Vegetables Really Can Be Delicious

For a taste of Southern India, this week we visited Udupi Bhavan on Saybrook Road in Middletown. To help explain the difference between the Northern and Southern cuisines of India, our friend Gabriel came along as our guide. A classic Hatha Yoga instructor who studied at the Yoga Vidya Gurukul Ashram in Maharashtra, India, it is safe to say that Gabriel has seen the country from many different angles.

Yoga Vidya Gurukul

Mainly lighter, less oily and mostly vegetarian, the Indian food of the South also tends to be more austere than richer, more heavily spiced food of the North.

One of India's many temples, in the Southern city of Hempi

Rice is an important staple in Southern cuisine, more so than in the North, as does tamarind, coconut and a variety of pulses. Dosas, a crispy crepe made with lentils and rice, are a typical South Indian favorite.

Masala dosa, a popular variety stuffed with spiced potatoes served with sambar, a broth of red lentils and tamarind.

According to Gabriel, the food offered at Udupi Bhavan is generally considered "fast" food in India, something you would grab a bite of while out, but not often cooked at home. Not at all like our McDonalds or KFC, I'd rather have a curry than a BigMac any day of the week. Even Mr. Meat and Potatoes himself was surprised to find he enjoyed our 100% vegetarian dinner.

An abundance of food

We let Gabriel order for us and we ended up with more food than we could possibly eat. We had palak paneer, a mixture of spinach, cheese and tomato, vegetable korma, a curry dish made with coconut milk, and malai kofta, vegetables dumplings in a spiced yogurt sauce which turned out to be my favorite of the meal.

In addition to plenty of rice, each dish was also accompanied by a cup of raita, a cucumber and yogurt dipping sauce that is typically eaten by stirring it into one's rice. Gabriel also insisted we try another South Indian staple, spicy diced pickles. The key, he said, is to mix little bits of pickle into a bite of food for a sporadic kick of spice.

Train ride to Hempi

As Gabriel plans his fourth trip to India and beyond, we wait and see where our next adventure will take us. One can only hope it's somewhere delicious.