The Incredible Indian Food....

I stopped by McDonald's after leaving the gym today, I know, what is the point, right?? I have only been to McD's twice since my arrival here, and today, I just wanted something quick. That aside, it got me thinking about the food in India. I have mentioned that I love it, maybe mentioned a dish or two, but I really haven't spent any time talking about it. McDonald's is, after all, McDonald's, anywhere you go in the world. In India, however, there are no beef burgers, obviously, but there are chicken sandwiches, even the Big Mac is chicken based, veggie burgers, and McAloo Tikki burgers, which is really a potato patty on a bun dressed like a burger. And, the fountain diet Coke NEVER works....sigh...that is one thing I def. miss about home, fountain diet coke....! Anyway, back to the food. Indians are fond of spice, the more spice the better, as many of you know already. Even at McD's they have "Indianized" the food. The chicken sandwich doesn't have plain 'ol American mayo, they have "kicked it up a notch" with a sort of minty/coriander mayo...takes a second to register in the mouth, but it really is quite tasty....even the balsalmic salad dressing I found at the grocery store was extra spicy, I mean, hot! I wasn't expecting that on the first bite.
As I have metioned before, one of the questions I get most often is "how are you managing your food?" Some people are concerned that I don't cook at all, which I really don't, and others are more concerned with the level of spice. I also get asked a lot about what I eat and when. To not have eaten isn't an option either.
Ok, too the point. When I first arrived here, I kinda went nuts over the food. I absolutely love Indian food and I was trying to taste everything all at once. Then, I realized I had 4+ months to taste it all, so I needed to slow down....as Indian food is quite high in calories. It tastes so darn good because it is full of ghee (clarified butter) and oil. And wouldn't you know, all the food looks so innocent with the bright colors and veggies galore....but no, not the case. The vast majority of the restaurants here are vegetarian. Every restaurant you see will have that quite clearly stated on the sign outside, "veg. or non-veg" as the case may be. I am non-veg, but most of the people I spend time with are veg. I have eaten some meat here, not much, with Renu, she is Punjabi, which I have learned sort of equates with non-veg. There seems to be more more of a non-veg trend in the north, but that is not the rule completely. My neighbor, Aruna, also ordered me some AMAZING fish from a "joint" the other night. I am not sure what kind of fish, but it was darn hot! And tasty.
For the most part, I eat a lot of dosas, which are sort of an Indian burrito. The outer "shell" is made of a rice paste and is poured onto a skillet. They are paper thin, like a crepe, and have a variety of fillings, mostly masala (which I learned simply means spice) potato, onion, etc. There truly are 100 kinds of dosas. They are seen as more of a snack or an appetizer. You tear them apart with your fingers and dip them in chutney (delish), if you so choose. For the main meal, there are 100 different varieties of "gravy." Some of my favorites are palak (spinach)paneer, paneer laseez, mutter (peas) paneer. These are mostly vegetable gravy (some do have chicken or mutton) with paneer (which is cheese, sort of in blocks and has a consistency like ricotta) and heavy, heavy on the masala! The gravies are eaten with warm roti, chappatis, or naan (all Indian breads), again, tearing the bread apart and dipping. Maybe after all that is consumed, some rice would be ordered, dal rice is common (with lentils), biryani rice (with veggies mixed in), curd rice (with plain yogurt) and many, many more. For dessert, some gulab jamon (kind of like doughnut holes soaked in syrup) kulfi, (amazing indian ice-cream) or kulfi falooda (ice-cream with vermicelli noodles, no, really, and sometimes rose syrup)! There are also many types of Indian "fast-food," that are sold everywhere by street vendors, at the movies, etc. Pav bhaji is sort of an Indian staple. It is tomato based, and has finely, finely chopped onions, capsicum, cauliflower, and some other veggies sort of simmered together with again, a whole lot of masala, and served on warm buns, think "sloppy joe!" It is also LOADED with butter. Also, samosas (deep fried dough filled with potatoes), and pani puri, another type of bread filled with potatoes, garbanzo beans, onions, etc. They are bite-sized and you "pop" the whole thing in your mouth. Mine always break and fall apart everywhere, go figure.
Since coming to India, I have a new appreciation for garbanzo beans, they aren't just for hummus turns out, capsicum (I didn't even know what that was), little tiny pear-shaped fruits called naka, and a few other things. I have never eaten so many vegetables in my life. So, as you can see, one has to choose one's meals wisely. I am looking forward to heading south, as I hear the foods are much different! It is my goal to learn to make one or two, maybe three true Indian dishes before I leave so I can entertain my friends/family back home....In the meantime, yes, my Indian friends, I can handle the spice. I know you are always shocked, but this American can take it! And I see what you mean now, American food, for the most part, is really bland....and I am sorry you have to endure that when you go abroad. But, aren't we at least a little better than the UK??