In India, sharing food with friends is a large part of Indian culture. Whether it is a formal invitation to someone’s home or just standing around casually at a street food stall, Indians love and insist on sharing food with their friends. It can be taken as an insult if you refuse so I always graciously accept whatever is on offer but mostly in small quantities.
Recently I was invited to our drivers’ home for Sunday lunch. He & his wife were so excited about having a foreigner in their home however I, myself felt like the real lucky one to be invited into their modest Indian 2 room home to share with them a meal that took days to prepare…….I truly felt extremely privileged and honoured. The meal was a traditional Gujarati Thali meal….nothing short of amazing in taste not to mention the presentation.
On my arrival my drivers wife was in the kitchen kneading dough ready to cook up the first batch of chapati for the meal. The process is quite a work of art and particular attention is taken to make each chapati of similar size and shape. She did it all with such precision, ease and confidence but having said that I guess she had been assisting her own mother since she was a child so to her it was minimal effort. Then we both sat on the floor cross legged to peel and chop beans, cauliflower, tomatoes, potatoes and capsicum to add to the various dishes she was preparing.
The kitchen was very simple with a portable gas stove top on a bench and the 12kg gas bottle exposed under the bench. The utensils and metal plates were hung on the wall for easy access and a small refrigerator was positioned in the corner of the small room. All washing of dishes takes place outside in a bucket so there was no water faucet in the kitchen, instead drinking water was available in bottles for cooking purposes. Ovens are not common in Indian kitchens either as they are not used in Indian cooking ordinarily.
Gujarati cuisine refers to the cuisine of one of the Western States of India, Gujarat. Food differs greatly right across India and you most probably won’t get a Gujarati Thali in your average ‘Indian Restaurant’ in the Western world. Since Gujarat is primarily a vegetarian state due to the traditional Hindu religion prevalence, most Gujarati meals are purely vegetarian. The food varies in flavour and heat depending on individual family tastes. Some do although add chicken, seafood or lamb to their dishes depending on their particular religious allowances. Most Gujarati dishes are distinctively sweet, salty and spicy all simultaneously…. A sensation I had not had before living here.
A typical Gujarati Thali consists of Roti, Dal, Rice, and Shaak/ Sabzi (a dish made up of several different combinations of vegetables and spices, which may be either spicy or sweet).
The cuisine changes with the seasonal availability of vegetables. In summer for example, when mangoes are ripe and widely available in the market, fresh mango pulp is often an integral part of the meal. The spices used also change depending on the season.
Sweets served as part of a Thali are typically made from milk, sugar and nuts and extremely sweet so only a tiny portion is necessary to satisfy the end of meal craving.
Traditionally the meal is served on a large silver stainless steel plate with a one inch rim accompanied by 6-8 small stainless steel dishes placed around the rim filled with various lovingly prepared dishes including the dessert.
When the various components of the meal were finally complete, my drivers wife effortlessly plated up the meal and served me as I sat cross legged on the common room floor on a piece of fabric. I ate with my fingers of my right hand, sopping up the moist gravies and rice with delicious crispy hot chapati.
You know that feeling on Christmas Day when you eat until you literally cannot fit another ‘wafer’ in? Well this was the exact feeling……just when I thought I was making a dent in the initial large serve…..the plate was topped up to its original quantity. I must say though…..the deep fried green chilies were fabulous….I enjoyed the extra helping of those!
This is Incredible India!
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