on food

it's not a question of how much i love indian food - the rich curries, tasty spices, plethora of vegetarian-friendly options - but how much i can continuously consume three times a day and still feel well-nourished.

one of the first "favorites" i discovered was sambar, a delicious tomato-y, onion-y (or whatever the chef fancies) stew served in a delicately small bowl alongside chutney, a nutty paste, and steamed idly (read: carbs). it's very very light compared to the heavier cooking of paneer (my guilty cheese pleasure) and even vegetables, which i usually find coated in tasty but oily sauces.

lunch at the office is served in equally delicate portions, with daal (lentils) and two veg dishes heavy in spices. unfortunately, the level of spice sometimes comprises my eating - my nose starts to run, my face feels hot, and sometimes i start feeling light-headed. AND i look really stupid sitting among colleagues in the office canteen.

the other night, an indian coworker hosted a biryani dinner. skipping work, his wife spent 8 hours cooking: she stewed the chicken just right, slow cooked the rice with milk (not water), spiced it with a layer of herbs and ghee, added another layer of rice...layer by alternating layer, until the final fluff and serve. the home cooked hyderabadi biriyani surely lived up to its name, but also propelled me into a very serious food coma - i fell asleep on the couch watching bollywood dance numbers.

while i've thoroughly enjoyed the culinary sampling, i'm starting to worry about nutrition - bread and sauces and morsels of heavily stewed vegetables aren't going to do it. as an antidote, i've begun twice-weekly stir fry veg nights. "LITTLE oil", i proclaim to the "cooks" in the guesthouse kitchen when i crowd in with them, causing confusion and amusement, to peel and cook my greens.

and after all, there's always mangos galore: