The Indian Food Saga

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It is the monsoon season on a nice, cold, gloomy weekend in Mumbai. It is raining cats and dogs! What is the first thought that comes to your mind? A nice hot cup of chai and pakoras or the classic Wada Pav!. Or, you are somewhere in the South. I bet, you thought of fluffy Medu wadas with Sambar and chutney or Hot dosas. These are just two of the many popular dishes within the food map of India.

The history of food in India is very vast. We are a culturally rich country with a lot of diversity. This diversity can be found everywhere, including food. From the 90s up till the early 21st century, many popular chefs showcased this vast culinary variety through the medium of radios, local television channels, newspaper columns and women's magazines. Today, this medium has grown even more. There are television channels specifically for food, cooking competitions, social media and of course, our very own food bloggers. What is it about the Indian food that always makes us want to think about it first? Be it occasions like birthdays, marriage functions or rituals, food is priority! And every occasion calls for a different spread altogether!

Diversity is a major part of the food. But how was this derived? History has a major role to play in the food that we prepare and consume today. The influence of our ancestors, their theories, the rulers who ruled us, the changing climatic and geographical conditions, all have their share of contribution. I prepared a food quiz recently and discovered a lot I never knew! Would you believe if I said that the national food of India is "Dal Khichdi"? Well, who knew that a simple dish made up of pulses and rice hold that much value?!

Indian food is primarily divided into three categories according to how they affect our physical well-being. These are: Rajasic, Tamasic and Sattwik. Of these, the sattwik variant is considered to be the simplest form of food, sans the usual spices and onion, garlic. Depending upon the geography and the type of people consuming, these varied. Not every geography supports every vegetable, legume or fruit. People always preferred to eat what is locally grown and harvested, since transporting or exporting food was cumbersome. However, as modes of travel progressed and populations had to migrate and go for work, they began adopting eating habits and foods from other territories. For survival, humans also had to start eating meat where greens were unavailable or not favourable to grow.

If you look at the impact of History, you can find it everywhere. The initial colonists in India were the Dutch and the Portuguese. They conquered the Southern part of India, often in search of spices. Thus, you find huge influence of the Dutch and the Portuguese cuisine in the Southern food, including the influence of the Nizam towards the city of Hyderabad and the neighbouring regions. Move to the Northern part of India and you will find more of Mughal and Afghan influence. Kebabs, tandoors, halwas, biryanis of the region are mostly Mughal and Afghan influenced. Central India has it's food habits and dishes inspired from both the Northern as well as the Western India region. In the North Eastern region, typically, food tends to have more of the Chinese, Nepal or Bangladesh touch, they being the border territories. British colonialism, on the other hand, lasted for almost a century and left their mark on the food throughout the country. They brought spices, condiments, fruits and vegetables which were not native to the country and gave the Indian touch to their food back home. One very good example is tea. We Indians are crazy about tea. But, did you know that tea was brought to India by the British from China? Interesting, isn't it? Even sauces, gravies, chutneys and starters vary largely throughout the country. Let's not forget the humble papad and pickle!

Indian snacks have an altogether different place in the hearts. The popular ones being the different varieties of chaat and the street food! They create magic! You can go hours speaking about Indian street food and the list will still go on and on!

During the 20th and the onset of the 21st century, Indians gradually started adopting Western food habits. Burgers, Pizzas, Wraps, Tacos, Donuts et al. Westernization eventually led to several ancient recipes being lost in history. There are people called food historians who research and try to bring these age-old recipes back into our modern cuisine.

The confluence of Western and Indian cuisine to curate Fusion cuisine is now commonly seen throughout India and the world. But, something else that is increasingly gaining popularity is Ayurveda inspired food. Indian food is tasty and full of spices and desi ghee and various oils, which also vary according to geography. Because of these qualities, excess consumption without adequate physical movement causes long running ailments and disorders. To avoid these side-effects, Indians are adopting healthier lifestyles. Vegetarianism and Veganism are also on the rise for ecological reasons or due to spiritual reasons. People have also taken a liking towards superfoods, which need to be eaten less but keep you full for longer periods.

Healthy habits are conveniently abandoned during the festivals. Festivals and food go hand in hand. The festive spreads are different from the usual days. Special food is prepared and offered to the deities and then served as "Prasad". These can also vary depending upon the geography and the customs of various communities.

Sweets in India have their own huge variety, but are less disturbed by Western influences.

The Indian food saga will go on and on. New recipes will be curated daily, old ones will be brought back and every era will see a different food. Whatever be it, Indian food will always touch hearts and souls. The never-ending debate of "Do you eat to live or Live to eat" will continue and meanwhile you'd be sitting with a bowl of hot khichdi and achaar OR is it quinoa and kale with a salad?

Images for representational purposes only