WHAT YOU CAN LEARN FROM
INDIAN COOKING
Known for its generous use of fragrant spices and array of exciting ingredients, we discuss the incredibly diverse cuisine and share a simple but tasty recipe
T
raditional Indian food is somewhat of a misnomer. Our British version of Indian food is as Indian as beans on toast. One of our most loved dishes, a chicken tikka masala, is thought to have originated in a Glasgow kitchen way back in the 1970s. How authentic. Although we are accustomed to meatheavy dishes when we eat out or get a takeaway, there’s much more to classic Indian food than just poppadoms, chicken korma and Bombay aloo. It’s actually a lot lighter and fresher and makes for the perfect thrifty snack, lunch or evening meal. And with over 500 million vegetarians in India, a lot of dishes are actually meat-free. Despite its economic prowess, India’s perpetually growing population is providing its own unique challenges regarding nutrition and agriculture. Yet, its attitude towards food waste is overwhelmingly positive. The Food Sustainability Index reports that India performs particularly low among the 25 countries surveyed for food waste. Concerning the meals themselves, Indian food is as sustainable as they come. Although cooking styles and ingredients vary region-to-region, Indian food easily lends itself to a plant-based diet and is high in natural proteins from pulses, beans, grains and more. With a focus on veg, tins and rice, it’s healthy, affordable and very tasty indeed.
The real takeaways
Turn up the heat: The spice is always right
Be generous with your spices: one of the things that people may find intimidating about cooking Indian food are the spices involved but by stocking up on ground spices, Indian food is at your fingertips. We recommend having turmeric, chilli powder, cumin, ground coriander and garam masala in your cupboard for when that curry craving strikes.
Eat communally: it’s sad that the dining table experience is becoming increasingly obsolete in British homes. Eating in
India is an intrinsic part of shared human experience, it’s customary to share food and meals are often, if not always, eaten with family and friends present. Like most Indians, we believe eating should be a quintessentially mutual experience, and proper home-cooked food is part of that.
Love your cupboard:
your dedicated kitchen space should really be more than pasta and beans, especially if you love Indian food. One reason why Indian recipes can be so cheap and easy is because they call for store cupboard staples like chickpeas, tinned tomatoes, lentils, potatoes and more.
