Geographically, India is a vast peninsula in the continent of Asia, and is separated from the mainland by the gigantic Himalayas. Diversity is the hallmark of India. Diversity exists in the landscape, people, language, dress, climate, culture and cuisine. A land of contrasts it has coastal plains and arid deserts, beaches and mountains, tiny islands and barren plateaus, gushing rivers and seasonal monsoons, and along with nature’s bounty it also has bustling cities and rural villages, sleek skyscrapers and shanty slums, ubiquitous Bollywood and tasteful music, religious fervor and ancient Yoga, soothing meditation along with noisy day to day life. It is impossible to take in the fervor and the flavor of India in one visit. So, let me limit myself to one aspect of this variety—Food!

Food and Indians are inseparable—sounds like a blanket statement but it is very true! We are a nation of food lovers. I bet you cannot find an Indian who never brings food into a conversation. If home is where the heart is, then, in the Indian household, it is right in the kitchen. Indians celebrate all important occasions, birth, growth, marriage and other festivities with food. Cooking and consuming food is almost a spiritual experience here! Over centuries, Indian food has evolved and changed due to constant influences brought in by invaders and travelers. Today, the cuisine stands as the most varied and assorted ever!

There is an outrageous variety of culinary experiences to be had in this country. To give you an idea of the varied Indian cuisine: imagine—if you were to take a train from the farthest point in the South up to the highest point in the North, you would have crossed a bunch of states that dish out food that has nothing in common to its neighboring state. The result of this variety in food and cooking techniques is that there is a mind-boggling array of dishes that is served everyday in the Indian households and restaurants. The Indian Thali is like an artist’s canvas; it is colorful and appetizing, and it evokes strong emotions and feelings.

What does an Indian Thali comprise of?

Indian food is primarily vegetarian and is served on steel/silver plates called Thali. A Thali comprises of a selection of dishes that are served in small bowls on a tray. The main dish is either rice or bread (Naan, Roti, etc), along with two or three curries, yogurt, chutney, pickles and a dessert to top it. Non-vegetarian Thali has chicken or meat curry instead of vegetables. In the South this assortment is served on a banana leaf and is meant to be eaten with your hands!

Delectable Spices make Indian food flavorsome!

My grandmother used to tell me, “Spices are used in cooking not only to make food smell and taste good but to heal, calm and rejuvenate.” In our normal day-to-day cooking, we use a multitude of spices, which we store in our spice-box. Ginger, cumin, fennel, garlic, turmeric, red chilies, cardamom, coriander seeds, pepper, mustard, and curry leaves are some of the most common spices used to make our masalas and curries. Masala means a blend of several spices; it can be a dry powder or a liquid sauce. An Indian curry is a concoction of a wet masala paste made into a chunky sauce with the addition of onions and tomatoes and cooked to a thick gravy into which vegetables, chicken or meat are added.

Desi food in the Washington DC Metro Area

“Desi” is the key word when you go shopping for Indian goods. Desi food refers to dishes commonly served in the South Asian communities. Some of the most popular dishes are Samosa, Naan, Vindaloo, Chicken Tikka Masala, Kulfi and Mango Lassi etc, that one can find easily in any Indian restaurant in the DC Metro area.

Desi-Indian stores abound in the DC area making shopping for Indian groceries a breeze. Today, even Shoppers, Safeway, Whole Foods and Giant carry a lot of Indian food items. You can easily find basmati rice, masala powders, spices, dhals, bottled gravies, pickles and precooked curries and rotis in any of these stores. Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods carry a lot of frozen Indian breads called “Naans” and ready-to-heat-and-eat curries.

Of all the Indian stores, Patel Brothers is a very well-stocked food chain with its own brand of products called “Swad” (means taste!). You can find one of these stores in Fairfax, Virginia; or on University Bvld., or Frederick road in Maryland. A 1 India Grocery in Arlington has a fine assortment of really fresh vegetables and a wide range of products. University Boulevard in Maryland has a glut of Indian stores; Patel Brothers, Bollywood Bazaar, Bombay Sweets, House of Spices, etc. Most of these are well stocked. In all, you will be able to find vegetables, whole grain flour, juices, spices, varieties of rice, masalas, variety of teas, ready-to-eat foods, heat-and-eat curries, pickles, chutneys, ready-made snacks, pastes, curries, traditional Indian sweets, Bollywood movies and phone calling cards, along with native beauty products like soaps, oils, fragrances, incense sticks etc.

Vidya Rangan