Everything you should know about Indian cuisine in Canada

Indian cuisine is a more recent contribution to the Canadian culinary landscape, gaining popularity, especially during the post-1960s immigration era.

It is primarily distinguished by the Northern Indian style of cooking, which emphasises warm curries and bread, as well as the use of yoghurt and cream in meat-based dishes. However, it is also influenced by South Indian cuisine, which regularly combines sour and spicy flavours and uses tamarind and chiles. 

However, a lot of popular Indian cuisine in Canada, including kedgeree and various chutneys, is a result of British colonial authority over the Indian subcontinent.

Differences between North Indian and South Indian cuisine

The foundation of the Indian restaurant experience in the West is North Indian food. North Indian cuisine, which draws heavily from Central Asian food, is characterised by warm curries and bread. 

This, along with the addition of yoghurt and cream to the frequently meat-based meals, is primarily to blame for Indian cuisine's status as comfort food in the West. A meal will frequently end with warm, fragrant masala chai that has been flavoured with cinnamon and other spices.

South Indian cuisine, in contrast, is more new to the Canadian culinary scene and rose to prominence mostly as a result of immigration after the 1960s. The amount of spice is the most noticeable variation; South Indian cuisine frequently plays with the contrast of sour and hot, utilising tamarind and chillies in large quantities. 

Although both are frequently available at North Indian-style restaurants in Canada, the meals tend to focus more on rice than bread and frequently include stews and lentils. A South Indian restaurant might serve sambar, idli, and dosa, which are steamed lentil rice cakes (a lentil and vegetable stew). Additionally, coconut and coconut milk are more frequently used in South Indian cuisine.

Indian cuisine nowadays in Canada

Indian food is abundant in Canada's largest cities. Many South Asian immigrants opened restaurants and other food-related companies after their arrival as a result of the growing interest in multiculturalism, the freedom of immigrants to maintain their heritage, and the desire to achieve economic security. 

The legacy of Canada as a British colony has affected the accessibility of Indian food not just through immigration laws but also by influencing the tastes of Anglo-Canadians.

Stereotypes about Indian food

Indian eateries in Canada frequently play on patrons' expectations of exotic, spicy food and a colonial past by using decor and staff uniforms to signify their authenticity, similar to British restaurants. 

This resemblance to the time of colonial rule over India may be one of the factors behind the cuisine's simplification into "North" and "South" as opposed to allowing for a variety of regional delicacies.

Another complicating factor is that the generally low price point of Indian food has come to be expected in Britain and North America, owing to the frequent function of Indian establishments as takeout restaurants. This low-cost expectation can be especially difficult to meet given the labour-intensive preparation of Indian cuisine. 

Furthermore, the popular perception of Indian food as cheap and even greasy has frequently reinforced the racial perceptions and social conditions that initially drove many South Asian immigrants into the food business. Indian cuisine is still underrepresented in either the United Kingdom or Canada's haute cuisine offerings. 

Rather than offering Indian food at a lower price point, it is more common to see high-end restaurants use Indian flavours and techniques to create variations on classic European dishes.

A guide to Indian food in Calgary

For as long as anyone can remember, Indian cuisine has been a staple of Calgary's international dining scene, and for good reason: it's some of the best food around. But what exactly is it about Indian cuisine in Calgary that makes it so delicious? Science believes it has an answer: it all boils down to the spice blend. While most cuisines pair similar flavours together, Indian cuisine does the opposite, juxtaposing different flavours in ways that keep our palates guessing. 

Amazing regional variations in Indian food exist according to terroir, technique, tradition, and ingredients. Some of India's most well-known foods, such as tandoori chicken, naan, and paneer, originate in Punjab, a northern area that shares a border with Pakistan. While the southern region of India provides us with savoury dosa, sumptuous Chettinad curry, and hot, coconut-heavy fish and prawn curries. Vegetarian cuisine is widespread (and delicious) in the nation.

Why Indian restaurants are becoming more popular

• Excellent spices

The use of numerous spices from Indian cooking is the primary factor in the delectable flavour. The spices are to blame for the food's increased flavour. 

• Rich in flavours

The best foods are typically those that are full of flavour. Indian cuisine is a good example of a flavour combination that may uplift your mood and make you unable to stop eating it. almost all of the necessary herbs.

• Variety of choices

If you have a menu of Indian cuisine in Calgary open, you will never run out of choices. You have a huge variety of possibilities from which to choose. There are many selections and varieties, from the main dish to the appetisers and desserts.