Recreate the Taste of India in Your Kitchen Abroad

There is a deep comfort in the familiar aromas of food from back home, especially when you are living away from home. Preparing an Indian meal when you are living continents away is more than just about food, it is about holding on to a little bit of home. If you are one of the many who live abroad and crave Indian food, here is how you can bring the taste of India to the kitchen with ease.

Why Should Indian Food Be a Part of Your Life Abroad?

• Fresh Vegetables in Every Dish: Indian cooking ropes in a lot of fresh veggies to your table. We are talking spinach, carrots, tomatoes and more. Every Indian meal is packed with bright greens, oranges, and reds. It is a treat for the eyes and definitely a feast for your body and health.
• Spices with Healing Powers: Spices in an Indian kitchen are not just about flavor, the spices used in Indian cooking have health benefits and medicinal properties. Turmeric for example has anti-inflammatory properties, while ginger is great for digestion. Adding these spices to your dishes means you are adding a touch of good health to your meal every single time. Indian dishes taste good and give your family the health benefits they need as well.
• Nutritional and Balanced meals: You can consider Indian meals as a jack of all trades. When you cook an Indian meal, the lentils have the proteins, and the rotis made with different flours, have the fiber. The spices support digestion and you have yourself a well-rounded meal, balanced with nutrition on every plate., without even trying.
• Good for Digestion: Spices like Fennel and Cumin are known to have digestive properties. When you eat an Indian meal, it is automatically light on your stomach and keeps you feeling satisfied but not stuffed.
• Boosts Your Immune System: Spices in Indian cooking, like Ginger, Garlic, and Turmeric are known to have medicinal properties since ancient times. They give more power to your immune system and help your body keep diseases and infections away. Especially during the colder months when your body needs it more.
• Variety of Choices to Pick From: India is a huge country with diverse cultures, and each of these cultures has its dishes and ways of preparing meals. There are varieties of dish options you can pick and try, and various styles in which you can prepare the same dish too. Be it a curry, something savory, or a dessert, the Indian menu has them all.

Simple Tips for Cooking Authentic Indian Food Abroad

• Keep Your Spices Stocked Up: Spices are the very soul of Indian cooking. So, make sure the spices in your kitchen are well stocked up. Basics like Garam Masala, Cumin, Turmeric, and Chili powder will be available easily at Indian stores, but if you are visiting India, you can bring some authentic spices back with you from there, or ask your family to send a care package with your favorite spices.
• Plan Your Meals Ahead of Time: When you are living abroad, planning your meals ahead of time is what you need. It saves you time and effort and plan your day or week accordingly. If you plan your menu for the week ahead of time, you have everything you need at hand. Planning in advance lets you try recipes that you usually don’t have the time to try. It will bring variety to your meals and give you a whole week of good food.
• Cook in Bulk and Freeze Portions: For most people who live abroad, cooking during the week is not possible. Indian meals require preps and there is always a time crunch. What most people do is cook on the weekends and freeze the portions. Dishes like dals, chickpea curries, and even panner can be frozen. You just have to reheat and you will have a homemade meal ready to eat whenever you want.
• Invest in Basic Indian Cooking Equipment: If you want to cook Indian food in an authentic manner, you need to have the basic tools. A tawa for roti or a masala dabba for your spices is necessary. These basics keep spices within reach and make cooking simpler for you. Using smart appliances like the Rotimatic also makes it super easy to prepare rotis within minutes without any effort.
• Make Your Own Spice Blends: Whether it is Garam Masala or Chaat Masala, packaged spices cannot match the fresh blends. Fresh blends are a good way to customize every dish as per your taste and enjoy your Indian food just the way you like it.
• Be Creative with Ingredients: Being able to find the exact Indian ingredient you need may not always be possible when you live abroad. You should try and be creative with local produce and substitute what you need with what you can find and whatever is available. For example, spinach can be used instead of fenugreek leaves, or Zucchini is a good substitute for bottle gourd. A little bit of creativity will keep your dishes authentic even with locally sourced produce.

Cooking Indian food abroad is about nurturing your family and keeping your culture alive. Every meal can be a reminder of home and help you give yourself and your family the right nutrition in a traditional way. Bring the warmth and familiarity of Indian cooking wherever you may be in the world, along with nutritional meals that are delicious and convenient. Happy Cooking!