‘Know Your Desi Ingredients’ is an evolving, ever-expanding repository of knowledge about ingredients that are native to the Indian subcontinent and have been adapted into the mainstream culinary narratives of people, places, and cultures.
With ‘Know Your Desi Ingredients’, we hope to present you with an encyclopaedic glossary of native and local ingredients from across the Indian subcontinent. Each ingredient will comprise its distinct features that will aid in identifying the ingredient, including its flavour and sensory profiles, as well as the many ways in which it can be utilised. You will also find links to recipes that feature these ingredients.
Often overlooked as mere flowers, squash blossoms are edible and lend a delicate, sweet essence to several culinary creations.
Often mistaken for a tiny cucumber, tendli delivers a crisp, tangy bite to curries and stir-fries.
Often prized for its juicy flesh, cantaloupes bring a sweet, refreshing flavour to summer dishes.
A summer favourite for many, Lady’s Finger sparkles in crispy stir-fries, delicious sabzis and savoury stuffed dishes.
Thriving in India’s tropical climates, this tuber is enjoyed in hearty sabzis, creamy mashes and stir fries.
Hidden in delicate husks, these bright yellow berries make an appearance every winter.
Why ‘desi’ ingredients?
“What exactly is a desi or native vegetable?” This was the question ChefTZac set out to answer in 2015, when he began documenting local and regional vegetables online under the banner of ‘Know Your Desi Vegetables’. At The Locavore, we wanted to further build on this property to showcase the richness and versatility of the indigenous produce available in the Indian subcontinent. ‘Know Your Desi Ingredients’ also aims to document traditional knowledge, farming and foraging traditions, as well as unique perspectives on non-native products that have not only been adopted as ‘desi’ but have also become an intrinsic part of a region’s culinary repertoire.
How are we doing this?
There are a lot of academic studies that examine intricacies about vegetables, grains, fruits, dairy, and even meat. We intend to collaborate with these sources to present the information into a format that is both accessible and comprehensible. We are also joining hands with scholars, chefs, indigenous groups, and contributors from The Locavore’s community to create this compendium of information, recipes, and stories.
If you would like to share more information about the ingredients featured here, write to us at connect@thelocavore.in with your inputs and any verified sources we should look into.
Login with Google