You love Indian dishes, and love to prepare them at home but have trouble with the myriad of complex spices of Indian cuisine. But actually, Indian cuisine only includes a few essential spices, and you can completely master it to make the dishes you desire. From tandoori chicken to palak paneer, the recipes are relatively simple. You can even learn how to make your own naan, a delicious crunchy topping for rice and sauce.
Murg Makhani (Butter Chicken)
Every Indian restaurant in the West serves Murg Makhani (Butter Chicken). This recipe includes kaali daal (black lentils), naan, and a green salad. If you have a floating spice drawer, the only ingredient required is Kasoori methi (fenugreek leaves). On the other hand, this recipe calls for common ingredients such as olive oil, onion, garlic, ginger, avocado, chicken, and tomato puree. The chicken is marinated twice, first in a dry rub and then in a yogurt mixture. This keeps the chicken moist and flavorful, adding to the dish’s richness.
Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori Chicken is a popular dish in India. It’s difficult to find someone who doesn’t enjoy tandoori chicken, India’s signature dish. Although traditionally cooked in a clay oven, yogurt-marinated chicken can also be prepared in a conventional oven (or on the grill). You must plan ahead of time because wrapped chicken should be refrigerated for at least 6 hours or overnight. To achieve that signature tandoori flavor, you can pre-dry the marinated chicken cubes on the stovetop.
Chicken tikka masala
When served with rice, chicken tikka masala tastes even better. Chicken tikka masala is a delectable grilled chicken dish with a thick creamy sauce that will leave you speechless after the first bite. Chili, garlic, ginger, and garam masala, a popular Indian condiment, flavor the tomato yogurt sauce. The chicken is marinated overnight, then grilled and cooked gently in a slightly smoky gravy. To soak up the sauce, serve this with basmati rice and warm naan bread. Try making it in an Instant Pot for a quick version.
Rogan Josh (The Red Sheep)
Rogan Josh’s literal translation of this Kashmiri dish is “red lamb.” Kashmiri red chili powder provides the color. While the name suggests a fiery dish, the dish’s heat is mitigated by a layer of cream added at the end. The list of spices in this recipe may appear lengthy, but a trip to your local international food market will get you started. Green cardamon, cumin, turmeric, and garam masala are typically sold in small quantities, so they should last a long time.
Malai Kofta
Malai kofta is a popular vegetarian dish among Indians. Malai kofta (vegetable “meatballs” in a thick sauce) is a meatless substitute for meatballs. The koftas are made with potatoes, carrots, beans, peas, and sweet corn that have been cooked and mashed before being mixed with seasonings and paneer, the necessary blocked “cheese” that has a texture similar to tofu and is a complement to any vegetarian meal. If you don’t want to, it’s easy to find, especially if you shop at a natural food market. Malai kofta is delicious with naan or jeera.
Chole (Chickpea Curry)
Chole cannot be overlooked when discussing North India. A classic and simple chole green bean curry that is popular in North India and spread worldwide. It’s ideal for a large group, especially when served hot alongside Indian fried yeast bread like poori or bhatura. The ingredient list appears to be more intimidating than the recipe itself. All you need are the common Indian spices that make this dish so delicious once you have the chickpeas, onions, and tomatoes, as well as garlic and ginger powder.
Palak Paneer (Spinach and Cheese)
Palak Paneer is a spinach and cheese combination. Palak paneer is by far the most popular paneer recipe in Indian restaurants. It’s a super healthy, light-flavored dish made with spinach and cottage cheese (cheese), as well as traditional Indian spices. This dish has a deep green color due to the large amounts of spinach and fenugreek leaves used in the recipe. The squares are fried first, adding texture to the dish. Palak paneer tastes even better with your favorite bread.
Kaali Daal (Black Lentils)
Some dishes, like butter chicken, go well with a side of kaali daal, also known as ma ki daal (mother’s lentils) because it’s delicious. The black lentils must be soaked overnight, but the rest of the recipe is simple. Ghee and asafetida are the two new ingredients you’ll need for your Indian cooking adventures.
Papdi Chaat
Papdi Chaat can be served with dinner or as a snack. Chaat is probably a popular snack in North India. In this part of the country, vendors congregate on the streets, selling all manner of delectable chaat variations. Chaat parties are also very popular and make an excellent dinner option. Papdi chaat is a great way to get started with this dish and is a lot of fun to make. The papdi (or papri) dough is made first, then formed into thin circles and deep fried. These waffles are then topped with potatoes and chickpeas before being dipped in a thick, spicy, and sweet sauce.
Naan (Leaved Indian Flatbread)
Naan is an essential component of Indian cuisine. Naan, a flatbread, is a staple in Indian kitchens and goes well with almost any dish, including tandoori chicken and various kebabs. You can also make naan bread in your oven. Yeast, flour, sugar, and water are among the ingredients, as are yogurt and ghee butter.
Conclusion
We hope that the above information will answer most of your questions about which dishes are popular in India. These dishes are easy to make and will be a great way to show off your cooking skills to your guests and family. If you’re struggling in finding the right ingredient, FreshDirect’s special offers will always be ready to help you out. What Indian dishes do you think should be mentioned in this list, tell us in the comment section down below.