Mysore Magic - part 4 "Food of India"
In the last few posts I have been sharing with you memories from my trip to India. Today a bit more on an everyday Indian subject - the food. Let's talk about the food of India!
So many tastes, smells, colors! The amazing dishes you can try in India are the everyday little bits of magic I can’t leave unmentioned, because I am totally all about the food. The first time I spent a month in India in 2016, I unfortunately ate too much and gained some weight, so this time I have been limiting myself somewhat, but it’s not easy!
In India you eat with your hands, often sitting on the floor, which to some may come as a culture shock. It definitely takes a bit getting used to... Also, it's really important to know that you can only eat with your right hand, as the left hand is used for other not-so-clean matters. So good luck to the left-handed people! Eating with my hands was definitely my biggest challenge, first of all it seems seriously unhygienic and also just really messy. But I did give it a try a couple of times and did not enjoy this part at all.
Everything else I absolutely loved. You can buy fresh fruit and veggies that have so much more taste than the ones we are used to. A banana suddenly tastes so intensly, the pineapple is almost too sweet and mangoes are just divine. Coconuts are a definite must, fresh coconut water 2 or 3 times a day is part of a yogi's life in Mysore. There is even a special mobile coconut stand right by the shala that opens up super early in the morning, when the first practitioners finish their morning practice. Also the main coconut stand in Gokulam is a central meeting point for yoga students, so you have to try one, even if you think you don't like them.
Another part of Indian tradition is chai masala tea. It is a very strong tea with spices and milk, in Gokulam you can even get vegan options especially for yogis. It is served everywhere, usually in tiny little cups and is just part of the day.
As the Gokulam region strongly focusses on yogis there are also many healthy options available. You can drink different flavoured kambucha and fresh wheatgrass juice shots and many super healthy and trendy foods and drinks that everyone talks about.
Below I wanted to share with you my absolute favourite traditional Indian dishes:
south indian thali
It's traditionally served on bamboo leaves and it's all you can eat, so never-ending goodness! A mix of all the yummiest things and you can get seconds of your favourite ones. It's so many amazing tastes, served a bit differently every day, so it just never gets boring.
gobi manchurian
This is the Indian version of vegetarian junk food. Deep fried pieces of cauliflower in delicious and spicy tomato souse, the real street food sensation! A definite must, but watch out where you are eating it, as street food is often not so safe for us foreigners.
masala dosa
I think this is my absolute favourite. A type of pancake made from fermented rice and lentils. It's gluten free and if made at home can be quite a healthy option. Served with potato filling, spicy sauce and coconut chutney. Dosa is a typical part of South Indian diet, but quite popular in all of India.
In my free time I attended a few cooking classes, and my absolute favourite is cooking class with Anu in her rooftop kitchen. She just has so much love for the process of cooking healthy and balanced Indian meals, that it’s impossible not to fall in love. Last season, after each class, my friends and I would cook the meal at our house. It was so special, and Anu was always super helpful and happy to give us some tips or even missing ingredients.
This year I attended one of Anu's classes with my husband and he loved it. We are planning to try out one of Anu's recipes and I'll share it with you in an upcoming post, stay tuned!