How well do you know Indian food?
Indian food is a world of regional cuisines, spices and techniques. Six questions, from easy to hard.
Did you know?
- India is the world's largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices. States such as Kerala have traded pepper, cardamom and cinnamon with merchants from across the world for thousands of years.
- A thali is a platter with small bowls of different dishes served together, often including dal, vegetables, rice, bread, yogurt and a sweet. It is designed to offer a balance of flavours and nutrients in one meal.
- Ghee, or clarified butter, can be heated to high temperatures without burning. It is used for frying spices, adding richness to rice and breads, and preparing many sweets.
A cuisine of regions and spices
Indian cuisine varies dramatically across the country. The north is known for wheat breads, dairy and tandoor cooking; the south for rice, coconut, lentils and fermented batters; the west for dishes shaped by trade and coastal seafood; and the east for mustard oil, fish and sweets. Religion, climate and history have all shaped what people eat.
The art of spice
Indian cooks rarely use single spices alone. They combine them in blends called masalas, and often fry whole spices in hot oil or ghee at the start of cooking, a technique called tadka or tempering. This releases aromas and layers flavours in ways that give Indian dishes their depth.
A vegetarian tradition
India has one of the largest vegetarian populations in the world, and many of its best-known dishes are meat-free. Lentils, beans, paneer, vegetables and dairy provide protein, and dishes such as dal, chana masala and palak paneer are everyday staples.
Street food culture
Street food is central to Indian food culture. Snacks such as samosas, pani puri and chaat combine crunchy, sweet, sour and spicy elements in a single bite. Every city has its own specialities, and food stalls are often busy from morning until late at night.
Indian food worldwide
Indian restaurants are found around the world, and dishes like biryani and butter chicken are among the most searched Indian foods online. Menus abroad often focus on northern dishes, so many visitors to India are surprised by the variety of regional cooking they discover.
Sweets and celebrations
Indian sweets, or mithai, play a central role in festivals, weddings and family celebrations. Many are made from milk reduced for hours, sugar, ghee, nuts and cardamom, such as barfi and gulab jamun. Sweet shops become especially busy during festivals like Diwali, when boxes of sweets are exchanged between neighbours, friends and business partners as a sign of goodwill.