I grew up eating authentic Maharashtrian cuisine and on and off a few other state’s delicacies too. Talking about state delicacies, I am an all-time Idli Sambar lover. Other than that, I am always ready for chaat, Pani Puri, in particular. When it comes to trying out new cuisine, I am always open as long as it is vegetarian (I am an eggetarian). Until I came to the USA, I haven’t tasted any other cuisine other than Indian. We used to have Burger or Pizza nights. But that was it. In my first week after arrival, I tried Mexican. I liked it as the flavors were very close to Indian. In this post, let me introduce you to the other yummy cuisines I have tried after coming to the USA and also my favorite dishes that I also tried making at home.

 

 

Mexican: People think that Mexican food is heavy and all about yellow cheese, but it’s not. It runs the gamut, from the highly complicated to the purely simple. The chili pepper is ubiquitous in Mexican cuisine. Vegetarians will find a plethora of options in authentic Mexican cooking—loads of mushrooms, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, greens, and other vegetables that are as tasty as they are healthy. The colors are so vibrant. Mexican cuisine has many spices that are used in Indian cooking.

Favorites: Fajitas, Flaquittis, Burritos, Chalupa, Tacos, Quesadillas, Enchiladas, Nachos, Salsa, Guacamole, Queso, Seven Layer Dip are some of my favorites.

 

Italian: Italian food is more than just pizza and spaghetti. It does not have bold in flavors as Mexican. When it comes to pasta sauces, you will have Ragu, Marinara, Pesto, Alfredo. Olive oil is the cornerstone of most Italian cooking (to braise, fry, and drizzle), then come the vegetables. Garlic and onion are the familiar go-to’s, but intense green vegetables are often stars on the plate. And if you are a wine drinker, then Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano will be served to you, ma’am. I am not into any alcoholic drinks, so my knowledge is fundamental in this.

Favorites: Bruschetta, Pasta, Lasagna, Stromboli, Minestrone soup and Bread sticks, Tiramisu

 

Thai: Thai cuisine has a lot of Chines influence. It is not uncommon for a spoonful or two of sugar to be used in the making of a Thai dish. From pad Thai to green papaya salad, almost everything has sugar in it. This is because Thai food combines all flavors to make for the perfect dish: salty, spicy, sour, and, of course, sweet.

Favorites: Pineapple Rice, Tofu Fried Rice, Soft Spring Rolls, Massaman Curry. If you can find Rice paper, then making soft spring roll at home is very easy.

 

Mediterranean: Fresh vegetables dominate Mediterranean cuisine. Vegetables appear in dishes in a variety of forms: baked, roasted, sautéed grilled, puréed, and served fresh in salads. Meat is generally used sparingly in Mediterranean cuisine, and, in most of the Mediterranean, tends to be grilled. The culinary traditions of the Mediterranean use basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, parsley, dill, mint, garlic, tarragon, fennel, cilantro, and saffron.

Favorites: Falafel, Pita, Bakalava, Greek Salad, Baba ganoush

 

Vietnamese: Some might find Vietnamese cuisine close to Chinese. The difference between Vietnamese and Chinese food is that Vietnamese dishes tend to use more herbs and leafy vegetables that are eaten raw as accompaniments to their recipes. In contrast, Chinese dishes tend to use cooked vegetables stir-fried in flavored cooking oils. China heavily influences the food of the north with its stir-fries and noodle-based soups. The food in southern Vietnam is typically sweeter: sweeter broths for pho, more palm sugar used in savory dishes, and those popular taffy-like coconut candies made with coconut cream.

You will also see some French influence on Vietnamese cuisine. Crusty French baguette is used in sandwiches. But Vietnamese have taken this sandwich and made it entirely their way. Pho (pronounced fuh, like “fun” without the “n”) is another example of French colonialism leaving its mark—the soup is a blend of Vietnamese rice noodles and French-minded meat broths. Vietnamese food makes extensive use of fresh herbs, spices, and aromatics.

Favorites: Sandwich made with French baguette filled with veggies and fried tofu.

 

Hibachi-style cooking: This was a very different kind of experience for me. It’s a Japenese way of cooking. It is the world’s first open kitchen – all in the name of allowing diners to see what’s going on behind the scenes. In this, there will be a station where the cook will make the entire dish. After you place your order, you will be seated around the station. The cook will have your order with him. There will be a bowl of rice, veggies, meat. The cook usually does some tricks with his utensils, such as juggling, or using them to make a beat like drumsticks. He will take the rice and make it into the shape of a heart, and then have it beat by putting his utensil underneath the rice. Depending on your order, he will start the preparation and also will showcase his cooking skills in between. Without fail, he’ll put the onion’s layers into a “volcano” shape, and then light the center on fire as if it is exploding. It’s a fun experience. I remember watching this performance (yes, it was a culinary performance). We were planning to take my in-laws as there are here right now, but God had different plans. We ended up having a Hibachi kitchen at home.

Favorites: Tofu Fried Rice.

 

Fondue Style: It’s comforting and cozy and just romantic enough that it could make the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner. Fondue is a fun cooking method to use when serving a meal for a small group. It can be used to prepare different types of dipping sauces for dipping almost any kind of food. The kind of fondue dipping sauce (cheese or chocolate)that is used will depend on what you will be dipping.

 

These were the yummy cuisines that I tried after I came to the USA. Out of all these, Hibachi is something that I would recommend everyone to experience once. Taste-wise, I liked Mexican-Italian-Medetarraniun-Thai-Vietnamese.

 

That’s all for today. This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z. My theme is “Dollar Nation – Are You Ready To Experience the West Through My Eyes?”

You can read the previous posts by clicking on each alphabets.

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