Indian cuisine dates back more than 5000 years with each region having its own traditions, religion and culture which influence food.
Hindus tend to be vegetarian and Muslims tend to have meat dishes, although pork is forbidden. Indian food has been influenced by Mongolian, Persian and Chinese culture and is meant to be eaten socially in groups until everyone is satisfied.
As we prepare to celebrate Indian Independence Day on Tuesday, August 15, we’ve put together a three-course menu second to naan for you to wow family and friends at home:
Spices are integral to almost any cuisine in the world, with global spice routes playing a pivotal part in history – The Spice Tailor has created its own spice routes to guarantee you can experience the best and most delicious flavours from around the world from the comfort of your home kitchen.
Using The Spice Tailor Malabar paste, this recipe for tandoori prawns and pineapple salsa is the ideal starter to a memorable Indian feast using large King prawns and thick coconut yoghurt.
Fresh pineapple, red onion, red chilli and coriander make the perfect accompaniment as a salsa, while an optional Green Goddess dressing completes a delicious and vibrant starter.
From Dosa Hut Dural comes this recipe for fish baked in banana leaves with coconut gravy, using boneless barramundi fillets, fennel, tomato, onion, coriander, garlic, Kashmiri chilli, turmeric, cumin and coriander.
This dish is sure to impress your foodie soul – wrapped in banana leaves, the fish is left for 6-8 hours to infuse the smoky flavour into the flesh, then cooked in the oven and served with creamy coconut gravy.
Fulfilling cravings for tantalising spices, Sapphire Indian Restaurant on Glebe Road in Merewether has a loyal local following. This light and bright corner venue greets guests with elegantly set tables, stunning pendent globes casting a soft glow and large glass windows allowing the outside world to pass by.
It is also the place to find authentic desserts such as gulab jamun - a traditional Indian dessert of delicious milk doughnuts, soaked in sugar syrup. This dish is the only way to finish an Indian meal, especially with mango kulfi on the side…Namaste!
For more Indian culinary fixes, click here.
