Supersize me? Indian food.

Nick-H · May 3rd, 2005, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by sticky

The whole white rice/brown rice thing is a bit of a misconception.
There is virtually no difference between brown and white rice of one variety:

Oh, Sticky: you'll be telling me there's no Santa Claus next

Quote:

Brown has a little more fibre and slightly more vitamins

And a lot more flavour! That you can't deny

Quote:

BUT there is a huge difference between varieties of rice.

Some rice varieties have a really high GI (they break down quickly giving a sugar hit and make you feel hungry sooner) others have a low GI (make you feel full for longer, which is HEAPS better for you).
Fortunately for all indian lovers Basmati is the best of them all

Ahh... so there is a good reason for buying the most expensive rice in the shop other than just the luxury factor

It is certainly less sticky and tastes better.

Actually I am mystified by the varieties and price differences of rice available even in the supermarket. The Basmati is about 4 times the price of the cheapest, but there are several in between

sticky · May 3rd, 2005, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

It is certainly less sticky and tastes better.

less of me isnt better in any way, taste or otherwise

Yeah, i like the taste of brown rice - it certainly has more flavour.

I was pretty shocked when i learnt that rice varied so much, but the GI variation only referes to how quickly your body breaks it down, not taste. i agree with you brown rice is great, but ive never seen basmati rice with the husk still on it here

fortunately basmati is about the same price as other rice in australia. Maybe the price difference in chennai is a demand thing, being the least sticky type?

Zymurgist · May 3rd, 2005, 12:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by 50sQuiff

I've been in Mumbai for a few weeks now and I'm really enjoying my first trip to India. This city is just incredible and it never stops suprising me. I
At home, like many I am an health concious person who eats a balanced diet and generally tries to minimise over-consumption of unhealthy foods. My mother is Indian and her and my own Indian efforts are usually prepared in extremely healthy fashion, with little oil, no salt and certainly no ghee!

So far I've found food in India to be undeniably delicious and good value and I've been devouring it with gusto. However I haven't failed to notice that everything I've eaten so far is dripping with oil or grease and strikes me as very unhealthy. It certainly doesn't help that all those lip-smackingly tasty street foods are well acquainted with the deep fat fryer. I feel like I'm eating a McDonalds for every meal and that I'm going to end up like the guy from the famous documentary.

Moreover, in the early stages of a trip when one is still bamboozled by whole pages of the menu there is a tendency to stick to a number of familiar dishes. And the array of dishes I've been consuming has left me craving something light and fat free. Ultimately this is where I ask for help. I'm not suggesting Indian food is unhealthy - I'm simply saying the obvious dishes and the ones I've been eating are. I'm particularly ignorant about vegetarian cuisine for instance. I would welcome any suggestions of healthier, lighter, and most-likely, vegetarian options to balance my diet. I'm at the stage where I stare at the menu for ages, the waiter gets bored and heads over and I panic and order a rich, meat dish I'm familiar with

This isn't to say I'm concerned with not getting my vitamins: the horrible-looking yet extremely tasty bananas, delicious sugar cane and fruit juices and milkshakes have gone down a treat. So far I've avoided salads because of water issues but I'm becoming tempted. I had an incredible strawberry milkshake today (no ice) in a glass that was heavily rinsed with water and was topped with chopped fruit that was prepared on a filthy surface before my very eyes. Hey, it was refreshing

I hope the only reason I'm up all night is to watch Premiership football on Star TV, and nothing more uncomfortable.

Man, go to suka-india. Where good food is plentiful, organic, non-GMO, no grease, multi-vitamin induced yummy!!

50sQuiff · May 3rd, 2005, 13:53

I've been in Goa for about three weeks and about to move on to Kerala so I thought I better post a follow up. Suffice to say after a lot of experimentation with places, I found a simple, unassuming place that serves food of the most extraordinary high standard that any ideas of of eating healthily have long been thrown out of the window. In my last two days I fully intend to feast on Goan Kingfish Masalas, Pork Vindaloo, Beef Chilli fry and delicious Biriyani. I've managed the odd jog on the beach though

Goan food has really blown me away, all thanks to this one place: the Sucorina shack on Sernabitim beach. They weren't keen on me mentioning it as they're determined not to end up in any guidebooks but they really are that good. It goes to show how the standard of food can vary wildly in a given place. The place where I've eaten whilst I've gone to watch football is a more expensive proper restaurant with LP listing, and their food was below mediocre and more expensive.

Krishnika, I think it goes without saying that everyone glugs gallons of water, especially in this heat!

oldhippie · May 3rd, 2005, 15:37

If you are so concerned about your health and well being you should have stayed home. If you want to work off the extra pounds or ghee join a Gym. There seems to be loads of them around these days and memberships are cheap.

Nick-H · May 3rd, 2005, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by sticky

less of me isnt better in any way, taste or otherwise

Hey, Sticky! I love to read your posts, you're welcome in my house, but not in my rice!!!

Auntyji · May 3rd, 2005, 19:39

Indian restaurant food is pretty heavy, though palak paneer/garlic naan etc. are delicious! I actually lose weight in India because I eat at home most of the time, where the food is made with very little oil. I lose weight even though I eat white rice (but not the 18 kilos that Nick-H mentioned!). So it can't just be the rice...it must be the extra oil/ghee used by restaurants. If you're eating South Indian food in a restaurant, then the humble idli is a healthy choice...ghee/butter dosa is not!

Casey · May 4th, 2005, 07:55

I managed to lose weight and gain some muscles. I ate more than I usually do but drank far more water. I think, to some degree, that most of the food I ate wasw processed than at home, therefore more healthy-even with the added oil.

DoDi · May 4th, 2005, 09:28

I have a question about rice.

What is the variety of rice one finds served in Kerala and Tamil Nadu called?

It may be basamati, I don't know... except the basamati that I buy here in California is different and doesn't look or taste at all the same.

The rice in Kerala and Tamil Nadu was fat grains and very tasty.

Thanks in advance if you can help with the name... then I can look for it here.

Hyderabadi · May 4th, 2005, 09:42

It's parboiled rice.

Google:

http://www.capitalrice.com/products.asp?page=parboiled

http://www.namaste.com/nm/product.as...t%5Fid=1070013

You can also get it here in the US at most Indian grocery stores. I'm not sure how it's cooked, like normal rice or in a different way.

wonderwomanusa · May 4th, 2005, 10:27

>I had an incredible strawberry milkshake today (no ice) in a glass that was heavily rinsed with water and was topped with chopped fruit that was prepared on a filthy surface before my very eyes.<

I got an incredible case of giardia that I believe came from a glass of strawberry juice I drank in Mumbai...I hope your health continues to be good.

DoDi · May 4th, 2005, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyderabadi

It's parboiled rice.

Google:

http://www.capitalrice.com/products.asp?page=parboiled

http://www.namaste.com/nm/product.as...t%5Fid=1070013

You can also get it here in the US at most Indian grocery stores. I'm not sure how it's cooked, like normal rice or in a different way.

Thanks Hyderbadi... you always come through with the answer to my food questions. Remember iddiappams in the breakfast thread?

You are my hero! (or heroine?)

Hyderabadi · May 4th, 2005, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoDi

Thanks Hyderbadi... you always come through with the answer to my food questions. Remember iddiappams in the breakfast thread?

You are my hero! (or heroine?)

You're welcome, but no hero (and definitely not heroine!), just plain over-obsessed with food

. I tend to head for the restaurants (where-the- locals-eat type, especially ones where there are large crowds of autorick/taxi/bus drivers) while the others head towards the local sites

. I've eaten so much fried chicken since we moved here to the deep south that it'd put a local to shame, not to mention the weight I've put on. My wife -->

DoDi · May 11th, 2005, 02:28

oh yeah, southern food... I recommend ham and eggs, grits and biscuits with red-eye gravy in the morning. In the evening get some ham hocks, blackeyed peas, collard greens, cornbread and spice it all up good with that hot sauce... maybe a piece 7-up cake or peach cobbler for desert.

ddevadatta · May 11th, 2005, 21:22

Let's not forget fried Okra and the hole in the wall places that serve good BB'Q. Yummy..

May 3rd, 2005, 15:37	#35
oldhippie Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 412	If you are so concerned about your health and well being you should have stayed home. If you want to work off the extra pounds or ghee join a Gym. There seems to be loads of them around these days and memberships are cheap. __________________ Too Many Gandus, Too Few Bullets.

May 11th, 2005, 21:22	#45
ddevadatta Finger Licking Good Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 907	Southern Food Let's not forget fried Okra and the hole in the wall places that serve good BB'Q. Yummy.. __________________ Ayurvedic cure for an Indian headache

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May 3rd, 2005, 13:53	#34
50sQuiff Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: UK Posts: 31	I've been in Goa for about three weeks and about to move on to Kerala so I thought I better post a follow up. Suffice to say after a lot of experimentation with places, I found a simple, unassuming place that serves food of the most extraordinary high standard that any ideas of of eating healthily have long been thrown out of the window. In my last two days I fully intend to feast on Goan Kingfish Masalas, Pork Vindaloo, Beef Chilli fry and delicious Biriyani. I've managed the odd jog on the beach though Goan food has really blown me away, all thanks to this one place: the Sucorina shack on Sernabitim beach. They weren't keen on me mentioning it as they're determined not to end up in any guidebooks but they really are that good. It goes to show how the standard of food can vary wildly in a given place. The place where I've eaten whilst I've gone to watch football is a more expensive proper restaurant with LP listing, and their food was below mediocre and more expensive. Krishnika, I think it goes without saying that everyone glugs gallons of water, especially in this heat!

May 3rd, 2005, 19:39	#37
Auntyji One tight slap! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York Posts: 323	Indian restaurant food is pretty heavy, though palak paneer/garlic naan etc. are delicious! I actually lose weight in India because I eat at home most of the time, where the food is made with very little oil. I lose weight even though I eat white rice (but not the 18 kilos that Nick-H mentioned!). So it can't just be the rice...it must be the extra oil/ghee used by restaurants. If you're eating South Indian food in a restaurant, then the humble idli is a healthy choice...ghee/butter dosa is not!

May 4th, 2005, 07:55	#38
Casey Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 637	I managed to lose weight and gain some muscles. I ate more than I usually do but drank far more water. I think, to some degree, that most of the food I ate wasw processed than at home, therefore more healthy-even with the added oil.

May 4th, 2005, 09:28	#39
DoDi Nodal Agent Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: I live in my cube. Posts: 215	I have a question about rice. What is the variety of rice one finds served in Kerala and Tamil Nadu called? It may be basamati, I don't know... except the basamati that I buy here in California is different and doesn't look or taste at all the same. The rice in Kerala and Tamil Nadu was fat grains and very tasty. Thanks in advance if you can help with the name... then I can look for it here.

May 4th, 2005, 09:42	#40
Hyderabadi Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: GA,USA. Posts: 1,131	It's parboiled rice. Google: http://www.capitalrice.com/products.asp?page=parboiled http://www.namaste.com/nm/product.as...t%5Fid=1070013 You can also get it here in the US at most Indian grocery stores. I'm not sure how it's cooked, like normal rice or in a different way.

May 4th, 2005, 10:27	#41
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,571	>I had an incredible strawberry milkshake today (no ice) in a glass that was heavily rinsed with water and was topped with chopped fruit that was prepared on a filthy surface before my very eyes.< I got an incredible case of giardia that I believe came from a glass of strawberry juice I drank in Mumbai...I hope your health continues to be good.

May 11th, 2005, 02:28	#44
DoDi Nodal Agent Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: I live in my cube. Posts: 215	oh yeah, southern food... I recommend ham and eggs, grits and biscuits with red-eye gravy in the morning. In the evening get some ham hocks, blackeyed peas, collard greens, cornbread and spice it all up good with that hot sauce... maybe a piece 7-up cake or peach cobbler for desert.

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