Spinach

[raamv]

The most common Indian recipe for spinach is Saag paneer ( or chees balls with spinach)..
Spiced and cooked up spinach with Cheese balls..

[Rob A.]

The most common Indian recipe for spinach is Saag paneer ( or chees balls with spinach)..
Spiced and cooked up spinach with Cheese balls..

I absolutely love Indian food...I think most of my favourites are Punjabi...lots of Punjabi restaurants in Vancouver...but I never seem to know for sure which part of India the dishes are from...It's one of the few "spicy" type foods I still eat...still like Mexican though...

I don't count Italian or Spanish...these are no longer "spicy" as far as I'm concerned... But when I was a kid just about anything that wasn't North European...(and basically Scottish) was spicy...ie Polish sausage!?! ...This reminds of a bit of a joke..."What do the Scots call Heinz Tomato Ketchup (sauce)??".... "Spicy Sauce"...

I've had both the Saag Paneer and the cheese spinach...What part of India are those dishes from? I think the Punjab...but you'll know better than I...

[raamv]

I absolutely love Indian food...I think most of my favourites are Punjabi...lots of Punjabi restaurants in Vancouver...but I never seem to know for sure which part of India the dishes are from...It's one of the few "spicy" type foods I still eat...still like Mexican though...
I've had both the Saag Paneer and the cheese spinach...What part of India are those dishes from? I think the Punjab...but you'll know better than I...

Punjabi food are just laden with Fatty Butter.and from North India ( above New Delhi)..
Cheese Spinach and Saag paneer are from North India..
Where as the Thin crispy pancakes that Indians call Doas Originated from South India.. and is served with coconut chutney..
North Indian Curries are generally Wet in nature..
South Indian Curries are cry and dry-fried..or roasted..
South India has 4 different states with 4 different food culture - Tamilnadu(South East), Kearla(South West) karnataka(Straddles Tamilnadu, Kearla and Andhra Pradesh(South-middle) with completely varied cooking techniques.. ..(North Indian Food culture has Kashmiri, Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarathi, Rajasthani, Bangla, Bihari/Assami, Uttar, etc but mostly little different in ingredients)
The most prelevant Indian foods know to western culture are North Indian foods.. except Dosa..

[Rob A.]

Punjabi food are just laden with Fatty Butter.and from North India ( above New Delhi)..
Cheese Spinach and Saag paneer are from North India..
Where as the Thin crispy pancakes that Indians call Doas Originated from South India.. and is served with coconut chutney..
North Indian Curries are generally Wet in nature..
South Indian Curries are cry and dry-fried..or roasted..
South India has 4 different states with 4 different food culture - Tamilnadu(South East), Kearla(South West) karnataka(Straddles Tamilnadu, Kearla and Andhra Pradesh(South-middle) with completely varied cooking techniques.. ..(North Indian Food culture has Kashmiri, Marathi, Punjabi, Gujarathi, Rajasthani, Bangla, Bihari/Assami, Uttar, etc but mostly little different in ingredients)
The most prelevant Indian foods know to western culture are North Indian foods.. except Dosa..

Thanks raamv...Yes, I was aware of the high butter content of a lot of the dishes...though I think, at least for westerners and "westernized" Punjabis, they are moving towards more "heart healthy" recipes... But, yes, the high fat content...you can often "see" it on the bellies of older Punjabi men... And thanks for the breakdown on the regional foods...some of this I have heard of, but not a lot... I suspect, in Vancouver, probably without too much effort, you can find good examples of all of these...

EDIT: And I meant to add...So poppadoms are from South India, then?? Also which of the various Indian cuisines would be the most vegan...you know, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and minimal, or no, animal products such as milk, cream, butter, eggs??

[raamv]

And I meant to add...So poppadoms are from South India, then?? Also which of the various Indian cuisines would be the most vegan...you know, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and minimal, or no, animal products such as milk, cream, butter, eggs??

Well Most Indian food are vegans....
and If never added milk products, then i should say that its equally split between North Indian Masala and South Indian Sambhar(spicy Lentil in tamarind sauce)..but thats IMNSHO...

[Trav75]

South Indian food is less spicy and than north indian. the whole course of meals is scientifically structured. also, its a mix of sweet and spice, making a good balance for your tummy. i found this interesting book about the food culture of south india on lulu.com. here it is - http://www.lulu.com/content/2111312 . u could find some good ebooks on indiafoodsco.com also.

[raamv]

South Indian food is less spicy and than north indian. the whole course of meals is scientifically structured. also, its a mix of sweet and spice, making a good balance for your tummy. i found this interesting book about the food culture of south india on lulu.com. here it is - http://www.lulu.com/content/2111312 . u could find some good ebooks on indiafoodsco.com also.

Which idiot tried to revive this thread and challenge that notion?
How come you are so stupid to specify which part of the meal if scientifically structured? Both South and North Indian foods have a balance of sweet and sour..so check your a$$ the next time you eat Indian Food!!
whereas you read books and learn about Indian food, I live its life and essence..so take your advice and shove it!!
and if you really like Indian food, you really miss the fried spicy hot prawns in hot green chili sauce flavored with red color and vinegar and coconut oil.

[sammy]

Hmm.. nice to see examples of 'friendly conversation' over food

Since this thread popped up, however, I'd like to say that the Spinaci alla Romana (the recipe for which was given by janiheis in the original message) IS actually very delicious. I've prepared it a few times myself - very tasty as 'primo piatti'...



The only "Indian" (and I'll put that in brackets since no way I'd be able to cook any 'authentic' Indian food, but I like to dabble in the kitchen ) spinach-including recipe I've tried myself was this Lamb & spinach curry:



Raamv if (and when) you have any great Indian spinach recipes please share!

[raamv]

Hmm.. nice to see examples of 'friendly conversation' over food

Yes I like a spicy conversation with Food too!!

Raamv if (and when) you have any great Indian spinach recipes please share!

Well, I definitely will once I am able to go through my bookmarked links of sites that make em!!
But Saag panneer is the most common..I make my spinach curry in a different way ( South Indian) an d will post soon
as SO is demanding that I go n watch American Idol 7 first!!

[Rob A.]

Since this thread popped up, however, I'd like to say that the Spinaci alla Romana (the recipe for which was given by janiheis in the original message) IS actually very delicious. I've prepared it a few times myself - very tasty as 'primo piatti'...

Yes..I think many of jani/ronblx...(whatever jani's current nic is... ) ...posts were/are quite interesting...but I generally had the feeling that he expects you to take a lot of "USA-bashing" along with them... Eventually you feel you have to call him on it, then he acts like a "hurt puppy"... I guess he has some other shortcomings too... constantly changing his nic isn't a "confidence builder"...

Anyway, if he dropped the "USA-bashing" I think that would be a good start...though maybe he's congenitally unable to do that...

The only "Indian" (and I'll put that in brackets since no way I'd be able to cook any 'authentic' Indian food, but I like to dabble in the kitchen ) spinach-including recipe I've tried myself was this Lamb & spinach curry

Raamv if (and when) you have any great Indian spinach recipes please share!

The lamb & spinach looks like another Punjabi dish...such as the vegetarian saag paneer... And...Yes, I agree... I'd like to see some more south Indian recipes...as I've said before I'm rather partial to Indian food...and usually it's Punjabi... saag paneer, the aloo (potatoes) dishes, tandooris, all those different kinds of lime pickle and chutneys...the spicier the better...

So what do you say, raamv???... If and when you have the time...I'm interested, anyway and so is sammy... I think if you can get even a few Finns eating spicy food that surely has to be viewed as quite an accomplishment...

[raamv]

My secret recipe page for South Indian cooking :

and
I found some new links here
HOW to make Onion Chutney ( Remember, that the original poster is mixing Tamil with Indian English so if difficult to understand, turn volume down, watch video and look at the notes and comments)


HOW to make Chicken Chettinad another one of my favorites Remember, that the original poster is mixing Tamil with Indian English so if difficult to understand, turn volume down, watch video and look at the notes and comments)


HOW to make Sambhar One of my favorites. This is pretty much the South Indian Staple with the Dosa or Rice. Remember, that the original poster is mixing Tamil with Indian English so if difficult to understand, turn volume down, watch video and look at the notes and comments)


This is a rare video.


But this Dosa is a real treat:Remember, that the original poster is mixing Tamil with Indian English so if difficult to understand, turn volume down, watch video and look at the notes and comments


and
This includes making of the dough:

[sammy]

Thanks - well it certainly IS difficult to understand occasionally (in the Sambhar recipe I can't make heads or tails of what the guy says, only one word here or there) - luckily there are some wrtitten explanations! I'll check these out & perhaps try my hand with the old pots and pans - Chettinad chicken seems nice!

Fo now, however it's lamb leftovers... nothing spicier involved than rosemary, black pepper and garlic *burp*

Btw - just out of curiosity; is it common for men to do the cooking at home in India? (I don't mean at restaurants but 'ordinary' homes) Or is kitchen "for women only", I mean traditionally

[raamv]

Btw - just out of curiosity; is it common for men to do the cooking at home in India? (I don't mean at restaurants but 'ordinary' homes) Or is kitchen "for women only", I mean traditionally

Yes no and depends on:
Traditionally in most households, the women are stuck in the kitchen.
Lately the trends are changing
Generally, Men dominate in cooking for 50-1000 people during functions!!

[jessesuomi]

And I meant to add...So poppadoms are from South India, then?? Also which of the various Indian cuisines would be the most vegan...you know, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and minimal, or no, animal products such as milk, cream, butter, eggs??

Well Most Indian food are vegans....and If never added milk products, then i should say that its equally split between North Indian Masala and South Indian Sambhar(spicy Lentil in tamarind sauce)..but thats IMNSHO...

So I've been lied too for so long? I think maybe the cuisine is a bit more varied than to say most if Vegan. Along the coast much seafood is eaten. North and the copious amount of Ghee and dairy (and people thought that the French used dairy!). Perhaps the fundanmental aspects of the dishes are comprised of more vegetables. Last I researched less than 40% of Indians though were vegetarians let alone vegan.
I think there is much you can do and omit some of the meat based protiens to create the more wholistic vegan approach. Or perhaps look up a hindi or buddhist cook book based out of India as it is their dieatary restrictions that might offer the greater insight.

[raamv]

And I meant to add...So poppadoms are from South India, then?? Also which of the various Indian cuisines would be the most vegan...you know, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and minimal, or no, animal products such as milk, cream, butter, eggs??

Well Most Indian food are vegans....and If never added milk products, then i should say that its equally split between North Indian Masala and South Indian Sambhar(spicy Lentil in tamarind sauce)..but thats IMNSHO...

So I've been lied too for so long? I think maybe the cuisine is a bit more varied than to say most if Vegan.

You can think what you want to think. Read what I said. Most Indian Food are Vegan. Prepared with no dairy products if need be.

Along the coast much seafood is eaten

Not by normal village and city dwellers. Though the Seafood eaters are generally Fishermen community which is not much compared to the locals who are not. e.g. West Bengal, people who eat seafood like fish are actually considered as vegetarian !! In Bombay(Mumbai) Its more of a cosmopolitan thing. In a conservative city like Madras(Chennai), Generally only the working caste society eat seafood ( and fisherman) but in reality all classes eat non.vegetarian food under the radar!! so where ever you got your 40%!!
This can be more understood if you understand the caste demographics of India.

. North and the copious amount of Ghee and dairy (and people thought that the French used dairy!).

This happens in almost Indian Foods today though the original form were of vegan form.

Perhaps the fundanmental aspects of the dishes are comprised of more vegetables.

Yes the vegetarian ones are and so were the meat dishes. and your point is?

Last I researched less than 40% of Indians though were vegetarians let alone vegan.

DO I look like I care about your research? and your 40% figure is wrong!!

I think there is much you can do and omit some of the meat based protiens to create the more wholistic vegan approach.

as I said, you can think what you want to think!!
Or perhaps look up a hindi or buddhist cook book based out of India as it is their dieatary restrictions that might offer the greater insight.[/quote][/quote] Do you know the difference between a Hindi and Buddhist cookbook and the varied differences are? Buddhists and Jains are a separate sect where they have practices veganism in their purest form for many centuries..but then varied interpretations are still there so there it is.
and I have no idea why in the world you want to group a Hindi cookbook with a Buddhist cookbook?
You see, you stick to your research while I lived the life there and understand the culture there..so I do know firsthand how it is..