Indian Cuisine and Exotic Spices

 Indian cuisine has so many flavors and spices.  Greek, Roman and Arab traders contributed to the many flavors in this cuisine. India is called the Land of Spices for a reason! And no other country in the world produces as many varieties of spices as India.  The diversity of India food is a result of its culture, geography and climate. Spices are a vital part of food preparation and are used to enhance the flavor of dishes. The correct use and blending of spices is important to the proper production and preparation of Indian cuisine. Even oil is a crucial part of cooking, whether it is coconut oil used in the south, or mustard oil used in the north as each section of the country has their very own preference.  The staple ingredients of Indian cuisine such as the potato, tomato and chili do not have there origin from India as they were brought by the Portuguese, as well as sugar. Before the introduction of refined sugar in their cuisine, fruits and honey were used as sweeteners.
A fun fact! Did you know that the first Indian restaurant in the United States was opened in the mid 1960’s and now there are about 80,000 Indian restaurants in the U.S.! The flavor makeup of Indian cuisine are six different flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, astringent and spicy.  A properly prepared Indian meal is a perfect balance of all six flavors with perhaps, one or two flavors that stand out during the meal.
Chutney is used in Indian cuisine and helps to complete the meal. It is used as a side dish, as a spicy condiment which is made of fruits or vegetables with spices, vinegar and sugar.
There are different types of Indian cuisine one such type is the traditional Kashmiri cooking, Wazwan which display a strong Central Asian influence. This particular unique, cooking technique is that the spices are boiled and not fried thus giving the food a distinctive aroma and flavor. Pepper is the king of spices because it goes well with everything. Mixing it with salt and it becomes a classic duo that everyone loves.
Royal Tandoor Indian Cuisine wishes a Happy New Year to all! We are located at 26532 Bouquet Canyon Road in Santa Clarita. Please call us at 661-263-7100. Please check our website at : www.royaltandooronline.com. Catering is available and delivery within a five mile radius.