The ultimate dinner dilemma: How Hyderabadi families settle the roti vs rice debate

Hyderabad’s weather significantly influences the city’s food preferences. During the intense summer heat, many choose lighter meals like roti with dal as they find these dishes gentler on the stomach. When the rainy season comes, tastes change a lot.

By Ali Raiyan

Hyderabad: As the sun sets over Hyderabad, families often find themselves pondering the same question: “Should we eat roti or rice tonight?”

Young and old often have different food preferences. Older individuals, like 65-year-old Sitaramiah, feel that a meal isn’t complete without rice rice, and he says,“A meal feels incomplete without rice,” he says. He likes how rice soaks up sambar. For him, roti is best suited for a snack.

But younger people, like 24-year-old Ayesha, often pick roti instead. “My friends tell me to eat less rice,” she quips. Many young people think roti is lighter and healthier when eaten with curry.

Hyderabad’s weather significantly influences the city’s food preferences. During the intense summer heat, many choose lighter meals like roti with dal as they find these dishes gentler on the stomach. When the rainy season comes, tastes change a lot. “Hot rice with dal on a rainy night? Yes! That’s the only choice!” says Abdul Razzak.

Steaming rice feels perfect for cool, wet evenings.

Fatigue and people’s mood also influence their dinner choices. After a long and hard day, people want something easy to digest. Making fresh roti feels like too much work, many opine. When comfort is what’s needed, they pick simple things. As Lakshmi puts it, “Rice with ghee or yogurt feels like home.”

Sometimes, a strong feeling decides, like wanting spicy potato curry might mean you have to have rice with it.

So how do Hyderabadi families tackle the challenge of everyone having different preferences? The solution lies in flexibility. In many homes, like Farida Begum’s, the solution is simple yet effective: “We keep the rice warm and have the roti ready. Everyone picks what they want!”

Often, the main dish decides. “You must have roti with some dishes while others really need rice,” insists Armaan.

Whether it’s about tradition, staying healthy, adjusting to the weather, or just needing a quick meal after a hard day’s work, choosing roti or rice is a choice everyone in Hyderabad shares every night. It is an inalienable part of the city’s food culture.