Indian traditions Via Food.

George Bernand Shaw, once famously quoted,
“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.”

If you want to set things right with Indians, one of the best ways is to fill their tummies with delicious and mouth –watering food! Indian cuisine has a wide variety of food, and this stems from the regional differences in the country. The range of diversity in the sense of the climate, soil type and occupations, are the different factors on which the cuisines differ from each other. Some of the other factors which also affect the cuisine differences are the Religious beliefs and traditions. These two factors are an important moving force in our country.

The Indian cuisine found its roots of development back from the Dharmic beliefs, in particular vegetarianism. The trend of vegetarianism is back due to the increase in the Health risks.  The historical influence on Indian cuisine due to the Mughal and British invasions in the earlier times has been a lot. Indian cuisine has been and is still evolving, due to the country’s increasing cultural ties with other nations.  Spices and herbs from India have traded around the globe, and hence even the Indian cuisine has been successful in influencing the other cuisines.

The history of The Indian Cuisine is dated back to more than 5000 years, with various cultures interacting with each other and the sub continent which has finally given way to diversity in the flavors and regional cuisines found in Modern India. This cuisine has also gone through many changes as time passed by, for instance, in the earlier times, a normal diet in India consisted of  fruit, vegetables, grain, eggs, dairy products, honey and sometimes meat. Later, a food classification system that categorized any item as saatvic, raajsic and taamsic developed in Ayurveda. Whereas, during middle ages due to the dynasty rule in India, new cooking methods and products were introduced in the regions, including tea, seasonings and spices.

We, at Rajdhani Thali, are looking forward to try and spread the Indian Traditional food around the globe so that everyone can savor the taste of Indian food. We believe in the motto of “Athithi Devo Bhava” and hence try to give our guests, the best of the services along with delicious food as well as a soothing ambience which will make your eating experience one to remember always!
Rajdhani, a vegetarian Thali Restaurant, is the flagship brand of Mirah Hospitality and it has been trying to spread its aroma in this industry over the past few decades. Rajdhani is known as the “Thali Place” with 72 different rotating menus with 22, 464 delicacies from Gujarat and Rajasthan. We take delight in informing you that, we have sold more than 95 lakh thalis till date!

So, Visit the nearest Rajdhani Restaurant and enhance your taste buds with your favorite and our special Thali. We are further trying to develop and dig into the traditional dishes of India so that we are able to serve you more and more delicacies in our Thali. Our team is awaiting you with the aarti plate to draw the vermilion Tilak on your forhead.

The way to a Person’s heart passes through his stomach.

“The way to a Person’s heart passes through his/her stomach!”
How much will you agree to this statement?
Probably all the foodies will nod their head to retort to say YES with a lot of enthusiasm while others may say NO considering that there are a million other things to impress them. While few, may take 5 minutes to contemplate about this!
As we all know it is difficult to survive without the basic element i.e. Food. This basic element has traversed across period serving man’s basic needs from time to time. Today, we are fortunate to be offered in a dish, all the food which our taste buds would relish irrespective of which country’s cuisine it is. The variety of food available in a particular place is dependent on various factors like The Geographical; location, soil, climate and more.

Talking about cuisines, India has a wide regional variety of food which is native to India and hence, The Indian Cuisine is the most diverse other than obviously Continental. The development of these cuisines in India, have their roots instilled in Dharmic beliefs, especially the ones that the Vegetarians follow. History is another very important factor that has played a role in the Variety like Due to the early invasion of Mughals in our country; Mughlai food has had a very huge impact on the cooking methods in the early times especially in the Northern regions. Thus, Indian food is heavily influenced by religious and cultural choices as well as traditions. Some foods which have been introduced to our country due to invasions are:
1. Potato- The Portuguese bought the Potatoes to our country and now its become a part of our staple diet.
2. Onions-Egyptians and Native Americans used to feed on Onion Bulbs from earlier times but one it was introduced in India, it has also turned to become another part of our staple diet.
Whereas, our country has been renowned for the cultivation of spices and hence it is among the top export items from our country.

The Indian traditional food dates its origin back to more than 5000 years with an influence by the foreign cuisines. The normal Indian diet has come a long way from just being cereals, grains, dairy products and honey. The consumption was based on the food classification system of items being saatvic, raajsic or taamsic as it was developed by Ayurveda. As time progressed, items like tea and spices also started dominating the Indian food market, and with that even the Mughlai and Chinese cultures also started influencing the Food scene, here. Whereas, nowadays though Indian people prefer other cuisines but that has not at all caused a lowdown for Indian cuisine because Indian food is relished in the food markets across the globe.

The staple food which is available in most of the houses irrespective of the differences is the use of Rice, Wheat-flour and lentils. And some other Indian food specialties are obviously the spices and Chickpea, Kidney beans along with mustard or coconut oil which is hardly used in the global food market.

We, at Rajdhani Thali wish to promote the culture of India through our food and therefore we have picked up to serve India’s two of the most authentic regional cuisines that is Gujarati and the Rajasthani. To enhance the experience, we have seen to it that everything from the ambience to the taste to the Interiors is designed in the authentic Rasovara manner.  So, don’t miss this opportunity to dine with your family and friends and enjoy India’s authentic Thali at the Rajdhani Thali Restaurant nearest to you. Find the nearest restaurant using Restaurant Locator on our official page: http://rajdhani.co.in/

Get well-being as well as flavor with Indian traditional food

The food of India can be extremely healthy or extremely fattening depending on what you are cooking and who is cooking it. However, the Indian dishes that have been known to be high in calories are now being made in ways that lower the calorie content of the food by using ingredients that are healthy alternatives. The entire world is moving on to being healthier and so is India. Indian traditional food  is known to be among the most healthy and balanced meals in the world and for this reason it has gained popularity all over the world. The Indian meal consists of a balance of all vitamins and minerals and proteins and carbohydrates.

Indian food consists of bread that is made of wheat, however in many places there is a combination of other components too, like soyabean, black gram and even bran. This fulfills carbohydrate requirements in the body. There is a lot of use of rice as well in Indian cuisine. Rice can be served plain with lentils or can be cooked with a large variety of vegetables and spices to make it a dish by itself. This gives fiber as well as carbohydrates to the body. The vegetables are a source of many vitamins and mineral necessary for maintaining a healthy body. Indian traditional food  thus ensures that you get a well-balanced meal. The lentils in the Indian diet are high in proteins and contain fiber, folate and iron, they also help to regulate blood cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Curries are another staple of Indian cuisine and can be cooked with restricted use of oil. Curries are a mix of aromatic spices and herbs, which can provide several benefits for the body. One of the major spices used in Indian traditional food  is turmeric. Simply writing about the benefits of turmeric can fill an entire book; that is how beneficial this spice is. Red chilies are also used in the cuisine and they provide many benefits as they have anti-carcinogenic, anti-bacterial and anti-diabetic properties. Also, curd is generously used in Indian cuisine and is known to provide many health benefits. Curd is cooling, which is great for dealing with the heat in India and also it contains beneficial bacteria for proper functioning of the digestive system.

 Indian food is one of the few cuisines in the world that includes so many different vegetables, pulses, rice and spices in its menu. This makes sure that there is always a variety in the daily food that you eat and also the flavors and colors are always different and exciting. Another reason why Indian food is good for health is because it is widely vegetarian. Restaurants like RajdhaniThali are great for trying out the sheer variety of food that Indian cuisine offers to its patrons. The variety keeps the food interesting and the common belief that healthy food cannot be tasty food is shattered by Indian cuisine. A cuisine that provides good health and good flavors is rare, but Indian cuisine has been able to achieve this balance.

Exploring the traditional dishes of India

The vastness of the Indian sub-continent boggles many minds, as they try to fathom how so many different people and cultures co-exist for so many centuries. Most people who come from small countries, which are sometimes even smaller than a few Indian states, find it fascinating that the people so diverse all identify themselves as being Indian. It is a great source of pride for everyone in India to talk about how varied the country is and the people of India brave deserts, snow, marshes and stormy seas and yet identify with one another. However, the best and most delicious topic of discussion when it comes to India happens to be the food. The traditional dishes of India  are as varied as its landscapes and people and exploring the culinary landscape of the country can be an exciting and fun experience.

If you thought starting this journey would be as simple as saying let’s start from the North of the country, then you must rethink your strategy. The cuisine just in the north can be divided into North, Northwest and Northeast. The most elusive among these is the Northeast. This part of the country has not been explored that well, especially when it comes to the seven sister states of the Northeast. Although, other states in the East like Odisa and Bihar have their own cuisines to explore. The northern states of the country and especially the Northwestern states have an extremely popular cuisine and most people identify these foods to be the traditional dishes of India. These dishes include a lot of vegetables and grains grown in the highly fertile plains of the largest river in the country, the Ganga. As you head down towards the center of the country and focus on the Western and Central regions, the cuisine gets spicy and focused less on vegetables and more on grains. In the coastal areas of the country a lot of coconut is used to prepare delicious dishes. And as you head towards the south, there is extensive use of rice in the staple food along with coconuts and aromatic spices. The south is known for its top quality spices, which attracted traders from all over the world. Many traditional dishes of India have grown to be world famous and the curiosity does not seem to die down. The recipes have been handed down from generation to generation and are proudly preserved and propagated.

The mysteries of Indian traditional food are endless, you can go a lifetime trying to understand the intricacies of the delicacies that Indian cuisine has to offer and still realize that you have only scratched the surface. There are also several restaurants like RajdhaniThali, which help in introducing the complexities and varieties of Indian traditional food to the unacquainted and the patrons alike.The pride with which Indian cuisine is presented to the world is something to take note of and definitely something that you must try and probe deeper about. So go ahead and begin your fun and fascinating gastronomical journey across the vast expanses of India.

Healthy and tasty Indian traditional food

Indian cuisine boasts influences from various cultures from across the world including Arabic and Turkish. The culture of India is extremely open and malleable and this is the reason why the cuisine is so varied. Each region has incorporated its own style and influences and brings to the forefront their own version of what traditional food is. Food ranges from rice preparations to dishes made from wheat and milk; these healthy and nutritious dishes are what have made the people of India known to be highly intelligent and tough. Indian traditional food   is synonymous with Indian culture. Food is an important part of Indian customs and traditions and a special place is accorded to traditional cuisine.

The traditional food of India has a long history and has been written about and shared among families extensively. The food in India varies vastly as one moves from one region to another.But one thing that is common is that the staples that make up the Indian traditional food  make for a wholesome meal. The food has been influenced by the ancient study of Ayurveda, which ensures that everything that the body needs for proper growth and development throughout the lifetime of an individual has been provided for in the daily meals. The food includes all the proteins, vitamins and minerals in the form of breads, rice, curries and vegetables.Fresh ingredients recently harvested from farms are used to ensure that the nutritional quality of the food stays top-notch. The people of India place a lot of importance on ensuring that the quality of the food is never compromised on.

The food in India does take care of the nutritional requirements of individuals, but it also takes care of the sweet tooth that most Indians seem to have. A number of desserts make up the list of sweets that India is famous for. There is something for everyone to enjoy and bite into to get your fix of all things sweet and decadent. India has special chefs who specialize only in making the desserts that Indians love. Some desserts require a lot of time, energy and skill to prepare, but the chefs who make them are committed to doing their best because the demand for such sweets never dies down. The book of Indian traditional food has an extra special chapter solely dedicated to desserts.

Experiencing the sheer variety that India has to offer when it comes to food requires you to really experiment and go out of your daily routine to try different things. Restaurants like Rajdhanithali are a great place to go to if you want to experience just how varied Indian cuisine can be. Take advantage of food prepared by seasoned chefs, who believe in putting in their best each day and have immense respect for the tradition that is Indian food. Indian food requires passion and heart to cook well because a lot of ingredients and spices are mixed together in quantities which depend on the chef’s preference, and for this reason, every chef can have their own take on a particular dish and despite that the traditional flavors are retained.

Get back to the traditional dishes of India

The art of cooking food has a long and rich history in India and the vastness of the country ensures that there is great variety in it too. The taste and smell of traditional food has been deeply ingrained into psyche of every Indian and has also taken over the imagination of the entire world. One of the reasons why traditional food is so close to our hearts is because we identify with it. When away from home, even a whiff of traditional food immediately transports us back to a time of family, love and contentment. We all are emotionally connected to the traditional dishes of India.

Another important reason why traditional food has really become a big part of our family life is because it is really good for us. The food of any particular place becomes a staple and the traditional dish because the ingredients are readily available there and they suit the diets of the people who live there. Also, they have been prepared our ancestors, keeping in mind the lifestyle and the climate of that particular region. For this reason, eating well prepared traditional food is good for you. The reason why ingredients that are readily available are used is because these ingredients tend to be fresh and have little or no preservatives. For example, in the southern part of India, coconuts are widely used in food and are freshly available throughout the year. This ensures that the food is nutritious as well as fresh. Thus traditional dishes of India are some of the healthiest and best for us.

Also, your choice of food must take into consideration the climate that you live in. It is seen that in places that have extremely hot summers, there are a lot of traditional juices and milk preparations that are served. These are extremely tasty and also help ensure that the people of the area do not get dehydrated. And in extremely cold places, foods, which have high calorie content, are consumed to keep people warm. Thus we can clearly see that there is great wisdom behind why a particular food or dish becomes staple to a particular region. The same vegetables and dairy products are prepared in different ways across different regions to ensure the health and wellbeing of the population of that area. Thus we must give a lot of importance to the  traditional dishes of India and try and understand the wisdom and thought behind them.

In today’s world, when food from all over the world is easily available to us, we must keep in mind that the food that is best for us has been with us all along. Turn your attention back to the wonders of traditional food by going out with your group of family or friends to restaurants like Rajdhani Thali and fall in love with Indian food all over again. Rediscover your favorite dishes and enjoy and evening out with your family and bond over a range of delicacies from your very own country, India!

The many colours of Indian Traditional Food

So you thought Indian food is only about a lot of chillies and hot sauce? Well, you couldn’t have been anymore wrong! A host of spices dominate Indian curries, rich delicious halwas melt in your mouth, and fruit ‘Lassies’ can show fruit yogurts the door. If you ever want to experience a culinary roller-coaster, skip your way to an Indian diner and ask for their best. Indian traditional Food can woo the most reluctant eaters. Work up a huge appetite before you step into the Indian food zone, or may have to end up leaving after the starters!

Indians love their films and their food. One of the basic preparations of meat include marinating meat in generous amounts of curd, red chilli powder, ginger-garlic paste, coriander and mint leaves. This goes on to tenderize while the onions are sautéed a deep brown. In goes the meat with a dose of coconut milk and viola! You have landed to this world-kitchen where lies a mystery inside each pot and a magic that cracks up the pans! Your taste of Indian Traditional Food will never be complete without tasting the choice of desserts drowned in copious amounts of ghee (clarified butter) and nuts. The carrot halwa, Bengali sweets made out of hung curd, the churmas, or the beautiful crimson jalebis, you are loaded with so many options you may never want to leave.

Any kind of food has its own charm. Each ingredient in a recipe is mostly there for a reason. Like, Indian chicken curries use poppy seeds to tone down the heat of the chicken. This adds a nutty flavour to the curry all the while making it absolutely thick, creamy and delicious! Break a piece of flat bread/Naan and drench it in this curry before you take a bite. Indian traditional Food has the power to transport you to a different place full of royal caravans, fields of yellow mustard flowers, and metal glasses filled with unreal amounts of Lassi meaning, curd churned and sweetened with sugar and flavoured with cardamom and nutmeg.

However, like all cuisines, Indian food is evolving. Not that it is imperfect in anyway, but the East and the West are fundamentally different people. They have different food choices which makes it essential for both parties to prepare their food in such a way that is accepted in each other’s societies as generations have been brought up on one kind of food. Tweaking recipes can add a whole new twist to the way a particular dish is perceived and who has ever said no to improvement? Those who like sampling different foods and cuisines are mostly open to the most bizarre experiences too. An Indian dish famous to where it originated, makes use of watermelon peels to add depth and flavour to curry!  Sounds like something you wouldn’t try? Only a matter of time before you let you inhibitions fall and let the wave of Indian food engulf your senses and impress the hardest critic!

Indian Traditional Food, a complete meal

Since times immemorial, Indians have always known to have worshipped food as god. Food is not just a commodity but an offering to god and hence pious and holy. This belief continues even today in modern India. The many States that India is made of offer a plethora of dishes to make the Indian cuisine colorful, diverse and exciting. So, we have Palak Paneer and Sarso ka Saag from Punjab, Bharli Vaangi and Puran Poli from Maharashtra, Undhiyu from Gujrat, Dal Bati Choorma from Rajasthan, Mishti Doi and Masher Jhol from Bengal and Idli Dosa from Tamil Nadu. Distinguishing flavors and food styles, using the hot, sweet, sour and salty tastes makes eating a wonderful experience with Indian Traditional Food.

Indian cuisine is basically vegetarian though religious scriptures and history is proof to the fact that meat was consumed as part of ritual sacrifice and later as a game meal. Invasions and conquests from aliens left a mark on the cooking especially in the northern territories of the country which had a geographic access to the regions there. Hence, one sees the fare of simple rice, roti, dal, sabzi, and pickle, salad alongside famed delicacies like kebabs, korma, tandoori and biryani made from chicken or goat meat. In the eastern regions, fish is a dominant factor in the Indian Traditional Food because of its tight networks of rivers and of course the access to the sea. The south has a huge production of rice and paddy hence one finds several ages old recipes centering on this main crop. The western coast boasts of a massive coastline and so the States here churn out gourmet dishes with fish and rice as the staples.

Since ages, India knew the medicinal properties of all the spices and condiments used in the cooking. The uses and combinations of vegetables, fruits, grains, pulses, meat and poultry in cooking not just gave rise to wonderfully aromatic and tasty recipes, but they also treated health issues. Ancient cookery texts like Soop Shaastra and Bhojan Kutuhal give an insight in to Indian Traditional Food which not just satiates the appetite but also promotes the physical and mental well being. Hence, there are clear instructions to meat and poultry dishes not being combined with dairy products as this gives rise to a certain skin condition. One also finds tips and guides to treating minor health ailments like colds, coughs and fevers by consuming certain herbs and spices. It is no wonder then that foreigners come to India for treatments of all kinds because it is holistic in approach.

Today one finds a Chutney Mary in London or a cook book by Madhur Jaffrey or a traditional Thaali restaurant like Rajdhani Thali which give Indian food a platform for global acceptance. The goodness of this cuisine like many other ancient Asian countries is not just its being  vibrantly colorful but also because it  makes use of the bounties of nature that their lands have been bestowed with by divine grace and make cooking and eating a heavenly experience.