Sunday, January 17, 2016

नमस्ते From India!

Land of Bollywood, rickshaws and delicious flavorful foods, Indian culture is among the most distinct and interesting in the world. Know for their usage of bold and aromatic spices, India is a power house of health enhancing and nutrient dense foods and flavors. Spices such as turmeric, ginger, red chilies, cumin, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, and coriander are more likely than not found in most Indian recipes. Strong spices like these are full of antioxidants that help fight off many diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Indian cuisine features along with a variety of vegetables, lentils and chickpeas that are full of fiber; dhokla, curd and idly are all fermented dishes high in probiotics and enzymes to aid digestion. Although I live far from India, I’m really lucky that India has come over 7,000 miles in the form of a number of Indian restaurants that bring the flavors directly to me most of the time in a take-out container.


Hot Damn


My restaurant of choice for Indian take-out is a small family run place called India Palace. India Palace may not get 5 out of 5 stars on décor but it does get 6 out of 5 stars on tastiness. They sell a wide variety of dishes from appetizers and soups to curries and vegetarian options. My all-time favorites are daal mulligatawny, mushroom masala and chicken tikka.

Daal Mulligatwny is a coriander flavored soup with lentils and veggies; the fiber’s guaranteed to make your tummy happy.

Daal Mulligatwny

Mushroom Masala is mushrooms and onions in a curry sauce often times served with rice or naan. The curry contains many anti-inflammatory properties sure to make you chow down guilt free.

Mushroom Masala

Chicken Tikka is a tandoori flavored chicken. With the boost of health benefits of the spices plus the protein from the chicken this meal is sure to make on anyone’s go-to list of preferred take-out.



Chicken Tikka 


5 comments:

  1. Well I did know for a fact that Indian cuisine happens to be a very healthy choice when it comes to regular daily meals simply because of all the vegetables and spices they use in their meals. But i had no idea what so ever that certain spices contain nutrients to fight off cancer. With this information acquired I might as well give the Indian cuisine another try or two. And not to forget that their food is absolutely fantastic if you are a fan of spicy type meals like me.

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  2. OMG these foods look sooooooo good. I have always been a fan of spicy foods, and Indian food is always the way to go. I enjoyed the facts that you gave about the spices and the foods, showing all the benefits that come with every ingredient found in the food. After reading this post, I will be much more aware of my food choices, now knowing all the benefits that come with every meal. Great job! Keep up the good work!

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  3. Considering the fact that India is such a vast country, not only geographically but also culturally, would you say that the foods you mentioned are enjoyed throughout the country, or in more remote areas (i.e. Punjab, Rajastan..etc). Also, what language is the title of the article in?

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    1. Thank you for the comment Dante! The title of the article is in Hindi, I chose it because it is the most popular language spoken in India. Although there are 22 official languages and over 1600 dialects. As for the dishes I chose, they are enjoyed throughout the country. 

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    2. Thank you for the clarification! I haven't had Indian food yet sadly, but I'm dying to try pani puri. It's basically hollow and crispy egg-shaped pastries, filled with chutney or whatever stew you want to fill them with. I'm sure its as healthy as the options you have listed!

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