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Thali

🇮🇳 The food of India

262 dishes from India, best known first, across 60 cities and regions.

Indian cooking brings together a huge range of regional and religious traditions, shaped by centuries of trade, migration, and local crops. Meals center on grains like rice or wheat, paired with lentils, vegetables, and carefully chosen spices. Distinctive techniques and a deep vegetarian tradition set it apart from other world cuisines.

  • Lentils and pulses are used in many forms, including whole, split, or dehusked.
  • Two unique techniques: frying spice pastes and adding fried spices to dishes.
  • Street foods like vada pav, kati rolls, and idli vary by city.
  • Vegetarianism is widespread, especially in Gujarat and among Jains.
  • Festival foods include sweets like kheer, halwa, and puran poli.

The cooking of India

Indian food is shaped by thousands of years of cultural exchange, migration, and religious practice. Its character comes from the interplay of local grains, lentils, and vegetables, with a wide palette of spices such as turmeric, cumin, and cardamom. Cooking methods range from slow stewing to frying spice pastes or adding fried spices to finished dishes. The cuisine is known for its regional variety, from coconut-rich southern stews to wheat-based breads in the north. Vegetarianism is widespread, influenced by Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist beliefs, while Muslim and Christian communities contribute their own dishes. Food is often prepared with simple tools, but the process can be labor-intensive, involving grinding and blending.

Staple foods in India

Core foods are rice, wheat (often as flatbreads), and lentils, with pulses like mung, pigeon pea, and black gram used in many forms. Oils vary by region: coconut in the south, mustard in the east, peanut in the north and west. Spices are essential, with each region using its own blends. Vegetables, pickles, and dairy products like yogurt are common accompaniments.

Snacks and street food in India

Street food is highly regional. In Mumbai, vada pav (a spiced potato fritter in a bun) is popular. Kolkata is known for kati rolls, which wrap spiced fillings in flatbread. Chennai’s streets offer idli (steamed rice cakes) with sambar (a lentil stew). Delhi’s Muslim heritage brings kebabs and other meat snacks.

From region to region in India

Northern India favors wheat breads, lentils, and dishes cooked with the dum pukht technique, where food is sealed and slow-cooked. Kashmir is known for rich meat dishes. Western India features vegetarian stews and sweets, with Goan food blending Indian and Portuguese influences. The east relies on rice, fish, and mustard, while the south uses rice, coconut, and steaming. Each region’s climate and dominant religion shape its food.

Festival and religious food in India

Festivals bring special foods. During Diwali, sweets like kheer (rice pudding) and halwa are made. Holi sees puran poli (sweet stuffed bread) and gujia (sweet dumplings). For religious offerings, food is presented to deities and then shared as prasāda. Fasting days allow only certain foods, such as dairy, fruits, and starchy roots.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Indian cuisine", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Cities and regions of India

Kerala 14Hyderabad 12Maharashtra 12Tamil Nadu 12Kolkata 11Odisha 11Punjab 11West Bengal 11Gujarat 10Karnataka 10Andhra Pradesh 8Bihar 8Delhi 8Lucknow 7Rajasthan 7Uttar Pradesh 7Bengal 6Mumbai 6Goa 5Kashmir 5Assam 4Bhopal 4Madurai 4South India 4Awadh 3Braj 3Chennai 3Jammu 3Jharkhand 3Mathura 3Tripura 3Arunachal Pradesh 2Bardhaman 2Bhuj 2Deccan 2Dharwad 2Haryana 2Himachal Pradesh 2Kochi 2Kodagu 2Kozhikode 2Malabar 2Mysore 2Nabadwip 2New Delhi 2Pune 2Puri 2Sikkim 2Telangana 2Udupi 2Uttarakhand 2Agra 1Ahmedabad 1Ahmednagar 1Almora 1Arambol 1Aurangabad 1Banaras 1Bangalore 1Basirhat 1
MealBreakfastLunchTea timeDinnerSupperSnacks
KindMain dishStreet foodSoupStew or curryRice dishNoodle or pasta dishDumplingBreadGrill or roastSandwich or wrapPie or savoury pastrySalad or sideCheese or dairy foodSausage or cured foodSauce, pickle or fermentSweet or dessertDrink
DietVegetarianVeganFish and seafoodMeat
TeaVegan茶 🇨🇳 China and 5 moreA drink made by soaking tea leaves in hot or cold water Drink Ice cream 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreA frozen dessert made from sweetened, flavoured milk or cream Sweet or dessert, Snacks Kebabكَبَاب‎ 🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreGrilled or roasted meat, often on skewers, found across the Middle East and beyond Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Candy 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSmall sweet treats made mainly from sugar or sweeteners Sweet or dessert, Snacks Halvaحَلَاوَة 🇮🇷 Iran and 5 moreDense sweet made from seeds, grains, or vegetables, found across Asia, Africa, and Europe Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time Samosa 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreFried or baked pastry with a spiced filling, shaped into triangles or cones Pie or savoury pastry, Snacks, Lunch Biryani 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreRice and spiced meat or vegetables layered and cooked together Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Chutney 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreA spiced relish or sauce made from fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices Sauce, pickle or ferment French toast 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreBread soaked in egg and milk, pan-fried and served sweet or savoury Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks Naanनान 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreLeavened flatbread baked in a tandoor or on a pan, soft and spotted with golden brown Bread, Lunch, Dinner Fish and chipsFish or seafood 🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 8 moreBattered fried fish served hot with thick-cut chips Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Rice pudding 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreSweetened rice cooked in milk, found in many forms worldwide Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Lunch ChapatiVeganचपाती 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreUnleavened flatbread cooked on a griddle and served hot with meals Bread, Breakfast, Lunch JalebiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 6 moreDeep-fried spirals of batter soaked in syrup, enjoyed across Asia and Africa Pie or savoury pastry, Breakfast, Snacks Palm wineVegan 🇳🇬 Nigeria and 5 moreA lightly alcoholic drink made by fermenting the sap of palm trees Drink Dum pukht 🇮🇳 IndiaMeat and vegetables slow-cooked in a sealed pot over low heat Main dish GundrukVeganगुन्द्रुक 🇳🇵 Nepal and 3 moreFermented leafy greens dried and eaten as a side dish in Nepal Sauce, pickle or ferment JhalmuriVeganঝালমুড়ি 🇮🇳 India and 1 morePuffed rice tossed with spices, vegetables and mustard oil, served as a street snack Street food, Snacks ShrikhandVegetarian 🇮🇳 IndiaSweetened strained yogurt with cardamom and saffron, served chilled Sweet or dessert RajmaVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreKidney beans stewed with spices, often served with rice in North India and Nepal Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Tirupati LadduVegetarianశ్రీవారి లడ్డూ 🇮🇳 IndiaTemple sweet made of gram flour, ghee, cashew and cardamom, given as prasadam in Tirupati Sweet or dessert Mangalore bunsVegetarian 🇮🇳 IndiaMildly sweet, deep-fried bread from coastal Karnataka made with banana and flour Bread, Breakfast, Snacks MohanthalVegetarian 🇮🇳 IndiaFudge-like sweet of gram flour, ghee and sugar from western India Sweet or dessert SadyaVegetarianസദ്യ 🇮🇳 IndiaA festive vegetarian feast from Kerala, served on a banana leaf Main dish, Lunch Misalमिसळ 🇮🇳 IndiaSpicy sprouted bean curry layered with toppings, served hot with bread Main dish, Breakfast, Snacks LimeadeVegan 🇧🇸 Bahamas and 5 moreSweetened lime juice mixed with water, served cold as a refreshing drink Drink, Snacks Sev puriVegetarian 🇮🇳 IndiaCrispy puris topped with potatoes, chickpeas, chutneys and crunchy sev Street food, Snacks Sheer khurmaVegetarianشير خرما 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA sweet vermicelli pudding with milk, dates and nuts for Eid celebrations Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks BhangVeganभांग 🇮🇳 IndiaCannabis leaf paste used in drinks and sweets, central to Indian spring festivals Drink, Snacks Jolpan 🇮🇳 IndiaAssamese breakfast snacks of rice, pitha, and sweets, often served with tea or curd Sweet or dessert, Breakfast, Snacks PanchamritaVegetarianपञ्चामृत 🇮🇳 IndiaA sacred blend of five sweet ingredients offered in Hindu and Jain rituals Sweet or dessert RaitaVegetarianरायता 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreYogurt mixed with vegetables, fruit or pulses, served as a cooling side dish Sauce, pickle or ferment, Lunch, Dinner KahwahVegan 🇮🇳 India and 2 moreA spiced green tea from Kashmir, often served with saffron and nuts Drink Aloo tikkiVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 3 morePotato cutlets spiced and fried, served hot with chutneys Street food, Snacks Bhel puriVegan 🇮🇳 IndiaPuffed rice snack tossed with chutneys, sev and crisp puris, sold on Mumbai streets Street food, Snacks, Tea time Roti canaiரொட்டி சென்னை 🇲🇾 Malaysia and 5 moreUnleavened flatbread tossed thin and cooked until crisp, served with curry or dal Bread, Breakfast, Snacks Papri chaatVegetarianपापड़ी चाट 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreCrisp wafers topped with potatoes, chickpeas, yoghurt and tangy chutneys Street food, Snacks MahaprasadVegetarianମହାପ୍ରସାଦ 🇮🇳 IndiaSanctified vegetarian food served at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha Main dish, Lunch, Dinner BreadfruitVegan 🇵🇭 Philippines and 4 moreLarge tropical fruit cooked as a starchy staple in many island cuisines Main dish, Lunch, Dinner PunuguluVegetarianపునుగులు 🇮🇳 IndiaDeep-fried snack balls made from rice and urad dal batter Street food, Snacks LassiVegetarian 🇮🇳 IndiaYogurt blended with water and spices, served chilled Drink MeatballMeat 🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreGround meat shaped into balls and cooked by frying, baking, or braising in sauce Main dish, Lunch, Dinner Pakoraपकोड़ा 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreVegetables or other fillings coated in spiced gram flour batter and deep-fried Street food, Snacks, Tea time Gulab jamunVegetarian 🇮🇳 India and 3 moreDeep-fried milk dough balls soaked in rose-scented sugar syrup Sweet or dessert Punchपंच 🇮🇳 India and 5 moreA party drink of fruit juice, sweetener, and sometimes alcohol, served in a large bowl Drink, Snacks Pickled cucumberVegan 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreCucumbers preserved in brine or vinegar, enjoyed worldwide in many styles Sauce, pickle or ferment, Lunch, Dinner MacaronVegetarian 🇫🇷 France and 5 moreAlmond meringue sandwich cookie with a creamy or jam filling Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time PapadamVegan 🇮🇳 India and 4 moreThin, crisp flatbread made from lentil or other flours, served as a snack or side Bread, Lunch, Dinner
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Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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