After a meal, Indians often consume a wide variety of desserts and sweets. Traditional options include gulab jamun, jalebi, kheer, and barfi.
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As an expert in Indian cuisine, I can provide a detailed answer to the question, “What do Indians eat after food?”
After a fulfilling meal, Indians often indulge in a delightful array of desserts and sweets. Traditional Indian desserts are known for their richness in flavors, textures, and aromatic ingredients. Here are a few scrumptious options commonly enjoyed after a meal:
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Gulab Jamun: These soft and spongy milk-based dumplings are soaked in a cardamom-infused sugar syrup. They are typically deep-fried and garnished with chopped nuts like almonds or pistachios.
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Jalebi: Jalebi is a deep-fried pretzel-shaped dessert made from fermented batter, which is then soaked in a sweet syrup. It has a crispy exterior and a syrupy interior, offering a perfect balance of sweetness.
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Kheer: Kheer is a rice pudding made with milk, sugar, and fragrant spices such as cardamom and saffron. It is often garnished with generous amounts of nuts like cashews, almonds, and raisins, adding a delightful crunch to the creamy dessert.
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Barfi: Barfi is a popular milk-based sweet made by thickening condensed milk and sugar. It comes in various flavors like almond, pistachio, coconut, or rose. Barfi has a fudge-like texture and is often garnished with silver leaf, nuts, or edible flowers.
Now, allow me to share an intriguing quote from Madhur Jaffrey, a renowned cookbook author and actress who has extensively written about Indian cuisine. She said, “Desserts are the fairy tales of the kitchen—a happily-ever-after to supper.” This quote beautifully captures the enchanting nature of Indian desserts and their ability to round off a meal on a sweet note.
In addition to the delightful range of desserts, there are several interesting facts about Indian cuisine and its post-meal traditions. Here are a few noteworthy points:
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Paan: After a meal, many Indians enjoy consuming paan, a betel leaf wrapped around a mixture of areca nut, tobacco, and various spices. It is believed to aid digestion and provide a fresh breath.
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Digestive spices: Indians often incorporate digestive spices like cardamom, fennel seeds, or mint in their post-meal rituals. These spices are known for their soothing and digestive properties.
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Ayurvedic practices: Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, emphasizes the importance of having a balanced meal and observing certain practices after eating. For example, sipping warm water or herbal tea can aid in digestion.
To present the information in a comprehensive format, here is a table highlighting the desserts mentioned:
Dessert | Description |
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Gulab Jamun | Soft milk dumplings soaked in sweet syrup |
Jalebi | Crispy pretzel-shaped dessert in syrup |
Kheer | Creamy rice pudding with aromatic spices |
Barfi | Milk fudge available in various flavors |
In conclusion, the post-meal indulgence in India is all about savoring mouthwatering desserts that showcase the rich culinary heritage of the country. Whether it is enjoying the soft and syrupy Gulab Jamun or relishing the crispy Jalebi, these traditional sweets add a touch of sweetness to the overall dining experience. Remember to take Madhur Jaffrey’s words to heart and embrace the dessert course as a fairy tale ending to a delightful meal.
Answer to your inquiry in video form
In the video “How to eat Indian food like a local – BBC REEL,” it is explained that eating with hands is deeply rooted in Indian culture and is considered the proper way to enjoy Indian food. The use of hands is seen as respectful and indicative of appreciation for the food. Different regions have varying hand-eating techniques, with caste-based rules dictating the use of specific fingers and avoiding the palm. Eating with hands provides a tactile feedback and sensory experience, as food is first enjoyed through sight, smell, touch, and hearing before taste. While traditional Indian meals are typically eaten with hands, utensils may be used for certain dishes, highlighting a blend of tradition and modernity.
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Also known as mukhwas or sugar coated saunf in Hindi, candied fennel seeds are a classic post-dinner treat in Indian cuisine! Not just a sweet treat, but they’re a traditional Indian mouth freshener candy, which can also aid in digestion.
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Thereof, What is the Indian refreshment after food? Mukhwas is a colorful Indian Ayurvedic after-meal snack or digestive aid widely used as a breath freshener, especially after meals. As per Agamas, Mukhwaas forms one of the components of sixteen upcharas (offerings) to a deity in a Puja, the Hindu mode of worship or prayer.
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What is the Indian after food sweet?
In reply to that: Sweet Mukwas is an after meal mouth-freshener and anti-acid digestive aid. It is made of various seeds and nuts often containing fennel seeds, dill seeds, aniseed’s peppermint oil and sugar coated balls to make the mixture more palatable.
What is the Indian spice for breath? Cardamom has long been used to freshen breath and improve oral health. This is related to its ability to fight common mouth bacteria. It is used in karanji (a small pastry pocket stuffed with poppy seeds, grated coconut, sugar, nuts and cardamom) and mithai (an assortment of Indian sweets).
What is the Indian after dinner seed mix?
In reply to that: Mukhwas is an Indian post-meal treat that freshens the breath and helps with digestion. There are countless recipes out there, but they always include seeds and something sweet.