So, the next time you smell cumin seeds crackling in hot oil, know that you aren't just smelling food. You are smelling a civilization that has spent 5,000 years perfecting the art of living well. Do you have a favorite Indian cooking tradition? Or a spice you can’t live without? Let me know in the comments below!
The modern Indian lifestyle is learning to hybridize: using a pressure cooker to speed up the slow-cooked biryani , but never, ever using a blender to make the masala paste (the stone grinder is still superior). The most profound cooking tradition in India is Atithi Devo Bhava —"The guest is God." No matter how small a home, the first question asked to a visitor is never "How are you?" but "Khana khaaya?" (Have you eaten?). Desi Aunty Ki Mast Chudai Naughtyacts Wmv
When we think of India, a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds, and—most immediately—smells comes to mind. For the uninitiated, Indian food is often simplified to the word "curry." But for the 1.4 billion people who call India home, food is a language, a medicine, and a prayer. So, the next time you smell cumin seeds