I would like to teach my kids about cultures of the world in the kitchen....?

Question

I'd like to make a typical indian supper, with the flat breat (naan??) and curry (not too spicy) and whatever else traditionally goes with it. I'm good in the kitchen. Can anyone point me in the right direction?? West Indies would be good too....
Thanks in advance!!

I had a friend in elementary school who invited me to dinner once...we ate with our hands and used the flatbread to pick food up off the plate. This is the style I'm looking for.

I'm strongly skilled in the kitchen.

Answer 1

here is my Indian recipe link list. The John Russell site is especially a good one.

Indian Vegetarian Recipes
http://www.ivcooking.com/
http://www.gadnet.com/recipes.htm
http://www.ivu.org/recipes/indian-beans/ (lots of different recipes)
http://about.com/food/rSrch.htm?cu=Indian&zIsPG=bSrch
http://www.bangalinet.com/sweets.htm (sweets)
http://indianfood.about.com/od/sweetsanddesserts/tp/topbengalsweets.htm (sweets)
http://www.johnrussell.name/recipes/indian1.htm (mostly rice)
http://www.johnrussell.name/recipes/indian3.htm (more rice)
http://www.johnrussell.name/recipes/indian4.htm (sweets)
http://www.johnrussell.name/recipes/indian5.htm (more sweets)
http://www.johnrussell.name/recipes/indian7.htm (rice pudding, vegetable dishes, yogurt sauces)
http://www.johnrussell.name/recipes/indian8.htm (more vegetable dishes, dosas)
http://www.johnrussell.name/recipes/indian9.htm (curry dishes, indian ice cream)
http://www.johnrussell.name/recipes/indian10.htm (curries, koftas, beans, nan)
http://cookingmedley.blogspot.com/2006/03/spicy-indian-hummus-with-grilled-greek.html (spicy indian hummus)
http://www.recipedelights.com/indianvegdishes.htm
http://www.fatfreevegan.com/includes/ethnicity.shtml
http://fitdv.myrecipefriends.com/?nc=4986&page=search&search=Indian
http://foodgeeks.com/recipes/subcat/10,3,indian.phtml
http://food.sify.com/keyword_recipe_search_h.php?lt=7&keywords=ri (all kinds of recipes, but Indian website)
http://www.food-india.com/index/recipeIndex/index.htm
http://vegetarianworld.blogspot.com/ (recipes and English to hindi translations of ingred)
http://www.bellaonline.com/site/indianfood

Answer 2

Usually all kids like potatoes: this is more of a non-curry dish, easy to eat (esp with your hand). I suggest this potato dish, Indian flatbread, yogurt & some veggie sticks (carrots, celery, cucumber...). It's easy, not spicy & healthy.

Potato Bhaji

Ingredients

4 medium potatoes
1/4 tsp mustard seeds
1 sm onion cut into fine dice
1/2 tsp turmeric
Salt to taste
1/2 tbsp oil

Method :

Boil the potatoes until they are tender (but not mushy) and cut them into bite size pieces. You can either leave the peel or remove it.

Heat a large pan, add the oil and when it is hot put mustard seeds & onions. Fry them for 2-3 minutes.
Now add salt and tumeric, fry for 2-3 minutes and add the potatoes. Add little water (2 tbsp)and cover the pan.
Cook for another 5 minutes on low. Serve hot with Indian flatbreads.

PS: if you think the kids will eat peas, you could also add some frozen peas when you add the potatoes. This is a very easy dish to eat with your hands, using the bread as a mini scoop.

Answer 3

I have always found that by first introducing people to foods as a starting place for introducing cultures a safe and smart way to show how alike we all are. While some foods like corn, potatoes and rice have become known as staples, they are not international in origin. Corn, potatoes, most beans and peppers, squashes, sweet potatoes and tomatoes for example all originate in the Americas. An Indian menu that may help you is as follows: Chicken with curry sauce (if you point out that some people in India are strict vegans and will not eat any meat, not even eggs or milk products), basic brown rice, fruit chutney, raisin chutney, chopped crispy peanuts,chopped green onions, doas, Indian yoghurt salad, apples and pita, you can also try and find an eggplant recipe, followed with a fruit punch. If you need recipes, may I suggest Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. She also covers some basics from other countries. Or, you can try a library to borrow an ethnic cookbook for each country as you get to it.

Answer 4

You could search for a recipe for sadza (a thick porridge), eaten with muriwo - a sort of meat & greens relish (usually chicken and pumpkin leaves).
But if you wanna be a thorough teacher, maybe try getting out of the kitchen sometime & find a fire pit.

Answer 5

just go to any local indian or asian store and ask the owners. they love sharing recipes in hopes that you will come back as a regular customer! not only that but the recipes that you will get will be more traditional and homestyle. you are doing a wonderful thing for your children and they will absolutely thank you for it later. i have 3 kids, 12yrs, 9yrs and 3yrs old. i am from laos and i make foods from a different country everyday. my kids eat everything and anything even my baby! good luck!

Answer 6

As far as I can tell, this is the most common indian supper served at most Indian restaurants

Aloo tikki and pakora, chicken tandoori, lamb curry, dal, mater paneer, nan, rice, and dessert served on a silver platter


Recipes can be found at

Answer 7

Buy a book on Indian cooking so that why you and your kids can look at it together. Get one with a lot a photos. You eat with your eyes first.

Answer 8

Teach him about doing Lebanese Hummos.

In a blender dump, chick peas can, one glove garlic, 1/2 lemon juice and sesame sauce (any store has it nowadays) and blend all. Eat with Pita bread....great

Answer 9

international cuisine starts with the staples like cereals, corn, potatoes, rice, pasta, noodles and salads. then come the viands with the gravies and sauces. the spices and seasonings come in as flavor. now culture comes in the manner that food is eaten like using cutlery spoon-forks/fork-knives/hands/chopsticks and the understanding of the country-origins weather, manners and availability of ingredients

Answer 10

Something to consider, how about trying a different restaurant for the different cultures, unless you're a great cook.