The complete guide to traditional food

India is a country that has a vast and diverse history. Being one of the oldest known civilizations in the world, the country has a rich culture and heritage. And one aspect that played a major part in this culture was food. Indian cuisine can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago and with the passing of every dynasty, traditional food was created. There are certain methods and styles of cooking that have been retained to this day, and if you are a true food lover then this cuisine is something that is a must have for you.

These are a lot of these age old authentic meals to choose from, but it is also essential that you try them out at a nice restaurant. A lot many Indian restaurants boast of servicing food cooked in the orthodox manner.

Before you go hunting for traditional food, here are some points you need to keep in mind:

Difference:
There are a lot of differentiation factors between regular food and food cooked with time honored methods. There may be a special utensil used or a different ingredient or an alternative method of cooking, say for example cooking on a clay pot using a coal fire. What is of utmost importance is the fact that you need to feel the difference when you eat it.

Styles:
There are a variety of age old cooking methods. Over a period of many years, there have been a lot of influences in Indian cooking. Eventually, each region had its own style of cooking that went on to become a part of its culture. For those of you who are history buffs, the food of a particular region can act as a window into the region’s past. For example, did you know that the potato, which is a staple ingredient in Indian food, was introduced by the Spanish invaders?

Time:
When it comes to food, there is a lot of religious symbolism attached to it. There are certain meals that are prepared only during festive seasons and so, it naturally becomes the best time to go and grab some delicious festive meals! A lot of Indian restaurants roll out offers on meals during special occasions, so this becomes an added bonus for those who are looking for a nice place to taste some good dishes.

Price:
Let us be honest, when you go out for a special kind of traditional food, it is going to be a slightly expensive affair. But it is not like you eat it on a daily basis, so it’s okay to loosen the purse strings once in a while. There a lot of places that offer discounts and happy hours on special occasions, so you can always head there to catch a bite. Eventually it is all about the experience, so keep your eyes to the left side of the menu!

Good cooking can take you to a different, blissful place and eating it should be an enticing experience. Whenever you eat good traditional food, it brings about a sense of nostalgia of a lost time, which, if your heart is into it, can be felt with each morsel.

Enjoy the diversity in the traditional food

One of the most important things you can do to help your overall health is maintain a healthy diet. A healthy diet should emphasize plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These foods are high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol.

Gain an insight about the characteristics of traditional food –
The traditional food of India has been widely appreciated for its fabulous use of herbs and spices. The Indian traditional food is not only tasty but also healthy. Indian cuisine is known around the world for its large assortment of dishes. The characteristics of sub continental food include:
•    It uses good cooking methods,
•    It consider portion sizes,
•    It boosts energy, and
•    It ensures a balanced diet.

Types of Indian thali –
A thali is a stainless steel platter with little bowls consisting of a wide variety of different dishes providing nutrition, texture, flavors and colors for a complete meal. The thali include the aromatic and healthy ingredients long identified in India as having cleansing and repairing properties.
There are two types of Indian thali namely,
•    The Grand Thali – It is equal to a starter and main course combined. It comprises a carbohydrate, a choice of curry, 2 vegetables, proteins, yoghurt, green salad, and sweets.
•    The Regular Thali – It offers lesser varieties of food items and the customers have limited options.

The importance of having traditional food –
The traditional food of India has been widely appreciated for its fabulous use of herbs and spices. Indian cuisine is known for its large assortment of dishes. The customary food is the product of several key age-old aspects of Indian life. The importance of having traditional food includes:
•    The importance of nutritionally balanced meals
•    An interest in the variety of flavors and textures,
•    The need for portion control to avoid over eating and ensure nutritional balance, and
•    It involves safe culinary methods.

Reasons to gorge on Indian thali –
India is a magical paradise for people who love food. Eating Indian food is an elaborate function. India is a land of diversified food culture because of religious, geographical and cultural verities. Moreover history of the country has great influence in its food.
Some of the reasons to indulge in an Indian thali include:
•    Good & Affordable – Top quality food items are provided at low prices. Fresh, first-rate food, self-made spice mixtures are given preference in a thali.
•    Traditional & Indian – Diversity and fullness of the rich in tradition Indian world cuisine in a modern ambiance.
•    Quick & Modern – Quickly available food in the self-service restaurant with open kitchen: for eat-in, take-away or order-out indulgence.
•    Fresh & Healthy – Freshly prepared, balanced and satisfying menu compositions keep you feeling good; wide vegetarian range.
•    Clear & Easy – A clearly arranged assortment that places quality before quantity: Free choice of curries with various accompaniments.

Splurge on the diversity of the traditional food of India –
Whenever there is a mention of Indian food, the first image which comes to mind is that of a variety of spices which are visibly discernible courtesy of their color, flavor and aroma. The four meal structure of Indian traditional food system includes:
•    Indians attribute a lot of importance to breakfast, and this is taken after the customary cup of tea or coffee which marks the beginning of the day,
•    Lunch is an important meal of the day for Indians and calls for elaborate preparations in form of at least 2-3 vegetable dishes, curd and a variety of desserts,
•    Indian food in the evenings consists of a cup of tea or coffee with some snacks, while
•    Dinner serves the purpose of bringing together the family followed by desserts which may be traditional or fruit-based.

Tips for starting family restaurants

Running a restaurant is a dream for several Indian, but not many people are successful at it, majority of the people who start a restaurant business in India fall out as soon as they started out. This is because most of the people who venture out in the business do not have the right knowledge. In India there are different types of specialty restaurants that serve a certain type of cuisine but recently there have been a huge demand for eating joints where the whole family can enjoy dining out, there is a special niche audience for family restaurants and if you wish to start this type of business, the following tips will greatly help you:

Do not ignore the children aspect while developing family restaurants ideas:

One of the most important things to remember about restaurants for a family is that children are the heart of every Indian family. It is therefore important that you have an elaborate menu that is dedicated to the children. If the children like eating at your restaurant, you can be sure that the parents would bring them back again and again. The food items for children should not only be tasty but also it should be healthy so that the parents would also be impressed by it.

Other important aspects to consider while planning for family restaurants:

When you think of a dining place for family, you would invariably think of a place where you can enjoy eating tasty food with your family members amidst a place where the ambiance is friendly and the atmosphere is warm and comfortable. Thus, while starting a restaurant for a family you must be careful about creating a cozy atmosphere so that your customers would feel welcomed. Also, the place must have decoration that would give the customers a clear idea of the kind of culture you are promoting or the kind of cuisine you want to serve. For instance, there are several specialty south Indian restaurants in India that not only serve traditional food items from down south but also have a kind environment that would make you feel you are actually in south India.

Another important factor to consider for running a family based eating joint is to have a team of highly dedicated, friendly and experienced staff members. The waiting staff should be passionate about their job and relish serving the customers. This would go a long way in creating a positive aura inside the restaurant. People usually love visiting family restaurants that have familiar faces and friendly waiting staff who go out of their way to provide best services to them. If you have a good staff, your restaurant would surely be a hit among the customers in no time.

Once you are sure that you are prepared to open the restaurant to public make sure that you strictly adhere to the rules and maintain top class hygiene condition. Also it is important that you do not compromise an inch in serving the best traditional food to the customers.

The key to be successful in running family restaurants is to identify the needs of the family and meet and exceed their expectations. 

Indian vegetarian food is a delight to indulge in

The experiments with gastronomy that we have been doing the past decade are nothing short of spell binding. There are more cuisines available to the world than ever before and there are also thus more foodies on the planet than ever before. Thanks to advancements in media technology and the internet, the world has become a smaller place and globalization has occurred as a result of which people are sharing food from all over the world with each other. So a Chinese woman today can make a great Italian dish while an English man can whip up a great Oriental dish within minutes. There is a reverse process that has happened due to globalization though which is a very positive trend indeed. Thanks to the outburst of global cuisine, people have tried out every cuisine and in the process rediscovered their love for their very own traditional food.

Chefs all over the world have realised that how much ever globalized the world may get, at the end of the day people are preferring their own traditional food and hence they are working overtime to create different fusions and combinations to entice the customer’s’ taste buds even more. They are making gastronomical inventions by fusing the flavours of their home cuisine with those of other cuisines around the world and inventing new dishes altogether.

Take for instance the Indo Chinese cuisine. It is certainly not authentic Chinese cuisine what we have at nearly every second eatery in India but is actually made with Indian spices to appeal to the taste buds of the  desis. This is applicable to Indian vegetarian food.

The thali has always been a big part of Indian culture and foreigners are amazed seeing it. If you ever have a foreigner friend coming down to India, it is recommended by moist to make them try a thali once at least to know the true taste of the country. People have rediscovered their love for good old Indian vegetarian food thanks to many Indian outlets that have established themselves concretely in malls and strategic locations and are offering lip smacking dishes at affordable rate sin the form of eat all you want buffets and thalis.

The cuisine from our country has reached the far corners of the world and almost everyone; Hollywood celebrities are loving our traditional food too. The magic of Hindustani cuisine lies in the fact that it is so diverse and taste filled. There are countless recipes, mixtures, spices and ingredients used to make the whole of the cuisine and all in all, it can unarguably be labelled as the best in the world. We have idlis and dosas from the south, chhole bhature and lassi from the north, wada pav and dhokla from the west while we have guava cheese and rosgolla from the east. There are umpteen varieties of an exhaustive list of exotic dishes, about which every Indian is proud of. If nothing, every Indian loves their dal chaawal and roti, especially the homemade ones.

Eat healthily at veg restaurants

In almost all Indian food preparations, the masalas and spices hold the key to the flavours. It is the trademark of the Indian cooking that provides uniqueness in the textures and flavours. The fiery character and the mouth-watering essences is the result of the mixture of the ingredients added in balanced proportions. Every region has its own distinctive techniques that are adopted to depict the ingredients in a style that makes it a unique cuisine. The healthiness of the textures is only possible if the right unifications are done to highlight the star ingredient of the dish.

The vegetarian thali is an emulsification of flavours that highlight the trend of mixing ingredients to produce a unique end product. The taste of the dish lies on the finesse in the incorporations of the spices and the contents, keeping the individual flavours intact. Most veg restaurants serve this mouth-watering dish. The key is to make sure that the flavours do not dominate the dish individually but blend the efforts with the other components on the plate.

Representing a thali is a task owing to the variety of flavours and textures but once the ability of combining the two is achieved then the rest of the elements just follow.Veg restaurants utilise vegetative ingredients to highlight the main nature of the preparations without including any meat or poultry items. The absence of these ingredients is not felt since the preparations tend to balance out any discrepancies that might arise. These eateries have gained prominence over the years as the majority of the population worldwide have begun to adopt veganism as a way of life. These cafeterias adapt to modern contemporary dishes to attract customers from every field and religion.

In India, vegetarian cuisine has always been relevant. The reason being, animals  are considered to be a form of worship and killing them is termed as an irreparable sin. Hence slaughtering of animals is prohibited by majority communities owing to this age old belief. Thus, these veg restaurants are popular in this region while globally it is just gaining recognition over the last decade.Vegetarian thali is a representation of variety on the plate. It differs from region to region but the basic concept remains untarnished. This dish has been accepted as the most appropriate depiction of India.

Diverse and cluttered but somewhere down the line co-dependent for existence. The thali is a massive dish to accomplish perfectly but on several tries and years of experience, this dish can be mastered. The key is to create traditional food that has elements which are tied together and dependent on one another to coexist.

These cafés understand the demand of the customers and formulate their dishes in accordance. Globally as well, vegan dishes have become a part of the menu as the trend of veganism increases. The demand of traditional food has increased on account of which restaurants have started preparing dishes in accordance to this.It generates millions of revenue all year round by highlighting the pros of healthy eating.

The appeal of traditional food increases

All of us love food, and some of us live to eat and the rest live to eat. In the present day, chefs have become really creative. You can gorge on some delectable delicacies, but the charm of Indian vegetarian food cannot be replaced. People have often tried to substitute this delight with an option like burgers. They appear to be filling, but they cannot satiate your hunger. The magic of a hot puffed ‘roti’ dipped in piping ‘dal’ is simply amazing.

People have many misconceptions about this cuisine. They think that whipping up a simple meal of cooked vegetables, ‘roti’ and ‘dal’ is a complicated task. However, the trick is to get the balance of flavours. If you put in too much salt, you may spoil the taste of your food. It is common knowledge that Indians like their food to be full of different kinds of spices and flavours. Imagine the thought of having a bland ‘dal.’ It will probably remind you of the food that is fed to patients in the hospital. Traditional food is all about the right set of ingredients and proper cooking techniques.

In the contemporary times, simplicity is the need of the hour. After a tiring day, all of us wish to have a quiet meal in a serene atmosphere. Indian vegetarian food is known to calm people and restaurants provide a good ambience and the servers cater to the smallest needs and requirements of food lovers. When you visit such restaurants, the aroma of the cooking food can make anyone salivate and ignite the desire for some more. The restaurants also provide additions that complete a meal. Food items like farsan add to the experience and add the finishing touch. These eateries are your bet for some lip smacking delicacies that may not prepared in your home.

Home is where your heart is and that is certainly in traditional food. Soaking the hot ‘puri’ in the mouth-watering ‘kheer’ is one of a kind experience. The variety will put a smile on any food lover’s face, and you are sure to have a gala time gorging on these delicacies. You can have the fanciest of food in the most happening restaurants, but the charm of home cooked delicacies and offerings from the Indian cuisine truly strike a chord. It is magic being served on a platter.

People have often wondered about the spell that food has over people. It is an aspect that brings people together about tiring food. Families meet at dinner and share their experiences. It is one of the most basic details of our life, yet its importance cannot be denied. It is irresistible and its rich flavours increase its appeal in a manifold way. Indian vegetarian food is the essence of our culture and what keeps us grounded to our roots. It is the key to spiritual living. If you have not had some of the delicacies, then head to the nearest restaurant and try out some of its offerings. 

Best of flavours at the Indian restaurants

Asian food tastes better when it is eaten using chopsticks. Similarly, the flavours of Indian diet are better experienced when it is eaten using your fingers. Most often flat hard breads or rice is served with different spicy curries and other side dishes. While a spoon and fork can be used to eat the rice, the only way to eat the flat bread is to tear it with your fingers and use the pieces to scoop up the flavourful curries. However, purists say both rice and flat bread taste better when you make use of your fingers.

As far as Indian nutrition is concerned, it is more important how much you eat than how you eat it. Westerns are more accustomed to meals with meat or fish as the main dish. However, rice or flat bread is the main dish in an Indian meal and the meat or fish curries and other accompaniments are to be consumed in much smaller quantities. The spicier the dish, the smaller the amount to be eaten and rice or flat bread serves to neutralize their strong flavours. Another indication of how much to eat is the size of the serving spoon provided for a spicy dish. Some very spicy dishes are provided with coffee spoons. However, it is always better to warn an unsuspecting guest about how hot or spicy a particular dish is to avoid discomfort. All of these facilities are provided at the best Indian restaurants.

Pappadams or crisp lentil wafers are always to be served in separate plates to preserve their crispiness. The right way to serve a meal is to first serve the rice in the middle of the plate and then serve the curries and other accompaniments around it in relatively smaller amounts. Contrary to general assumption that all the accompaniments have to be mixed together with the rice, each side dish has to be savoured separately with a piece of flat bread or a spoonful of rice. Indian restaurants serve food in such a way that you wouldn’t be able to resist it. Each food item is so unique in its flavour and texture that your taste buds will want more.

Cool sparkling water is probably the most complimentary drink for a spicy Indian meal.  Also, chaas also makes a good companion to Indian food. The best drink to accompany any spicy and delicious Indian food is mango juice or you can just sip rose flavoured syrup with crushed ice. Indian restaurants offer you a wide range of juices or appetizers to make sure your meal is complete.

If you are a foodie, then Indian food is just for you.  The flavour and spices make it different from the diet in many other parts of the world. The traditional food has so many essences and zings that your taste buds will savour every ounce of it. The flavour in India food is passionate and the spices are rich.

Red Onions are one of basic ingredients in Indian recipes. This ingredient will create exotic taste. Ginger, Garlic and Green chillies are other basic ingredients. Traditional food also includes coriander, masalas and round chillies. These important ingredients will give an enormous taste to the Indian recipes.

Traditional food is always delicious

Food is a way to represent time, a genre, or even any country. Conventionally, food preparations were extracted from a mixture of simple ingredients used together to make something fantastic. In recent times, the food started to be represented using complex techniques in addition to the simplified ones. The traditional food tends to be a representation of real flavors and essence of the region. Indian food prepared in a traditional way comprises of different vegetables, herbs, spices, and clarified oil or butter, mixed together to make a blend of spicy ingredients with a tangy taste. The term tradition varies as you taste the food of diverse regions, as every area has a different definition when authentic cuisine is concerned. This type of food preparation always will have a liking towards the core creation of that culture or region.

Indian veg food is a great composition of vegetables herbs, condiments and spices. This traditional food is known to be an emulsification of the ways the vegetative ingredients are utilized to produce the wonderful flavors. Indian cuisines have become an international delicacy, since people love the blend of so many condiments and elements which creates a blast of flavor with all morsels. With the introduction of vegetarian diets, people all around the world seek refuge in this veggie Indian food which blends the components and flavors so very well. These preparations are not just healthy food options but it has been ensured that no compromises are made on the taste factor.

Veg restaurants are known to have an ambience which is very genuine to the culture of India and the tranquil music coupled with perfect service makes your experience twice as delightful. Indian cuisines are made of simple and plain ingredients mixed together to produce the magic of flavors on the plate. The restaurants have a sense of the roots of India that is extremely entertaining and the rough textures of the village’s backdrop makes the consumers merge in with the cultural vibe of the whole environment. India is a country full of varied cultures and made of different communities which have their own staple dish or trademark preparations. This is what actually makes this food an extremely marked one.

Traditional Indian food always leads to some excitement as people can choose from a galore of options. It highlights the culture, which has intrigued people for a considerable period of time. Chefs of Indian food mix vegetables and other elements to create kebabs, curries, and other food preparations which add taste and lead to a healthy eating experience.  Veg restaurants are known to be accepted globally by the food society as one among the most famous places people go. Food is an expression and an art served on plates. The deeper the traditions, the more genuine are the food preparations and this exclusivity is what makes hospitality so appealing. Another aspect, which increases the appeal of this food, is the creativity of the chef. Their interpretation of flavors makes the experience to be a worthwhile one. 

Traditional food is favorite food of most Indians

There have been lots of global changes in the past. The globalization process was one among those which impacted the way in which people think and communicate with each other. This has brought the countries together and people now experience a sense of proximity owing to this factor. People have also picked up the traditions, cultures, the knowledge, information, and food from other countries. It has brought people closer so that they can know each other in a better way. Indian food has always attracted people from all over the world. The genuine methods, using which the food is prepared, may appear to be new to a few while the flavors which they possess are treasured in the world. Indian traditional food is filled with hot spices and colorful flavors which deliver a distinctive taste. The food gets its real taste from the method through which it is made. The genuine methods to cook some dishes are still conserved in the families as well as with a few restaurants. Because of its texture and flavor, Indian food has impressed people all across the globe. People all over the world have tasted, loved and valued the Indian flavors. This food has created many food lovers in the worldwide market. Because of this, the entire world has seen a rising demand of Indian cuisines restaurants in various countries.

An average Indian customer is used to the flavors and spices that are made in his home since childhood and he cannot get enough of this finger licking food. In reality, even when eating outside, sometimes he would wish for that kind of food. Therefore, convincing an Indian customer is not an easy task in these Indian restaurants in worldwide conditions. Such consumers are always taken care of and never given any opportunity to complain by keeping up the food standards. However, things are a bit different when we’re talking within India.

Indian subcontinent has developed into a main business center for the whole world and the metropolitan cities, which rank high among the others spread in the whole world. The advancement in science and the technology have raised the standard of living of well-educated working classes and office professionals. They have transformed and have brought about an improvement in their lifestyle. However, one thing that always has remained constant is the Indian traditional food which they share. From the breakfast with a mug of coffee to homemade chapatti, everything has been the same in lives of this generation of people. The families have successfully been able to preserve the golden culture by transferring it to this generation who like traditional foods. This has given many Indian restaurants a chance to keep this spirit alive and cater to the needs of their customers with delicacies, which have pleased people since generations. And to put in the authenticity factor, these dishes are prepared mostly with the same methods and the unique present touch elevates its appeal. The charm of this kind of food cannot be denied. 

Rajasthani food is a great Indian cuisine

In India, both non-vegetarian food and vegetarian food are popular but in Rajasthan, most people like to eat vegetarian foods. In Rajasthan, many kinds of food are consumed according to the different seasons. People here like plain food. Rajasthani cuisines are liked due to their appeal in preparation. On festival occasions, different kinds of cuisines are cooked there. In India, the popular vegetarian foods list is a very long one. Vegetarian food in India has different kind of taste because of the different kinds of its flavors.    

 

Foods characteristics

The Rajasthani food has lots of special features. The people here use different approaches to prepare the cuisines. Green vegetables are used commonly in food preparations. There are large varieties of Rajasthani cuisines. Different kinds of rajasthani foods such as the badam halwa, bajra roti, achaar etc are very well liked by the people. These foods also provide us lots of energy to perform our work. These foods are a mixture of multivitamins that provide us immense energy. In winter session, bajra food is heavily consumes since it gives huge amount of energy for fighting with the chilly winter waves. Shortage of water also is an important factor which has effect on preparing food. So, the inhabitants here like to consume snacks like bhujia which have a good storage life and they are quick and easy to prepare.

 

Famous Foods

The wheat is known to be a staple traditional food in India. In Rajasthan also, it is used abundantly in the food preparation. It is not just nutritious but provides you instant energy also. A popular preparation of this place is kachori, particularly of Jodhpur.

Another dish is mawa which is made in the city Alwar, commonly known as “Alwar ka mawa”. Many Marwari restaurants are there nowadays, run by Marwari people which have the delicious flavors which no one wants to miss. Daal baati and sweet dishes like the churma also are very famous all around India. They are prepared in pure butter or ghee and require intense preparations.

 

Variety in food

Vegetarian food in India has a huge range. The prosperous culture of several states in India presents their own flavors offering people a few of the delicious cuisines. These foods can provide you lots of ability and energy to do their work and build a healthy lifestyle. Rajasthani food is extremely renowned and the foodies like the native flavors of this food and the preparations techniques involved in that. This food is a prosperous mixture of the essential nutrients. This food will treat your taste buds plus will not only gratify your hunger; however, will give you great pleasure of eating traditional food. There are many restaurants opening in many other states of India which prepare these Rajasthani dishes. They are liked by people of all other states as well as it isn’t possible to visit Rajasthan to have those delicacies. It means you can now relish these flavors anywhere and enjoy. So, get ready to absorb yourself in one of the mouth watering cuisine of Rajasthan.