Indian Vegetarian Food Is Known for Being Healthy, Flavourful and Delicious

Many Indian recipes were developed according to the laws and principles of nature, or dharma. These principles state that we are basically what we eat, as different foods affect our bodies in different ways. We eat to live, not live to eat, and there is both a right way and a wrong way to go about it.

Northern Indian cuisine

Northern Indian cuisine is typically from the Punjab region of the country, otherwise known as the land of five rivers. The region has very fertile soil and ample means for irrigation. As a result, it is very rich in agriculture and is known as the "bread basket of India". Punjab was partitioned into two provinces in 1947 when Pakistan was carved out of India. Hence the western portion is now an eastern province of Pakistan. Hence, the cuisine has quite the diversity when it comes to the way food is prepared. Sometimes the spices in each dish vary from one region to another, depending on migration and family tradition.

Restaurant food tends to be heavier and richer due to the generous use of fats such as oil and clarified butter, or ghee, whereas home-cooked meals are simpler and have more flavour. Local specialties to the Punjab region are a food lover's dream. For example, makki di roti, a thick tortilla-like bread made of corn flour, or sarson da saag, a vegetable dish made of dark rapini-like leafy greens often served with the corn roti.

Indian Vegetarian Diet

The practice of a mainly vegetarian diet in Indian culture began thousands of years ago. It was evident in the sacred Vedic texts, which are ancient books of wisdom passed down through the ages. These texts support a meatless lifestyle, and are seen in Hindu tradition to be the first rule in obeying the will of a higher power.

In Hinduism, cows are considered to be a sacred animal. The slaughter of cows and the eating of their flesh is seen as taboo. The Rigveda text refers to the cow as a goddess. But there are other reasons behind a mainly vegetarian diet in Indian culture besides these religious principles.

Karma is defined as "the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence" and is viewed as "deciding their fate in future lifetimes." In other words, what goes around comes around. Eating the flesh of another animal is seen as inflicting unnecessary pain and cruelty for your own gain, and has consequences for your life after this one.

Even though religion is the most prevalent reason for eating a vegetarian diet across India, there are other more practical reasons as well. A diet that restricts meat and is rich in fruits, vegetables and grains has been shown to lower the risk of certain ailments such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and dental problems. It has also been shown to reduce or prevent certain cancers. In addition, the foods from this type of vegetarian diet are digested more quickly than meats, therefore providing the body with more energy.

Some key components of the Indian vegetarian diet:

Bread - Naan and roti are both traditional Indian breads made with wheat or flour, then cooked on a stove or in a tandoor
Rice - Rice has been a staple of vegetarian cuisine for centuries and can be flavoured in a number of ways. Rice pilaf, biryani and kheer are some examples.
Curries - Refers to gravies and vegetable dishes cooked in spices, and can vary by region.
Fried - Savoury and sweet delicacies such as pakoras, samosas, poori, gulab jamun.
Sweets - Typically made with milk, nuts, dried fruits and certain grain and bean flours.

Indian Food

India food like its culture is varied and is quite popular across the world. Indian food is the blend of varied herbs and spices which make every dish quite unique and special. Though most of the countries love Indian food, it is considered to be quite spicy when compared to the other cuisines.

Most of them when they think of Indian food, all they can think of is the wide variety available. Be it the sweets or the rice dishes or the curries or the snacks, Indian cuisine has it all. Indian food is delicious and quite exciting and includes the use of various exotic flavors. Also, another thing that pops up in our mind when we think of Indian cuisine is the wonderful spices that are used in cooking.

Let us now learn a little more about Indian food, which the favorite of many around the world.

Indian food is wide and includes a lot of variety. Each state of India has its own unique cuisine that reflects the culture and their tradition.

Indian food is cooking using various methods, most of which preserve the nutrients contained in the fresh vegetables used.
Traditional way of cooking Indian food includes making everything from the scratch.
Indian food is mostly free from preservatives. This way you get all the nutrients you need.
Indian cooking also makes use of a number of herbs that are very good for human health. Some of the herbs include turmeric, ginger, and garlic and so on.
Indian food also makes use of yogurt, which is fermented milk, which is again helpful in preserving healthy bacteria.
Indian food not only tastes good, but is also quite healthy.