THE RECOVERING VEGETARIAN: PROBLEM #1 - ROTI SABZI

 

India is the best country to be a vegetarian. Almost 30-40% of the country is purely vegetarian, depending on what survey you read. Its almost 80% vegetarian during Diwali or Mahashivratri (thats a statistic I just made up). We are the least meat consuming country in the world. Even the most meat –eating Indian is more vegetarian than the average American.  Indians have mastered the art of taking any vegetable or grain and making it seductively tasty with magical spices for thousands of years. (unlike the bland mashed potatoes or greens of western culture).

For that very reason, India is the WORST country to be a recovering vegetarian. I mean its easy to give up KFC or maybe even burgers...but Biryani? Pork Vindaloo? Mutton Rassa? Once you have tasted these its just too hard to let go. However, even if you did muster the will to deal with that and found other alternatives like Paneer, Jackfruit, Soya and Mushroom to taste those magical spices, there are still heaps of problems. Lets start with the first. The real reason why any one from a vegetarian family starts consuming meat or wishes he could is Roti Sabzi.

Surprised? Well Roti Sabzi, Poli Bhaaji call it whatever you want in your local language. Even if you eat it with rice, the Sabzi/Bhaaji is single-handedly responsible for increasing meat consumption in India.  This is not just me making up statistics but ask yourself..you know this to be true. Its the bhaajis like Tinde (Indian Round gourd), Karela (Bitter Gourd), Doodhi (Bottle Gourd), Tondli (Ivy gourd) that really not even any staunch purely vegetarian I know loves.  The bland/bitter tastes of any most of these veggies cant be helped even by the magic of Indian spices or a mothers love. What does it say about these particular vegetable preparations that many would prefer actually slaughtering an animal compared to this. While taste is a subjective matter and am sure that just like there is a minority of cannibal tribes somewhere in the Amazon, there are people who like these veggies. But am hinting at a bigger problem here.

A LACK OF IMAGINATION

Imagine if someone took away your mobile phone now and gave you a directory and a landline to use. You would rightfully be pissed off. There may have been a time when many from the older generation tolerated or been forced into enjoying many of these bland veggies- but the new generation – either veg or non-veg- has tasted much better stuff. You can say we are spoilt to some extent but there’s definitely no going back. Forget about meat options, but wouldnt you prefer eating a fresh salad consisting of cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, crushed paneer and chat masala than Tinde ki Sabzi and Roti? Or how about just a fruit plate instead of eating Karela?

I am aware that eating your veggies is a good thing and many of these veggies have nutritional traits. However, creative ways must be found to incorporate them if we wish for future generations to eat more Indian veggies. Why not make koftas out of Doodhi rather than a sabzi? Make a mix stew of some of these veggies with Malabar flavours? Try and make it into a tasty paratha? A healthy vegetable dalia? Delicious Pakodas?

Another major problem with all Indian Veggies is not only the lack of nutrition in them. But we often tend to overcook these veggies wherein they lose whatever little nutrition they had. Ayurvedic and Yogic diets often recommend consuming 30-40% raw freshly cut seasonal fruits and vegetables in our meals. While not all vegetables are suitable for raw consumption, options like smoking, light grilling with a coat of spices etc is a good way to incorporate more veggies in your diet.

Tell me you prefer oil covered Doodhi to these beauties

Fine-dine and modern cooking has progressed so far that exploring different textures of the same vegetables can be made into tasty exciting dishes without compromising on nutrition. I do understand hectic life compulsions that force our mothers, wives or anyone who cooks your daily meal to make the easiest possible choices. I am not saying that one should be making mediterranean salads with desi sabzis, but there can be more creative solutions especially in this day and age when ordering in is such a tempting option.

So if you are a recovering vegetarian or want to reduce your meat consumption, start exploring regional Indian flavours. Am sure in your region, heck even in your family itself you can find multiple ways to cook and enjoy delicious vegetarian meals. Start exploring creative ways to use locally available vegetables and grains. Remember every state and culture has hundreds of vegetarian cuisine options. The real fun begins once you think of being a vegetarian as something beyond Daal Chawal and Roti Sabzi.

(I have to make an honorary mention of all the daals (lentils), millets, legumes, pulses and grams here for helping me and all other vegetarian stay vegetarian in the face of deadly villains like Tinde, Tondli etc.)