| ass="KonaBody"> | another. Southern India prefers peanut, |
| Curry? Ask a common person on the street | sunflower or coconut oil. The pungent |
| in India where you can have it. In all | aroma of mustard oil distinguishes food |
| probability, you would be met with a | from West Bengal in the east, while many |
| uncomprehending stare. The reality is, | people in the north use ghee or |
| there is no such thing! At least, not as | clarified butter - in spite the health |
| it is packaged by the makers of | warnings! Typically, a lentil-based |
| ready-to-eat foods in the superstores of | gravy would be seasoned with mustard and |
| the world. Envision if French cuisine | dried red chilies in southern India. |
| were to be lumped together with German, | Large parts of the rest of India, |
| Italian and Spanish food as European | though, use cumin seeds and fresh, green |
| cookery - it may trigger off one more | chilies. Ah, gravies - you think maybe |
| French Revolution! Indians, however, | you discovered the curry here? What is |
| seem at ease that the world refers to | common to all Indian dishes is the |
| their astonishingly varied cuisine | judicious use of different spice combos, |
| simply as - curry! | for their flavoring and digestive |
| So, if curry is not quite Indian food, | benefits. Turmeric, used all over India, |
| what is? That is a subject worthy of an | is a powerful antiseptic. Ginger, |
| complete book! For now, let us just say | garlic, bay leaf and asafetida fight |
| that India is home to as many food | indigestion and flatulence. Coriander |
| styles as its 28 states - and then some | and chili powder add zest and thicken |
| more. Weather conditions, locally | gravies (or curries, if you will!). |
| available produce, culture, regimes and | Fenugreek is favored in hot weather for |
| religious beliefs have inspired these | its cooling effects. |
| regional food styles over thousands of | |
| years, giving each its unique identity. | Is all Indian cooking spicy? Hah, |
| In the southern and coastal areas, rice | another myth that needs busting! Blame |
| rules - the ideal light cereal for a | all those restaurateurs who serve their |
| warm, humid weather. Huge parts of | unsuspecting customers generic, angry |
| western India are mainly vegetarian | looking gravies (curries), with chunks |
| thanks to the influence of the Jain | of meat and veggies. Truth is, Indian |
| religion, while eastern India cannot do | cuisine goes from spicy to subtle, with |
| without its seafood. Its previous | a whole range in between to satisfy the |
| Portuguese rulers heavily influenced the | most sensitive of palates. Typically, a |
| cuisine of Goa in southwestern India. | full-course meal is a delightful |
| Further north, wheat is more desired, | balanced mix of flavors and aromas (with |
| and so is non-vegetarian food. Eating | desserts to die for). Also, it is a |
| behaviors are modified to suit the great | flexi-cuisine; testing with a lower |
| variation between the seasons - summer | spice level won't wreck your dinner. You |
| foods are simple, low fat and lightly | are what you eat - while Indian |
| cooked, while winter is the time to | vegetarian cooking is believed to induce |
| savor spicier, high calorie meats, whole | calm thoughts and sharpen the intellect, |
| lentils and protein-rich vegetables for | meat is thought to stoke the passions. |
| warmth and energy. | Choose the right ingredients, and with |
| There are variations in cooking oils and | some imagination and some magic you |
| seasonings too, and the same ingredients | could rustle up a custom curry. Curry, |
| made in one area taste distinctive in | anyone? |