From The North To The South: Best Of Indian Cuisine
Anas Yousuf • March 2, 2024
Indian food is as diverse as its culture, boasting its rich flavors, ingredients, and cooking techniques. Among the tens of countries in India, each region varies in its food. From the hearty dishes of the North to the spicy delicacies of the South, each part of India has something unique to offer. Let’s traverse the country’s cuisine and how India’s cuisine is defined by its flavors.
North Indian Cuisine
From the harsh summers to cool winters, North India has a huge geographical influence on its food. Their abundance in seasonal fruit and vegetables also allows them to have fruit-centered food.
The most popular foods are naan (bread made in a tandoor oven), parathas (flaky bread with different stuffings), and many types of rice. Throughout all of India, the most dominant still stands to be biriyani (rice dish with spices, herbs, and optional choice of meat).
North Indian food tends to be thicker than South Indian foods due to its heavy use of dairy products. Milk, yogurt, and ghee (clarified butter) tend to play a huge role in these foods. Because of the vast array of seasonal food, this region also has a ton of vegetarian dishes.
Here are some mouth-watering North Indian foods for you to try:
1. Chole Bhature
Reigning from Punjab, this delight consists of a soft, fluffy fried bread served with a spicy chickpea dish. This pairs well with a dash of lemon and fried onions.
2. Malai Kofta
Another Punjab dish that is pure heaven. It consists of fried potato and paneer balls in a mild sauce with tomatoes and onions, known as kofta. This is best served with roti, naan, or paratha. It can even go well with some basmati or jeera rice.
3. Tandoori Chicken
An absolute chicken delight known throughout all of North India. Consisting of chicken marinated in spices and grilled/roasted to perfection, it is best paired with some naan, roti, or simply by itself.
South Indian Cuisine
South India moves away from the creamy food and towards a cuisine characterized by rice and spices. Renowned for its vegetarian offerings, dishes such as dosa (savory crepe) and idli (fermented rice cake) take the spotlight.
Another main difference in South Indian cuisine is its heavy reliance on seafood. As most states border the ocean, seafood such as shrimp, fish, and crab can be found in every street. From fiery fish curries to delicate shrimp masalas, each dish showcases a vibrant part of the sea.
These foods are generally much lighter and revolve around a rice-based diet when compared to North Indian food. Primary ingredients such as curry leaves, coconut, and tamarind help to elevate these dishes to a whole new level.
Here are some scrumptious South Indian food for you to try:
1. Idly
Made up of fermented lentils and rice, this rice cake is an absolute must. It easily fills you up and only has around 60 calories per idly. When paired with chutney (coconut curry), this combination will never fail to amaze you.
2. Dosa
A crispy and savory crepe that is usually served for breakfast. Alongside some curries such as sambar and chutney, this is another delight found throughout South India. Dosa also has hundreds of variations, with fillings such as spicy potato and other vegetables.
3. Payasam
Known as one of the best desserts in all of India, this milk-based pudding made of vermicelli noodles is what you need after a hearty meal. Covered in toasted raisins and cashews, this is predominant in many festivals such as weddings.
Even though North and South Indian food have varying cuisines and spices, this diversity is what makes exploring India a must on everyone’s bucket list!