Regions of Indian Cuisine

This post will cover the unique cuisines of North, South, East, and West India.


North India: Here, dairy products like yogurt, ghee, cream, cottage cheese, and milk play an important part in the making of both savory and sweet dishes. Since the climate in North India is extreme, allowing for a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, this Indian region produces a wonderful assortment of vegetarian dishes. North India also has a notable selection of breads and rice dishes. Several popular North Indian dishes include: Biryani, Pulaos, Daal Makhani, Dahi Gosht, and Chicken Tikka.

South India: In this region, spicy food is abundant; consequently, hot spices are utilized frequently...(chili powder, pepper and peppercorns, etc.) A staple food of South Indian cuisine is rice. Rice is added to practically every meal prepared in this coastal region. South Indians are also fans of coffee! The cooking oils most commonly used in this region include coconut oil, along with vegetable oils such as canola and sunflower. Several popular South Indian dishes include: Idlis, Dosas, Vedas, Sambaar, and Rasam.

West India: West Indian cuisine is the most diverse out of all four regions. Coastal areas in Maharashtra are famous for their Malvani cuisine, (coconut-based hot and sour curries with fish and other seafood), while Rajasthani food is spicy and mostly vegetarian, while also including many delicious meat dishes like Laal Maas (red meat curry. Like South India, vegetable oils are most commonly used over any other cooking oils. Several popular West Indian dishes include: Pork Vindaloo, Fish Curry, Bhelpuri, and Thepla.

East India: In East India, the foods aren't very elaborate. Frying and steaming are popular methods of cooking. The geographical positioning of this region allow for a healthy dose of Chinese and Mongolian influence. This region is known for its love of sweets and desserts. East Indians love to make dessert, and are pretty good at it, too. The staple food here is rice, rice, rice! Most commonly, mustard oil is used for cooking. Several popular dishes of East India include: Momos, Thukpa, Jhaal Muri, and Sandesh.