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Indian Cuisine & Culture Made Easy in the United States |
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Now you can enjoy those same flavors right in your own home. Come learn how to make " Tandoori chicken" and much more. We will go over the basic fundamentals of curries, and also learn how to make Indian bread. It is the exotic Indian spices that make Indian cuisine so delectable; we will be working with spices and ingredients that are easily available, locally.
Indian cooking categorizes foods into six tastes - sweet, sour, salty, spicy, bitter and astringent. A well-balanced Indian meal contains all six tastes, not always can this be accomplished. But it’s a great rule of thumb to follow. This principle explains the use of numerous spice combinations and depth of flavor in Indian recipes. Side dishes and condiments like chutneys, curries, daals and Indian pickles contribute to and add to the overall flavor and texture of a meal and provide balance needed. Spices Most of the spices used in Indian cooking were chosen originally (thousands of years ago) for their medicinal qualities rather than for flavor. Many of them such as turmeric, cloves and cardamoms are very antiseptic, others like ginger, are carminative and good for the digestion. All curries are made using a wide variety of spices, and few cooks use the same quantity or variety as another. Therefore, no two curries taste the same. Curry Contrary to popular belief, not all Hindus are vegetarians but the majority are. Visitors to India are often amazed with the immense variety of Indian cuisine, which is not restricted to only curry. Residents of the rest of the world, however, have come to think of "curry" as simply a thick creamy yellow sauce or any dish seasoned with a "curry-powder", whether it has a sauce or not. An authentic Indian curry is an intricate combination of a stir-fried masala – a mixture of onion, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes; various spices and seasonings with which meat; poultry, vegetables or fish is prepared to produce a stew-type dish. Note : the word Masala also means spice. Regional Tastes and Flavors Each region in India has its own traditional and distinctive cuisine, which offers a wide variety to vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians. The general rule here as far as religious beliefs go, Muslims eat meat but never pork and for Hindus the cow is sacred. There are four distinct regions in India.
Recipe Collection This website is a collection of time tested traditional favorites and some family favorites. All the recipes on this website have been perfected through time. Each recipe was tested to make sure that it could be prepared exactly the same way each time. Over the years, we have found ways of making the authentic Indian recipes, "easy to make" with easy cooking methods and by using easily available ingredients. We have made positive changes along the way so that even a newcomer to Indian cooking will be able to reproduce the recipes exactly. So don't be afraid to try out any recipe from this website. You will find a collection of mouth watering Indian recipes, great photographs (soon) of the recipe, easy to follow steps which will help you in selecting the recipe just right for you or any occasion. Menu suggestions are also included so that you can entertain and dine with elegance. So there, you have it. We do hope you will enjoy creating these wonderful mouth watering recipes for you, your family and your friends.
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