Indian food you should definitely try in your lifetime

Indian food you should definitely try in your lifetime

Travel broadens the mind and I think it also broadens the taste buds, travel enables one to indulge the senses in a wide array of exotic tastes and aromas. Travel and food go hand in hand and a keen traveler would never give up the opportunity of exploring the different tastes of the region in addition to the different sights.

Having travelled and stayed for long periods in different cities of India, I somehow tend to identify cities and towns with the hallmark dishes associated with them. Many a times I play this game of thinking if XYZ city was a food item, then what would it be, and then I let my imagination take over.

In the first of a series of blogs on this food journey across India, I talk here about some of my favourite cities and towns and their associated dishes.

Bangalore—Masala Dosa

The Masala Dosa is the signature food of the IT capital of the country, it stands upright and majestic against the onslaught of such aliens like Pizzas, Bergers, Hot Dogs, etc. Nothing is more satisfying to the palate than a hot crispy Masala Dosa washed down with a steaming hot cup of strong coffee. The Masala Dosa is popular throughout the country now and in fact it finds its name in the ‘List of 10 foods around the World to try before you die’, in the August, 18, 2015 issue of ‘The Huffington Post’.

The Masala Dosa is a pancake made of rice and lentils, roasted with dollops of marinated butter and stuffed with a potato and onion filling. This is eaten with ‘chutney’ or sauce made of grated coconut, chillies and garlic.

Though you can eat a Masala Dosa at any of the small and big eateries that dot Bangalore, it is recommended that you taste the ones at Vidyarthi Bhavan

http://www.vidyarthibhavan.in/

Mumbai-Vada Pav

Mumbai is the melting pot of India, the dream city where millions come chasing their dreams and the city embraces them with open arms .If there is one common ally and support system for the millions struggling to make it in the Big city of Mumbai it is the ubiquitous’ Vada Pav’, a food for the masses and classes, a food loved by Princes and the Paupers alike, from street urchins selling newspapers at traffic junctions to the suited and booted executives hovering around Nariman point, from the dazzling stars of Bollywood to the Countless Coolies laboring hard on the platforms of Mumbai stations, everyone swears by Vada Pav.

What is this Vada Pava that has everyone in thrall?

The Vada Pava consists of two components and a couple of accessories. The first component is the Vada which is a blend of mashed potatoes, green chillies, coriander and other spices rolled into a ball and coated with a Gram flour batter and deep fried. The Vada is then placed inside a slit Pav(Bun/Bread), akin to a Burger.

The Vada Pav is then served with chutney or sauce made of chillies and garlic as well as fried green chillies, chopped onions, etc.

Vada Pav is available in virtually every nook and corner of the metropolis, but you should definitely not miss tasting the Mumbai delight at these two outlets.

Ashok Vada Pav, off Cadel Road, Kirti College Lane, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
Samrat Vada Pav, Nehru Road, Parleshwar, Vile parle(East)

Delhi-Chole Bhature

Delhi, is the capital of India, the seat of power from where the India is governed, a city steeped in history. A city which has been the centre of many a mighty empire in history, the longest serving Capital in the world as well as one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. So it comes as no surprise that the food of Delhi has inculcated the best flavors from across history. Though the list of lip smacking dishes is exhaustive and includes rich and varied fare, the pick of the lot is Chole Bhature, which is a complete meal in itself and can carry you through most of the day. It is actually a heavy breakfast popular in Delhi and other Northern parts of India.

The dish is a combination of spicy chick peas (Chole) served along with fried bread(Bhatura) made of refined wheat flour which has been fermented. This combination is served with the accompaniments of fried green chilies and raw onion rings. After eating this dish in case you can, you are welcome to down a big glass of ‘Lassi’, a yogurt based drink which usually comes with a sweet or salt option.

After satiating yourself with such a hearty breakfast make sure you walk around taking in the sights of Delhi to burn away the extra calories!

Chole Bhature is available in all parts of Delhi, but one of the best places to indulge yourself on some delicious Chole Bhature is:

Sitaram Ke Special Chhole Bhature Paharganj, New Delhi

https://www.facebook.com/chholebhature

Ahmedabad- DalWada

Ahmedabad, the colorful and commercial capital of the state of Gujarat, India is known for the warmth and hospitality of its people and its varied street food on offer throughout the day and night.

Street food is a passion amongst the citizens of this city, age, economic status, no bar, you would find everyone making a beeline to some of the favourite food haunts in the city on a hot summer evening.

Though there is a plethora of lip smacking delicacies on offer, I prefer to write about the simple but delicious Dalwada, simply because nowhere else does this taste as it does in Ahmedabad!

Dalwadas are crispy, deep fried fritters made of soaked lentils coarsely ground and mixed with different spices. They are served with fried green chillies and raw onions.

If you get a dish of hot dalwadas along with a steaming hot cup of ginger tea on a rainy day, probably you would achieve a gastronomic nirvana.

Best Place to taste Dalwadas is  Gujarat Dalwada  Address: Park Avenue, Opp Parimal Garden, Chimanlal Girdharlal Rd, Ellisbridge, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380006

Have you ever tasted Indian spicy food? What is your first reaction? Indulge your taste buds in some exotic experiences!

Enjoy the tastes and aromas of these dishes till our next blog post which will concoct some more cities and dishes from different places.