Food in India

Now let's talk about something important...food!  This one's for all you foodies out there.  I've been waiting to write this post for a while because I knew I would be traveling to different parts of the country.  There are different types of food depending on the region you visit in India.  But one thing is clear...I really LOVE the food here.

Here are a few of the things I've really enjoyed eating:

Dosas: Fermented crepe that is made from rice batter and lentils.  It is filled with anything you want - potatoes, vegetables, etc.  You can eat it for breakfast or lunch or dinner.  This is a southern Indian dish.

Masala Dosa...yummm!

Poha: A snack of the Gujarat region.  It's made of spiced rice, mustard seeds, nuts, carrots, green beans...you can put anything you want in it.  My host, Monita, made the best poha and gave it to us as a snack one day at school.  It was delicious!

Homemade Poha...yumm!

Khaman: Another traditional snack made with besan (ground chickpea flour).

Khaman...yumm.

Sandwich Dhokla: A small sandwich snack made with pieces of dhokla (fermented batter from rice and chickpeas), chutney, and mustard and sesame seeds.  It is very light and refreshing.

Sandwich dhokla...mmm.

Idli: A southern style snack made of rice and pulses, shaped into a rice cake shape.  It can be served with chutney or dipping sauce.

Idli

Chana Masala: Chickpeas in a masala sauce (onion, tomatoes, spices).  Popular in the northern regions like Gujarat.

Chana Masala

Thali: A meal made up of tiny little bowls of things.  It is the ultimate in taste testing.  Things are served on a round steel tray made of multiple compartments.  I didn't bother asking what was in my 15 little dishes because it didn't matter - it was ALL good!

Thali...yumm 15 times!

India also has places where you can dine out.  Can you recognize the restaurant in the picture below?

Guess this dining establishment...

I'll bet you've guessed by now!