Photo: Shah Tahmasp and the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Isfahan These celebrations will usually be social rather than religious (as Sikhism and Hinduism do not allow the consumption of animals during times of celebration). Special occasion dishesД¬hicken or lamb is served, in addition to dhal, saabji and roti, at times of celebration. This milk is unhomogenised, meaning that the fat (cream) within the milk has not been broken down into smaller globules, so the cream floats in large globules in the milk! During our last family trip to India, I can remember trying to very carefully separate the milk from the cream when making my motherвЂ™s morning coffee (I was under strict instruction вЂ“ no cream whatsoever in the coffee!).Дairy products made from buffaloвЂ™s milk include: makhan (butter), ghee (clarified butter), paneer (a soft curd cheese), dai (yogurt), malai (cream) and lassi (buttermilk drink). The milk that is consumed in the villages often come straight from the farm, and is fetched fresh daily. It contains 50% more protein and 50% more fat than cowвЂ™s milk, giving a far more luxurious, rich taste and texture. Photo: Buffaloes photographed by my brother, Samir, during our family visit to my great-auntвЂ™s buffalo farm in Punjab.Д«uffaloвЂ™s milk has a slightly different composition to that of cowвЂ™s milk. This is the dish that is normally served in Sikh temples (Gurdwaras) for langar, which is a volunteer-run meal system that has been running for hundreds of years in Sikh communities across the world ( click here to learn about langar). THE number one dish that sums up Punjabi food, and will always be served day-in day-out, is dhal and roti (lentils/pulses and wholemeal flatbread).

Therefore, the majority of the population are either vegetarian, or only eat meat on the odd occasion.Д®ither chicken or lamb is served to mark or celebrate a special (social) occasion, such as a marriage, the birth of a child etc. Sikhism is the most widely followed religion in Punjab, which forbids the consumption of beef (as the cow is a sacred animal) and strongly discourages the consumption of meat. This means that the natural diet is mostly vegetarian-based rather than meat-based, which, as farmers, is a sustainable, environmentally friendly, nutrient-rich and affordable diet.

Cropland behind our family home taken during our 2010 trip to India (in the village of Rahimpur, Jalandhar, Punjab).

Punjabi restaurants