An introduction to Indian cuisine

An introduction to Indian cuisine

Shabana Akbany, Contributor, Jakarta

The gradual awakening of interest in Indian cuisine is reflected in the worldwide mushrooming of the Indian food business.

Not so very long ago, Indian food was considered "strange" and "mysterious", but now it is not at all uncommon to hear all around the world "Hey, let's have curry tonight".

Indian food not only has tremendous potential for providing an ideal combination of taste and flavor, but it is also relatively economical. Above all, it is wholesome and nutritious.

It is quite easy to select a number of dishes within the vast range of Indian cuisine that are low in fat content, and are therefore also suitable for those who have an eye on their weight.

The beauty of Indian cooking lies in its flexibility, which allows freedom to vary the ingredients and their proportions -- especially the spices -- to suit anyone's palate. Of course, this requires some grasp of the basics.

Although there is an incredible variety of dishes in Indian cuisine, I have selected those I feel are the tastiest, the most familiar and are typically found in some form or other in every Indian household.

As the saying goes, "nothing beats real home cooking".

Keeping this in mind, here are a few recipes ranging from the simple to the more elaborate to bring a little bit of India into your home.

Happy cooking!