ward off bacteria. Needless to say, you will quickly learn to build up your tolerance to spicy food!
What food is India famous for?
Curry
Curry. Most probably the first thing which comes to mind when you think of Indian food. But if you haven’t been to India before, you haven’t tasted a proper curry. A curry can also vary dramatically between each region. They tend to be thick and creamier in the north, many containing meat and vegetables. The south prefer fragrant, fish curries.
The list of curries to try in India can go on forever, but these are some of the most popular: rogan josh - an aromatic, tomatoey, lamb curry. Laal Maas - a spicy, mutton gravy curry. Butter Chicken - a thick, creamy, milder curry, found on almost every menu. And in Goa, you cannot leave without trying their legendary fish curry.
Did you know?
India has the largest number of vegetarians in the world. Around 20 - 40% are vegetarians, making it the most veggie-friendly country in the world.
Thali
A thali is always a good option to order. Thali - meaning ‘plate’ - is a huge platter of various dishes put together for you to try. It’s perfect for those who struggle on deciding what to order, and restaurants usually offer refills.
The contents will vary from restaurant to restaurant, but will usually consist of some of the following: vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries, chilli sauce, curd, pickle, rice, roti and a few chapatis. And if you’re lucky, they will also include a sweet. Thalis differ greatly from region to region, so it’s worth trying out a few in different places.
Vegetarian & vegan
food in India
Travelling is often a bit more of a concern if you have a vegetarian/vegan diet. However, in India, you’re in good hands. No matter where you are there is always plenty of vegetarian and vegan options on the menu.
In fact, it is so easy to find meat-free food that many tourists adopt a vegetarian diet as it is often ‘safer’ than meat-based meals. Some of the best vegetarian dishes to try are: vegetable biryani, aloo puri, pakoras, baigan ka bharta, pani puri, parathe, momos, khichdi, palak paneer and paav bhaaji.
Regional tastes
The wonderful thing about Indian cuisine is its diversity. Food from north India includes a lot of tandoor-grilled meat kebabs and heavy flatbreads. The southern cuisine favours sweet, coconut, fish curries. Due to the much cooler climate, north India cooks with a lot of wheat, maize, dairy, nuts and tumeric, making rustic, heavy dishes to keep them warm. However, in the mountains, there’s a big influence of Nepali and Tibetan cuisine, eating a lot of noodles, momos, and stews.
Food from central India is probably the most flavoursome. They favour spicy, fragrant dishes due to the dry, hot climate of the area producing bountiful amounts of spices. Chilli also helps to keep the body cool and spices help stop food from spoiling too quickly.
The tropical climate in south India is dramatically different from the north which is reflected in the cuisine. The food tends to involve lots of lentils, dried chillies, coconut and plantains. The cuisine also includes a lot of fresh herbs and fish.
Drinks in India
One of the most popular must-try drinks in India is lassi - a delicious, soothing yoghurt drink. In the north you’ll find the traditional salty lassi, spiced with cumin. In the south, you’re more likely to find sweet, fruit lassis made with bananas or mangos.
Another popular drink which you cannot avoid is masala chai - Indian tea. Chai is a smooth, milky, very sweet, hot drink, mixed with spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and ginger. You will find Chaiwalas (chai servers) almost everywhere with chai never being too far - an essential part of everyday Indian life.
What food should I try in India?
Chaats
Chaats are a small plate of savoury snacks, typically found at street food vendors and food carts. It can contain a mixture of any small dishes but usually includes: kachori, pani puri, bhel puri, masala puri, gol-gappas, tikki and pav-bhajis. Wherever you are in India, you can always find chaats. Every region, town and village will have their own version and it’s a great idea to try a few.
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Chole Bhature
A spicy, chickpea curry/stew dish served with giant, deep-fried bread balloons. The dish is usually served with a mixture of dips - onions, green chutney and pickles are a favourite.
Saag Paneer
One of the most popular vegetarian dishes in India, saag paneer is a classic curry made with cubes of Indian cheese and heaps of spinach, cooked in a thick, creamy coconutty sauce.
Masala Dosa
A masala dosa is a thick crepe made from rice and lentils, filled with a potato and onion curry, served with chutney and yoghurt dips. The best place to find an authentic masala dosa is in south India.
Samosa
Samosas are popular street food all over India. Deep-fried triangles of pastry, filled with anything you can imagine. Popular fillings tend to be based around potatoes, peas, masala, spices and meats.
Golgappas / Panipuri
These little balls of deliciousness are found all over India (but are best in Delhi) and are the perfect, bite-sized snacks. A small, round ball, deep-fried until crispy and flavoured with chutneys, masala, potatoes, onions and spicy chickpeas.
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Gulab Jamoon
Indians love their sweets and you can find sweet shops on almost every corner selling hundreds of freshly prepared varieties. However gulab jamoon is definitely a favourite. Made from milk solids turned into dough, deep-fried and soaked in a sugary syrup flavoured with spices.
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