5 Common Myth about Indian Food

Indian food is often misunderstood. There are some common myths that most people believe but actually that's not true as those are only myths. Here, we’d talk about those myths so you can enjoy your meal even more!

1. INDIAN FOOD IS HOT AND SPICY

This is a big one. People often choose another cuisine because they think they can’t handle the heat of Indian food. You can in fact have your curry your way because a good Indian restaurant will make it order. Spices add depth of flavour and some of them are quite sweet, certainly not hot. Think of cinnamon, cardamom and turmeric. Chillies can be added or omitted according to taste. But beware; once you start eating chilli, your tastebuds start to crave it and before you know it, you’ll be a raving hot-head!

2. INDIAN FOOD IS BAD FOR THOSE ON A DIET

Also not true. While some dishes can be very rich and luscious, others are extremely light and full of good things like fibre and protein. What makes Indian food a fabulous choice for dieters is that it can be so flavoursome, thanks to the combination of spices, that you don’t need to eat as much and you still feel satiated. Also, if you choose hot and spicy foods, you will be doing your metabolism a favour.

3. INDIAN FOOD MAKES YOU ‘GASSY’

So many people experience bloating and flatulence from eating a huge variety of different foods. For some, it might be dairy and for others, it might be cruciferous vegetables. When it comes to Indian food, it may be the lentils and chickpeas, but again, that will depend on how your body responds to eating these foods. The important thing is not to assume that “all Indian food gives you gas”. By the way, many Indian restaurants will offer a complimentary little scoop of ‘Mukhwas’ as a digestive aid. It’s usually kept at the counter for you to help yourself. It’s a concoction of anise seeds, fennel seeds, sesame seeds and essential oils such as peppermint. The seeds may also be brightly coloured and sugar-coated.

4. YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO EAT INDIAN FOOD WITH YOUR HANDS

Well you can, but you don’t have to. Most Indians prefer to eat with their hands because they believe it tastes better. But just as you can choose to eat with a knife and fork and forgo the chopsticks in a Chinese restaurant, you are just as welcome to eat Indian food with a knife and fork if you prefer.

5. INDIAN RESTAURANTS DON’T SERVE BEEF

In Australia, most Indian restaurants will serve beef, lamb, chicken, seafood and goat. In India, the greater majority of the population are Hindus, who consider the cow a sacred animal. Muslims, however, do eat beef but do not eat pork. On a side note, you probably won’t find pork in dishes in many Indian restaurants in Australia (and even less so in India). Interesting fact: India is the only country in the world where McDonald's doesn’t serve beef or pork in any of their restaurants. Now that you know those myths, do not hesitate to taste any of Indian foods, especially Indian foods in our restaurant. Come and try our food at The Yarra Indian restaurant in South Yarra. Source: indimex