84: Indian Cooking Demystified

<p>This week’s show is all about authentic and healthy Indian cooking. Indian food has always been a bit of a mystery to me, but my guest today explains the diverse and delicious cuisine of India in an easy and understandable way. If the extent of your Indian cooking knowledge revolves around the word “curry,” then you don’t want to miss today’s show!</p> <p> </p> <p>Madhu Gadia is a leading authority on Indian cooking and the author of <em>The Indian Vegan Kitchen</em>. Madhu is the mother of two grown children, grandmother, and a fellow registered dietitian. She’s also the voice behind the must-visit website, Cuisine of India.com. Hope over to Madhu’s website to see her delightful cooking videos, blog posts, and recipes. Think of it as your one-stop-shop for all things Indian cooking. On today’s show, you’ll hear about her life as a child around the kitchen table in India, her favorite family recipes (hint: you’re going to need some chickpeas!), and how you can set up a nourishing Indian pantry in no time, including the six spices you’ll need to make traditional Indian dishes. We’ll also talk about the exciting recipes in Madhu’s latest book.<span class= "Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Show Highlights:</strong></p> <p> </p> <ul> <li>Madhu’s life in Ames, Iowa, her work, and her family</li> <li>How Madhu feels comfortable in both Indian and American culture</li> <li>The biggest differences in the regions of northern India and southern India are the staple grains; wheat is prevalent in the north and west, and rice is used mainly in the south and east</li> <li>Misconceptions about “curry” in Indian cuisine: Is it a spice or a dish?</li> <li>Madhu’s Creamy Mushroom Curry, a side dish with no cream, is made with onions, ginger, garlic, green chiles, almonds, cashews, mushrooms, turmeric, salt, and cayenne pepper</li> <li>Starter spices for Indian cooking include turmeric, cumin seeds, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, garam masala, and black mustard seeds</li> <li>What is garam masala? A fla