One of the biggest attractions for tourists coming into our country every year is the calling of the exotic Indian food that they can enrich their taste buds with. A clear indication of the different cultures in India is the many different food varieties that we offer to tourists visiting our nation. From north to south and east to west, many ethnic groups contribute to India’s diversity with intricate and mouth-watering variations in the form of delicious and invigorating Indian food recipes. The most appetizing of the lot are:
1. South Indian Thali
The South Indian Thali is a beautiful blend of tasty south Indian dishes, making it a meal that takes one on a journey to the food paradise. A traditional South Indian Thali consists of rice with sambhar (or rasam) and curd, along with three or four side dishes and a dessert. Some of the side dishes are avial and poriyal, which are a mixture of vegetables and coconut seasoned with coconut oil, and some fried vegetable along with spices respectively. Pachadi, or pickle, along with papad is also served in the thali. Payassam, or the south Indian version of kheer, is usually the desert served in the south Indian thali. Some places serve Bisi bele bath or Lemon rice or vegetable bath which are among the best South Indian dishes.
2. Gujarati Thali
Gujrati Thali
Gujarati Thali is a simple one which uses a plain combination of subtle yet delicious dishes, but all of these are served with a pinch of sugar in them. The use of sugar or jaggery gives the entire meal a sweet taste, making it a must for those who have a sweet tooth. The sweetness of the daal, kadhi, and vegetables served is countered effectively by the addition of pickle, papad, and roti to the thali. The main twists in the taste of the ingredients, apart from the sweetness of it all, are the methi thepla and dhokla. Thepla is a flatbread prepared with flour mixed with spinach, and dhokla is the traditional and most sought out dish of Gujarat.
3. Punjabi Thali
Punjabi Thali
Punjabi food has become synonymous with Indian food, for the state of Punjab is the mother of most of the different types of food in India that attract the most tourists. The food is quite rich and somewhat spicy, but is well appreciated by the body of all those who pass it down their throats into their stomach. Daal makhani, paneer butter masala, dum aloo, rajma (kidney beans), butter naan, are all dishes whose names are quite common with Indians and foreigners alike, and all of these can be found in a Punjabi Thali. A stuffed paratha, or stuffing a paratha (type of wheat bread) with a vegetable, along with jeera (cumin) rice, may also be served in this type of thali.
4. Assamese Thali
assamese thali
The state of Assam, apart from being famous for its different wildlife sanctuaries, is also famous for the delicious food recipes it has to offer to people visiting it. A typical Assamese Thali consists of rice (scented or non-scented), a fish preparation, a combination of duck-white gourd and banana flower, and vegetables. The traditional way to begin the meal is to serve rice with khar, as khar is believed to cleanse the stomach. Khar is a preparation of fish or bottle gourd, added to water that is run through burned skins of bananas. The fish preparation is generally tenga, which is a river fish (usually Rohu) prepared in a tomato curry. The exotic and highly delicious ingredients of this meal make it a gourmet’s definite pick, and is one of the best Thali of India.
5. Rajasthani Thali
Rajasthani thali
The already prevalent and rich business of tourism in Rajasthan is further amplified by the dishes the state has in store for visitors. Rajasthani food is famous for being so delicious as to make someone’s mouth water just by looking at them, and so spicy as to make their eyes water as well with the first nibble. Preparations of different types of daals (lentils) and vegetables are common everywhere in north India, but everything in a Rajasthani thali leaves no respite for those who cannot take in spicy food. Gatte ki sabzi, bajra ki khichdi, bajra ki roti, are the varieties to the vegetable and bread department in this thali. A traditional thali has a separate container for butter to apply to the bajra roti and khichdi. Various varieties of pickle are added as well, taking the spice factor to a sky high level. There is but little relief provided in the form of a sweet dish served at the end.
All these thalis give the people a true “taste” of India, with the different types of food in India attracting tourists from all over the globe every year. Come and have a taste of these Thalis of India, and experience the food lift your spirits with its aroma and your mind with its taste.
