2007-03-15 08:21:20 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Ethnic Cuisine
Indian food uses many varieties of oils. Many recipes do use Ghee (clarified butter) but other healthy oil can substitute it. Mustard oil, sunflower oil, hydrogenated oil, vegetable oil is commonly used. Some of South Indian food might also use coconut oil instead.
2007-03-15 08:28:44 · answer #1 · answered by Hyder 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The type of oil used would be decided by 2 main factors, which region in India and what kind of food. But the typical oils used in India are Butter, Ghee (clarified butter), Vegetable oils, Mustard oil, Sunflower Oil, Groundnut oil, Coconut Oil, etc. Olive oil was not a traditional Indian oil and hence used very rarely but yes in the modern cookings is being used now.
So it really depends on what kinda food you wanna cook and that will decide the oil.
2007-03-18 04:06:28 · answer #2 · answered by Hridesh 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on what part of India and the specific dish. Certain oil will lend distinctive flavors to a particular dish: for example coconut oil imparts a strong coconutty flavor to the dish. This works well with seafood dishes.
Peanut oil is great for frying (high smoking point) & many Indian snacks (chewda, chaklis, sev...) are fried using peanut oil.
Also, dependent on geography: Indian coastal cuisines may use coconut oil because coconuts were available.
It's a combination of many factors: geography, taste, regional preferences, specific dish, availability, cost (some oils are more expensive)...
Punjabi food uses ghee (clarified butter) or sunflower oil
Bengali food uses mustard oil
South Indian food uses coconut, gingelly or sunflower oils
Maharashtrian food uses peanut & coconut oil
Only olive oil or canola oil was never traditionally used in India, but nowadays canola and veg oil are more commonly used now for the obvious health reasons.
2007-03-15 15:34:34 · answer #3 · answered by Desi Chef 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most Indian curries are fried in vegetable oil. In North India, groundnut oil is traditionally been most popular for frying, while in Eastern India, Mustard oil is more commonly used. In South India, coconut oil is common. In recent decades, sunflower oil and soybean oil have gained popularity all over India. Hydrogenated vegetable oil, known as Vanaspati ghee is also a popular cooking medium.
2007-03-16 13:42:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OILS USED FOR INDIAN FOOD
Indian food uses many varieties of oils. Many recipes do use Ghee (clarified butter) but other healthy oil can substitute it. Mustard oil, sunflower oil, hydrogenated oil, vegetable oil is commonly used. Some of South Indian food might also use coconut oil instead.
2007-03-16 02:11:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
In Bengali cooking we usually use Soybean Oil. We really don't cook with mustard oil it is used in dishes that are not heated after the oil is added to them. Also, for us Ghee is rarely used - only in special occasions. Here in the USA we mostly use Olive Oil for the health benefits. Although we do use mustard oil for salads and bhorta (Mashed dishes).
2007-03-16 23:34:06 · answer #6 · answered by Pagli 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes the oil is infused with herbs. I found this great website with recipe's and info on Indian cooking.
http://www.indianfoodsco.com/Classes/techniques.htm
2007-03-15 15:29:54 · answer #7 · answered by InLoveandWar 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Groundnut, Coconut, Sun flower, Palm, Cotton seed, Corn
Depends on the location.
2007-03-15 15:30:47 · answer #8 · answered by The Last Paladin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Peanut or Sesame oil. Any vegetable based oil is probably acceptable.
2007-03-15 15:28:28 · answer #9 · answered by zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mustard oil, groundnut oil, palm oil coconut oil upto 90's
after that sunflower oil came into existance
rice bran oil as came iinto market
2007-03-15 15:33:52 · answer #10 · answered by The Prince of Egypt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋