Cuisines are the delicacies unique to a particular region. Indian cuisine is distinctive in its own right and is matchless all over the world. The distinctiveness of the cuisines of India lies in its diversity. The variety of cuisines hailing from India perfectly complements the diverse race, culture, and language existing in India. The two main components of the Indian cuisines are spices and herbs. The type of components as well as the type of the cuisine varies from region to region. In history the prominent existence of the Indian cuisine could be found when the Vedic Hindus resided in India. Later on several communities and races from different regions that marked their influence on the Indian cuisine invaded India. Cuisines of India have flavors of regions like Portugal, Britain, and many more. The Muslims and then the Persians made the biggest influence on the Indian cuisines.
Indian cuisine is the general name for the foods of the Indian subcontinent, characterized by the extensive use of various spices, herbs, oil and other vegetables, and sometimes fruits grown in India and also for the widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society. Each family of Indian cuisine includes a wide assortment of dishes and cooking techniques. As a consequence, it varies from region to region, reflecting the varied demographics of the ethnically-diverse subcontinent.
The classification of the Indian cuisines is broadly based on the three regions-
North India, Southern parts of India and Western India.
NORTH INDIAN FOOD - North Indian curries usually have thick, moderately spicy and creamy gravies. The use of dried fruits and nuts is fairly common even in everyday foods. Dairy products like milk, cream, cottage cheese, ghee (clarified butter) and yoghurt play an important role in the cooking of both savory and sweet dishes. A rich variety of fruit and vegetable is available at all times of the year, the region produces a dazzling array of vegetarian dishes.
SOUTH INDIAN FOOD - Cuisine from southern part of India offers a variety of popular dishes. South Indian cuisine is known to display a wide range of options to the vegetarian and non-vegetarian food lovers. Popular south Indian dishes like Idli, dosa and sambhar are the most savoured items loved across India.
WESTERN INDIA FOOD -
West Indian culinary traditions are based upon thousands of years of Indian culture, but they have also absorbed and assimilated the influences of the many settlers, conquerors, and colonists that made their way onto Indian shores. Even within west Indian cuisine, there are distinct regional influences, with individual styles arising out of several states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
