Indians love their food as our cuisine plays a major role in our day-to-day lives including festivals, culture, offerings, etc. Also, Indian foods are popular all over the world due to their delicious taste and the balanced use of spices. Indian spices make food flavorful and delicious. Indian spices are so popular in Europe that it is one of the most motivating factors in the European Age of Exploration. They were curious to search for direct access to the highly lucrative eastern spice trade. Europeans wanted valuable Indian spices and used them for cooking and for making medicines.
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Our country reflects “Unity in Diversity” where different types of people live in different states with different cultures and traditions. Apart from different cultures and traditions their taste and preferences also varies from state to state as every place has its own food habits. Indian cuisine is an emotion that has captured the hearts and plates of millions worldwide. Food is not merely sustenance but it is a celebration of diversity, traditions, and flavors. We Indians love eating different types of food because our love for food is deeply connected with our culture and daily life. Here, in this blog, we will discuss some of the unique food habits adopted by different states in India.
What are Unique Food Habits?
Food habits or eating habits basically refer to why and which food people eat. It also refers to the ways people obtain store, use, and discard the food. Eating habits can be influenced by social, economic, religious, environmental, and political factors. We can also say that food habits or eating habits are a specific behavior of an individual or group/community of people to consume a particular type of food having a specific taste or ingredients. India is a country where every state has its own taste and preferences for food. Most Bengali dishes contain fish whereas Maharashtrian cuisines contain breads etc. Here we will see the different cultures of eating from different states in India.
West Bengal – Incredible Love For Fish
West Bengal is a pilgrimage for food lovers. Whenever we talk about Bengal or Bengali people the very first thing that strikes our mind is ‘fish’. Rice with fish or “Maach Bhaat” is known as the most staple and popular food of West Bengal. Apart from that meat is also very popular especially the meat of beef and goat. One of the most popular Bengali meat dishes is Kosha Mangsho.
Bengali cuisine has subtle as well as fiery flavors that maintain the perfect balance of taste. Apart from that, Bengali people love sweets. Some of the most popular Bengali sweets are ‘Sondesh’ and ‘Rossogulla’. Hence, next time you plan to visit Bengal don’t miss the chance to satisfy your appetite with delicious Bengali cuisines.
Gujarat – A Vegetarian State
There is plenty of seafood available in Gujarat but still, people love eating pure vegetarian food. People from Gujarat love eating different types of meals on a single plate like roti, dal, curry, and shaak (shaak is basically a dish made up of different combinations of spices, vegetables, etc). Gujarati people add a little sweetness to every dish because it is said that the combination of salt and sugar keeps our body hydrated. Hence, Gujarati dishes taste sweet, salty, and spicy at the same time. Apart from that some snacks are also very popular in Gujrat, those are khandvi, dhokla, jalebi, khakhra, fafda thepla, dabeli, etc.
Suggested read: 28 Signature Cuisines of Indian States
Punjab – Plentiful of Dairy Products
Punjab is the only state that uses the highest amount of dairy products all over the country. According to the Times of India record of 30 June 2014 – Punjab records the highest per capita milk availability. Therefore, we can say that dairy products like milk, curd, ghee, butter, etc. are important components of the Punjabi diet. Punjabi cuisine contains large amounts of ghee and butter in their dishes.
Some of the traditional Punjabi foods are Dal Makhani, Shahi Paneer, Sarso ka Saag, Chicken Tandoori, etc. Apart from that Punjabi people love using curd in their daily meal in the form of raita or lassi. Hence, dairy products play an important role in Punjabi cuisine. We cannot imagine the taste of Punjabi dishes without the presence of ghee or butter.
Tamil Nadu – A South Indian Food Hub
Tamil Nadu is located in southern India. South Indian foods like idli, dosa, rasam, medu vada, etc. are very popular in Tamil Nadu. Dishes made with rice, lentils, urad dal, and meats are loved by Tamil people. In south Indian dishes, people also use tamarind in order to provide that sour taste in their gravies or curries. Apart from that they also use mustard oil and curry leaves for ‘Tadka’. South Indian dishes are incomplete without curry leaves as they add a specific taste and flavor to dishes.
Tamil dishes are not only made in a traditional manner but it is also served on banana leaves. We can say that South Indian dishes are the best breakfast option because most of the dishes are made with fermented rice and urad dal batter. Some of the most popular traditional South Indian dishes are idli, sambar, rasam, and dosa. Some of the ideal lunch options are rice with Sambar, Rasam, Curd, Kuzhambu, etc.
Goa – Perfect Place For Having Seafoods
Goa is located along India’s West coast on the shore of the Arabian Sea. Goa is a seafood paradise for food lovers. The dishes of the Goan people are mostly based on seafood like fish, prawns, crabs, etc. We all know that the food habits of any place depend on the geographical location of that particular place. Goa is located near the sea so Goan people love having sea-foods. Some of the main ingredients of Goan cuisine are fish, rice, bread, pork, coconut, vegetables, bread, and other local spices, etc. Hence, Goan food habits or choices are dominated by seafood and fish is known as one of the most popular seafood.
Jammu-Kashmir – Paradise For Non-Vegetarian Food Lovers
Kashmir is known as “heaven on the Earth” and the taste of Kashmir is also influenced by the beauty of this place. Kashmiri cuisine tastes amazing. Kashmiri people love non-vegetarian food, especially red meat. One of the most popular Kashmiri cuisines is ‘Mutton Rogan Josh‘ which is made with red meat cooked in ghee and a few spices. Some of the popular Kashmiri cuisines are Nadru Yakhni, Chicken pulao, Dum Olav (Dum Aloo), Kashmiri Rajma, Chicken biryani, etc.
Maharashtra – Love For Pav
Maharashtrian foods are not only popular in Maharashtra but also all over the country. From pav bhaji to poha, Maharashtrian food has a lot to offer. Maharashtrian food is incomplete without pav bhaji. It is said that pav bhaji is a signature dish of Maharashtra. Apart from pav bhaji one of the most popular Maharashtrian foods is Vada Pav. The introduction of Amchi Maharashtra is totally incomplete without Vada pav. Misal-pav is also a very popular dish in Maharashtra. Hence, Maharashtrian people love pav or bread so much in their various dishes. Some of the most popular dishes of Maharashtra are mentioned below;
- Poha
- Rassa
- Modak
- Aamras
- Basundi
- Misal Pav
- Shrikhand
- Puran Poli
- Bharli Vangi
- Pighla Bhakri
- Ragda Patties
- Sabudana khichdi
- Mumbai Special Bhelpuri
- Aamti (Maharashtrian Dal)
Rajasthan – Love For Spicy Food
The food habits of Rajasthan show in their tradition and culture. Rajasthan is a place of Royalty and we can easily notice this royal touch in their dishes as well. Traditional Rajasthani cuisine tastes quite spicy compared to other states’ food. People use red chilies to preserve the food and also to enhance the color and taste of the food. Some of the most popular traditional Rajasthani cuisines are Laal Maas or red meat, Rajasthani kadhi, dal bati churma, etc.
Conclusion
Food is not only to satisfy appetite but is an emotion in our country. It is said that food is a unifying force that brings families, friends, and communities together. Our country’s cuisine versatility accommodates a wide range of dietary preferences from vegetarian to non-vegetarian foods. These traditional dishes are not only popular in India but also globally.
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We should never ignore the fact that our country’s love for food and variety of different cultures showcase rich culture and heritage and also our traditions. In India, people used to offer food and sweets to God first and after that they consume it. It shows how deeply we are connected with our culture and traditions. Hence, next time you plan or travel across India, never forget to have this Incredible taste.
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