Indian spices
indian spices
Indian spices. Photo courtesy of sara marlowe.

India has a rich history when it comes to cuisine. Centuries ago explorers from distant lands sought the shores of India in search of an overwhelming host of pungent spices sure to send your taste buds dancing for joy or writhing in a blaze of fiery submission. Celebrated though the food may be, I admittedly approached it with an ignorance that was certain to land me in some dicey situations. I lay before you now my introductory experience to Indiaā€™s exotic dishes ā€“ a landscape I continue to navigate with a healthy mixture of naĆÆve curiosity and paralyzing trepidation.

The base knowledge was there. Traveling through Malaysia, I had taken a liking to the quintessential Indian food of flavorful curries and spicy dahls. Essentially my thought was this: pair anything with freshly baked naan, chipati or paratha and you really canā€™t go wrong; however, living in India for several months was going to force me to expand my horizons. Sitting in the first restaurant in Kolkata — oddly known as The Broadway — I realize I may be in over my head.

The first thought that occurs to me as I breeze through the menu is ā€œno pictures?!ā€ As I dive in a bit further, realizing I understand very few of the dishes described, I make the safe play, ā€œIā€™ll have the yellow dahl, steamed rice and three chipatis, please.ā€ After all, you donā€™t want to look like a novice on your first meal in India.

ā€œAnd for drink?ā€ the waiter inquires.

ā€œWhat is Indiaā€™s trademark beer?ā€

His suggestion of a King Fisher has me enticed. Itā€™s the most expensive on the menu at 125 Rupees ($2 USD), but itā€™s a celebration after all.

The beer arrives in a bottle roughly the size of my forearm. I pour the first pot and it barely clears the neck. Itā€™s noon. This may be more than I bargained for. The dahl arrives soon after and I dig in without reservation. The chipati is still steaming straight from the hot plate and it is delicious. The meal is finished well before the beer, and three pots later Iā€™ve cleared its contents and am feeling fine ā€“ at 8% alcohol per volume, more fine than I had expected.

aloo channa masala
Aloo Channa Masala. Photo courtesy of SaucyGlo.

I come to take many meals at this restaurant, as it is on the ground floor of my accommodation. As my comfort level grows and the King Fisherā€™s flow, my orders become more and more adventurous. With a little help from the wait staff — itā€™s sometimes a team effort to overcome the language barrier — I try a heap of dishes I have trouble pronouncing. To my surprise I enjoy all of them, and over the course of just a few days feel Iā€™ve got somewhat of a handle on the cuisine scene here in Kolkata.

Hereā€™s what Iā€™ve gathered thus far:

  • When in doubt, itā€™s probably dahl ā€“ channa, moong, tuvar and masoor are all just names of different colored dahlā€™s made from a different type of pea or bean.
  • Masal can mean just about anything ā€“ itā€™s a generic term that can be used interchangeably with curry to indicate the dish is cooked using different spices.
  • Aloo means potato ā€“ and as the potato is a staple of Indian fare you see aloo all over the menu: aloo gobi, aloo paratha, aloo tikki. Potatoā€™s are generally harmless and tasty, so a relatively safe bet.
  • Paneer means cheese ā€“ following the same rule as the potato, youā€™ll see this come up often. As a big lover of all things cheese, I was a bit disappointed with Indiaā€™s bland and tasteless unfermented interpretation.
  • Right hand is right ā€“ If you intend you eat with your hands — as is custom in India, but not expected of foreigners — be sure to do so with your right hand. The left hand is considered dirty and only to be used for less sanitary dealings.
  • Oh, one last piece of sagely wisdom, all systems go on the King Fisherā€™s. Just one is enough to overcome any initial reservations you may have.

Ryan

About The Author

Ryan Slyzuk is a seeker of sorts. Following the well trodden path of many that came before, he currently finds himself in India, where he is doing his darndest to express the inexpressible in a land of contradiction and juxtapositions. You can follow his journey on his blog Rucksack Revolution.

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Jessica Festa

Jessica Festa is the editor of Epicure & Culture as well as Jessie on a Journey. She enjoys getting lost in new cities and having experiences you donā€™t read about in guidebooks. Some of her favorite travel experiences have been teaching English in Thailand, trekking her way through South America, backpacking Europe solo, road tripping through Australia, agritouring through Tuscany, and volunteering in Ghana.

Jessica Festa

Jessica Festa is the editor of Epicure & Culture as well as Jessie on a Journey. She enjoys getting lost in new cities and having experiences you donā€™t read about in guidebooks. Some of her favorite travel experiences have been teaching English in Thailand, trekking her way through South America, backpacking Europe solo, road tripping through Australia, agritouring through Tuscany, and volunteering in Ghana.

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3 Comments

  1. I love Kolkata foods. Be it a street food or in a reputed restaurants. I just love all the flavors of Kolkata food.

    1. @Baking: So delicious!

  2. It was nice to go through your post. Thanks for sharing the useful info here. Keep up the good work.

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