Did you know that Indian food is made to be eaten with your hands? In fact, there is an entire Indian dining etiquette that has nothing to do with salad forks and properly folded napkins.
This guide will help you learn how to eatIndian food the traditional way: with your fingers.
Eating With Your Hands
First and foremost, it’s important to talk about the tradition itself. If you’ve never been to an Indian restaurant, this concept may seem foreign. After all, we are used to having utensils of some sort to work with.
However, in Indiait is normal to eat with your hands. It is not considered rude, and you should not be concerned that people will look at you funny.
Here are a few tips:
- Wash your hands first: This is basic hygiene and you should be doing this whether you are eating Indian food or anything else.
- Eat with your right hand:Your left hand is associated with using the restroomand should not come into contact with the food. You should eat with your right hand only.
- Use your fingertips:Even though you’re eating with your hands, you don’t want to make a giant mess. Use your fingertips and don’t pick up too much food at once. You shouldn’t have a fistful of food.
- Start with the bread:You’ll notice that most Indian dishes are served with some kind of bread. The standard means of eating is to tear the bread into small sections and use it to scoop up a bit of meat or vegetables with every bite.
- Then add rice:Normally you will run out of bread before you run out of other dishes on your plate. The answer is to serve yourself a bit of rice. Now you can pick up a small ball of rice and eat it with the meat or vegetables. You should pour a small amount of daal over the rice to keep it moist and add flavor, but don’t add too much.
- Alternate:Indian meals are renowned for their balance and variety of flavors. Each meal is served with the main dish and a side of some sort. Rather than eating all of one thing at a time, the ideal way to enjoy the flavors is to alternate between a bite of the main dish and a bite of the side dish.
Now that you understand how to eat Indian food with your hands, it’s time to head down to Little India of Denver and put your new skills to the test! Stop by one of our locations today to enjoy our full menu!
Photo:szefei/Shutterstock
FAQs
Only eat with your right hand. The left hand is considered to be dirty, as it's reserved for functions associated with going to the toilet. Eat the bread first with some of the vegetable and/or meat dishes, followed by the remaining vegetables or meat along with the rice and daal.
How to properly eat Indian food with your hands? ›
Only eat with your right hand. The left hand is considered to be dirty, as it's reserved for functions associated with going to the toilet. Eat the bread first with some of the vegetable and/or meat dishes, followed by the remaining vegetables or meat along with the rice and daal.
What is the etiquette for eating Indian food? ›
Wait to be served before eating, since you will be eating with your right hand and would otherwise get food on the serving spoon. Never offer food from your thali, even if it has not been touched. The same basic rules of Western etiquette still apply, such as washing your hands before and after a meal.
How do you eat tikka masala with your hands? ›
How to eat Indian food with your hand
- Only use one hand. ...
- Mix rice and curry with your fingertips, smoosh it a little so it becomes like a blob.
- Use your fingertips to pick up the food.
- Put your thumb behind the food and use it like a shovel to push the food blob in to your mouth.
Many Indians today eat breads — chapatis, parathas, naans — with their hands, but stick to utensils for rice.
What is the difference between Indian roti and naan? ›
Naan is a leavened bread (meaning it uses yeast), while roti is an unleavened bread (meaning it doesn't). The different ingredients give a far different texture: naan is soft and chewy, while roti is dense and thin.
How is naan typically eaten? ›
Once baked naan is typically coated with ghee or butter and served warm. This soft and pliable bread frequently accompanies meals, replacing utensils for scooping up dahls, sauces, stews, and curries, or is enjoyed with dryer dishes like tandoori chicken.
Is it rude to tip at an Indian restaurant? ›
Plan to tip around 10-15% in Indian restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in India depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It's customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.
Is it rude to finish all the food on the plate in India? ›
It is not necessary to taste each and every dish prepared, but you should finish everything on the plate as it is considered a respect for served food, and food is sacred. For this reason, take only as much food on the plate as you can finish.
Is it rude to not finish food in India? ›
In India, it is considered good manners to finish everything that is on your plate. Leaving anything uneaten is considered impolite. Of course, you needn't taste every single dish that is served, but anything you do transfer to your plate needs to be finished.
When eating bread, small portions (roti, naan) are folded into a small pocket to scoop the desired amount of curry. Most food is prepared to be bite-sized, but when large items such as a chicken leg are served, it is acceptable to eat with one's hands.
Do you eat Indian food with left or right hand? ›
The Proper Way to Eat with Your Hands in India
If you're left-handed, you can use the same hand that you eat with. If you're right-handed, use your left hand to support your right hand. Use the tips of your fingers to pick up food, then use the same fingers to place it in your mouth.
Do you eat Indian food with a spoon or fork? ›
While most Indian restaurants allow the use of cutlery when eating, don't expect this to be the norm since people in India actually prefer to eat using their fingers. In a typical Indian household, you won't see any spoons or forks on their table since the only eating instrument they require is their right hand.
