Flavours of Subcontinent: The Diversity and Richness of Indian Cuisine

 Indian cuisine is incredibly diverse and consists of a variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to India. Given the diversity in soil, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these cuisines vary substantially and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Indian food is also heavily influenced by religion, cultural choices and traditions.

Some popular regional cuisines include Kashmiri, Punjabi, Mughlai, and Bengali cuisine. Each of these cuisines has its own unique flavors and dishes. For example, Kashmiri cuisine is essentially a meat-based cuisine with famous dishes made from lamb, goat’s meat, and chicken meat. Saffron and Kashmiri chili are commonly used in dishes which is quite specific to Kashmiri Cuisines.

Punjabi cuisine is known for its rich and buttery flavors with extensive use of dairy products such as paneer (cottage cheese), ghee (clarified butter), and cream. Some popular Punjabi dishes include butter chicken, chole bhature (spicy chickpeas with fried bread), and dal makhani (black lentils cooked with cream).

Mughlai cuisine is a style of cooking developed in the Indian subcontinent by the imperial kitchens of the Mughal Empire. It represents a combination of the cooking styles and recipes of Central Asia and North India. Mughlai cuisine is known for its rich sauces and gravies made with cream, nuts, and dried fruits. Some popular Mughlai dishes include biryani (a spiced rice dish), kebabs (grilled meat), and korma (a creamy curry).

Bengali cuisine is known for its subtle flavors with an emphasis on fish, vegetables, lentils, and rice. Mustard oil is commonly used in Bengali cooking along with a variety of spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili. Some popular Bengali dishes include macher jhol (fish curry), shukto (a mixed vegetable dish), and rasgulla (a sweet made from cottage cheese).

Indian cuisine also has a wide variety of vegetarian dishes due to the large population of Hindus who follow a vegetarian diet. Some popular vegetarian dishes include palak paneer (spinach with cottage cheese), baingan bharta (mashed eggplant), and aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower).

Indian cuisine has also been influenced by historical events such as invasions, trade relations, and colonialism. The Columbian discovery of the New World brought a number of new vegetables and fruit to India such as potatoes, tomatoes, chilies, peanuts, and guava which have become staples in many regions of India.

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. Spices were bought from India and traded around Europe and Asia. Indian cuisine has influenced other cuisines across the world, especially those from Europe (especially Britain), the Middle East, Southern Africa, East Africa, Southeast Asia, North America, Mauritius, Fiji, Oceania, and the Caribbean.