TreeLog

To finish off writing about food I had in South India, let me walk you through a couple of dishes.

In the ashram at Isha Yoga Center, I did not take any picture of the food as there is a certain ambience and rules while eating which I respect. The main meals are served twice per day; wholesome satvic food with fresh fruits ( I love the watermelons). I can briefly list the menu which consists of groundnuts, salads, millets, dal/ sambar and rice ( white or flavoured). We even had desserts – sweets made from jaggery which I absolutely relished! Second serving please🫣

There are two cafés at the Isha Yoga Center which serve food and drinks and I love their tea in small metal cups. The base which looks like a small bowl is used to pour the tea to cool it down faster. We pour the tea back and forth until it reaches the desired temperature.

I would say the staples of South Indian cuisine are idli, dosa, vada , sambar, rasam and pongal as I have seen them on the menus and even for breakfast in the hotels. 

Idli is a steamed round shaped dough made with rice and pulses which is eaten with sambar and a variety of chutneys, the most popular being coconut chutney.

Dosa is like a giant crisp pancake. I loved the one I had at the airport: ghee masala dosa with potatoes inside.

Vada is a savoury mini fried doughnut which tastes a lot like our Mauritian gateau piment but the dough is more spongy. 

Sambar and rasam look like soups and are made from pulses to accompany the main dishes.

I also had other Indian dishes like dal fry, butter paneer and naan; so delicious and inexpensive! Less than Rs 400 (MUR) for these dishes, including lassis ( yogurt drinks).

Chole bature – The fried puris ( bhature) with chickpeas curry ( chole) which I had for breakfast at Taj Vivanta was food for the soul. I am not a fan of eating savoury food for breakfast but I do not regret choosing this one.

Chole bhature

This is the beauty of traveling and discovering new cuisine, places and people. You never know what could make your soul soar until you try…