India is famous not only for the richness of its culture but its food as well. I was lucky enough to be able to backpack solo for 3 weeks in India, and among other things I loved there was its food. Here are some of my favorites in this incredible country.
Thali
My first meal in India was the vegetable thali I had in one of the small restaurants in Kolkata. I didn’t know what it was then, but I loved it once I had it.
Thali is a selection of a number of dishes served in small metal bowls (katori), all placed on a round plate. Some of the ones I had included rice and roti, dal, some vegetables, curd, and some sweets for dessert.
Dosa
Dosa is another well-known dish from South India. Made from urad daal and rice, there are many different variants including masala (stuffed with potatoes), rava (semolina), and paneer (cheese).
For non-vegetarians, the chicken stuffed masala dosa is a big hit. It is crispy and not very heavy, which is perfect for a dinner dish, at least for me!
Biryani
Biryani is bismati rice prepared with a variety of spices, and can either be vegetarian or non-veg. I have heard it is very time-consuming to cook, but the taste is definitely worth it. I’ve had egg biryani, mutton biryani from the famed Karim’s Restaurant in New Delhi, and vegetarian biryani.
The best I have tasted, however, is the chicken biryani I had in a Muslim restaurant in Jaipur. It was so tasty I couldn’t believe it cost only 45 rupees!
Stuffed Parantha with Curd and Pickle
If you want to start your day Indian style, have stuffed parantha for breakfast. Parantha is a flat bread, and it can be stuffed with a lot of vegetables from potatoes and cauliflower, to green peas and even cheese. It is then cooked with the vegetable filling and served with butter on top.
Gulab Jamun
I have a sweet tooth, and nothing is sweeter than gulab jamun! It’s a spongy ball soaked in syrup, best eaten when warm. It is so sweet that one is enough. I’ve had it in Kolkata, Jaipur, and Delhi, and I think the best one I had was in Kolkata. It’s not recommended to be eaten everyday though. The sweetness will kill you!
India has so much more to offer for the traveling foodie. I can’t wait to eat more of these dishes while I’m here in this wonderful country!
Read my India travel posts here: Solitary Wanderer.
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