Sudarshan Srinivasan
Curry, the delectable, deliciously spicy food, common to Asian people and subject to merciless stereotypes. It is definitely not the food of all Indians, all the time, contrary to popular thought. It is a harsh and cruel stereotype that Indians have to deal with everywhere they go.
Indians do eat curry, but not all day, every day. There are other foods that we eat too, like rice, chapati (unleavened bread), samosas (fried pastry), and many other things.
Also, the curry that most Indians eat is completely different than what most people associate with curry. Actual curry is usually a paste made of a collage of onions, ginger, turmeric, garlic, pepper, chilies, coriander, cumin, and other spices cooked with shellfish, meat, or vegetables. This is unlike the over-marketed sauce chefs call curry that people are familiar with.
Curry is not a new invention. The recipes for curry go back to 2500 BC, in the Indus Valley region, a popular center for trade and barter at the time. Those curries were a lot simpler, made with just a few ingredients, whereas today, one can get a curry with twenty or more different spices, loads of vegetables, and exotic meats.
Curry is often thought of as very very spicy, but this is not necessarily true. Curry can be super spicy, mild, or even sweet, depending on what the chef decides to add to this unique delicacy.
The curry-Indian stereotype is not the only food stereotype out there. Mexican people are commonly portrayed as the sole eaters of tacos or burritos. Canadians are associated with maple syrup. Americans are associated with hamburgers and fries.
Overall, stereotyping is a huge part of our society, but a terrible one at that. It can seriously harm one’s reputation before even meeting them. Stereotyping is something that should be avoided, but is largely ignored in our modern day society.
