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What Is The Difference Between Indian And Nepalese Food

What Is The Difference Between Indian And Nepalese Food

What Is The Difference Between Indian And Nepalese Food

Nepalese cuisine is more subtle in flavor and generally uses less oil or fat than Indian cuisine. Unlike the Indian eating styles, in Nepal people are not much fond of flatbreads like Indian naan or roti. However, Nepali cuisine is closer to Indian cuisine because of the similar preparation styles.

Now that we have gone through the similarities and differences between Indian cuisine and Nepali food, it is time to find out which is better. Despite having balanced tastes and healthy backgrounds, Nepal is a smaller country, so their food is not as well-known as Indian food, particularly in the west. In Nepal, one can find a lot of dishes which are unavailable in Indian cooking, as Nepali cooking is also influenced by Tibetan cooking. Like most Asian countries, Nepal is a country heavy on rice, and Pulao (fried rice) is a popular dish.

Of course, being so close to India, you are also naturally going to see some traditional Indian foods in Nepal. If you are craving authentic North Indian dishes, come to Nepal to experience that authentic South Indian food. If Indian food is anything to go by, expect to see a lot of rice dishes, curries, and perhaps some other surprises. If you are planning a trip to Kathmandu, and are looking for a spicy bite from North Indian cuisine, or a sweet one from South India, then you cannot afford to skip the handful of Indian restaurants with multi-cuisine dishes.

In East Indian food, you will find many fish and veggie curries enhanced by dairy products, like the Chingri Malai Curry, a traditional Bengali dish with prawns, and Pakhala, which is a yogurt-based, rice-based dish from Odisha, and Jhalmuri; a puffy, puffed Bengali snack. Indian food also tends to be spicy, with spices like Hing (asafoetida), mustard seeds, and curry leaves being used in Indian recipes the most. Nepalese and Indian foods are known to be flavourful because they make use of a variety of spices, either fresh or ground. Indian food, generally, is flavourful and colourful because Indian foods make use of different ingredients in one dish.

Learn about the difference between Indian and Nepal

We found people enjoy the bold flavors of Indian cuisine, or the subtler, more subtle flavors of Nepalese dishes. Some Nepalese dishes are similar to Indian, Thai, or Chinese food, however, the spices used in the preparation are not quite as intense. Because of its proximity to China, Nepalese cooking shares certain similarities with Chinese cuisine, yet it is also quite different. Nepalese food also shares certain condiments and spices that are popular with Indian foods, however, they only use a specific number, resulting in a more delicate flavor.

In addition to being strongly influenced by Indian and Tibetan food, Nepalese food is heavily influenced by Chinese and Muslim cuisine. Nepali cuisine is closer to Indian cuisine because of the similar preparation styles and the availability of shared ingredients. While we are on the subject of differences, let me say Nepalis prepare food much more healthily than Indians. Being so close to China, Nepalese food, though it has a few similarities, is also quite distinct.

The more we speak of Nepal, the more inclined we are towards momos and their pickles, Nepalese generally eat a lighter meal, but they do have some spiciness in it from time to time. Second, Nepalese food is generally less spicy than Indian food — but what it lacks in spices, it makes up for with other flavors, particularly those at the acidic/savoury end of the spectrum. The next difference is the soup type, with Nepalese people tending to like more Thukpa, which is a kind of chicken-flavored soup noodles, or some might even choose a veggie Thukpa. One of the key ways that these two surprising places are different is the soups, since the Nepalis like Thukpa, which is a variant of Chicken Noodle Soup (which can be made with other meats or vegetables too).

Nepalese FoodIndian Food
Daal bhat tarkariSamosa
MomoDal soup
ChatamariBiryani
DhidoTandori fish
Indian vs Nepalese food.

Lentils, potatoes, and tomatoes are quite popular in Nepal as well, just as they are in India, and just like the Indians, the Nepalis love chutneys as a side for their dishes. The most popular foods in Nepal include Daal bhat tarkari, a kind of lentil soup, Momo, a type of soup dumpling which can be steamed or fried, Dhido, or Dheedo, which is a type of buckwheat-based oats, and Chatamari, a kind of pizza-like flatbread made with rice flour. Momo is one of the most popular foods in Nepal, as well as the regions of Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong in India, which are home to ethnic Nepalese. Nepali food includes dishes like the dumpling Momo, dal-bhat lentil soup, thukpa noodles soup, and rice and lentil Kitchari.

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Paneer is used in many Indian dishes, such as paneer tikka Paneer marinated in yogurt, aloo matar potato curry, and bhindi masala Spicy Okra. Essentially a type of Indian crepe made from a fermented flour made from rice and lentils, Matar paneer is usually an Indian breakfast staple, but you will not often find it filled with delicious tangy potato and served with pickles. Biryani is kind of a rice based, fried rice dish made various ways, which is often a staple in many parts of India, or a staple of a meal in itself. Indian food uses a vast array of ingredients, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and seafood.

As Nepal has it, Nepali food still includes Indian spices like turmeric, chili, ginger, and garlic. Since Nepal shares borders with India, Tibet and China, its food draws from flavours of all three. A delicious mix of Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan cultures, Nepal is an exciting destination, and the cuisine is rich with intricate, satisfying flavors, which, thanks to its Buddhist and Hindu traditions, attracts vegetarians and meat-eaters.

Nepal is a veritable mix of culinary styles, following Tibetan, Indian, Chinese, and various parts of Asia. Nepali cuisine is predominantly a mixture of locally-sourced ingredients, exotic flavors, and diverse styles of cooking brought in from India, Tibet, and China. Nepali food comprises of various cuisines, depending on the ethnicity, land, and climate, which are related to Nepals cultural and geographical diversity.

Nepali dishes are typically healthier than most other South Asian cuisines, with a lower dependence on use of fats, and a greater focus on large vegetables, lean meats, pickled ingredients, and salads. While Indian foods make liberal use of heavy creams and sugars, Nepalese cooking eschews both, thus being considered healthier than Indian food.

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Indians favour the use of naan over the accompaniments, which are cooked in butter and spices, making them richer and more flavorful. Nepal has a lingering love for rice too, just like India, Nepal prefers pulao too, topped with butter or ghee, yogurt, or papadum.

Do Nepalis consume beef?

Because eating beef is strictly forbidden for both Hindus and Buddhists, it would be pretty offensive for you to do so in their presence. Ensure that any food you bring into the nation is free of beef OR consume any beef products alone.

Is Nepalese food similar to Indian food?

Nepali food is primarily a culmination of indigenous ingredients, Nepali flavors, and different cooking styles with culinary influences from India, Tibet, and China. Nepali cuisine is very similar to Indian cuisine in terms of ingredients and cooking techniques, with spicy curry, turmeric, and rice being the most popular delicacies.

What is a key difference between Nepalese and Indian food?

Nepalese and Indian food have cuisines that generously use spices, with rice, curry, and flatbreads as the staple foods that are included in their daily meals. However, Nepali food generally avoids using cooking cream or sugar, making Nepali food slightly healthier in comparison to Indian food.

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