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Have you discovered the sublime variety of Indian food restaurants in Brampton and Mississauga?  India is an ancient land, formed from dozens of different cultures arising from migration and conquest, followed by tribal blending.  And this very rich history is reflected in its cuisine that is readily available throughout Peel Region.

Everyone can identify 'something' that is Indian about Indian food - the curry, the unique blend of a masala (Hindi for spice), the colorful chicken and lamb dishes. But every attempt to pin it down somehow slips into a fog.

Consider the humble chutney. This blend of pulpy fruit and spices could surely have come from nowhere else but India. What other land would have the ingenuity and courage to mix something sweet - ripe plums, firm peaches or any of a dozen other fruits - and mix in garam masala, a blend of hot spices? This is culinary genius.

To choose another example, chicken is a common component of dishes from around the world. Poultry meat is used in the cuisine of France, China and Finland. It can be found in South Africa or Northern Canada. But nowhere else but India gave birth to a worldwide favorite: tandoori chicken.

It isn't just the hot, hot clay oven. It isn't just the colorful results that make the dish as much a delight to the eye as to the tongue. It is the spices that are both Asian and yet a mix of other lands, such as what is now Afghanistan. It is the unique method of preparation that incorporates them. Yet, there is something more. It is sui generis, something in a category of its own.

Lamb or mutton is part of Greek, Italian and the dishes of many other culinary innovators. Those too, after all, are ancient peoples that have mixed with others and had century upon century to experiment. Yet, how different is an Achari dish from India than a Greek mutton stew.

Could it be the coriander? No, that is known in Greece, too. Tomatoes are an everyday component of Greek dishes, too. Perhaps it is the turmeric, fenugreek, or other spices? Not entirely. Greek sailors traveled the known world in ancient times and saw much, bringing it back to their native country. Yet, the difference remains. Achari is exotic, lively and pungent. Greek stew is delicious, but mild.

Even the humble donut is known as far and wide as both China and America. Yet, vada is nothing like its counterparts in other countries. The oil-fried dough in America is a purely sweet, fat-filled confection. In China, it may as often be part of the regular meal in the form of dim sum. In India, it is a venerable part of the street vendor culture.

For all you can point to that singles out Indian cuisine - the vigorous spices, the eye-catching presentation, the thin, hard bread - the answer to what makes Indian food Indian will still remain a mystery. Given the country in question, that seems wholly appropriate.

Experience the delectable variety of Indian food available in Peel Region.  You will find family restaurants, fine dining and take-out options to suit any occasion.