Sunday 31 March 2013

Experience the essence of Indian cuisines with an Indian thali


Indian food is a mixture of a varied cultures and points to our prosperous and rich heritage. Whether it’s Gujarat’s thepla or Bengal’s rossogolla ; Kerala’s payasam or Kashmir’srogan josh , each and every cuisine is a cooking delight. What is it which sets it apart from all the other kinds of foods?

Indian traditional food has been influenced highly from historical incidents such as foreign invasions, colonialism and trade relations. It has evolved from Muslim and Persian influences also. Still, it maintains its exclusive flavor and essence that sets it apart. Every region and state is widely recognized for its delicious savories. It’s a mix of a thousand flavors, colors, textures and aromas.

The four major Indian regional styles in cooking are East, West, North, and South. North India is influenced highly by Moghul dynasty, which ruled India almost for three centuries. Rich and saffron gravies prepared of pureed creams and nuts were all derivative from the Moghuls. On the contrary, South Indian food includes subtle textures and flavors. Their distinctive steamed rice cakes and rice crepes have been preferred by Southern Indian people. Western states of Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat all have exclusive food experiences.  The state of Gujarat is well known for being one of the most excellent places to have vegetarian cuisines. Eastern states like West Bengal, Jharkhand and Bihar differ from each other greatly. Bengali cuisines can be defined as subtle and delicate, with rice and fish as their staple meal. Fish and lots of other seafood are dietary stables. Jharkhand and Bihar enjoy their beans and vegetables; however, they have western overtones. Their diet includes chicken and other delicacies.  

The use of different spices and herbs gives it an outstanding aroma, and makes it a famous cuisine all around the world. The Indian restaurants are cashing on these reasons and have turned up with many extraordinary items on their menus. Restaurants have reinvented traditional food by implementing different techniques of cooking and even have emerged up with lots of fusion cuisines. One popular culinary delicacy can be an Indian thali.

The ‘thali’ is an Indian platter. It generally includes an entrĂ©e, the main course and desserts, all served in one plate. In lots of restaurants, the elements of a thali differ from one region to another. For instance, a Rajasthani thali will consist of daal- bati churma, ghevar, and bail-gatte; whereas Guajarati thali consist of kadhi, dal, papad and puriyan. A thali is representation of traditional cuisines of a specific region. The thali permits a person to relish each delicacy in reasonable quantities. This has become a well-liked concept in modern restaurants, typically in Northern India.

Navratris are considered a good time in Hindu calendar and individuals follow them religiously by observing fasts. Bearing in mind, many restaurants dole out unique Indian thali for festivals such as teej or navratris. SoPsychology Articles, Indians have a likeness for spicy snacks and sweet desserts. No other country presents such a wide variety of unusual dishes to please your taste buds.

The thali offers the tastes of India


With culture playing an essential role in the culinary world, each country has its own texture as well as taste. These tastes are distinct. A dish which infuses savory and sweet contents in one plate can be seen only in an Indian Thali. The thalis have all the components, which make a perfect serving of food without compensating on flavor and taste. Originally inspired from the royal palaces in Rajastan and Jaipur, where the cooks strived in kitchens to amalgamate spices and flavors to meet the levels of tastes expected by visitors, the thali has paved its way into the hearts of people, not just locally but in many foreign countries as well. The different communities, which represent different states in India have their own exclusive styles of representing the flavor, which portray their heritage by their food. Therefore, the medium to review their culture is by the preparation of the main components and their distribution on a platter in accordance with the fusion of flavors.

In many countries like India, killing of animals is not seen in a favorable manner. Everybody cannot enjoy meat and prefer to enjoy a vegetarian diet.  Individuals prefer to indulge in vegetarian preparations rather than poultry dishes or meat. Veganism has taken a place in a person’s life. People have ensured that fruits and vegetables are an important part of their diet. The mix of vegetables with herbs and spices uplift the flavor proportion, thus vegetarian thali has become a perfect illustration of taste meeting health. The spice contents in these thalis differ on account of different palettes, which indulge in the dishes.
Such thalis are an expression of the local tastes, which are enhanced by a cook’s knowledge as well as passion for food. A contemporary and a truly dedicated chef can recognize the dash of flavors and hints of tastes, which enhance the worth of a dish.
Indianthali differs in taste as every community prepares a dish in a unique way. The novelty highlights the diversity of the Indian cuisine. The themes and influences can differ too. Preparing delicacies does involve a great deal of creativity. A platter full of various delicacies, rich in myriad flavors is certainly a visual delight. Dishes rich in baked bread, desserts etc…can give rise to a low rumble in your tummy. The vegetarian thalis are so popular that people from abroad come to Indian restaurants for enjoying the heavenly experience of eating delicious meals. To many consumers, the variation and amount in flavors depict art on a plate. It is an experience to feel these beautiful flavors whirling in the mouth balancing all kinds of tastes. To any common person, it might not look like a difficult task but if you ask a chef, he would have told you that how much diligence and effort goes into the making of such a feast. Lots of dishes are there in India, which can be explored. Browse through the menu carefully and choose delicacies that treat your palate to a delightful aromatic experience.