About Mumbai Cuisine

This Week’s Film: Taxi Driver

Cuisine: Indian

Since this month?s film takes place in Mumbai, I want to feature a dish from the Maharashtra region. In my research, I?ve discovered that the cuisine of Maharashtra, which is a coastal province, features lots of seafood, along with a rich variety of vegetables. Predominant flavors include garlic, ginger, and an array of aromatic spices. Grated coconut is an essential ingredient in many dishes, as are cashew nuts and peanuts. Peanut oil is commonly used for fried foods.

There are many favorites in Mumbai and Maharashtra cuisine. Perhaps the most distinctive dish is Bombay Duck, which isn?t a duck at all, but rather a type of dried, salted fish. Other local dishes include rassa curry, vindaloo, tandoori (pictured), and kebabs. Masala-filled vegetables and a variety of flatbreads are also especially popular. An array of dishes such as curry, rice, vegetables and chutney served together are called thali. And an endless variety of snack foods both sweet and savory are sold from carts and stalls on the streets of Mumbai.

I?ll be researching recipes for Mumbai and Maharashtra cuisine over the next couple of days, and my recipe will be posted at the end of the week along with my Taxi Driver film review.