North Indian Food vs South Indian Food: Battle of The Best

Indian cuisine is known to have some of the most delicious and unique flavors in the entire world. Indian food is characterized by its use of curries and spices, but it has different signature flavors from the North to the South. North Indian cuisine is similar to what you'll find in some Indian restaurants in NJ. This includes naan, samosas, and aloo-gobhi.

The South is known for its rice, fruits, and coconut dishes. Spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg are also used. South Indian cuisine is characterized by a large variety of native fruits and vegetables due to the heavy rainfall. Edison South Indian restaurants largely serve vegetarian food, and that's the biggest difference between North Indian and South Indian food.

Below are some examples of the differences between North and South Indian cuisines.

North Indian Naan vs South Indian Rice & Beans

Both the North and South of India strongly emphasize the importance of sides. In the North, curries, and stews are often served with naan. This bread is baked in a tandoor at high temperatures, which gives it a distinctive charred exterior. South Indian dishes are often served with rice, lentils, or beans. Biryani, raita, and daal are a few examples.

North Indian Chicken & Lamb vs South Indian Vegetarian & Seafood

The use of meat is a major difference between North Indian and South Indian cuisine. North Indian curries and kebabs often contain chicken or lamb. South Indian cuisine uses rice, beans, and vegetables to create a vegetarian-focused dish.

North Indian Ghee Butter and South Indian Coconut Milk

When comparing North Indian and South Indian cuisine, the cooking agents used in a dish have a significant impact on the overall taste. North Indian cuisine is often cooked with Ghee butter. Ghee is clarified butter cooked until it's slightly brown, giving off a nutty taste. Coconut milk is a staple in South Indian cuisine, and several Edison NJ Indian restaurants use it to make curries and kormas.

North Indian Tea vs South Indian Chicory Coffee

In Indian cuisine, it's not uncommon to end a meal by drinking a warm beverage. This is usually a cup of tea in the North, also called masala chai. Chicory coffee is the drink of choice in the South after dinner. It's a rich, hot drink made with roasted chicory roots.

Every South Indian restaurant in Jersey City NJ specializes in authentic Indian cuisine. They offer a variety of dishes that are rarely found in the West. These include popular Indian street food and traditional recipes. Their dishes are made with seasonal, organic ingredients sourced from the Pacific Northwest.

Which one is healthier?

While North Indian food contains an ample amount of fats and cholesterol, South Indian cuisine is the opposite. Consider visiting a South Indian restaurant in Jersey City NJ, if you're a health freak and don't want to gain too many calories. South India keeps health as its priority, and that's where you'll find some healthy ingredients in their cuisine, too!

North Indian Cuisine Health Pros

• Curry is made of onion and tomatoes

• North Indian food uses lentil curries like Rajma, Chola with high protein content

South Indian Cuisine Health Pros

• Most curries are lentil based

• No potato is used in the vegetables

• Fresh coconut is the staple ingredient in most dishes

• Healthy veggies such as drumsticks, beetroot, yam, and all varieties of beans are used

• Less or no oil is used

Which one is tastier?

North Indian food would probably be the winner in taste when compared to a South Indian dish and many Edison South Indian restaurants also serve North Indian dishes. Dishes from the northern part of India range everything from vegetarian to non-vegetarian with an abundance of spicier portions, whereas South Indian dishes mostly consist of vegetarian ingredients, which makes it limited to try out the other recipes.

The Bottom Line

The most important step in preparing a beneficial meal free of additional calories that may impede weight loss is to balance it properly. If you've been munching on idlis, make sure your sambar is prepared with plenty of vegetables to counteract the carbs from the rice. Similar to how bread may balance out heavy vegetable or curry dishes in North Indian cuisine.

So, whenever you're going to visit any of your nearby Edison South Indian restaurants, you better create your food bucket list and taste the impeccable quality of food from every corner of India. It won't leave you disappointed for sure!