Modern advancements allow us to do so many amazing things, but if I had to choose my favourite, it would be the ability to order food delivery in Ottawa without having to pause Netflix. But as a vegetarian, I still find ordering food delivery in Ottawa a little tricky at times. Many restaurants have an unimpressive list of vegetarian items and I’ve just about exhausted my appetite for salads.
In my quest to find great vegetarian dishes, I was led to a new and exciting option – Indian food! Although Indian food has become widely popular in North America thanks to famous dishes such as butter chicken and meat samosas, the cuisine actually offers several vegetarian options. In fact, religious beliefs and long-standing traditions have actually influenced many Indians to practice a vegetarian diet. While many cuisines look to meat for flavour, Indian cuisine relies on spices; so opting for a vegetarian dish doesn’t mean sacrificing flavour. Here are a few especially delicious vegetarian dishes I’ve come across so far:
Vegetable Samosa
Although the vegetable samosa has a long and illustrious history in Indian cuisine, you might be surprised to find out it didn’t actually originate in South Asia! The popular dish is actually native to Central Asia and the Middle East. Arab cookbooks from the 10th and 13th centuries detail the delectable pastry, referring to it as “sanbusak” which comes from the Persian word, “sanbos”’. However, because this mouthwatering golden fried pastry filled with spiced vegetables is so good, Indians and vegetarians alike have had no trouble including the vegetable samosa as a staple dish.
Vegetable Curry
Would a list of Indian cuisine be complete without the inclusion of curry? Although curries come in a number of varieties, the basis of a good curry is generally the same. Step one: load it up with complementary spices. Step two: create base flavour using onion, ginger and garlic. Step three: decide on the body of your curry (this can be achieved using tomatoes, pureed peppers, yoghurt, coconut milk, spinach, or pureed onion). Step four: Enjoy!
Naan Bread
Ok, so technically naan bread is a side dish, but it’s so good it had to be included in this list. Although it is often compared to pita bread, naan bread has a much different taste and texture – it’s much lighter and fluffier. Naan bread comes in a variety of flavours, such as garlic and cheese. Like most Indian dishes, naan bread also has a long history, with the first records of the delicious flatbread dating all the way back to 1300AD!
Next time you’re looking for vegetarian food delivery in Ottawa, look no further than the crispy vegetable samosa, fluffy naan bread, or rich vegetable curry of Indian cuisine. Sorry salads, better luck next time!
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