Cows and water buffalo are common in India, and their meat and dairy is transformed into all manner of dishes. Meat tends to be trimmed, diced and stewed, or minced (ground) and mixed with other flavourings to make dishes such as kebabs. However, because over 80 per cent of the population are Hindus, who hold the cow sacred, beef is not as common as mutton or goat.
Water buffalo provide thick, creamy milk in addition to their meat.