What makes a typical Indian meal tasty?

 

Indians have a strong immunity and great gut because of the diet they take on a regular basis. Although over the past few years, the Indian cuisine has been greatly influenced by the western culture and the flavours have also been affected by this mix. But the typical Indian flavours and cuisine is in great demand abroad because of its taste, aroma and specially the ingredients and the cooking methods. People abroad prefer raw uncooked food like salads etc, whereas in the Indian cuisine every dish is cooked at a specific temperature using unique spices, served with Indian bread and side dishes that make it more of a balanced diet. One can grab a plate of a typical Indian meal at Dosa and More, an Indian restaurant in Berlin, Germany.  

Indian cuisine has both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, along with this there are various variations given to all dishes according to the state you consume that dish in. A South Indian dosa and sambar will have a different taste and flavour in South India than that served in a North Indian state. This provides a huge range of dishes for one to choose from. Restaurants try to retain the original flavours of the Indian cuisine and are somewhat successful in doing so. Although in India you will find a lot of restaurants serving dishes from the west. A Chinese restaurant in India will serve Chinese cuisine dishes with a tinge of Indianness in them. Desi Italian and Chinese dishes have a huge fan base in India mainly because of the Indian flavours they carry along with them. 

The growing popularity and fondness of Indian cuisine has led to the opening of various Indian restaurant chains and grocery stores all around the globe. For example if one wishes to try Indian food in Berlin or take out their family to enjoy a typical Indian meal when in Germany they can visit Dosa and More, and feel like they are having a meal in India itself. The dishes at Dosa and More are all cooked using authentic, typical and organic Indian ingredients, using traditional methods, keeping in mind the flavours preferred by the people living in Germany. The opening of these Indian chains has not only helped people come closer to the Indian culture and cuisine but it also makes the Indians residing in these places feel a little closer to home. 

The health benefits that a typical Indian meal carries is unbeatable and it is what makes this cuisine irresistible. People now have started incorporating dishes from the Indian cuisine in their everyday diet because of these health benefits and flavour. A typical Indian meal apart from being tasty and filing, is in itself a balanced diet. 

Let us know what all is included in a typical, traditional Indian meal that makes it so healthy and irresistible: 

1.      Wheat chapatis: The Indian bread is made of wheat. A dough is prepared using nothing but water and premium quality wheat flour. After the dough is thoroughly kneaded, it is cut into smaller ball-like structures and hand rolled using a rolling pin to create round bread. The raw chapati or roti is then cooked on a tawa until it rises. This cooked bread is eaten warm with cooked vegetables or curry.
 

2.      Rice: One of the most popular Indian grain. Indians grow rice locally and it is highly consumed all over India. A typical Indian meal consists of rice served with a gravy dish or curry. It is also the main ingredient used to make the famous Indian biryani. Try traditional Indian chicken biryani at Dosa and More, one of the best Indian restaurants in Berlin, Germany. Rice is used abundantly in South India and is also consumed regularly in North Indian households with lentils.
 

3.      Cooked Vegetable: One of the key dishes in a typical Indian meal is a side of cooked vegetables. Be it potato with capcicum, or brinjal or cauliflower and what not. These chopped vegetables are mainly cooked in spices and herbs using a little ghee or oil. This dish is eaten with the chapatis.
 

4.      Lentils: A typical Indian meal consists of two gravy dishes, one is the curry and the other is dal or cooked lentils. Lentils are a very rich source of plant-based protein and are consumed regularly in India. In North India “maa ke haath ke dal chawal” are very famous, while in South India lentils flour is mixed with rice flour to cook Dosa, idli or upma and lentils are also the main ingredient in the making of a South Indian sambar.
 

5.      Side dishes: While all the above mentioned are the main dishes for a traditional Indian meal, there are also various side dishes served with it. Pickles, spiced curd or buttermilk, sliced onions, cucumber and tomatoes and an Indian chutney are the main ones. The selection of side dishes vary according to culture, state, family and even individual.

6.      Sweet dish: Indians love their sweet dishes and are huge fans of traditional Indian mithais. Indian cuisine has a wide range of desserts to choose from that are made differently in every state. Each Indian state has its own famous sweet dish.