Delhi- The food hub

Delhi, the National Capital of India is simply a gourmets delight. Cosmopolitan to the core, Delhi offers the best of cuisines, in the very best of the taste from all over the country and across the globe. But it does not mean that the state does not have anything original of its own. Delhi happened to be the most favoured and favourite city of Moghuls and hence the secrets of the rich and royal Mughlai food was handed down to the people of this state. Delhi takes pride to have inherited the recipes deemed 'fit for royals'. For, it consists of a superb mix of aromatic spices, exotic sausages, butter based curries, loads of dry fruits and roasted meats cooked in earthen ovens called tandoors.

Due to its proximity to Punjab and dominant Punjabi community recipes from Punjab are extremely popular in Delhi. Liberal doses of ghee, butter and cheese are savoured with as much joy here as in Punjab. However, as people of all communities, languages and creed have come to occupy a significant proportion of Delhi's population, recipes from all corners of the country are gaining gradual yet notable popularity. 

Lip smacking Chinese cuisine too has found a number of admirers in this city of multiferous varieties. Small kiosks selling Chinese food can be seen thriving in every nook and corners along with the Delhi's hot favourite chat. Italian and Thai food also command a great fan following in this food loving city. People here love to experiment different recipes and gift them a distinct stamp of Delhi.

Rasam Recipe

Rasam is a south indian curry/soup usually had with rice. It is made with tamarind, tomatoes, pepper, cumin, garlic, lentils etc. It is called saaru or chaaru in telugu and kannada. In the traditional 3 course south indian meal, it is usually had as a second course with sambhar being the first course and curd being the grand finale.

There are many different types of rasam based on the ingredients used. But the basic recipe remains the same, the recipe that is given below. 

The additional ingredient is added to the basic rasam to enhance and change its flavour. Some of the variations of rasam that I am familiar with are :- Poodu (garlic) Rasam, Pineapple rasam, Mango Rasam, Milagu (Pepper) rasam/ Milagu Saaru, Neem leaf rasam, Ginger rasam, Lemon Rasam - sourness comes from lemon juice instead of tamarind juice, Paruppu Rasam/ Pappu Saaru - made with lentils, Chettinadu Kozhi (Chicken) Saaru/ Rasam - made with chicken broth/stock instead of water, Tomato Rasam/ Saaru - with tomato puree as main ingredient,Mysore Rasam - a fragrant soup made with fried grams/dals, Jeerige saaru - made with cumin, Coconut Rasam, Carrot Rasam - Boiled and Crused carrot is added to the rasam, Beetroot Rasam - Boiled and crushed beetroot is added to the rasam etc. 

Ingredients 

Tamrind - lime sized
Tomato - 1 (finely chopped or crushed)
Garlic - 3-4 cloves (crushed)
Green Chilly - 1
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp 
Water - 3 cups 
Salt - to taste 
Oil - 2 tblsp 
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Curry leaves - 7 leaves 
Asafoetida powder - 1/2 tsp 
Coriander leaves (cilantro) – handful (chopped)

Rasam Powder ingredients

Black Peppercorns - 3 tsp
Cumin seeds - 2 tsp
Corriander Seeds - 1/2 tsp
Toor Dal - 2 tsp
Red Chilly - 2  

Method 

1. Dry roast and grind everything under ‘rasam powder ingredients’ very coarsely. This is the Rasam powder.

2. Soak the tamarind in warm water for 5 minutes to get tamarind juice.

3. Heat little oil in a pan, add the garlic, green chilly and tomatoes. Let the tomatoes cook for while, until they become soft and juicy.

4. Now add tamarind juice,  turmeric, salt, cilantro and water.

5. Bring it to a boil then reduce the flame.

6. Add the rasam powder and asafoetida. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Do not let it boil.

7. In the meanwhile, heat oil in pan, add  mustard seeds and curry leaves.

8. Once it splutters add it to the rasam. Garnish with some fresh chopped cilantro. Tasty rasam is ready to serve. Plain rice with rasam and paapad is an excellent combination.

Site to Help

India is famous for their Spicy (Masaledar) food worldwide. Ancient Europe and Indian business famous for this but after 300 years India still famous for their food variety and Indians famous for eating spicy chatpata taste of mouth.

Now , Indian food recipes and their city wise restaurants list available online so why you left take a step ahead and choose your food/recipe or restaurant in your city by just a click. I have shared 6 websites here. You give the rating for  it and I think this 6 websites will make your dish more spicy n thoughtful.

Sanjeev Kapoor : First famous male chef of India and gain huge popularity with TV show Khana Khazana. Now you don’t need to wait for his show on Tv, just click on his website where he is sharing the secret recipe with you. Log on to www.sanjeevkapoor.com

Food.com- I know this is not an Indian website but i like the name of the website and this website calling you worldwide food included Indian food recipes treasure. Log on to www.food.com

Yahoo.co.in/Hindi- If you are Hindi lover and learn the recipe in your own language so yahoo gives you the option to do that. Learn the Indian food recipes secret in your own language. Log on to in.jagran.yahoo.com/khanakhazana/

Cookeryshow-  On this website you are not just able to watch the cookery videos online but also can upload your own recipe video and share with the everyone. Log on to watch the secrets of recipe in english, hindi and Malayalam. Log on to www.cookeryshow.com

Burrp- By the name you can guess Burrp is about Food but this site famous to share the city wise restaurants reviews, place, restaurant menus, find deals and food festival/offers running in city. So, Subscribe for your city now. Log on to www.burrp.com and choose your city than go ahead. If you are business owner you can list your disc,restaurant on this site.

Times Food- It is the TOI Group website and have concept like Burrp. If you looking for hot food spots in your city than you will have to visit this website Log on to www.timescity.com/delhi

Cooking Lessons LivePlate is a cooking site where people cook together socially with live video chat. Anyone can set up a live cookalong just for fun, to meet new people, or to learn new cooking techniques.LivePlate has joined the Food Revolution with its Project Lunchbox live cooking lessons and recipes.

Food Map of India

Sev Batata Puri

A popular chaat recipe that is super quick to bring together. Cooked moong dal, chaat chutneys, beaten yogurt, puri, chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves and sev are all you need to whip up a plate of Dahi sev puri.

Ingredients
Papdi - 20
Potatoes - 2-3(boiled & mashed)
Spicy roasted dalia - 1/4 cup
Cilantro - handful (finely chopped)
Chaat masala - 1 tsp
Sev - 1/2 cup
Lemon Juice - 1 tblsp
Green Chutney - as needed
Tamarind Chutney - as needed
Red Chutney - as needed

Method
1. Arrange the papdis in a plate.
2. Top each papdi with a tblsp of boiled and mashed up potato, some finely chopped cilantro and some spice roasted channa dal.
3. Add little bit (about 1 tsp) of each of the chutney on each papdi.
4. Sprinkle little chaat masala and few drops of lemon juice over that.
5. Finally sprinkle lot of sev on top and serve immediately.

Chandni Chowk

Chandni Chowk, often called the food capital of India, is famous
for its street food. The variety consists of snacks, especially chaat.
If you wish to enjoy it, shed your high-brow attitude to soak in the flavours and delicacies. Come on, everybody... Yes, it's a kind of celebration in congregation. Chandni Chowk resembles a fair everyday. The streets are lined with halwais (sweet-sellers), namkeenwallahs(sellers of savouries) and paranthewallahs
(sellers of rich, flaky breads soaked in ghee).

The real flavour of the Delhi street food lies in the chaat. The original chaat is a mixture of potato pieces, crispy fried bread, Dahi Bhalla,gram and tangy-salty spices. The mixture is garnished with sour home-made Indian chilly and saunth (dried ginger and tamarind sauce), fresh green coriander leaves and yoghurt. However, there are several other popular variants now, including the one with an Aloo Tikki.

Let us explore a few of the chaat shops.
     Shree Balaji Chaat Bhandar 
     1462, Chandni Chowk; Noon to 10pm 
     The best and most popular chaatwallah in Chandni Chowk. We particularly recommend             Papdi Chaat with its liberal inclusion of Kachaalu Chutney, Khasta Papdis and saunth. 

     Bishan Swaroop 
     1421, Chandni Chowk; 10am to 10pm 
     One of those gems tucked away in the chaotic by-lanes of Chandni Chowk which keep alive the magic of another time, another taste.Since 1923, this tiny little stall has dished out just three items: awesome Aloo Chaat, fabulous Aloo ke Kulle and mouth-watering Fruit Chaat.

Delhi's street food has more to it than just Chandni Chowk . Till then relish what you get :)