Indian Foods Containing High Carbohydrates

With an emphasis on legumes, fruits and vegetables, and the use of beneficial spices and herbs, Indian cuisine is nutritious and offers ample opportunity to get needed carbohydrates in your diet. Foods containing high and moderate amounts of carbohydrates are traditionally served at every Indian meal, and often come in the form of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are found in many foods in the Indian diet. The three most common forms of carbohydrates are sugars, starches and fiber. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, your body attempts to break down all forms of carbohydrates the same way, with the end goal of producing glucose, which your cells use as an energy source. Fiber is the exception to this, as your body cannot break it down to sugar molecules, and so it passes through your body, promoting intestinal health and helping to regulate your body sugar levels.

Foods Containing Carbohydrates

Foods that contain high amounts of carbohydrates include potatoes, bread and wheat cereals, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Foods with moderate amounts of carbohydrates include rice, raisins, milk and green peas, while yogurt, beans and lentils and several varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, such as apples, bananas and carrots, contain carbohydrates in lower amounts. To increase the amount of fiber in your diet with Indian foods, consider including split peas and lentils, brown rice, almonds and pistachios and peas, greens and potatoes.

High Carb Indian Staples

Carbohydrates in one or more forms is typically served at every Indian meal. Breads, usually leavened flatbreads or unleavened crepes, are made from refined wheat, whole wheat, gram flour, lentil flour, rice flour or chickpea flour. Look for naan, paratha, dosa and rotis. Rice, either brown or white basmati rice, accompanies most midday and evening meals. Pulses, in the form of lentils, chickpeas, split peas, mung beans and kidney beans, are cooked into daal and served with rice and bread for a simple meal, or alongside a more elaborate main dish or curry.

Carbohydrates in Curries and Other Dishes

The ingredients of curries vary greatly depending upon the region of India, with some made in a thick gravy stew and others served dry. Many of them, however, utlilize carbohydrate-rich vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and other root vegetables, nuts, paneer, or Indian farmer's style cheese, and fruits such as raisins and mangoes. Dishes such as palak paneer, with large amounts of cooked spinach, offer high quality carbohydrates, as does aloo matar, Indian spiced potatoes and peas. Fruits are common deserts and can contain ample amounts of fiber. Mango is the most widely used fruit in India, but apricots, pineapple, figs and seetaphal are good sources of carbohydrates.