A blog post on food travelling India is never easy! I was born in Mumbai and grew up across the country. But even after twenty-five years of living, travelling, and eating in that extraordinary country, I realised there was so much I hadn't seen, so much I hadn't experienced and oh so much I hadn't tasted. So earlier this year, after a good few years in London, I took off for two months to fill in the gaps I could, travelling from Mumbai and Goa on the west coast to Lucknow and Delhi in the north, and Dehradun in the foothills of the Himalayas, and then attempting a 4 day trek in the mountains too. A fantastic trip, I let myself go, and let India fill up my senses with all her diversity, flavours, smells, and emotions. Here's a recap of some of my favourite food from my trip. If you ever visit (go do it!), don't forget to try these out :)
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Food travel
I've been visiting Dehradun almost every year for the last seventeen, to see my grandparents. I'm normally far too happy pigging on my favourite home food (a list is sent to my grandma in advance just in case she's confused my favourites with my sister's or my cousins'!), to bother with stepping out to explore local restaurants.
As promised, here's the recipe for another dish I learned on holiday: the easier-than-you-would-think-it-is caramelized fish stir fry! Serves 4
For me the highlights of travelling are the food and the photo opportunities! And there is something very exciting about learning to cook local food in a local kitchen using traditional ingredients. Here's one of my favourite Vietnamese recipes. Tried and tested! Serves 4, as a side dish
Vietnam is a foodie’s paradise. Seafood, pork, chicken, chilli, shallots, basil, mint, lemongrass, chives, coriander, dill, garlic, lemon, cucumber, carrots, cabbage, lettuce, beansprouts, sesame seeds a plenty. Simple flavours combined beautifully. Wrapped in banana leaves, or rolled in rice paper, or thrown into a lovely broth with every kind of noodle, or stuffed in a pancake or bread or dumpling. Fried, steamed, grilled, or simmered. Served up fresh and inviting and bursting with flavour. To be drizzled with or dunked in fish sauce, chilli sauce, or soy sauce. My mouth’s watering just remembering all those many many superb meals. Some at a busy street crossing, some by the river on little stools and tables that reminded me of childrens’ tea parties, some in cafes adorned with traditional colourful lanterns.
Here’s my list of Vietnamese food you must try if you visit :)