Indian cuisine is as diverse as the topography, climate, and cultures that the vast subcontinental landscape encompasses. Indeed, we can consider Indian cuisine as a composite of many sub-cuisine cultures. From north to south and east to west, the food preferences and styles change as we shift locations across India. But despite these apparent variations, there are a few commonalities that are evident in any Indian restaurant you may visit across the world. For example, the fragrant spices, different varieties of bread, exotic sauces are all used creatively to conjure up a variety of dishes and Indian street food that appeal to vegetarian and vegan food lovers across the globe.
For Indians traveling abroad, and the vast Indian diaspora too, vegetarian restaurants are a necessity as it becomes difficult for them to stick to exclusively vegetarian fare amidst the largely meat-consuming countries like Canada. Fortunately for them, the mushrooming population of Indian restaurants serving up delectable vegetarian dishes, are literally a breath of fresh air. In fact, these restaurants are a haven for vegan foodies too. Indian restaurants like Veggie Planet In Mississauga, Ontario, Canada have shown that plant and dairy-based foods can be tasty, filling and enjoyable to eat. But along with taste, most vegetarian and vegan converts are concerned about the ingredients that make up Indian foods and street foods. It makes sense to know what you’re getting into when you place your order for Indian street food such as a veggie burger or a samosa. Mississauga, incidentally, is home to some of the best vegan restaurants in GTA.
Get Set For The Ghee Experience!
Indian food is famous for the generous use of ghee in most recipes. Apart from acquiring the unique flavor, food cooked in ghee doesn’t spoil fast too. In layman’s terms, ghee is nothing but clarified butter. Butter when heated to a simmer over a medium-low flame, slowly loses the water content. When the butter is totally clarified in this manner, you end up with ghee. While vegetarians relish ghee-cooked food, if you’re a vegan, you may want to avoid it. So, when you walk into one of the finer vegan restaurants, Mississauga is home to, and place an order there, check if ghee is used in the preparation. You can always ask the chef to substitute the ghee with a vegetable oil like peanut or sunflower oil.
Naan The Less!
Indian restaurants are famous for the choice of naans that they serve to patrons. For beginners, naan is a leavened bread that’s cooked in a tandoor stove. Some variants of naan use milk or yogurt instead of water while making the dough. So, check if the dough has dairy or water. If you’re wondering about vegan food near me, you can opt for unleavened whole wheat bread options such as roti. You could even order puri, a whole-wheat bread that is deep-fried in oil.
Indian Foods That Are Vegan-Friendly
When it comes to appetizers, there is an entire range of vegan-friendly Indian food, Mississauga restaurants offer, such as samosas and pakoras. You also have a choice of onion, okra, cauliflower, aubergine fritters that are a spicy treat for the palate at the best Indian restaurant Mississauga is proud of.
The breads section of the menu in an Indian restaurant comprises of rotis, puris, parathas, and chapatis. While all these bread are made of wheat, sometimes they can be layered with a coating of butter or ghee. It, therefore, becomes important for vegan guests to be informed accordingly. Similarly, when it comes to the sauces, there are yogurt-based ones such as raita that Vegans must keep away from!
The entrées and side dishes in Indian menus usually comprise of saag- leafy greens, aloo – potato, chana – chickpeas, and dal – lentils. All these dishes are usually cooked in vegetable oils and can safely be relished by vegetarians and vegans alike. One of the major ingredients in Indian foods is paneer – cottage cheese. If you’re having vegan friends joining you for dinner, alert them to stay away from the dishes containing paneer or butter.
Indian Foods Are Antioxidant Rich
Indian cuisine is rooted in its rich use of local spices that are strong on flavor, aroma, antibacterial properties and rich in antioxidants. All this makes it the best vegetarian food in Mississauga too.
A hallmark ingredient in Indian recipes such as methi gobi, ginger is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and has the ability to fight stomach ailments. Similarly, turmeric is a unique ingredient that imparts a yellow hue to Indian dishes. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Cinnamon is yet another spice that brims with antifungal, antibacterial properties.)
Protein-Rich Indian Foods
If you’re conscious about your protein intake, it makes sense to keep track of the dishes that are rich in protein. Typically, dishes that have dal – lentils, chana – chickpeas, rajma – kidney beans are rich in protein. Just one cup of dal contains as many as 18 grams of protein while a cup of rajma contains 15 grams of protein. The nutrients in rajma also protect us against coronary disease.
How To Enjoy Indian Food Without The Fat Threat
While it may be true that Indian food is rich in fats and can land you in weight troubles, there are ways to go around these hurdles. Cut down on the fried and deep-fried savories such as pakoras and samosas. Similarly, puris are also deep-fried and you need to keep count of the numbers you consume while gorging upon this delicacy. The dollops of coconut milk used for imparting the unique flavor to some Indian dishes, also add weight to your waistline. So let moderation be the watchword while consuming such dishes.
The best part about Indian food is the tandoori cooking. The tandoor is an Indian clay oven in which the food is marinated and cooked. So, there’s practically no oil used in the preparation of food cooked in a tandoor. It means no fat accumulating in your body!
Remember, whether its vegan restaurants in Mississauga or vegetarian restaurants Brampton, you can have your fill of tasty, healthy food at Veggie Planet without worrying about adding unnecessary body weight.
Veggie planet offers convenient online ordering via the website (https://veggieplanet.ca) and flexible delivery options, including delivery within a 15-kilometer radius available in Mississauga and GTA.
For in-restaurant pickups, Veggie Planet is located at 6985 Davand Dr Unit #1, Mississauga, ON L5T 1Y7 and can be reached at (905) 795-7950 for all vegetarian and vegan restaurant menu items.