The love affair Indians have with ‘thalis’ isn’t hidden from the world. But what makes Indians love thalis so much? Let’s find out.
What is that one thing you plan to order for a family get-together or a festival? Don’t you look for thalis every time you search “home delivery restaurants near me”? Whether you dine-out at your favorite family restaurant or order food online, a regional thali is something that most of us prefer to order.
It is rightly said, the culture of India is as diverse as its regional food thalis – rich in taste, nutrition, and meaning. Obviously, its variedness makes it as colorful as our Indian culture. Travel to any corner of the country and you would find local restaurants serving regional thalis with specific delicacies of their region. We are so in love with the thali system here that Goa – the land of beaches hosts a ‘Thali from every Galli’ festival, where you can hog on 7 different types of thalis.
Basics of Indian Thali
There are many tales associated with the emergence of ‘thali’ in India – some relate it with the Indus Valley Civilisation while some others believe to have it since the Vedic period. The tales may vary but the basics of an Indian thali are almost common. The food served in a thali comprises:
A Grain: flatbread made of wheat, corn or millet, and rice
Vegetable: Seasonal preparation
Lentils: Dal
Raita: curd mixed with fruits, vegetables, and spices
Chutney: a condiment made with herbs, spices, vegetables, fruits, and even fish.
Papadum: a roasted or deep-fried snack made of lentils, rice, or flour.
Pickles: made from mango, vegetables, and spices.
A sweet dish.
Basically, a thali comprises four types of tastes: sour, sweet, sour, and salty.
So, coming back to where we started, why do we Indians love thalis, whether we order food online or dine out.
Here are the major reasons:
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Varied flavors and textures in a single platter
Every Indian thali is an opportunity for us to excite our taste buds. Our taste buds play a vital role in satisfying our palates just like our 5 senses. These help our body to realize what nutrients the food has to offer. That is why you feel like eating a typical thali after days of fast-food hogging.
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Nutritionally Balanced Meal
The significance of nutrients is known to all of us – these are vital for our body and its entire system to function properly. With the variety of preparation in thalis, we get adequate nutrition that helps maintain a healthy weight, attain energy, reduce body fat, and promote good sleep making us feel better.
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Because thali is a tradition
Besides being a part of our daily life, every Indian thali is woven in tradition. Be it a celebration like a wedding or a death ritual like a funeral, serving thalis to patrons is a common tradition in India.
For instance,
At Udupi Shri Krishna Matha, a thirteenth-century shrine in Udupi, a town in South India, the religious offering (prasad) is served in the form of a meal. People sit cross-legged on the floor in rows with thalis placed in front of them. The servers carry buckets of sambhar (lentils stew), rice, chutney, and dry vegetable prep serving everything on the same plate. It is then followed by payasam – the sweet dish (pudding made with coconut milk and rice).
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Portion control to prevent overeating
Thalis offer appropriate portions of food items that help in avoiding overeating. This ultimately saves us from gaining weight or become obese. The portioning of Thalis makes you realize the food types you are having while providing you with taste.
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Thalis are more about stories and memories
A typical thali comprises at least 8 different varieties of food (as pointed above). And it may range up to 45 dishes. Yes, you heard that right! A Delhi-based restaurant serves the largest Indian thali with over 45 dishes. Now imagine how challenging it’d be to finish this one platter? And how can we forget innumerable stories that we get to create around such an amazing and fun-filled experience! So, thalis mean stories. What are you waiting for? Look out for “home delivery restaurants near me” and order your favorite thali online now.
