It is not surprising to taste something familiar at an Indian Food Restaurant in Washington DC. That is because Indian food is influenced by many different cultures. For example, Britain colonized India and influenced the cuisine. In addition, immigrants from West and Central Asia brought their cooking traditions to India.
What Are Pulses?
There are some things that are unique to Indian food. For instance, chefs use a variety of pulses. A pulse is the grain seed that comes from legumes. Americans may be familiar with peanuts, soybeans, and carob. These are common pulses in American cuisine.
On the other hand, Indians may be more familiar with mug, china and major. The legumes are used in a variety of ways including grinding and using them for flour or paste.
The Spice Is Nice
A wide variety of spices and spice mixes are used at an Indian Food Restaurant in Washington DC. Gram Macula is a spice mix that contains clove, cinnamon and cardamom. Other common spices include curry, fenugreek, coriander, and mint.
Indian cuisine is incomplete without curries. Chefs make curry by frying vegetables and spices in oil. Residents in different regions use different types of oil including coconut, peanut, and mustard.
Regional Cuisine
Chefs in Northern India cook with a lot of dairy products. Ingredients include yogurt, milk, and ghee. Ghee is clarified butter and is a key ingredient in Indian cuisine. Further, the tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven, is often used to make bread. Popular dishes in the north include Tandoori Chicken, Samara, and Pandora chicken.
Eastern India is known for its desserts like chum, china pod and rasa olla. Diners may be able to taste poppy seeds which are popular in Eastern India. Rice and coconut dominate dishes in South India. This region is known for a pea and vegetable stew called samba.
Western Indian is on the coast, and the diet includes a lot of fish. Coastal residents complement fish with coconut and rice. Meanwhile, those who live in the mountain area cook with groundnut, wheat and abjure.
Give Indian cuisine a try the next time you want a culinary adventure. For more information, visit Heritage India.
