The term "Indian food" is a colonial oversimplification. The lifestyle changes every 500 km.

India's diverse climate and geography have played a significant role in shaping its cuisine. For example:

In the West, a kitchen is often a functional room—a place to prepare fuel before retiring to the living room. In India, the kitchen is the sanctum sanctorum of the home. It is where deities are invoked, where antibiotics are brewed (turmeric milk), where love is confessed (sweet kheer ), and where the family’s health is governed.

In the Indian lifestyle, cooking is never a solitary activity. The kitchen is the hub of gossip, problem-solving, and emotional support.

You don't need 50 spices to start. These 10 are the foundation of most regional cuisines: