Out of the Country!

So Many Different Countries Yet Still One World

So to go off of last week’s post, I thought this post should be about the influence of other countries on the Indian food and cooking techniques. There is a vast amount of different, unique religions that affect food in India. Some may think, Indian food only comes from India, Pakistani food only comes from Pakistan, Mexican food only comes from Mexico…and so on but NO! This is where we go wrong and misunderstand the origins of the food. Where the food comes from depends on where the place, the country is located and its history which is 99.9% tied with other countries and religions. This was just an opening and some of my thoughts so let’s talk more and dig deeper to reveal the history behind the Indian soil!

Without a doubt like other cuisines, Indian food is ancient (goes a long way back), rich and highly diverse in its cooking customs, ethnic influences…and flavors! Mmh….mmm…mmh! Gourmet cuisine is referred to the food that was cooked in the past at the time of Mughal emperors (Muslim dynasty of Mongols that ruled most of India). Their chefs made the food with proper, sophistication, in a well manner (clean, delicious) with aromatic, distinct spices and other expensive, good (right) ingredients. If the food tasted bad whether it was the chef’s fault or not, without thinking twice the emperors would severely punish them (execution, banishment or something else that was very harsh). Boy is this true! I have read about this and have seen in Indian, Bollywood movies which were based off of real, historical events. Those who have power, usually misuse it which is why they should not be in power! But whose going to listen to me or others that agree with me? No one.

So, tying into religion, religion has been significantly influencing Indian food especially since most of the population follows Hinduism (Hindu religion). These individuals respect all forms of living things including creatures/animals which is why they are vegetarian. Religions were derived from the Guru’s (teachers/leaders, the name of God they believe in), and the people’s values which is the reason why some of the religions are similar in some of their rules/values and some are different. This is why and where Hinduism is similar to the religion I follow (like I mentioned in my last post), Sikhism, where individuals like us, my family are vegetarian because we respect all the living, as they are forms of individuals too but just in a different structure, manner in which God has created them. (I am not trying to change anyone’s thoughts or offend those that are non-vegetarian, I am just saying what I think and believe in). Of course there are people in my religion that eat meat, too. People have control over their choices, there is no forcing or strict rules to follow…unless of course if a person chooses to Amrit Shak (Sikhism-holy baptized) which is obvious that the person has to become purely vegetarian and follow other rules in their lifestyle. I am not Amrit Shak yet, I might in the future if I am ready to commit to the rules, for now I am only vegetarian. My parents used to be non-vegetarian before they got married and they never forced us to not eat meat, my brother and I tried simple things like a chicken burger and eggs (cooked in every possible way: boiled, with spices cooked like a subzi –with Indian vegetables…etc) but still did not like it. Now it has been so may years and we do not even remember the taste because we are satisfied and comfortable with being vegetarian.

Going back to the influence of other countries and religions, the Indian food was greatly influenced by Islamic traditions mostly for the non-vegetarian foods. Muslims preferred eating many forms of animal meat for example, lamb, fish, buffalo, chicken..etc and the method of grilling meat. As for the desserts, Muslims used dates and nuts which is used in nearly all of the Indian religions. Indian cuisine has also been influenced by Christianity as its traditions in the country are as old as the religion alone. The influence of Christianity can particularly be observed in the state of Kerala (South India, on the Coast of tropical Malabar) where St. Thomas converted to this religion following by the British rule which was an uprise to the influence of Christianity. Christians also ate all kinds of meat and established their own cooking styles of stir frying and baking. Obviously this influence was and is clearly used in the cuisine and food culture of Kerala. The Christian influence was also seen in other parts of India, such as Calcutta and Goa. These cities had seen a rapid conversion to Christianity. Thus, their cuisines too quickly incorporated European traditions such as baking of rum-cake on the occasion of Christmas in Calcutta.

It is very exciting and intriguing how the traditional Indian cuisine over the years has gradually advanced almost as much as technology. Indian food now has become a mix of the best religions including Muslim, Christian, Portuguese, and other religions following their culinary cultures. Different ingredients and cooking methods are taken from each religion which is why Indian food has become and continues to become more healthy, pungent, and satisfying in all aspects. It is crazy, like cool crazy (amazing) how diverse food can be too. Thinking about this mixing of cultures and religions reminds of the phrase, “The more, the merrier” because it is absolutely true, the more religions and aspects used to combine, the more delicious the food becomes! Changing up the cooking styles based off other religions can also make the dishes even better. There is no harm in trying, in experimenting! I am going to try this more now, too in cooking and in eating, opening up to try dishes made in different ways and with different religions. Either it will be good or bad, cannot decide until it happens!

Different yet United (Religions of India)