Let me just start by saying that food in India either hits unbelievably hard or will be the reason you're up at 2am with cold sweats.
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When people think of Indian food they often think of various curries like Korma, Vindaloo, Masala (shocker curry isn't just one thing) however there is a wide range of diverse and tasty foods in India. Looking back I probably only had what people would consider "curry" twice in the month I was there. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of every single thing I ate as I was "lost in the sauce" as they say but I will try to find pictures on the interwebs.
The veg/non-veg conundrum
When you order food at a dhaba or street food stand you'll hear two options "veg" or "non-veg". Veg dishes being vegetarian and well non-veg plates having meat, often poultry. Both are equally delicious and will blow your mind but veg foods have some peace of mind as theirs less chance of food born illness. So my recommendation: why are you waiting? If it tastes good eat it.
Apart from the obvious religious reasons, before I was went to India I was curious to hear about the mostly vegetarian cuisine because in my experience in the States meat provides all the flavor, the base. But in India with all the methods of cooking, unique spices, and flavors you quickly forget this preconception. For example, all the spices in daal give so much dimension, variety, and utility to the humble lentil. Put it with some rice and squeeze a wedge of lemon and you get a simple yet delicious dish.
Don't knock it if you have a bad experience
There's so many different varieties and vendors not to mention wildly different cuisine depending on the region, truly something for everyone. My most anticipated food of the trip was the immaculate samosa. Stuffed with peas, potatoes, and assortment of spices then lightly fried in oil samosas are some of the most delicious things on the planet. But I'll be honest- my first, second, and even third samosa were not that great. Nevertheless, parathas soon triumphed as my favorite Indian food- lightly stuffed potato pancakes that are both savory and warm served with butter- the perfect breakfast. I remember waking up in the middle of the night to munch on a cold leftover paratha in the light of my headlamp. Do not miss trying these!
Image by BBC Good Food
I also discovered my love for subji, essentially a vegetable dish that uses a wide variety of vegetables lightly spiced and sautéed in mustard seed oil. Pick it up with some chipati and you have a delicious bite.
Some other notable contenders for best foods were:
Chowmin (Indian style) with a dollop of hot sauce
Momos (steamed meat and veg dumplings)
Palak Paneer
And the American style sour cream and onion chips that kept me going, much better than those in the US
Needless to say there is something for everyone in Indian cuisine. Don't let what you see in the media discourage you from shoving as much food as you can possibly fit in your mouth. It's diverse, it's fantastic, it is India.
Side note: I wish I had more photos of all the good food, because these truly don't do it justice but alas until next time!
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