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Cuisine of India

Indian cuisine consists of a variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to the Indian subcontinent. Indian food is heavily influenced by religion, in particular Hindu and Muslim cultural choices and traditions. Indian cuisine has shaped the history of international relations. The spice trade between India and Europe was the primary catalyst for Europe's Age of Discovery.

  • Punjabi cuisine has a rich tradition of many distinct and local ways of cooking.
  • The meals are abundant of local and seasonal vegetables usually sauteed with spices such as cumin, dried coriander, red chili powder, turmeric, black cloves, etc.
  • Masala chai is a much-liked drink and is consumed in everyday life and at special occasions.
  • Certain dishes exclusive to Punjab, such as makki di roti and sarson da saag, dal makhani, and others are a enjoyed by many throughout the world.
  • Tandoori food is a Punjabi specialty.
  • Dishes like Bhatti da murgh also known as tandoori chicken, Chicken hariyali kabab, Achari paneer tikka, and Amritsari kulcha are some popular tandoori foods from Punjab.
  • Dairy products are regularly enjoyed and usually accompany main meals in the form of dahi, milk, and milk-derived products like lassi, paneer, and more.
  • Assamese cuisine is a mixture of different indigenous styles, with a considerable number of regional variations.
  • Although it is known for its limited use of spices, Assamese cuisine has strong flavours from its use of delicious herbs, fruits, and vegetables served fresh, dried, or fermented.
  • Rice is the staple food item. Fish, generally freshwater varieties, are widely eaten. Other non-vegetarian items include chicken, duck, snails, silkworms, insects, goat, pork, venison, turtle, monitor lizard, etc.
  • The region's cuisine involves simple cooking processes like barbecuing and steaming.
  • Bhuna, the gentle frying of spices before the addition of the main ingredients, generally common in Indian cooking, is absent in the cuisine of Assam.
  • A traditional meal in Assam begins with a khar and ends with a tenga, a sour dish. Homebrewed rice beer or rice wine is served before a meal. A Paan generally concludes a meal.
  • Maharashtrian cuisine is an extensive balance of many different tastes. It includes a range of dishes from mild to very spicy tastes.
  • Bajri, wheat, rice, jowar, vegetables, lentils, and fruit form important components of the Maharashtrian diet.
  • Popular dishes include puran poli, ukdiche modak, batata wada, sabudana ni khichdi, masala bhat, pav bhaji, and wada pav.
  • Poha or flattened rice is also usually eaten at breakfast. Kanda poha and aloo poha are some of the dishes cooked for breakfast and snacking in evenings.
  • Popular spicy meat dishes include many whih have originated in the Kolhapur region. These are the Kolhapuri Sukka mutton, pandhra rassa, and tabmda rassa.
  • Shrikhand, a sweet dish made from strained yogurt, is the main dessert of Maharashtrian cuisine.
  • Kerala cuisine offers a multitude of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
  • Chillies, curry leaves, coconut, mustard seeds, turmeric, tamarind, asafoetida and other spices are often in the preparation.
  • A huge variety of spices are used in preparation. This has led Kerala to be known as the Land of Spices.
  • One of the traditional Kerala dishes is vegetarian and is called the Kerala sadhya, which is an elaborate banquet prepared for festivals and ceremonies.
  • Kerala has a variety of delicious dishes like idli, dosa, appam, idiyappam, puttu, and pathiri.
  • These dishes have their own sub-varieties of dishes such as Masala Dosa, Rava Dosa, etc.
  • These dishes are enjoyed by all with Sambhar and an assortment of Chutneys.