As you know, the favorite dishes of the Indians are rice dishes, as well as vegetables and fruits. Nevertheless, in India, poor people still occasionally eat meat, in supermarkets you can safely buy even beef - meat prohibited by law.
Why meat is rarely eaten in India
Indians believe that vegetarianism is the best diet, in part because many meats are banned by Judaism, which is practiced by 80% of the Indian population, and in part because of the low incomes of most average citizens.
Tourists, who also do not have the opportunity to shop in expensive supermarkets, prefer to eat traditional Indian dishes, consisting of rice, vegetables and fruits. Why? Despite the fact that India is a very poor country, which is a definite plus for tourists, and the food here is cheap, the unsanitary conditions prevailing both on the streets and in inexpensive restaurants are the main factor in abandoning such cheapness.
For Indians, unsanitary cooking conditions are common, as they are completely accustomed to them, but this can shock tourists. And most often it is in such conditions that meat is sold and prepared.
What kind of meat can be found in Indian bazaars
Chickens are most in demand in India - they are killed right at the bazaar, giving the buyer a plucked carcass. But local residents of average income rarely allow themselves chicken meat, only on holidays.
Lamb is another common meat in India. It is bought about once a month, and even then only a little. Usually such meat is generously "flavored" with the remains of severed bones. It is believed that in order to get more or less good meat, one must be on good terms with the butcher.
What meat is prohibited in India
Beef
Cattle meat is prohibited by law in many states of India. And all because the cow among the Hindus and followers of Zarathustra is a sacred and deeply revered animal, the killing of which is punishable by law (you can even "thunder" in prison). However, beef is still eaten in India - Muslims, Christians and Hindus of Kerala (southwestern state of India).
Pork
This was mainly influenced by the influence of Muslims living in the country, who consider pork to be unclean food.
Also in Judaism, the following types of meat cannot be consumed:
- bat meat;
- bear meat;
- almost all seafood with the exception of fish;
- dog meat;
- amphibians and reptiles;
- elephant meat.
From which we can conclude: usually in India they eat chicken, lamb and sometimes beef.
