Saturday, January 23, 2016

What Is the Difference Between Northern and Southern Indian Cuisine?


A member of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors, Jim Cicchese has served as a corporate relocation specialist and real estate agent at Keller Williams Westlake Village for the last three years. Outside of his professional pursuits, Jim Cicchese enjoys food, particularly Indian cuisine.

In India, each region and group has a specific way of preparing meals, using a wide variety of ingredients and techniques that make the cuisines unique. Many know India for its curries, but there are different options to choose from in the country’s Northern and Southern regions. Many dishes commonly found in United States-based Indian restaurants originate from Northern India. Focusing primarily on curries and breads, this region is famous for its naan bread, aloo ghobi, and paneer dishes. Many Northern Indian dishes such as kadhi also include yogurt and cream in their sauces.

As opposed to Northern cuisine, Southern Indian dishes typically revolve around the use of lentils and rice. Popular regional dishes include dosa, a rice-and-lentil crepe, and sambar, a stew made of vegetables and lentils. Most Southern dishes also employ a variety of chilies to enhance their spiciness. In the Kerala region, curry sauces primarily consist of coconut milk or oil to temper the overall spice levels in the dish.