Role Of Spices In Punjabi Food!

Role Of Spices In Punjabi Food!

It’s stating the obvious when one says that a Punjabi dish is incomplete without spices. In Punjabi Food, spices are used to hoist the tang and flavors of Punjabi delicacies. Cardamoms, cinnamon, garam masala, cilantro mint and many more are exceedingly used for preparing a finger licking dish. Several delicious Punjabi recipes are extensively imparted with the blend of these spices. In a Punjabi dish, these spices are not just ingredients but the creator of charm, flavor and aroma.

These spices have been playing an essential role for escalating the economic conditions since the very old time period. In today’s time of renovation and technical advancements, though the spice trade has changed in a variety of ways but the role and importance is still the same.

The worth and requirement of these spices does not limit only to Punjab; There is a huge demand of these spices in other parts of the country and globe as well. These are exported to the various locations of the world.

Some of the popular Punjabi cuisine like Shahi Paneer, shahi pulao, and chicken korma are improved with these spices. Some of the dishes are flavored with the seeds and some are with the paste of handful spices.

Ginger, cloves, Garlic, arrowroot, musk mallow, mango powder, stone leek, onion powder, black pepper, asafetida, turmeric are tremendously used to improve the tang and flavors of Punjabi food.

All in all, Punjabi spices play an important role in any customs and treated as a base of Punjabi cooking.

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Why should You Be a Vegetarian?

Why should You Be a Vegetarian?

There are several reasons for people to become vegetarian. While some people are drawn to vegetarianism because they want to live a long and healthier life, others choose vegetarianism for the love of animals! There are several other reasons and advantages of being vegetarian. Here, are some of the reasons that can motivate you to towards vegetarianism.

You may keep your weight down: Almost every non-vegetarian food is high in saturated fats that kill slowly. Most of the people these days get killed due to obesity, strokes and cancer diseases, which are linked to non-vegetarian based diets. These are often caused by the build-up of cholesterol and saturated fat from meats in our blood vessels. Adopting plants food can make a big difference.

For Animals: There are several animals which are treated as the source of meat, milk and egg. There is a documentary video viral on social media, which shows cruelty on animals. It’s very painful to see how the animals are treated It’s terrible how they're agonized and murdered just for food. In order to prevent this cruelty, it is essential to adopt vegetarianism.

To Live Longer: If you switch from non-vegetarian to vegetarian, you can add more than 10 healthy years to your life. Isn’t it amazing! People, who consume meat, have a shorter life and more disability at the end of their lives. The non-veg food slows down your immune system, which leads to several disabilities.

Your Dining Plate Will Be Full Of Colors: Eating a colorful dish ensures you that you are eating a variety of naturally occurring substances that can help you to boost immunity and prevent a range of illnesses. These colorful dishes have various types of nutrients in them. So instead of asking why go vegetarian, the question must be: Why haven’t you gone vegetarian?

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Punjabi Tadka in Delhi

Punjabi Tadka in Delhi

When you say the word “Punjabi”, two things come to mind: the dance and the food. Bhangra and Butter Naan. Like they say in the movie Jab We Met, “Asi tah Punjabi hain, humein toh [naachne ka] bahanna chahiye.” [We are Punjabis. We only need an excuse to dance].

Punjabi culture is vibrant, celebratory, and warm. It is the kind of culture if truly adapted will never let you feel lonely. Be it the colourful weddings, Mika songs blaring from cars, butter naan on every occasion, well-dressed happy people all around – the Punjabified city will leave you overwhelmed. If you have been invited to a Punjabi wedding, jump with joy. [And probably practise a few dance steps because someone is bound to pull you to the dance floor, and fast for the entire day so that you can gorge heartily in the evening].

Punjabis are fun, open-hearted, and without regrets. So is their food. If you are visiting India for the first time, and have a bucket list of things to do here, the Taj Mahal should be number one and Punjabi food second. Dal Makhani, paneer tikka, sarson da saag makki ki roti, aloo ke parathe – the food is iconic. It is full of life, butter, ghee, and love.

And when it comes to Punjabis and their food, no other place does it with more panache and style than Delhi (of course, after Punjab itself). The city thrives with Punjabis. Delhi is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, but Punjabi remains its dominant flavor. Even other cuisines have been adapted to suit the North Indian tongue. Do you know Paneer Dosa is a Punjabi version of a dosa and is not native to south India?

Another must-try delicacy is the halwa they serve as kada prasad at Gurudwaras. Dipping in pure ghee, and served piping hot, it is sure to transport one to heavenly levels, if the praying didn’t. The Sikhs believe in selfless service to community, something evident in the langars at Gurudwaras where everyone willingly offers to help. Sitting on the floor, eating with a hundred people, in the house of god, it is the heartiest meal one can have.

Punjabis are famed for their warm hospitality and generous nature, something one will find in most of their restaurants. If you want to get a taste of the real Punjab, go to Punjab. But if you can’t, go to a Punjabi themed restaurant.

Like Punjabi dishes there is no end to the number of Punjabi restaurants in Delhi. I wouldn’t be exaggerating when I say that life in Delhi would have been much bland and boring had it not been for Punjabi food and culture.

About Author: 

Nishi Jain is a travel writer at WeAreHolidays. She spent five years studying English literature, another two years editing novels and writing newspaper articles, after which she realized that pop music and paneer tikka is the best thing man invented.

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Make an attractive meal with Artistic Garnishing!

Make an attractive meal with Artistic Garnishing!

Many of us underestimate the power of a garnish. Garnishing makes two strong things possible i.e. to make the dish much more tempting or palatable, and to add a spark to what can otherwise be a boring dinner.
  
Can you ever imagine pasta with white sauce with no cheese; no pepper, no lemon, nor mint leaves… just a pure white dish! Wouldn’t it be boring?

There is a plethora of food decoration ideas out there. All you need to do is choose one and execute it to accomplish an embellished dish or dessert.

Following are some pointers to consider for garnishing:

- Don’t use small or inedible ingredients for Garnishes: 
The only purpose of garnishing is to provide an aesthetic appeal to the dish. But that aesthetic look must contain noticeable ingredients which must be both attractive and edible.

- Always display your Garnish: 
Garnishing is all about enhancing the artistic appeal of the delicacy. If the Garnish gives savor (taste), that’s sheerly a bonus!

- Don’t overdo one color: 
Okay, green is always regarded as a pleasant color, but in case you have a green salad then there’s no point to add a green ingredient in the garnishing. Instead use pinch of Parmesan cheese, few olives and a tomato to crown it all off. - Garnishes must complement the dish: Ingredients used in garnishing the dishes must be complementing rather than dominating. If you’re preparing chicken, then there is no point to cover it up with leaves to give it a look of salad.

 - Avoid Pungent-smelling ingredients for garnishing: 
A Garnish that smells so strong can result in to a bad garnish. For example: Onions. - Have fun with the dish: Garnishing is the art of shaping up your food’s personality. Delicious food that is served appealingly in perfect portions will be more promptly accepted and eaten.

There are many eating joints present in India and abroad known for their garnishing skills. One such place is The Haveli that gives an experiential of the rich culture of Punjab through sumptuous, mouth watering and eye pleasing dishes.

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Famous Food Items of North India!

Famous Food Items of North India!

India is a big nation, which consists of more than 28 states. The things that bind the entire nation in one rope are: culture and food. In India, cooking is believed as an art. The culinary art of a family are handed over from one generation to another. Every state has its own culture and cuisine. The culinary style changes from one place to another. On the basis of food, India can be divided into four regions: East, West, North and South.

In terms of Food, the north is the crowned jewel of the nation boasting of delicacies that are world famous. In a typical North Indian meal Chappatis, Poori, dals, rice and some mild curries are the main foods, but on special occasion or festivals, there are endless dishes to taste.

North Indian cuisines are further divided into various parts based on taste and eating habits. Punjabi cuisine is very popular amongst all regions and thus available throughout the nation.However, Punjab is the place to enjoy the food in its best form. A touch of royalty in the form of shuddesigyo and munificent use of spices creates a mouth-watering taste for all its delicacies.

A food lover will definitely realize the distinguished taste and flavors in these dishes. When one has to talk about famous Punjabi dishes, the name of ‘Saag’ comes on top of the list. The dish is cooked with green leafy vegetables and is eaten with lassi and makkiki roti.

Apart from SarsonKaSaag, some of the popular dishes of Punjab and North India are: ChanneCury, moong dal, ChanneAmritsari, Rajmah, KadiPakora, Mix Vegetables, Zeera Rice, Vegetable Pulao and so on. The deserts and the sweets are made up of milk, wheat flour, khoya andmaida. These sweet dishes are served after the meal.

Several dhabas and indian restaurants serve Punjabi cuisine to their customers. ‘Haveli’ is one such destination, which offers every Punjabi dish in its most authentic and delicious form.

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Go Vegetarian!

 Go Vegetarian!

Gone are the days when you found people only in India following a vegetarian diet due to religious reasons. Vegetarianism is now a growing trend amongst people of all nationalities across the globe. With the increasing number of NGO's propagating Vegetarianism it’s not a surprise to know that today 3% of American adults –over 7 million people- are vegetarian. The reasons for people to avoid meat are varied. The first one that comes to one's mind is 'for the compassion of animals'. Thanks to PETA's earnest efforts to promote compassion towards animals, everyone today will surely have some idea on the cruel treatment of farm animals. Sentient, intelligent animals are often kept in cramped and filthy conditions where they cannot move around or perform their natural behaviors. Choosing a Vegetarian diet is a demonstration of compassion towards these animals.

Going vegetarian is also beneficial to the environment. An individual having a plant-based diet has a reduced eco-footprint which implies that he generates lesser carbon dioxide than a person who eats non-vegetarian. The Livestock industry is responsible for more gas emissions than the transport sector.

Besides farming animals and growing their feeds contributes to growing environmental problems like famine, deforestation & water pollution.

Another major reason for opting for a vegetarian diet is health! You will be prone to fewer diseases, since 70% of the diseases are related to diet and avoiding meat will help avoiding these diseases. You will have stronger bones and you will live a longer life. What more, you will also keep your weight down.

With all these reasons the question to be asked is not why switch but why not? It’s not that you’ll be deprived of anything, especially not delicious & sumptuous food. If you have any doubts you can visit HAVELI and try our exquisite vegetarian cuisine that will surely tantalize your taste-buds. Haveli offers a variety of food delicacies that will more than satisfy your Foodie-junkie needs!

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Celebrities Patronizing Punjabi Food!

Celebrities Patronizing Punjabi Food!

Punjabi cuisine is amongst the personal favourites of many Bollywood celebrities. And apparently the distinguished aromas and spices have enticed the taste-buds of celebrities overseas as well! Infact most of them openly patronize it ridiculing the myth of celebrities always being on a low-cal/salad diet.

We have many foodies in Bollywood; in fact few have even bonded over the topic of food!

Actors Kajal Agarwal and Akshay Kumar made the best of their Punjabi roots while shooting for "Special Chabbis". They bonded over Punjabi food and even spoke in Punjabi.

Actor Priyanka Chorpra is a self-confessed Foodie, her favourite being none other than the famous Punjabi delicacy – Makki Di Roti and Sarson da Saag.

Hrithik Roshan's love for samosa is a known fact. He relishes it so much that he can easily eat a dozen at a time.

Many may have a tough time to believe that the stick shaped Anushka Sharma is an avid lover of the all-time favourite butter chicken.

Abhishek Bachan's preferred food is the all-time favourite Punjabi delicacy – Rajma Chawal.

When Bill Gates visited India he fell for the Tandoori Flavours.

Chelsea Clinton tried a variety of Indian cuisines and declared that she preferred the North Indian khaana to the southern delights.

There are many more celebrities world-wide who walk into Indian restaurants abroad to enjoy a sumptuous Punjabi Meal. Madonna, Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Roger Ebert, Arnold Schwarzenegger are just a few names off the radar.

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Connecting the Youth to our Roots!!

Connecting the Youth to our Roots!!

It is sometimes disturbing to see the rich culture and heritage of our nation losing its charm and hold over the younger generations. The youth of our nation, fascinated by the western lifestyle fails to see the old world charm & tranquility in our traditions. It is not entirely their fault of course. The time has changed so rapidly that it has transformed everything according to convenience of the people running ahead of times. In today’s times the idea of weaving cloth or even sewing clothes at home will be laughed upon. We all are just so used to everything ready-made that home-made stuff is an old facade.

Cotton & khadi has now been replaced by leather & furs; Hopscotch, 7 tiles & marbles have been replaced by XBOX & PSP; Dal cooked overnight has been replaced by ready-to-cook 2 minute noodles; Bioscopes & street plays have been replaced by multiplexes & Disney lands; The tradition of touching feet has been replaced by Hi-5's; A Mother's tail mallish has been replaced by exquisite hair spas.

I am not saying that all of this has changed times for the worse. Moving ahead & changing lifestyles will never be looked down upon. Even the aged realize the benefits of modernization  However, the youth at least needs to have the right knowledge about our times. Once they learn about the beauty of the olden times they will at least start respecting it. Knowing about the olden times will help them understand their elders and thus reduce the problems of generation gap.  They are the ones who will carry on our traditions and for that they need to have a positive perspective about them.

Cultural themed restaurants help the youth to get a glimpse of the past times. Haveli has been inspired by the old traditions of Punjab. The ambiance and decor of the place resemble an old Punjabi village, allowing guests to relive the Golden era. The place is a cultural bonanza showcasing live bhangra performances, street plays, pottery, magic shows, live cloth weaving and many more things. It also demonstrates the well water collection mechanism used in the past.

Actually experiencing the past will help the youth to get a clearer idea of the bygone days and appreciate it better.

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The Growing Popularity of Punjabi Food!

The growing Popularity of Punjabi Food!

There is no hidden secret that Punjabi food is not only a favorite amongst Indians but is seducing the taste buds of people all over the world. The popularity of Punjabi Food is growing leaps and bounds especially because of the rising number of Punjabi immigrants. Canada & UK are now known as an extension of Punjab and there is growing influence of Punjabi Culture in these regions whether it’s relating to music or food.  Punjabi food is relished not only by NRI's but even the foreigners. You won't be surprised to see Germans or the Dutch relishing Dal Makhani & Tandoori Roti in an Indian restaurant. "Of course, Chicken Tikka is the most popular dish in England," says food expert Preah Narang.

Infact even in India most restaurants claiming to serve 'Indian Food' are actually serving Punjabi cuisine. Indians are so accustomed to Punjabi food that even when they are served different cuisines they can't relish it until a Punjabi touch is added. Most of us add a Punjabi tadka to everything we eat, whether its Paneer toppings on a Pizza, Aloo Tikki Burger, Tandoori chicken Sub or Chinese chaat.

The Punjabi touch is seeping into the everyday cooking of people from all cultures. The sunday brunch for many Gujaratis, Marwaris and Bengalis means the sleep-inducing Aloo Ka Paranthas. And they love to wash it down with a glass of Lassi.

So what is it that makes Punjabi food so craved? There are so many factors involved! For starters, the recipes have been passed down & refined from generations by mothers who cooked passionately for their families with liberal use of Shudd Desi Ghee. The Punjabi's put in that extra effort to tantalise your taste buds. For instance, the dal makhani is cooked overnight on slow gas in an earthenware vessel and then finished with cream, butter, tomatoes and milk.

Punjabi food is synonymous with grandeur and extravagance. It is Food fit for the Kings!

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Taste the Punjabi exquisite Chow

Nothing is as best as treating one’s taste buds with rich Punjabi meal! The people of Punjab (North India) are die-hard fans of eating and their same love is reflected in their sumptuous, lavish and religious dishes. Punjabi fare is so damn delicious in its form that not only wowed national but international folks as well. Punjabi food is the most in-demand and popular in Indian restaurants situated across the globe. Punjabi dishes are healthy, easy-to-cook yet fascinating to tongue.

Punjabi food presents a wide variety of mouth-watering dishes with hot spices ranging minimal to pleasant to high. The food is savoured by people of all communities. Punjabi restaurants or dhabas make a liberal use of desi ghee, cream and butter to make tasty finger-licking and lip smacking food. Dhabas are one such place which represents traditional food in desi style. 

When it comes about Punjab, how can one forget to visit traditional village theme resort, Haveli! Displaying the real essence and culture of Punjab, Haveli is supremely popular for its sumptuous food and warm hospitality. One can witness the vibrant, thick and colourful Punjabi culture at the place.

Sarson ka Saag, Makki Ki Roti and Lassi (butter milk) constitutes the staple food items of Punjabi culture. Haveli also specializes in these food items. People from all around come up to taste these three exotic dishes.  Apart from these, stuffed paranthas, chhole bhature, rajma, laccha paranthas, mah ki dal and milk products are also present on the menu. These cuisines surely tickle up the taste buds of foodies.

The top three ‘part and parcel’ dishes of Haveli are mentioned below along with their recipes. 

Makki Di Roti (fried maize bread)

It is a traditional North Indian maize loaf; Makki Di Roti is served straight off the pan with a spoonful of fresh butter or ghee!

Ingredients:

•           1 cup maize flour
•           Water to make dough
•           Salt to taste
•           Ghee to fry

Method to Prepare:

•           Mix the maize flour and salt-to-taste in a flat plate.
•           Make a dig in the centre and add a little water at a time to knead the flour into dough. The consequential dough must not be so hard or so soft. Make it normal.
•           Break up the dough into small balls.
•           Spread flour on a surface and roll each ball into a shape of circle just like in case of wheat loaf (chappatis)
•           Heat a pan on a medium fire.
•           Put roti on the pan and cook on the first side for 30 seconds then turn.
•           After 30 seconds spread ghee on the top surface and turn immediately. Fry for a minute and turn again. Continue this until the roti is turns crisp and golden.
•           Serve hot, crowned with a small dollop of butter.

Sarson Ka Saag

This is another typical Punjabi dish that tastes really awesome with Makki Di Roti and a spoonful of fresh butter.

Ingredients:-          

•       1 bunch spinach washed and chopped (250 gms)
•           1 bunch mustard greens washed and chopped (250 gms)
•           2 green chillies
•           1 tbsp grated ginger
•           1 tbsp grated garlic
•           1 large onion grated
•           1 tsp coriander powder
•           1 tsp cumin powder
•           1 tsp garam masala powder
•            Juice of 1/2 a lime/ lemon
•           1 tbsp gram flour/ maize flour
•           Salt to taste
•           2-3 tbsps ghee

Method to Prepare:

•           Make a mix of the greens, green chillies and salt to taste. Boil in 1 cup of water till it all cooked up.
•           Crush or mash the greens mix well to make a paste.
•           In another pan, heat the ghee on a middle flame. When it gets hot add the grated onion and fry till then its turns pale golden.
•           Add all the other ingredients mentioned above and fry till oil separates from the masala.
•           Add the greens mix to this and stir well.
•           Garnish with a dollop of butter and serve hot with Makki Di Roti.

Lassi (Butter Milk)

It is another Punjabi complementary yogurt-based drink. It is a mix of yogurt, water and spices. It can also be garnished with fruits, roasted groundnuts or cumin. Another form of lassi is known as chaach which is salted lassi and contains more water than lassi. Butter milk adds new and mesmerizing flavour to the meal (sarson ka saag & makki di roti).

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