Monday, January 21, 2008

Exciting new foods!

Hi Everyone!
I'm almost home!! I'll be arriving back home in the States this weekend. I absolutely love being in India, but now that the trip is almost over, it's fun to think of all the great things about being at home as well. I'll have a few more pictures and stories about eating vegan in India to share once I'm home, but I had these few cool things I definitely wanted to get up before I leave.

As a vegan, one can only be so adventurous with the food when travelling. I LOVE eating crazy new things, but I love being a vegan even more. Unfortunately, passionate feelings about vegan eating do present a limit when it comes to eating exotic and unknown treats. Here in India, you have the not-insignificant consideration of gastrointestinal safety to think of as well. My travel doctor set forth the 4 P's of safe eating in India: Peelable, Packaged, Processed, or Piping Hot. So, you can rest assured that I am VERY much looking forward to eating some fresh fruit and massive amounts of salad upon my return.

However, occassionaly, one does have success in adventurous vegan eating, even here in India! For instance, I saw a fellow sitting on the curb selling these things: He had big long stalks with these attached to them - very similar to the way a stalk of brussel sprouts grows (but obviously much bigger). There were a couple guys standing around eating the innards, and I was intrigued. With a little sign language, I was able to communicate that I wanted to buy one, but without him cutting it open with his giant machete first. In its sealed state, it was looking downright Peelable.


We got it home, and I eagerly cut it open ( which was not trememdously difficult, but not easy either)... and found these 3 little "pockets" of fruit inside. Firm, clear and moist... a little like a lychee nut in texture.


I used a spoon to scoop out the innards. The yellowish skin was bitter, but the fruit itself was cool and moist and very light. I can see why it would make a refreshing road-side treat. The flavor was similar to young coconut milk, very mild. All in all, a fun experiment. Does anyone know what this is called? I was thinking maybe Emilie would know, since I know that she's eating in many tropical climes!


Also, one night when I made a veggie scramble for everyone, I picked up these cool greens at the market. They are called Methi, and I understand them to be fenugreek leaves. Since I was planning on cooking up a nice hot dinner, I could get these, cook 'em up, and then they would qualify as Piping Hot. See how careful I was!? :)


Also, I thought I'd share this little picture. It's not much, but it's a great little market near our house where we can get most of our staples: soda water, Limca soda pop, soy milk, muesli, cookies, fruit juice... and they even have a pay phone (which is very handy since we can't call out from our apartment). Quite a friendly little spot!

I'm looking forward to getting home and getting busy in the kitchen... and back in action on the food blog!

11 comments:

  1. Sounds like you've been having a wonderful time in India! Can't wait to hear more when you return. That's probably a safe thing that you're following those rules, if it means you don't get sick. Interested to see if anyone knows what the fruit is...

    Travel home safely!

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  2. It's the fruit of the Palmyra palm, called "nungu" in Tamil.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borassus_flabellifer

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  3. Hey Kaushik!
    Thanks so much for knowing what that was! That's awesome. I sure did enjoy it!
    :) Amey

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  4. so glad you will be home soon and I look forward to doing an india share time...The fruit you showed in this posting is sort of like a fruit that I saw and ate while I was there. it will be interesting to see if you have seen or eaten it too. The one I had is sort of similar to what you had, but lots more little bundles of fruit inside and they were soft, more like little Durians.

    See you in 2 days...

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  5. so glad you will be home soon and I look forward to doing an india share time...The fruit you showed in this posting is sort of like a fruit that I saw and ate while I was there. it will be interesting to see if you have seen or eaten it too. The one I had is sort of similar to what you had, but lots more little bundles of fruit inside and they were soft, more like little Durians.

    See you in 2 days...

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  6. exciting foods, indeed - and exciting trip!! I've enjoyed getting a "taste" of India through each of your posts - such a great, vegan-friendly country!! After your rewarding trip, I'm sure it'll feel AMAZING to be back home, in your kitchen :0)

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  7. What an interesting fruit! I hope you have a safe journey home & we'll have to get together once you've settled in.

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  8. What an amazing looking fruit -- and adventure!!

    XO

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  9. Anonymous10:23 PM

    I really liked the picture of the market near your house - it's interesting seeing where other people shop for their food.

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  10. Like I said, I always wanted to travel and visit countries like India, but I'd be so afraid of going hungry! Luckily, your posts have shown me that that doesn't have to happen. :)

    That fruit really looks so interesting. I need more exotic fruit in my life. I feel so limited!

    Can't wait to read the rest on your trip!

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  11. Isn't that one of the funnest parts of traveling? New foods both natural (like your fruit) and man-made (like neat products in supermarkets that one has never seen before...)

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