Local Ingredients

Just like the breathtakingly beautiful scenery, culinary traditions have also been influenced by geographical and climatic conditions. With vast distances to be travelled and no means of transporting fresh produce efficiently, cooks have had to make the best of the varied ingredients available to them locally.

Rice or breads form the staple diet in India. Meat and fish are served in small quantities, and their use depends upon where in the country the cooks live and what religion they practise. These dishes tend to be surrounded by inviting accompaniments, such as pickles, chutneys and salads, which are flavoured with fresh herbs and chillies, yogurt or lime juice. Many of the ingredients used in everyday recipes are known for their curative and preventative powers. For example, there is strong evidence that garlic and fresh root ginger, two of the most essential components in curries, contain properties that can help to combat heart diseases and stomach ulcers respectively.