Cole Gordon

Kaylee Donas
3350 Cultural Project
Indian Cuisine
Indian Cuisine is a unique, diverse, delicious, cuisine and has an important cultural
significance to the country of India. During the time India was under control of the British
Empire, the British often described Indian cuisine as heavenly because of its delicious taste.
Indian cuisine is what is today because of the varying influences on Indian food that occur region
to region, and how the diverse cuisine of each region comes together to define Indian Cuisine as
a whole (5).
India is known to have a broad diversity in their cuisine. This is mainly attributed to
varying climate, geography, population, economy, and religious beliefs across the countries four
main regions: the Northern region (consisting of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab,
Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Madhya Prades), the
Eastern region (consisting of West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya,
Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Orrisa), the Southern region (consisting of Andhra,
Kannada, Kerala, and Tamil), and the Western region (consisting of Gujarat, Maharashtrian, and
Malwani) (5). Despite their substantial diversity, commonalities can be found across these
regions. For instance, the most important ingredients of Indian cuisine are rice, flour, and pulses
(red lentils, Bengal ram, pigeon pea, black gram, and green gram). These three items make up
the base of most dishes found in Indian culture. These cheap items make sense considering the
struggling economy of India across all regions. Among other foods commonly seen are pearl

millet (also called bajra) and a variety of curries. In some areas, curries are understood to mean
gravy because they accompany a wide array of dishes and foods (4).
The northern region of India is known for a strong and bold flavors and a number of
unique dishes that sets it apart from other regions. Staples of this region include a variety of
wheat products, thick and spicy curries, dairy products, and produce (12). Consumption of meat
is most common in Northern India due to a variety of religious presences in the area.
Five hundred years of Mughal rule helped shape what northern Indian cuisine is today.
Descending from central Asia, the Mughals introduced different styles of cooking than what was
seen at the time. This style commonly showcases a wide range of mild to spicy dishes, usually
served buffet style. Mughal influences have carried on over time, and similarities can still be
seen between Central Asia and Northern India styles of cooking (7).
The rural terrain and extreme climate of the north makes this area largely agricultural
with a high amount of seasonal diversity. Unlike the other regions, wheat is the crop of choice
over rice due to the fact that wheat is more weather-resistant. This causes wheat products to be a
staple in a vast amount of dishes seen in the north. Roti, Chappatis, Paratha, and Tandoori are
examples of popular items made from wheat in the north (7). Despite wheat products being the
staple foods in the north, rice is also popular and included in many other dishes as well.
Extreme climates in the northern area have a large impact on the type of produce grown.
Hot summers and cold winter provide a seasonal diversity in fruits and vegetables. This
increased diversity not only makes this populations diet richer and more enjoyable, but also
provides a wide range of health benefits as well (12).
The eastern region of India provides a different emphasis on Indian cuisine than what is
seen in the north. Home of Cherrapunji, the city with the highest recorded rainfall in the world,

the east thrives off a year-round warm and wet climate (14). Given these optimal growing
conditions, it is no question why rice is the staple crop of this region. Green vegetables and fruits
are also very common and serve as an essential part of many vegetarian dishes.
India has a vast coastline spanning approximately 7000 kilometers. Given that a
substantial part of this coastline is accessible to the eastern region, fish is a very integrated in the
cuisine of East India. It can commonly be found in many of the East Indians dishes as steamed or
fried. Hilsa, is the most popular fish found in this region of India and is said to be famous for its
exotic flavor (7).
East India is known for its simplicity in food and emphasis on sweets. Most dishes use a
few simple ingredients and preparation methods. Common ingredients include rice, green
vegetables and fish. Frying is among one of the most popular ways to prepare a meal in East
India. Sweets from Eastern India are renowned. Many of the worlds most popular sweets
originate from this area. For example, Rasgulla is an Eastern India sweet that has gained global
recognition (7).
An interesting aspect of this region is that around fifty percent of the population is
vegetarian. This is namely due to the advocacy of vegetarianism in Hinduism and the prevalence
of this religion in this region. While not all people in this region are vegetarian, Hinduism has
over time influenced this area to move towards a vegetarian-based cuisine. (14).
Southern India cuisine is said to be the most popular of all regions. It is said that if any
Indian living in the West, East, or North regions of India were asked to choose their favorite
Indian cuisine besides their own, they would undoubtedly say the cuisine of South India (7).
Spicy vegetarian dishes high in flavor are most likely to credit for its enormous popularity.

Similarly to the eastern region, the southern region grows a vast amount of rice. Hot,
humid climate along with substantial rainfall provides the perfect conditions to receive high
yields of rice yearly from this region. An old adage in Southern India is that a meal is never
complete without rice. Boiled rice, Idlis (steamed cakes made from rice batter), Dosas and
Uttapams (pancakes made from rice batter) are a few popular rice dishes (13).
Every state in the southern region has access to the vast coast of India. This allows for a
broad variety in seafood choices such as crab and paw for non-vegetarian dishes. Fish is usually
fried or prepared with coconut oil. In order to live up to the Souths reputation of spiciness, fish
is combined with a variety of chilies, lentils, along with other spices served over rice and
vegetables. (13)
South Indian cuisine is mainly vegetarian with the exception of dishes that include fish.
Like the east, this is mainly due to the prevalence of Hinduism along with a history of cultural
norms. (13)
Heterogeneity among geography, climate, religious and cultural influences make for an
extremely diverse cuisine in Western India. Western India is considered the melting pot of
India because of its large variety of traditions, cultures, and religions. All of which make unique
culinary contributions. A mix between wet coastal areas and dry inland desserts help supply a
broad range of foods for this area (7).
Despite the cultural and religious diversity, Western India cuisine remains largely
vegetarian with an emphasis on spices and texture. Similar to the East and South, Rice remains a
staple in across most of the region while wheat, bajra, and jowar are also popular as well. The
arid desserts cause adversity to having successful agriculture in the west. To accommodate for

the limited amount of vegetables there is a notable prevalence of preserved vegetables such as
pickles and chutneys (a popular Indian condiment) (11).
Even with a high emphasis on vegetarian cuisine, West India still has a variety of
delicious meat dishes. Particularly popular is Laal Maas, a lamb curry cooked in a variety of
masalas and red chilies. Fish is abundant in coastal areas such as Goa and Maharashtra. Goa
seafood is known for its Portuguese influence and commonly showcases crab, pawn, and other
exotic seafood (7). Maharashtra is famous for coconut based hot and sour curries made with
fresh seafood. (11)
Similar to the East, West India has an array of world-famous desserts. One of the most
renowned dishes in the history of Indian food is the Shrikhand. Similar to greek yogurt, the
Shrikhand is a creamy dessert prepared by straining yogurt until all the water has been drained. It
is then mixed with sugar and a variety of other toppings and served chilled(5).
India is home of a number of religions all of which have made contributions to Indian
Cuisine. Two religions however have had significant impact on what Indian cuisine currently is
today; Islam and Hinduism (3). The high amount of vegetarian cuisine seen in Indian can be
mainly attributed to Hinduism beliefs. For instance, ancient Hindu beliefs advocate that the cattle
are sacred, and consuming beef is taboo. While not all Hindu still practice these beliefs, the
impact is apparent in that beef consumption is rare across all regions of India (15). Therefore in
regions where Hinduism is commonly practiced, consumption of a vast range of different
vegetables is a likely practice. On the contrary, most meat dishes found in Indian cuisine come
from Islamic influence. These are particularly seen in the northern and western regions where
religious beliefs are highly mixed with an increased prevalence of Islam compared to other

regions. In areas where Islam is commonly practiced, one would expect a variety of meat dishes
served with raisins, cashews, almonds, pistachios, and a variety of other nuts (10).
Although cuisine across the four regions of India has various influences, meal patterns
and customs seen in this country remain constant across all regions. Indians typically eat two full
meals; breakfast and dinner with substantial snacks and appetizers in between. Indian appetizers
or snacks serve to stimulate appetite rather than decrease it and are usually high in flavor and low
in calories (5). A common example would be potatoes prepared with various herbs and spices.
Breakfast is usually the lighter of the meals, and usually includes rice, vegetables, and fruit.
Dinner is the most culturally significant meal of the day. A common entre includes one rice dish
along with some type of meat or vegetarian curry depending on the area. In the north, Roti may
commonly be seen as a substitution for rice. Vegetable and fruit sides are usually included along
with one of Indias various signature desserts, of course (6). Dinnertime is emphasized as a time
for Indian families to gather, socialize and catch up with each other.
Historians often claim that Indias spice trade with Europe was one of the driving factors
in Europes exploration around the world at that time (9). These times of trade with other
countries has had a substantial influence that has helped shaped Indian Cuisine throughout
history. Much influence can be seen during the time the British Empire ruled India as a colony in
intention to control the spice trade. One of the most significant influences from Britain was the
introduction of tea, which is now a common beverage seen at dinnertime across all regions (3).
Another common Indian beverage; coffee, was introduced by trade with Arabians during the
time of the crusades (3). Trade with the Portuguese presented India with the opportunity to
acquire potatoes and chilies, which would later become staple ingredients in Indian appetizers
(1).

Despite booming trade with other countries, India historically has had a struggling
economy. Besides religious reasons, Indias move towards vegetarianism is partly due to the
expensiveness of slaughtering meat. Instead, India keeps their livestock alive and consumes
products harvested from that livestock; such as eggs, milk, ect (9). Access to food is a growing
economic issue in present day India. 22% of India is malnourished with over 50% of children
being malnourished. To help combat this issue, India has been currently constructing a more
extensive social welfare system to assist individuals suffering from food insecurity. This includes
reaching out to malnourished women and children, increases distribution of Vitamin A to
children, and increased emphasis on immunization and health programs (2).
India food has recently begun grabbing hold in the United States. However this has
caused some misconceptions about authentic Indian food. The first is the ignorance Americans
have for how diverse Indian food is. No single food or menu can simply define Indian food,
rather Indian cuisine is highly diverse across regions and is known to how many versions of a
single recipe. Additionally, we tend to believe that Indian food is all about hot and spicy curries
and we forget that the majority of Indians are vegetarian due to religious and economic reasons.
The reason for this misconception however, is how historically popular curry has been to western
culture. It was the British favorite when Indian was a colony under the British Empire, and its
popularity in the United States now is unquestioned (16).
In order for our menu to properly represent authentic Indian cuisine, we chose to include
basil and badam soup, mong dal ka shorba, Indian fruit chaat, coconut chicken curry, matar
mushrooms, coconut rice, suran stir fry, and naan. The naan is a type of bread that would be
commonly is seen in the northern regions. It can be served as a side or as part of the entre. The
Indian fruit chaat and coconut rice are popular in the coastal regions among South, East, and

West India where there are optimal conditions for growing rice and produce. The coconut rice
serves as a base in most entrees and the fruit chaat is a common side dish or dessert. Coconut
chicken curry is a signature dish of Maharashtra in West India along with other coconut based
hot-sour curries. Suran stir-fry is a yam stir fry, which along with the matar mushrooms are a
popular appetizers seen all across India, especially in regions with high amount of vegetarian
cuisine. The mong dal ka shorba and basil and badam soups use lentils and a variety of nuts,
which are a staple ingredients of all Indias regions.
To fully appreciate Indian cuisine, its important to recognize its diversity across the
countries regions. Heterogeneity of geography, climate, religion, traditions, economy, and trade
all come together to make a diverse, delicious cuisine that has gained a renowned popularity
across the world.

References

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