Unspicy food recommendations please.

Kierjan

I'm heading to india next week and will be spending 3 weeks mostly in rajastan with a few days in mumbai at the end.
I really cannot handly food that is in anyway spicy. I love the taste of it but after a few seconds my mouth will start burning at the slightest bit of spice. So I'm hoping some of you might be able to recommend some very very mild dishes. I've had a look around this thread and i'm a bit wiser on what's what but i'd love to know if there's any dishes that might be suitable.
Thanks, Jan

Haylo

Don't stress too much.

If are only spending three weeks there, chances are you will be mostly be on the tourist trail and able to eat in tourist restaurants. They are well used to providing non spicy food for foreigners. One day, when we stopped to eat at a tourist place after a long drive, I was feeling slightly delicate (I'm not the world's best traveller) so I made the mistake of asking for a dish to be prepared "Not too spicey".

Honestly, I got a dish that was so bland that even my dear uber-traditional "meat and two veg" and "none of that foreign muck for me" Father would have happily eaten it!

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indiaprof

Kierjan,

The first time I had truly spicy food, I thought I would die. But I forced myself to eat more of it, and now I can't stand anything that doesn't have spices in it.

You could always try pushing the envelope and see what happens. If it doesn't work, you can find "not-spicy" food. Just tell the waiter you want something "satvic," not something "rajasic." That might get the point across.

Hal

It really depends on the cook. They are very used to western tourists in Rajasthan and if you ask for mild food they will be able to accommodate.

Rice and naan of course. Butter chicken. Malai kofta. Kormas. Some daals. Maybe chicken tikka and tondoori.

Haylo

Something else, Jan.

The great thing about Indian food in India is that it is so incredibly cheap for us westerners. If you order something and find that it is too hot, just put it aside and order something else!

palerider

And egg sandwich, french fries.
Dhal and rice.
There's always fruit salad and ice cream as well.
Lassi, kebabs,
There's even Mcshitful if you get desperate.

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I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

Pigdog

Hi Jan,

I was once like you! Irish food has a habit of not preparing you for the outside world!!

But I had an experience that made me want to change! I was on a train, my first time in India, and I was struggling to eat the meal that had been handed out to each passenger. I felt like I was breathing pepper spray!! Tears, runny nose, burning mouth!! Ugh, it was terrible. And this was my first mouthful!!

When my tears cleared I noticed this cute Indian child sitting cross-legged across from me. He was obviously hungry because he was shovelling handfuls of the very same meal into his mouth and enjoying it thoroughly! He couldn't have been much older than 3!

So I had another mouthful! And slowly, over the years, I've come to savour a good, spicy meal.

As Indiaprof says, try it, expand the envelope. There's plenty of (bland) western food out there to keep you nourished, but you should definitely try the local food.

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Cardamom

Agreed! Dal and rice can be very tasty without being too spicy. It's also good if you're having a bit of an upset tummy (at least in my opinion).

Have fun!!!

-C

PS: palerider - I like the new avatar very mysterious!

palerider

[quote=
PS: palerider - I like the new avatar very mysterious![/QUOTE]

Thank god for Mac computers and Photo booth

Kierjan

Thanks so much for all your advice. I would like to try some indian food that has some spice in it but i just don't have a clue and would probably end up ordering the hottest thing on the menu. Will follow your suggestions though. Thanks a million, Jan

livinhimalayas

when you are placing the order just say 'no mirchi'. In most of the indian food Mirchi (chillies - green and red) are added as a topping that is what makes the food so hot that you want to call the fire brigade.

Haylo

Don't be afraid to ask for something with a little bit of spice, but not hot. Most of the people who will be taking your order from will speak enough English to understand that.

People can be very helpful if you have a real interest in the food they are serving. Perhaps we have been lucky in the people we met in restaurants, but I think that if you say that you would love to try some Indian food but are afraid that it will be too hot for you, I would be very surprised if they did not go out of their way to make sure you went away happy. It would be such a shame if you missed out on the foods you can eat.

If you eat out with friends, that will be a chance for you to try a taste of other dishes. Another option might be for you to try a mixed plate of starters, some of them might be a bit too spicy for you, but you can ask for just the mild ones.

I'm sure you will have a wonderful time in Rajasthan, and of course if you want to try the ultimate non spicy food, you MUST try some Indian Sweets, these were from JMB Sweets in Udaipur.