Pathia facts for kids
| Type | Curry |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | India |
| Region or state | Western India |
| Serving temperature | Hot, with Pilau rice |
| Main ingredients | Chili peppers, tamarind, lime, jaggery, garlic, coriander |
Pathia is a special kind of curry that comes from the Parsi people in India. It's a popular dish, especially in UK curry restaurants. Pathia is known for its unique taste: it's a mix of hot, sweet, and sour all at once! This interesting flavor comes from ingredients like chili peppers for heat and tamarind for its sourness.
What is Pathia?
Pathia is a delicious curry dish that stands out because of its balanced flavors. Imagine a dish that makes your tongue tingle with a little heat, then surprises you with a touch of sweetness, and finally leaves a refreshing sour taste. That's Pathia! It's often served hot, usually with pilau rice, which is a type of rice cooked with spices.
Where Does Pathia Come From?
Pathia has a long history and comes from the Parsi community in India. The Parsi people are an ethnic group who originally came from Persia (modern-day Iran) many centuries ago and settled in Western India. They brought their unique cooking traditions with them, which then blended with Indian flavors to create dishes like Pathia. While it started in India, it became very popular in the United Kingdom as Indian restaurants opened there.
What Makes Pathia Special?
The secret to Pathia's unique taste lies in its main ingredients. It's a careful mix that creates a flavor you won't find in many other curries.
Key Ingredients
- Tamarind: This is a fruit that gives Pathia its distinctive sour taste. It's often used in Asian and Latin American cooking.
- Lime: Fresh lime juice adds another layer of sourness and a zesty, fresh flavor.
- Jaggery: This is a type of unrefined sugar, often made from palm sap or sugarcane. It's used to add sweetness and balance out the hot and sour flavors.
- Chili Peppers: These are what give Pathia its heat. The amount of chili peppers can be adjusted to make the dish hotter or milder.
- Other Spices: While not specifically mentioned in the original recipe, like most curries, Pathia would also include common Indian spices such as garlic and coriander to build its rich flavor.
It's interesting to note that traditional Pathia recipes do not usually include vinegar or ginger. This makes it different from some other curries you might have tried.
