Health Benefits Of Indian Food

Food is the biggest consumption category in India with a market size of USD 181 billion. With a population of more than one billion individuals and food constituting a major part of the consumer’s budget, this sector has a prominence next to no other businesses in the country.

First of all, Indian food is usually hot. It contains several chilies and peppers to contribute to its taste. Leafy vegetables, nuts, and beans are also some of the basic ingredients used in the cuisine. How are these beneficial?

A primary ingredient used with Indian cuisine is Tumeric. It is a ginger root used to spice up the food. This has been proven to have several health benefits and has been acknowledged as one of the primary contributors for Indian food’s ability to contribute to a better health. Tumeric can prevent heart failure and aid in the natural healing of the heart against damages. However, just remember that if you are planning to maximize the benefits of Tumeric, it is best that you reduce the amount of certain ingredients in the food you are going to eat or prepare. A classic example is curry. Curries contain turmeric but it also contains a lot of ingredients that are not good for the heart, like nuts and butter. Tumeric has been shown to reduce joint swelling and therefore reduce or prevent the development of arthritis. Aside from helping with heart and arthritis problems, tumeric also stimulates production of enzymes that protect the brain from against oxidative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

From health benefits caused by tumeric, let us go to a more general view of how Indian food will help us with our health. First is, eating properly prepared food, it can help with your weight control. How? The different spices promote satiety so you tend to consume lesser calories. Moreover, these chilies and spices combined with vegetables, garlic, and beans can help bring good levels of insulin. Chili peppers also help by stimulating production of endorphine substances which work to improve your mood and acts as a natural anti-depressant. Lastly, hot peppers will promote opening of passageways for air, therefore improving your breathing. High level of fibers is another factor why Indian food is healthy. Lentils and chickpeas, which are frequently used in Indian recipes, help lower cholesterol levels and also promote better heart condition.

Let us say you are done with the main course and you’re thinking of having desserts. Go! No need to worry as these is also healthy. Basically, desserts are made of fresh fruits and whole grains. Many are high in protein and iron.

Health Benefits of Indian Food Spices

Benefits of Indian Food Spices:

1)    Cinnamon : Rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, eases digestion, reduced blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
2)    Cumin : Diuretic ie. helps the body shed water, relives diarrhoea and bowel spasms, relieves morning sickness, eases carpel tunnel syndrome.
3)    Ginger : Packed with many active compounds, it’s many proven uses : treats nausea, morning sickness, motion sickness, anti-inflammatory properties help ease muscle and joint pain.
4)    Turmeric : Often called the “King of Spices” turmeric is an essential ingredient to the mix of spices known by most of us as curry. Its primary antioxidant, curcumin, is an essential ingredient for liver detox, and is also a natural arthritis treatment for its anti-inflammatory effects.
5)    Garlic : Antibacterial, antiviral, and anti fungal activity. Garlic may also prevent high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cancer. Garlic may also help to reduce blood sugar levels.
6)    Cardamom : Cardamom is effective in improving digestion. Cardamom also helps in cleansing the body.It is beneficial for those suffering from respiratory allergies.
7)    Fenugreek : Fenugreek seeds has lots of health benefits. Fenugreek helps lower blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and may be an effective treatment for both type 1 and 2 diabetes.
8)    Saffron : Treating depression, asthma, atherosclerosis, and painful menstrual periods. There is some evidence that saffron may have anti-cancer effects and may help lower cholesterol.
9)    Red Chilli Pepper : Chili pepper is one of the most useful spice. Capsaicinis the component that makes hot chilli hot. Chilies can improve digestion, help ease pain, destroy bacteria, and boost metabolism.
10)    Black Pepper : Improves your digestion, reduces intestinal gas and it is an antioxidant.

Fazlani Indian Food Stores in the UK

The UK has a very large Indian community in many of the large cities such as New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco Bay Area among others. Some of the stores are small mom and pop stores selling basic needs such as rice, dals, spices and vegetables. These stores probably have most of the things you would need to do typical Indian cooking.

However in some locations like New Jersey, the Indian grocery stores are really large. These stores are almost as large as the American Grocery stores and sell other products such as cooking utensils, DVDs, CDS, Books and Magazines etc. They also carry a larger variety of the basic products.

The Indian Food & Grocery section of the website has a list of such stores. The site currently has over 2500 Indian food & grocery stores listed in the United States. If you think one of the stores has incorrect data or if you have a new store you would like listed, please do contact us. We would greatly appreciate it, if you would provide a review of these stores.

Is Indian Food Unhealthy?

A very commonly made statement is that Indian Food is unhealty. In our opinion, making a blanket statement like that gives Indian food a bad rap. Indian food just like any other food can be prepared in a healthy way and an unhealthy way. You can have a Subway Sandwich for about 250 calories or a couple of KFC Double Downs for over 1000 calories. Its really in how the food is prepared, what ingredients are used and what portions you consume.

The primary reason this impression about Indian food exists is because many restaurants and folks use ingredients like Clarified butter, cream and such, in order to get the best taste. With slightly different ingredients and a small sacrifice in taste, you can still enjoy healthy Indian food.

The second reason is that most Indian restaurants offer a buffet and people just eat more than needed (from appetizers to desert) and then blame it on Indian food. If you chose reasonable portions, you would be fine. Here are some tips on what you can order at an Indian restaurant is you are watching what you eat.

World’s Most Expensive Indian Food & Curries

Over the last couple of years, we have come across 3 Indian food dishes have been deemed to be the most expensive Indian dish in their own “class”. We thought it would be a good idea to showcase all the 3 dishes in one article. 1. World’s Most Expensive Curry – Samundari Khazana ($4000) On the top of the list would be the Samundari Khazana (Treasure from the Sea) which was was created and served at the Bombay Brasserie in upmarket London. The dish was launched to mark the release of the Slumdog Millionaire DVD. The dish was a mix of caviar, sea snails, a whole lobster and even edible gold. 2. World’s Most Expensive Chutney – Chutney for Heros ($600) Coming in at No 2, is Chutney for Heroes from the Bindi Restaurant in London. Priced at almost $600 for a 190 ml jar, the chutney contains saffron and 23ct Edible Gold and organic produces to complement a mixture of spices to provide a mouth watering chutney. For more details visit the website. 3. World’s Most Expensive Butter Chicken – Anaarkali ($150) Coming in at No 3 and seeming relatively cheap compared to the first two, is Anaarkali Butter Chicken. The Anaarkali Butter chicken is a labor of love for the chef who took almost 2 years to come up with what he felt was the best butter chicken in the world. Using special ingredients, the dish is delivered to your doorstep in a ready-to-heat container. For more details, you can read an Are these genuine efforts or marketing stunts? With the Samundari Khazana and Chutney, its probably a stunt to drive some attention to their restaurant. I love Indian food (did I have to mention that) and it takes me more than a couple of tries at a dish before we keep ordering it so I would never ever try my hand (and wallet) at this, unless someone else was paying for it. There are plenty of local Indian restaurants that offer wonderful tasty food and I would much rather sample those.

Recipes of Indian Food

he use of many different herbs and spices make each dish quite unique. Each different region in India is known for it’s wide selection of different recipes and Indian food  cooking styles and tastes. Though about one third of the population is strictly vegetarian, there are many different dishes that include chicken, lamb and goat meat. In India though the cow is thought of as a sacred animal therefore you will not find many recipes including beef. Food is such an important part of Indian culture as in most cultures, and plays an important role in the family life and in festival celebrations. Most families in India still sit down together to enjoy their meals with one another. There are a couple of main courses and they are usually served along with different pickles, chutneys and of course different types of Indian bread, which is called “roti”. There is also usually a dessert served as well.

Indian cooking has many different styles throughtout all of India. For that matter, there is really not one accepted style of Indian cuisine but rather many different styles. So if you travel to India you will find that the food prepared by the people and restaurants in that area will be different in each area. Of course there will be some similarities but it will also be very different from place to place.

Easy microwave recipes for Indian food

Many believe that the use of the microwave is not suitable for Indian food cooking which calls for a fair amount of deep frying and browning. But in reality, microwave cooking can cut down the amount of oil needed and still give tasty results. 

 

Microwave techniques make some laborious tasks easy. For instance, peeling garlic pods is usually quite a time-consuming job. If you microwave the pods for 15 to 30 seconds, you will find that once they are cooled they can be peeled in a jiffy.

 

A tiresome chore like extracting tamarind pulp becomes simpler with the microwave. Soak the tamarind in water and put it on high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Let it cool slightly and you will see that the pulp comes off easily. You can also blanch almonds by heating them with some water in the microwave – the skin peels easily after this.

 

To defrost frozen items, most microwaves have a defrost setting, or you can just put the food on medium heat. For instance, since coconut cannot be stored for long, you can grate the pulp and freeze it in microwaveable pouches. You can then microwave the desired amount whenever you need it. Readymadechappattis can be heated between 15 and 30 seconds, making them as fresh as new and saving you the bother of heating them in a pan. Rice can also be cooked in a microwave oven. Basically you need 2 measures of water for one measure of rice. To make vegetable pulav, simply add mixed vegetables and salt to the rice and water mixture and add a dash of ghee along with a pinch of saffron. 

 

The humble poha can also be made with ease in a microwave. You need to combine the oil, cumin seeds, mustard seeds, green chilies and curry leaves and microwave on high heat for 2 minutes; then add onions and heat for one minute; then add the moistened poha and salt and microwave for 2 minutes. Finally add lemon juice and chopped coriander and you have your authentic Indian dish made in a microwave.

 

Delicious snacks such as paneer tikkas can be made in the following manner. Mix the ingredients such as curd, chili powder, chat masala, garam masala and some edible red color together and coat the paneer pieces together. Then cook on high heat, preferably in convection mode for 12 minutes. Add lemon juice and garnish with onions and chat masala before serving.

 

Making soups becomes so much easier by using a microwave. Chop vegetables, add water and microwave for several minutes till they are soft. Use this as a stock, or just add salt and garnishes like ginger, garlic, pepper or sauces, and a wholesome meal is ready in minutes. 

 

For a quick delectable dessert like carrot halwa, the microwave comes handy. You need to mix 500 grams grated carrots with 200 ml milk in a deep bowl with enough space for boiling, and microwave between eight and 10 minutes. Stir well and let it stand for some time. Add half a cup of khoya and ground sugar and microwave again for three minutes. Finally add one tablespoon of ghee and cardamom powder and microwave on high for two minutes. Garnish with nuts and serve.

Microwave ovens are used for everyday and exotic cooking. What is your special microwave-cooked dish? Do you use your microwave primarily for heating food, or for quick and healthy cooking? Share some of your favorite microwave recipes with our readers.

USEFUL TIPS FOR COOKING DISHES IN MICROWAVE

Indian food Cooking TIps:

1) Cooking Potatoes

Place some 5 potatoes in a micro-safe dish with half water. Cover and cook in High mode for around 9 minutes and then allow it to stand for sometime. Then drain and peel.

2) Cooking popcorns

Place a handful of corn in a micro-safe dish and cover it. Then cook on high mode for 5 minutes and then transfer it to a paper packet.

3) Cooking curry

In a micro-safe dish put one tablespoon of oil, one tablespoon of ginger-garlic paste and cook on high mode for 4 minutes. Then add some chopped tomatoes and the required masala for the flavor desired and cook on high mode for another 4 minutes adding some water to the mixture.

4) Roasting of nuts

Spread the nuts on a ceramic plate adding salt or any other masala to taste and cook high for 3 to 4 minutes. Serve after 5 minutes.

5) Cooking custard

Mix well one-cup milk, two tablespoons of sugar and two tablespoons of custard powder thoroughly and cook on high mode for 2 minutes and serve after cooled.

6) Preparing Pizza topping

Place one-tablespoon oil, one-cup tomato puree, one-cup tomato paste, and salt and pepper to taste in a micro-safe dish and cook on High for about 6 minutes.

7) Cooking vegetables

In a micro safe dish put about 250 grams of vegetables desired with salt tot taste and about two cups water and cook on High for 16 minutes.

8) To make bread crumbs

Cook bread in the oven on High mode for 2 to 3 minutes and then crush it.

9) Chappathi

Wrap the chapattis in a napkin or in a paper towel and heat on high mode for 2 to 3 minutes.

10) To crisp biscuits, etc.

Place the biscuits, nuts or chips on a plate and heat on high for 1 minute and allow it to stand for 5 minutes.

11) To prepare finger bowl

Micro High a small bowl with two tablespoons water and juice of one lemon. It can also be placed in rooms to absorb any strong odours.

12) Preparing chicken stock

Take two pieces of chicken, one onion, one potato chopped and salt and pepper to taste with two cups water and cook on high for 14 minutes at power level of 60. Drain and keep the stock aside.

13) Preparing vegetable stock

Take the vegetables, onion and chopped potato and salt and cook on micro 60 for 12 minutes

Advantages of microwave cooking

Advantages of microwave Indian food cooking

 Food cooks evenly, quickly and efficiently in the microwave.

 Also the nutrients are preserved and the actual taste of the food is retained to a higher degree.

 Only a minimum amount of oil is required for cooking continental as well as traditional Indian dishes and so it      seems desirable from the health point of view.

 Also shorter and controlled cooking time means that the food does not get burnt or over-cooked.

 Food may be cooked and served in the same dish.

 Another major advantage is that food is cooked minus the smoke, grease and heat and so the kitchen     remains neat and tidy always.

 Microwave has multifarious uses like de-frosting, re-heating, etc.

Microwaves –?

 Microwaves are a form of the electro-magnetic energy.

 The microwave oven is designed to generate electro-magnetic waves, which are contained in the cooking     cavity.

 The waves cannot be seen. Microwaves act in three different ways.

Absorption – when the food is micro waved, the water molecules present in the food get stimulated and heated up and so the energy of the microwave is concentrated on cooking the food faster.

Transmission – Microwaves are attached only to water molecules and so they ignore everything else except the food to be cooked.

Reflection – Microwaves are absorbed by food and pass through materials like glass, china, wood, paper and plastic, but they reflect on metal.

Types of ovens

There are two types of microwave ovens,

1) Simple microwave oven

2) Microwave and convection oven.

The microwave oven cooks food as well as re-heats it. The convection system heats, browns and dries the surface of the food for crisping. This type of combination cooking is best for tandoori dishes and the convection system alone is best suited for cakes and other pastry – based appetisers that need a flaky crust. But for microwave/ convection combination cooking, the cookware should be both heatproof and micro safe. For convection cooking, the cookware needs only to be heatproof.

Indian Foods

The essence of good Indian food revolves around the appropriate use of aromatic Indian spices makes it easy to cook with their well written recipes & videos of vast list of top Indian dishes. South Indian recipes and North Indian recipes – Vegetarian recipes and Non vegetarian recipes you name it and you find them “Everything is clearly listed read more…

to ensure your search is simplified including top Indian chicken recipes, Vegetable recipes and kids recipes are available in different pages indexed under easy Indian recipes.

Don’t let the list of spices and spicy Indian Food used hold you back from trying out one of the world’s greatest cuisines. The essence of good Indian cooking revolves around the appropriate use of aromatic Indian spices. Explore and discover the truth about Indian food for yourself. This website is dedicated exclusively for many ethnic foods of India & World Famous Indian food videos are listed in most viewed list .