What do I eat at home on a typical day?

Most often I have referred to the fact that the Indian cuisine available in Singapore is not really up to the par. There is more to food than the North Indian and South Indian. For instance, dosai (not Thosai), Idli, Wada are had for breakfast along with a cup of filter coffee, never instant. Its always in steel tumblers (cups) and piping hot. Every state has its own unique cuisine which do not any similarity. Predominantly southern states are more vegetarian than the north. South is more rice eaters whereas north are more wheat and meat eaters (chappathi). Its not a rule but more of an observation. Due to heavy migrant population, these statistics have a way of changing every 20 years or so.

I am a South Indian. My food at home is always strictly vegetarian. Not vegan, not some funny terms used but simply vegetarian. No eggs and no meat. We use lots of ghee, spices, and so many different types of vegetables, it boggles ones mind. Every meal is classified as a rice with one gravy with vegetables, then rice with yoghurt. Hyderabadi cuisine is unique. It has its own version of meat eaters who are not muslims. The muslims make it different. If you would like to sample some of the Andhra (the parent state of Hyderabad) then visit Andhra Curry in Little India. Make sure you take a tissue because the food is so fucking spicy, that your eyeballs may just pop off and roll on the floor.

So what do we eat at home? You have the usual daily food and you have wedding feast. I attended a wedding feast (two: one in Hyderabad and another is Mumbai). A banana leaf with 5 vegetable curries, 3 spicy pickles, 3 sweet condiment dishes, tons of rice and 2 gravy to mix the rice with and yoghurt. Of course, we have the sweet dish called “paaysam” which is milk thickened naturally over high heat, lots of sugar, rice, saffron, cashew nuts. Intensive Care! Hold the bed!


The picture on the left is a bottle of GHEE. Ghee is melted butter/cream. Pure ghee is made by taking the cream layer from boiled milk and dumping it in a frying pan to melt it until it comes while liquid. Forget dieting! This is the most tasty companion for any dish. This is poured on rice and then the vegetable gravy poured on top. Mix it and HEAVEN!

The dish on the right is the vegetable gravy. Contains some vegetables, lentils, coriander leaves, fried cumin seeds (fried in ghee, of course).

There are many types of gravies. They have lentils as their base. Some have yoghurt as their base. There has always been a rule. If you are using yoghurt as your base, then ghee is never used. Traditionally, it is said that ghee and yoghurt at the same time can cause stomach upsets. Well, I am not the one to break the tradition.

The next item is a simple fried vegetable as an accompanyment for the rice and gravy along with the ever popular papadam (not poppadom). Finally you will have rice and yoghurt mixed with a selection of pickles (big mango, small mango, lime, chillies, mixed vegetables etc.) Pick one and mix up and enjoy.

This is what a typical simple home made food looks like. No wonder with all the ghee we are heading towards tipping the scales. We dont tend to think of ourselves as organic creatures barreling towards oblivion. At least we get to eat well and tumble into oblivion.

If anyone is keen on a food trip to Andhra Curry, you know where to find me.