What foods do people in India eat?
White basmati rice is a staple food, as is atta (a whole wheat) flour which is used to make the primary bread, called roti or chapati. Lentils and beans are used and generally served at every meal (dhal). Vegetables/fruits like onion, carrot, potato, tomato, eggplant, spinach, peas, cauliflower, cabbage are frequently used in curries. Tomatoes, onion, cucumber, and fruits like mango and melon are eaten fresh. Common herbs/spices/seasonings used are cilantro, coriander seed, mustard seed, cumin, fenugreek, cardamom, tumeric, chilis, black pepper, lemon juice, garlic, ginger and many, many others. Dairy products are important, too. A soft white cheese called paneer (farmer’s cheese, basically) is often pressed and cooked in cubes in curries. It may also be unpressed and used to stuff breads (parathas) or made into desserts (ras gulla). It is kind of similar to ricotta when unpressed. Yogurt/curd is often eaten with curries. Nuts and coconut are used too, in some dishes (not just desserts
