Question

Name some traditional Indian foods made of wheat, rice and Bengal gram (or their products) which involve use of microbes.

Answer 1

Some traditional Indian foods made of wheat, rice and Bengal gram (or their products) which involve the use of microbes are:

• Idli and Dosa: These are South Indian fermented foods made from rice and urad dal (a type of lentil) batter, which is left to ferment overnight with the help of lactic acid bacteria.
• Dhokla: This is a popular snack from the state of Gujarat, made from fermented batter of rice and chickpeas. The batter is fermented with the help of lactic acid bacteria and steamed to make a spongy cake.
• Papad and Pickles: These are traditional Indian condiments made from lentils, gram flour, or raw mangoes, which are fermented with the help of lactic acid bacteria.
• Yogurt: Yogurt is a popular dairy product made from the fermentation of milk with the help of lactic acid bacteria.
• Appam: Appam is a traditional breakfast food from the state of Kerala, made from fermented rice batter. The batter is fermented with the help of yeast or a mixture of yeast and lactic acid bacteria.