Wednesday 7 May 2014

From Russian Soups to Chilly Paneer - Russian Wife in India

This will be interesting for me to look back and see how well I, a girl who spent 23 years of her life in her native country, realigned herself for new settings in just 4 years. It quite amazes me but time flew so fast I now perhaps won't be able to recollect those impressions as they were.
Every country has its unique "taste", so does India, one of the most savoury countries in the world. The food of Indian subcontinent is definitely something to pay attention to, to discuss, to love or to ... dislike. Take it or leave it. Nonetheless if you are a permanently living in India foreign wife, you will have hard time adjusting to Indian food if you cannot stand spices. I was lucky (as well as my D) to be one of those foreign wives to teach my taste buds to like spicy and oily table. The first meal I had here was an omelet we bought at the bus station cafe when we arrived from Delhi. It was yumm, but it had some little green rings of some vegetable in it - green chillies! I had to dig them out from the omelet following a timely advice by my D.
On my first day in the city I was settled in a paying guest (called PG here) facility with some Indian girls. That evening I was hungry and the girls helped to fetch some rice, it looked great, all vegetarian, and I digged into it and had two-three spoons at once... When after a while I realized that my tongue as well as ears were on fire! It was so spicy and felt like it burned all the insides.
The days later my D was taking me to the university canteen where I tried Indian paneer with gravy, which I enjoyed a lot however fighting with chillies in it too. But I started liking Indian food almost straight away and after a while couldn't imagine my meal without pickles or green chillies (I got ya!). See my old post.
The food transition for a Russian girl used to tasty but rather plain Russian soups, minimum salt  and pepper in her dishes, went smoothly. The only thing is that after some time I start missing my country's cuisine very much. In those cases I cook something rather Russian like soup or simply take a piece of bread and put butter on it and eat with tea or coffee. My tongue still craves for "simple" taste without any spices added.
A peculiar thing is that Indians like to eat fruits (grapes, watermelon, papaya, apples) with black salt and black pepper. After I tried it that way several times and my throat didn't thank me, I simply made a point that I prefer a pure taste of the fruits.
Another challenge for me at times (though I don't cook much) is to make a dish which meets my Indian husband's taste. He likes Russian food a lot especially the one prepared by my mom, but I know that he expects me to cook Indian style at least a little bit. As I am a rather independent person I asked Indian food cooking tips from my in-laws very rarely, choosing Internet as my teacher. I believe I managed to make something resembling Punjabi kidney beans and channa (chickpea) and even tried to make South Indian dosas and vadas! Otherwise almost whatever I cook turns out to be of a mixed Indo-Russian taste, I can't help it. Here is what Russian I tried to cook in India, not much but it made me happy:
Taste of Dacha - vegetables in a pan, my Mom's recipe.
Cooking the Crescents - Russian dish vareniki with potato.
Apple Pie - called Sharlotka in Russian.

40 comments:

  1. Good luck! I don't think I could handle all those spices!

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    1. Thanks Charlotte :) It is difficult to handle them, as I wrote, you either like them or dislike...

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  2. As much as i would love to see India, I don't think I would survive as I don't like spices and I particularly dislike curries. My best friend went to India once many years ago and I said, 'be totally honest: could I do a trip like that?' and she said without hesitation, 'No.'. lol

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    1. My husband says that you don't accept India, India accepts you... So if you won't feel like it your first time here, then probably it is not your place to be. I cannot say I feel totally home here but I feel just fine to some comfort level.

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  3. I love East Indian food! My spicy/heat tolerance is about medium. So not as spicy or hot as East Indian people can tolerate, LOL! But I also understand how you would long for the food of your people and childhood. I love Slavic food too! Hmmm, I detect a pattern. I love all food!

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    1. Funny thing is that I haven;t tried East Indian food here... mostly North and South Indian.
      Yea, you seem to love all food, and it's great!

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    2. Oh sorry -- my terminology is misleading. In Canada, we call all Indian people from India "East Indians" to distinguish them from our own erroneously named "Indians" who are native here in North America -- in other words, aboriginals or First Nations people. Stupid Columbus misnamed them because he thought he had reached India when he landed.

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    3. Oh well, Columbus created confusion for generations and generations to come! Even when I search something related to India in the net, I always type "India", not "Indian".
      Our intercultural communication lead to some new information discovery! Great :) Now I know you'd call my hubby there East Indian :)hehe

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  4. I absolutely love Indian foods. We often eat Indian inspired food,last night we had chickpea and kale curry.
    Jane x

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    1. I am glad to know! Yes, people love Indian food a lot, it is just it is adapted for your taste buds, just like Chinese food in India to Indian taste :)

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  5. Being here, we don't realise how difficult it is to adjust to a new life, complete different culture, language, food, clothes, weather... oh the list is endless. A great adventure indeed. You seem to have taken it in the right spirit. May you enjoy your life in India !! I have missed quite a few of your posts. Was busy with different schedules, being with my daughter who is preparing for her exams. Things should ease in the days to come.. Ah! Hope you are fine and enjoying good health.

    Take care n be happy

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    1. Thanks Aishwarya! I hope I didn't sound complaining, I didn't mean to :) My husband plays a great part in how I feel here, so I am blessed he is the way he is :)
      I wish your daughter to succeed during exams. I look forward to your blog posts!

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  6. Your spices look so pretty in your picture! You are making me hungry...

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    1. Haha, but don't eat them all as they are in pic, you need to add them to food :)

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  7. It's good that you have somewhat adjusted to our cuisine, otherwise it is very difficult to survive here. Also our south Indian cuisine is widely different from the North Indian cuisine. Our relatives who come to visit us from south who are used to only south Indian food usually don't like the north Indian style of cooking. But me and my son love it. I am curious to know how Russian food tastes.

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    1. We have many South Indian restaurants here, but I bet they also don't sell real South Indian which I like so much! I'd like to try it when I go to the South.
      The only thing I don't like in north Indian cuisine is dal... hehe

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  8. My dear Anna, you have adjusted very very well to your new home. And I am sure you are a very nice cute Indian Bahu! :) In these days, I am sure you are missing your family, your food and your country. I wish I was staying close to you...I would have experimented with blinis, pierogies and borscht just to send it to you. So instead I am sending you lots of love and good wishes. And a big hug.

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    1. Aww Sangeetha, so sweet of you! But no I am not a cute Bahu :)hehe
      Thanks for support, I shall post some pirogi and bliny recipes here so you can try the out :) Hugs back at you!

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  9. I think Indian food is delicious - as long as there aren't too many peppers! You are right about the oily and spicy - when I cook aloo gobi my husband always says it has too much oil for him. But I like it that way. :)

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    1. Great to know you cook Indian food! We also cook aloo gobi frequently here as these veggies are available all year round. I try to cook with less oil these days however many Indian recipes call for loads of oil, yes.

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  10. It would seem you are trying your best to "try out" new things. Russian Indian cuisine sounds very interesting...I would like to try it one day!

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    1. You cannot ignore Indian food when in India. Some day you have to try it :) Many restaurants provide delicious and not spicy on request dishes. yea, Russian Indian sounds strange in terms of taste.

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  11. I like Indian food but it doesn't like me, I'm always ill after eating hot spicy foods so I would probably starve in India lol, I found it difficult adapting to Syrian cuisine too and I spent the first few months eating omelettes and bananas but even the omelettes tasted strange because they used ghee to fry them in and I hated the taste, I lost quite a bit of weight when I first went out there but you do adapt and learn to love the local cuisine, it's sounds as though you are doing great. :)

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    1. Linda I love reading about your experience in Sirya...And I am sorry that this country now is associated with war.
      Ghee is used in Indian cuisine a lot, especially in the North. We don't use it at home as it is really bad for health. I adapted well for food :)

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  12. It's nice that you have adjusted with Indian food and culture and most importantly, indian husband!! Haha :) I guess that's a lot in 4 years...don't stress yourself to adjust, let him become a Russian in India ;)
    I know punjabi food is heavy and South Indian food is sometimes oily too. We maharashtrians have a bit of plain food. But even in some parts of Maharashtra, like Nagpur and all, they have extremely hot food. They use red chillies. If you try Gujarati food that too is mild and you may like but many food items taste sweet, even regular daal.
    You just eat what you like and give the best nutrient food to your baby from both countries.
    I have bad food habits but I ensure I make some healthy vegetables for Anshita even if I dislike them. And she is a darling to try out everything I cook:)
    I eat only the guava with black salt. Other all fruits taste better as they are.
    Keep well and enjoy!!:)

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    1. Thanks Preeti! Yea, the main challenge was to adjust for Indian husband :)hehe No he really is very nice (touchwood), and he also is a little Rissian now, well noted.
      Just today my colleagues told me about Gujarati food that sugar added everywhere, I think this is not my tatse for sure,I like more sour and salty.
      Anshita is one sweet child, but I bet you cook tasty so she simply likes it!


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  13. I have to admit, I can't eat Indian food. Too spicy for me. After I was ill, I had to really watch what I ate and I still do. Certain foods, can affect the area that is weak inside my stomach where the abcess was. So Indian food is a no go for me. The only thing I can eat, is that round bread. Sorry, don't know the name! Good for you eating the food ;o)

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    1. I understand it of course, you shall take care fo your health. Even as much Indians like spicy food it is also not advisable to eat too spicy every day. Sometimes we cook at home something Italian to create that gap between spice dup dishes.
      That round brea dis called roti or chapati or phulka:)hehe. I am glad you like it Stacy!

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  14. I can't eat anything too spicy. I start sneezing like mad and my nose becomes an instant mess--it's rather gross.

    The Little Princess, on the other hand, seems to have been born in the wrong continent. This girl LOVES spicy foods. I often separate a portion of stewed meats and things of the sort just so I can make it really spicy for her.

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    1. Haha sneezing I do too, it feels funny but can be a call for an allergy too. I also start coughing instantly when turmeric fumes come out of the pressure cooker...
      She would then like it in India. I bet she will come here some day :)

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    2. I suspect she will visit, indeed.

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  15. I forgot to say. I didn't have much problem when it came to food moving from the Dominican Republic to New York City--you can find anything in NYC. But my goodness, when I joined the Marine Corps and was stationed in the South of the US, I thought I was going to die! I couldn't find any of my spices. ;-(

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    1. As soona s you can find at least fe wof teh ingredients of your native food and cook them it is ok. But I cannot imagine being somewhere without any spices, veggies and so on you are used to.
      So the Marine Corps challenged you in various ways Magaly :)

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  16. Haha, Green chillis are everywhere in Indian food!! :-)
    Have you tasted South Indian food, that's again very different from the North Indian food. You should try it. You'll like idli as it is a steam dumpling kinda thing and its bland.
    What is Russian food like ? I've never been to a Russian restaurant, have to look for one. :-)
    -Ranjitha

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    1. Yes Ranjitha, South Indian is my favorite! I love idlis and sambar! And dosa... yumm :)
      May be you can find one in Toronto, let me know :)

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  17. I agree with you that Spicy foods are not for everyone. I must admit that we Indians do add lots of spices most of the time. I can understand how difficult it must've been for you to get adapted to the spicy foods in India. I once prepared biryani for Christmas celebration and while one of my American friend ate it with tears in his eyes, my other philipina friend loved it. So i guess it also depends upon one's taste :)

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    1. Definitely that it depends on person's preferences and his/her spice tolerance level. I don't mind spicy food but not the one which makes your eye balls to pop out :)Lol

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  18. I have never thought about Russian cuisine much (except Vodka and Borscht :)) but I guess it makes sense when you say it is kind of tasteless - much like Finnish and Swedish cuisine used to be back in the day.

    On an entirely different note: May I ask how you feel about what's going on in Russia right now - the intolerance and persecution of homosexuals, and the corruption and overtaking of Ukraine? Do you feel far from it all or are you staying involved?

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    1. Even it is plain I cannot say it is not tasty! :) It is just different. I never tried Finnish or Swedish food ever, would love to :)

      Well.. first of all I am from Kazakhstan and we have our own president there. However, yes, I have been following the latest events since the beginning and still not understanding what's going on, because Russians and Ukrainians are so close ethnically that it breaks my heart to see how they kill each other... At the same time as you know right now I have the most important event of my life coming so I try not to stress myself with the things I cannot change. I know my child is going to come into the same world full of *hit.. but also there are still good and beautiful things left and I'd like to give them to him/her in the fullest!

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    2. Oh, I didn't realize you were from Kazakhstan, I thought you were "straight up" Russian :)
      Agreed, you should be focused on the important changes in your own life, taking care of your self.

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