A Flavour of the Meal of India

India is famous for its rich variety of food.Indian spices enhance the taste and flavour of the food. India is a subcontinent having 28 states. It has diverse cultures and traditions. These have put forth innumerable variety in the indian culinary habits.

Now, with globalization inside the doorstep, indian tastebuds are comfortable with Chinese, thai, italian etc, cuisines.Yet, average Indian meal is rice, dal (curry), chapati/roti (bread), rayata (salad) and dessert. The Indian meal is almost complete with most of the nutrients required by human body.
Rice is rich in carbohydrates.Variety of rice is cultivated in India. Similarly, numerous recipes of rice dishes are prepared. Different regions pride in their own versions of rice recipes. In northern parts, rice is cooked with vegetables/chicken/fish and flavoured with spices to prepare biryany or pulav. South Indian rice galore is full with lemon rice, tamarind rice, tomato rice, curd (yogart) rice etc.
Indian bread that is chapati or roti is made everyday fresh.It is full with carbohydrates and vitamins.Chapati is made from wheat. Usually, it is made using little of oil.Roti is oilfree.It is made from dough of cereal flour with water.In northern parts of India,Parathas are made by stuffing boiled potato or radish in chapati.Sweet varieties of chapati are popular in western and southern parts of India.They are called puranpoli or sugarpoli.
Dal (curry) is full in proteins. This tasty fluid is prepared by cooking pulses with various types of spices.Its aroma is enhanced by adding vegetables/egg/chicken.Not only states,but subregions also have their very own recipes of curries.
Vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals.Bounty of vegetables are grown in India.They are cooked with spices.Delicious dishes of vegetables are served with rice and chapati.
Different types of Rayata (salad) are made using cucumber, tomato, onian seasoned with yogart or lemon.Fruit salad is also popular.Spicy pickles are prepared using raw mango or lemon. Oilless pickles are also prepared. Fried snacks, steamed starters and boiled eggs are served as side dishes.On special ocassions like weddings and festivals, numerous sweet dishes are cooked.They are made using dairy products, sugar/jaggery and flours of pulses. These sweets are known as ladu, pedha, gulabjamun, halawa, kheer etc.
Apple juice, mango juice and watermelon juice quench thirst in hot summer.The indian meal is generally finished with a glass of buttermilk.The meal is eaten with the belief that it is a gift from god. The person serving it, is blessed with gratitude.This is just a bird, tasting the meal of India. It will be relished recipywise in future articles.