Olive oil is a very good product – but did our grandmothers or great-grandmothers use olive oil?
Actually, if we ask our mothers – even they would say that they don’t always use olive oil. In most Indian households the usage of ‘ghee’ is prominent. In fact, there are a variety of oils, other than olive oil, used in Indian cuisine for many decades. Here’s a shortlist of oil alternatives to olive oil that our ancestors used while cooking!
Coconut oil
The use of coconut oil is still very common, especially in southern India. It is easily known that coconut oil is a healthier choice for it is marketed as a superfood. The fragrance of coconut oil adds to the food. Also, let’s not forget Nani ke narkel naru!
Ghee
But has anyone ever had a motichur laddoo with olive oil? Nope, it is the ghee that adds the flavor and childhood memories associated with that laddoo. Ghee can be used in any type of pure food or Indian junk food. Most Indian foods need ghee to add that nostalgic flavor that we would get when our grandmothers or mothers cooked for us!
Mustard oil
Aam ka achaar, achari dahi bhindi, Bhindi chorchori – Indian culture knows their flavors, and mustard oil helped them serve it onto their plate! Other than just cooking good food, mustard oil cures many diseases related to skin, joints, muscles as well as heart.
Groundnut oil
In Indian culture, quite a few of our dishes are deep-fried or sauteed in oil. Before olive oil was introduced – groundnut oil was used to cook or sauteed food. It is actually preferred for high-heat cooking.
Do let us know your favorite dish using any of these oil alternatives for olive oil! And don’t forget to follow Root Woot! #rootwoot
*All Images Sourced From Google – Thanks! 🙂
