Spices and herbs are in abundant use in Indian cooking; familiarise yourself with some of the common spices that may be mentioned in our recipes.
Desserts
Dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal, usually consisting of sweet food.
Drinks
A Drink is a liquid which is specifically prepared for human consumption. The right drink with the correct meal can make the different to a good or bad meal.
Main Course
A main course is the featured or primary dish in a meal consisting of several courses.
Sauces
There are so many varieties of chutney which can be consumed as a dip or sauce with various types of Indian food. Chutneys are in different forms - wet, dry, sweet, sour or spicy hot.
Starters
A starter is served at the beginning of a meal, usually at lunch or Dinner. They usually come in the form of bite size portions.
Sweets
Indian sweets come in a variety of colours, textures and shapes. Each sweet has its own identity; collectively these are called Mithai which is derived from the word mitha (sweet).
- Cooking should only occur after ritually bathing oneself and after performing puja (prayers) every morning (Shikshapatri, Verse 31)
- No consumption and no usage of any animal product or animal-derived products (such as glycerin, binders, lecithin, coloring agents, etc.) in any form (Shikshapatri, Verse 15).
- No consumption and no usage of onion and garlic in any form (Shikshapatri, Verse 186).
- No consumption and no usage of asafoetida in production in any form (Satsangi Jivan).
- No consumption and no usage of alcohol in any form (Shikshapatri, Verse 18).
- Utensils have never been touched by meat or alcohol in any form (Shikshapatri, Verse 15).
- Using only garlelu water and milk for cooking (water and milk that has been purified). (Shikshapatri, Verse 30)
- Eating food products made by those people whose conduct and beliefs are known to you (either directly or indirectly) (Shikshapatri, Verse 31).
- Food must be offered to God prior to consumption in an offering known as Thaal (Shikshapatri, Verse 60). This food now becomes known as prasad and takes on a wholly spiritual component. Eating such food is an act of devotion in itself.
