India's food scene is quite expansive and is known for its strong use of spices as well as bold flavor, but to assume that Indian food throughout the country is the same would be to ignore how many brilliant and perfectly-flavorful dishes have come from this unique cuisine. With much of the cuisine geared towards vegetarian dishes, there are some that do incorporate meat, just as there are drinks, such as tea, that are just as highly valued as a meal on any given day.
Between the dynamic use of spice and this country's bright and vibrant dishes, there's no denying that it's an award-winning cuisine. Similar to how the US portrays its own version of various cuisines, though, Indian food often gets underrepresented in the food scene when it's not cooked in an authentic manner. To truly experience all that India has to offer the world's foodies, these dishes must be tried in the place of their origin.
Tradition also has a strong influence on Indian cooking, as is reflected in many of the recipes that have been passed down through generations. Many of these dishes have become staples for various parts of India and can be found in most popular restaurants, but not all of them are completely familiar outside of the country. While somewhat lesser-known, these are the dishes that most proudly represent India's culture and cuisine, according to the Times of India.
Poha
It's not unusual to see a savory dish for breakfast in other countries (in fact, an American breakfast of sugary cereal is quite unusual compared to the rest of the world) and Poha is one of them.
This dish is quite the Indian staple and is made with a base of potatoes and peas that are lightly fried. Most households in India with be familiar with this dish if they're not serving it for breakfast, and it's both a comfort food as well as a satisfying way to start the day. It can also be prepared with added turmeric, green chili, chopped onions, and fried peanuts.
Pakodas
Not so much of a meal as it is a snack, pakodas are a popular dish and a simple one. This is well-known comfort food that's made with potatoes, baingan or hari mirch ka pakoda, and onion. It's a fried snack that's often seen sold by street vendors and commonly, it's seen in the form of a fried onion more than anything else.
What makes this snack so delicious isn't the frying, though - it's the batter the veggies are fried in, which is fairly specific when it comes to ratios and ingredients. It's simple, comforting, and an Indian favorite. Pakodas are also known as crispy onion fritters and are often sprinkled with chaat masala for extra flavor and a boost.
Biryani
A dish that many people have heard of is biryani. While the dish is well-known, there are several different ways of making it depending on where in India you are. Each region has their own take on traditional Biryani, which means it will taste different from place to place, making it that much more of a special dish.
The base of the dish is rice and meat, but this is also what varies from region to region - there's even a sweet version of the dish in Kashmir, called Zarda, which is a sweetened version of Biryani. Alternatively, this dish can be made with bold, hot spices, or steamed by a technique using the dum. Even the means of cooking the meat and its doneness can vary, making Biryani highly versatile.
Masala Chai Tea
Granted, Chai tea is not a meal, per se. However, it is a huge part of Indian cuisine and is considered to be an important part of India's diet and culture. No matter where a person goes in India, they're bound to be met with tea - the aspect that differs is the type of tea, how it's brewed, and its spices. Every region of India has its own way to cultivate tea, but the most famous and popular is the classic Masala Chai.
Using classic Indian spices such as green cardamom and ginger, this tea is not only flavorful but has a heavenly aroma. The tea is also sometimes made with ground cloves, pepper, and cinnamon sticks. In Laddakh, the favorite is butter tea, which is made with yak butter, water, and salt. Tea as a staple in India is just as important as any number of traditional dishes.