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"I was thinking about the role of eggs in the various cultures of the world, and thinking that poultry eggs and bird eggs are eaten 'everywhere,'" says opinionatedchef. "But then I realized that I have never seen a reference or recipe for eggs in any Indian cookbooks I've read. Have I missed something?"
"Eggs are not eaten by certain types of observant Hindus and also by Jains," says luckyfatima. "This is because they are thought of like meat/non-veg, and like meat thought to produce a negative effect on the body, mind, and soul (they are tamasic according to ayurvedic food/health associations). However, many Hindus do eat eggs (as well as meat), and Indians of every other religious background also eat eggs."
So what are the great egg dishes of India? Eggs vindaloo is one, says linguafood. luckyfatima has experienced dozens of uses—"scrambled egg in masala (anday ki bhurji), aloo anda (hard boiled egg and potato in a spicy gravy) is a very ubiquitous home 'curry' fare, hard boiled egg in curry with vegetables, and on and on," she says. "People eat fried egg with toast or with paratha for breakfast." There is also khaghina, "which is Urdu-speaking Muslim style scrambled eggs, and also of that community the Nargisi kofta or meatballs stuffed with a hard boiled egg, eggs can be used as garnish in fancy rice dishes, etc. There is egg pakora, too (so easy, just dip the hard boiled egg in pakora batter). The first time I ever ate a soft boiled egg was in India—just served in a bowl with salt and black pepper, amazing!"
"In the South you can get a Keralite appam (sort of like a dosa)," she continues, "with a fried egg inside, eat dosa with egg, Hyderabad has the famous egg-curry of egg in tomato gravy (anday ka salan), there is the similar Andhra egg curry, egg on uttapam, and on and on."
There is a lot to know about all the cuisines of India, and the challenge is extra because of the many languages involved. I traveled across much of northern India two years ago and had glorious options everywhere--as Pbfp says, religious diet rules define who can and will eat what. We enjoyed a range of local foods in modest restaurants and fancier fare in one fine hotel, in almost bewildering...+READ
There is a lot to know about all the cuisines of India, and the challenge is extra because of the many languages involved. I traveled across much of northern India two years ago and had glorious options everywhere--as Pbfp says, religious diet rules define who can and will eat what. We enjoyed a range of local foods in modest restaurants and fancier fare in one fine hotel, in almost bewildering variety, but all delicious! As I work on learning how to cook them, I second zoetic's observation, that there is a great deal beyond the offerings that gave Americans their first taste of these dishes. Done well, they are good, and I still enjoy them as the bread and butter of restaurants that otherwise are a challenge for the average American customer.-COLLAPSE
I have many Indian cookbooks, and they almost all have egg recipes. Omelets, eggs cooked whole in sauces, egg & onion dishes, hardboiled eggs with sauce, etc.
This discussion points up the difference between restaurant fare -- even in India -- and home cooking. My Indian friends in the US eat quite differently at home from the dishes they eat when they go to Indian restaurants. Also, I'm told that the difference is even greater in India itself since it is only relatively recently that Indians would go out to eat in an Indian restaurant in India. Their...+READ
This discussion points up the difference between restaurant fare -- even in India -- and home cooking. My Indian friends in the US eat quite differently at home from the dishes they eat when they go to Indian restaurants. Also, I'm told that the difference is even greater in India itself since it is only relatively recently that Indians would go out to eat in an Indian restaurant in India. Their attitude would be -- why bother? They get better at home. Now that is changing in the big cities that are much more cosmopolitan, but still very religious Indians -- of whatever religion -- prefer to eat at home because then they know that their dietary rules are being scrupulously observed. The result of all this is that many of the dishes that Americans know as Indian are really not the mainstay of Indian diets and, I believe, eggs would fall into that category. Certainly in my travels through markets in India there are eggs displayed for sale in huge quantities. Someone must be eating them!-COLLAPSE
yes, you have missed something: India is a vast country with many different regional sub-cuisines. The dish from Hyderabad referred to as "anday ka salan" is most often called "tamatar ka cutt" and hard boiled eggs cut in half lengthwise with the yolk showing on top are used as a garnish. my mom sometimes puts hard boiled eggs over rice as a garnish as well. a great book to get is the one that...+READ
yes, you have missed something: India is a vast country with many different regional sub-cuisines. The dish from Hyderabad referred to as "anday ka salan" is most often called "tamatar ka cutt" and hard boiled eggs cut in half lengthwise with the yolk showing on top are used as a garnish. my mom sometimes puts hard boiled eggs over rice as a garnish as well. a great book to get is the one that Phaidon had published not too long ago simply called "India Cookbook" by author Pushpesh Pant. It has over 1000 recipes from all different parts of India. Indian cuisine is so much more than just tandoori chicken, naan, and raita!-COLLAPSE