Indian Cooking For Dummies

[Suvir Saran]

I am posting below links from threads here that would help a novice to Indian cooking.

Please add your experiences and other links that would be helpful.

[Suvir Saran]

History of Indian Cooking Edited March 25, 2004 by Jason Perlow (log)

[Suvir Saran]

Masalas

These are the spices (whole, ground, fried or toasted) that extol Indian cooking.

[Suvir Saran]

Overview on Indian Cooking

"Like any art form, the foundation of Indian cooking is based on technique. There is a body of knowledge about the food itself - the vegetables, the spices, the herbs, the sauces - but this information is meaningless unless applied with sensitivity. I use the words sensitivity and knowledge in all of their nuances: knowing when a vegetable like the bitter melon, karela, is perfectly in season; understanding how to remove the bitterness; and, finally being aware of its healing properties. There's a perfect moment to eat karela, just as there's an appropriate time for an Indian raga to be played. There are monsoon ragas, morning ragas, and ragas that are played when the lover has gone. Music and food are always respected for their ability to cleanse the soul, and heal."

[Suvir Saran]

Regional Cooking

[Suvir Saran]

Cooking Terms & Techniques

[Suvir Saran]

Ayurvedic Cooking

This will share with you how religion has played a very important role in Indian cooking.

[Suvir Saran]

Thickening agents in Indian Cooking

[Suvir Saran]

Oils and other cooking medium

[Suvir Saran]

On books and history of Indian cooking

[Suvir Saran]

Comprehending Indian Cooking - Great discussions on Indian cooking can be found here

[Suvir Saran]

Reference Material on Indian Cooking

[Suvir Saran]

Getting to know Indian food

[Suvir Saran]

First home cooked Indian meal

[Suvir Saran]

Do you taste as you cook?

[Suvir Saran]

Indian cuisine as Haute Cuisine

[Suvir Saran]

Dals (lentils) in Indian cooking

[cakewalk]

Suvir -- thanks for putting these threads all together and tying them with a bow. I'm looking forward to the eGullet Indian dinner -- it will actually be my first Indian meal! And then hopefully I'll retain the memory of some tastes and ideas to use as a basis so when I start (slowly, tentatively!) to cook even the most basic Indian recipe, at least I'll have some idea of what it is supposed to taste like.

[Suvir Saran]

Flatbreads in Indian cooking

[Suvir Saran]

Rice - what kind to use?

[Suvir Saran]

Pilafs and other rice dishes

[Suvir Saran]

Raita (yogurt based sauced), often used to cool the palate

[Suvir Saran]

Chutneys - They are a very important part of an Indian meal. Used for the flavor as also texture.

[Suvir Saran]

Tandoori Cooking

[Suvir Saran]

Chaunka/Baghaar/Tadka - The art of tempering oils to add flavor to dishes