Rediscover Dal - A Presentation on Dals in India Cuisine by Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal

Rediscover Dal - A Presentation on Dals in India Cuisine by  Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal

August 1, 2019

 

Spirit of the Earth presents ‘Rediscover Dal - A Presentation on Dals in India Cuisine by  Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, Founder of A Perfect Bite Consulting.

The use of dal, the ingredient, and the concept of dal, the dish, is rooted in the beginnings of Indian cuisine and evolved with Indian Cuisine as it spread and diversified, adapting to locally available ingredients. Culinary exchanges through travel and trade expanded the repertoire of dals we eat. Today the sheer variety of dals – the umbrella term for dried legumes, pulses and lentils - consumed in India is considerable. Some are indigenous, others came through the culinary exchange, some are used across the country others are local to specific regional cuisines. A go-to food they are an integral part of the cereal-pulse combination that is the mainstay of the contemporary Indian diet.

 

Over time, many factors are homogenizing dal. The hugely varied spectrum of dals, with specific preparation methods and varied specific tadka, have been flattened out. The advent of supermarkets, the gas stove and pressure cookers have had a direct impact on Dal consumption and preparation. And with time as families shrink, lives get busier, more meals are eaten out and less time is allocated to the kitchen, the scope of Dal – the variety of preparations and ways of cooking it are narrowing. We are losing a rich and varied culinary heritage.

 

Dal is one of the first foods we are fed, it is present in rituals, at feasts and festivals. There are dals for every occasion from birth to marriage to death. Through history dals have been on the plate of pauper and prince, traveler and explorer. Easy to transport, dals have been carried with Indians wherever they have traveled and are found in Indian diaspora cuisines all over the world. 

 

This talk and presentation by Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal will showcase the evolution of Dal as a primary source of protein, types of Dals eaten in India, how Dal consumption varies as you travel around India based on local availability, season, cuisine, types of dal consumed, and cooking techniques applied. It will also go beyond the ubiquitous Dal- the dish, to explore the various forms of other dal-based options such as; gravies and curries, deep fried vadas and pakodas, dal flour and batter based breads, chutneys, dal based faux vegetable and meat substitutes and dried and preserved supplementary foods. 

 

Date: August 17, 2019

Time: 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm (The presentation is followed by a food tasting)

 

 

 

About Spirit of the Earth

 

Spirit of the Earth, an initiative by AIM for Seva, was set up in 2017 to promote and encourage sustainable lifestyle practices.  We believe that the planet’s resources are not merely a source for our consumption and personal gratification; like earth, we need to learn to share (vibhakthi), to give in abundance (vriddhi), provide nutrition (vrihi) and be compassionate (daya) – to render harmony in society. 

 

Spirit of the Earth is committed to increasing social impact, reducing carbon footprint and protecting the earth’s resources. The immersion centre operates as a non-profit outlet that sells organic artisanal heritage rice cultivated at our 40 acre farm in Manjakkudi, Tamil Nadu. We also retail hand-crafted lifestyle products made by differently-abled adults living in AIM for Seva Krupa Home. In parallel, our interactive workshops, events and discussions provide experiential opportunities that encourage people to move towards conscious living and through all this, we believe we can create awareness and motivate consumers to become contributors.

 

Address:

Spirit of the Earth

Ground Floor, Srinidhi Apartments
No 4, Desika Road,

Mylapore,
Chennai – 600 004
Tamil Nadu, India

+91442498 7955 / 66 / + 91 9500082142

 

Store Timings – Monday to Saturday, 10:30 am to 6:30 pm

 

www.spiritoftheearth.in