Not Blue Cheese Naan Or Paneer Makhani Pizza - Here's What 'Modern Indian' Cuisine Really Is

Much has been written about the evolution of Modern Indian cuisine over multiple phases. The first phase involved a refined French-style plating of Indian food, which then progressed to molecular gastronomy techniques, such as rasam foams and sous vide ribs. The most recent phase of 'modern Indian cuisine' is more complex, featuring unconventional ingredient pairings - often called "negative food pairing" by chefs - which create unique flavours.

However, I don't want to discuss modern Indian cuisine in the usual manner. Doing so would risk categorising this innovative and visionary cooking style as merely a type of cuisine that seems "Instagrammable" (often seen as gimmicky), given the trend of serving food in test tubes and light bulbs.

Modern Indian cuisine is not defined by liquid nitrogen or stuffing blue cheese into naan. In fact, it's not about the absence of traditional dishes like butter chicken or dal makhani from the menu. Instead, Modern Indian cuisine represents an imaginative culinary experience crafted with Indian flavours, ingredients, or techniques. It signifies a significant breakthrough for Indian food on the global stage, transforming and elevating India's gastronomy.