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backpacking foods
Backpacking through India is a trip many travelers dream of. India is a beautiful nation of more than a billion people with a culture and history that stretches back millennia. Over the centuries, India has been ruled by empires native and foreign, all of which have left their influence on Indian cuisine. Furthermore, Indian food is not a monolith.
Rather, the culinary traditions of India are regional, changing significantly from north to south and east to west. The sheer diversity of the subcontinent makes sampling the delicious foodstuffs a highlight of any vacation. Here are the five foods to try on your backpacking trip to India.
1. Biryani
Biryani is a savory rice-based dish brought to India by the Persians. There are almost as many versions of biryani in India as there are cooks, but because biryani was introduced to India by Muslims, the dish is traditionally made with meat, usually chicken or mutton. However, vegetarians need not fear because meatless biryanis can be found.
In addition to rice and meat, much of a biryani’s flavor comes from herbs and spices such as mint, curry leaves, chilis and garam masala. To make the dish even more tasty, some biryanis are garnished with nuts and dried fruit. The most famous version of biryani is made in the southern city of Hyderabad, so backpackers should make a point of trying some as they pass through.
2. Samosas
For backpackers making their way through Northern India, sampling samosas is the way to go. These tasty savory pastries are most often stuffed with potatoes and peas, although some are made with beef. Fennel seed and fenugreek give samosas their distinct flavor, and they are sometimes served with a green chutney of cilantro, mint and ginger.
As with other foods now associated with Indian cuisine, these fried treats made their way to India from Central Asia. Samosas make great traveling food because the come in their own package, so they’re perfect for backpackers on the move.
3. Tandoori Chicken
This famous chicken dish may be available all over the world, but there is something to be said for trying a dish where it originates. Also hailing from the North, tandoori chicken gets its name from the oven it’s cooked in called a tandoor. The chicken gets it incredible flavor from a yogurt and tandoori masala marinade as well as chili powder and cayenne pepper.
Tandoori chicken warrants sitting down at a restaurant in Delhi and spending a little more than a usual backpackers dinner budget. To enjoy tandoori chicken properly, pair it sliced onions, cilantro, basmati rice and naan bread.
4. Rogan Josh
Rogan Josh is a lamb curry from the disputed region of Kashmir. This aromatic dish is made with ghee, or clarified butter, ginger, caramelized onions, yogurt and garlic and ranges from mild to slightly spicy depending on how many Kashmiri chilies are added.
The name rogan josh translates into English as red passion and gets its moniker from the dish being cooked in clarified butter at high heat. Like tandoori chicken, rogan josh is served with naan, basmati rice and sometimes a side of cooling yogurt.
5. Dal
No backpacking trip through India is complete with eating dal. This budget friendly dish is made from split peas, chickpeas, kidney beans or lentils slowly cooked until they reach a soup like consistency. Always vegetarian, dal provides much of the protein for Indians who prefer not to eat meat.
There are many types of dal, but the most common spices used to give the dish such great flavor are turmeric, coriander, garam masala and chili powder. The best way to eat dal is to tear off a piece of naan or roti and use it to scoop up the dal and deliver it to the tastebuds
One of the best ways to learn about a country and its culture is through its food. Backpackers with more than a passing interest in Indian cuisine should do some research and make culinary destinations part of their itinerary.