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What Makes Indian Food So Special?
Versatility
There are so many Indian food names that you just can’t get to know about them all. This is what makes Indian food so special that it has so many varieties available. In fact, you can prepare the same dish in so many different styles that you can never get bored of Indian cuisine.
Apart from that, you will get to discover a new cuisine in each region of India which adds further to its versatility. You can find new flavors and taste in every 100kms in India that it is just so incredible.
No Overlapping of Spices
The main USP of all Indian dishes is the use of spices in it. You can find somewhere around 100 spices in a single dish which not only adds to the flavour but texture too. The best thing about this amalgamation is that you can never find the overlapping of spices in a recipe.
You can always enjoy the taste of each of them separately which is truly mind-blowing. Unlike other cuisines, Indian cuisine also uses whole spices which provides amazing aroma to the recipe.
Complex but Amazing Recipes
If you will ever get to know about the detailed Indian food information then you may find it quite complex. People from other countries often find Indian food to be quite complex and it is somewhat true too. Some of the dishes can take up to a day or two to be cooked completely.
But this is what gives them the rich taste and flavour these recipes have. You need to be really patient to cook Indian food which can be a tiring process but the ultimate result surely pays off well.
Popular Indian Food Names with Recipes
Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken or Murgh Makhani is one of the most popular Indian food names. This recipe is full flavored and apparently not that complex to make. If you are a non-veg lover then you should definitely try it out.
- 800gms boneless and skinless chicken thighs and breasts cut into small pieces
- Turmeric, ground cumin, salt, red chilli powder – 1 tbsp each
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt and 2tbsp garam masala
- 1 ½ tbsp. minced garlic and 1 tbsp minced ginger
For the Sauce
- Olive oil and ghee – 2tbsp each
- Ground cumin and garam masala – 1 ½ tsp each
- 1 large onion sliced and 1 ½ tbsp. garlic minced
- minced ginger and ground coriander – 1tbsp each
- 400gms crushed tomatoes and 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tsp kasoori methi, 1 ¼ tsp salt and 1tbsp sugar
How to Make It
- Start with combining all the ingredients of chicken marinade in a bowl along with chicken pieces. Let it sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Take a skillet and heat oil in it when sizzles, put chicken pieces in it and fry each piece for 3 minutes on each side.
- Heat ghee in the same pan then fry onions for 6 minutes followed by garlic and ginger and saute for 1 minute. Now add ground coriander, garam masala and cumin and cook for 20 seconds. Add crushed tomatoes, salt and chilli powder in the same pan and leave on simmer for 10-15 minutes with occasional stirring.
- Blend this mixture in a blender and then pour the pureed sauce in pan followed by sugar, thick cream and crushed kasoori methi. Now, add the fried chicken pieces and cook for 8-10 minutes until the sauce becomes thick and bubbling. Butter chicken is ready.
Samosas
Samosas might not be a mainstream full course option in Indian cuisine but they are surely the most favourite snack item for many. We bring you an easy and quick recipe to make samosas at home to enjoy with tea.
- 2 cups all purpose flour and ¼ cup oil/melted ghee
- 1/4 cup water and ½ tsp carom seeds
- 4 potatoes and ½ cup green peas boiled/frozen
- 1tbsp oil and 1tbsp ginger minced
- 1-2 green chillies chopped and 4 tbsp coriander leaves finely chopped
- 1tsp lemon juice and ¾ tsp cumin
- 1 tsp garam masala and ¾ tsp red chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder and salt as required
How to Make It
- Boil potatoes and crumble when completely cooled down and then set aside.
- Take a bowl and mix carom seeds, ghee, salt and flour and mix well. Add water gradually and form a nice dough out of it which must be stiff.
- Heat oil in a pan and add cumin when they sizzle add ginger and saute followed by peas and then cook for a while.
- Now add red chilli powder, garam masala and cumin powder and saute for 30 seconds. Add potatoes and salt as needed and saute for 2-3 minutes, add coriander then set aside to cool down.
- Knead the dough and make small balls out of it. Grease the rolling area and flatten a ball in oval shape.
- Cut the oval shape into two and smear water on edges and then join them to make a cone. Fill the potato filling inside and seal the edges with water. Make sure it is sealed well.
- Prepare all the samosas and deep fry them on low flame, 5 samosas at a time. Fry them until they become golden brown then enjoy with chutney of your choice.
Gajar ka Halwa
Gajar Ka Halwa is one sweet dish that is one of the most prominent Indian food names. Even when you do not like sweets that much, you just can’t say no to Gajar Ka Halwa. You can try this recipe to prepare the best Gajar Ka Halwa ever.
- 1 ½ kg carrots and 250gms desi ghee
- 10 whole green cardamoms and 2 cinnamon sticks
- 500gms sugar and 400gms condensed milk
- 50gms almonds and 50gms pistachio
How to Make It
- Grate the carrots and stir fry them in a pot on medium heat. Keep on stirring until excess water gets evaporated.
- Add green cardamoms, cinnamon and sugar and cook for a while followed by desi ghee then cook for 5-7 minutes.
- Finally add condensed milk and cook for a while then garnish with almonds and pistachios to serve.
Aloo Gobi
Aloo Gobi is one of the most loved Indian vegetables which is usually enjoyed with Naan or Chapati. You can definitely find it in the common Indian food menu list for sure. This is so easy to make and you can easily prepare it at home in a day to day life.
- 2tbsp vegetable oil and 1 medium head cauliflower cut into florets
- 1 diced red chilli and 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1tbsp minced ginger and 1tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp dried turmeric 1/4tsp cayenne pepper
- 3 russets peeled and chopped and a bit of kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper and freshly chopped cilantro
How to Make It
- Take a large skillet and heat oil in it on medium high heat.
- Add garlic, ginger, chilli in it and cook for 1 minute then add all the spices and salts along with cayenne and cook again for 1 minute.
- Now add potatoes, cauliflower then reduce heat and cover the skillet for slow cooking. Let it cook for 15 minutes and then serve with freshly chopped cilantro on top.
Chole
Chole or Chana Masala is one of the most loved North Indian food names. It is prepared with white chickpeas along with a lot of spices and it tastes super amazing. This lip-smacking recipe is available for you right below.
- 200gms white chickpeas pressure cooked
- 1 Onion and 1 Tomato (Medium sizes) – finely chopped
- 1/2 inch ginger and 2-3 garlic cloves crushed to paste
- Garam masala, turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
- 1 cup chickpeas stock and 2tbsp oil
- 1/2 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp amchur powder and 2-3 green chillies slit
- Salt as required and store bought chana masala powder
How to Make It
- Heat oil in kadhai and add ginger garlic paste and saute for a while. Now, add chopped onions and saute till translucent followed by tomatoes.
- As the tomatoes soften add store bought chana masala powder with red chilli powder, garam masala powder, amchur powder and turmeric powder.
- Stir the masala and add slit green chillies. Now add cooked chole and stir well.
- Add salt followed by 1 cup of chickpea stock, stir and cover.
- Let the gravy thicken on slow flame and then serve the chole with garnishing of cilantro or coriander.
Naan
Naan might be an Indian style flat bread but this is one of the most amazing creations of Indian cuisine. This is super soft in texture and available in various styles like stuffed and non-stuffed. You can try out this recipe here to learn how to prepare a naan.
- 2tsp dry active yeast and 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 cup water and 2 ½ cups flour
- 1/2 tsp salt and ¼ cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup plain yogurt and 1 large egg
How to Make It
- Take a small bowl and combine yeast, water and sugar. Let it sit for a few minutes to become frothy.
- Once it becomes frothy then add oil, yogurt and egg and combine well.
- Take another bowl and add 1 cup of flour with salt. Now, pour wet ingredients in flour mix and stir well. Now, continue adding the remaining flour.
- Now, knead a dough out of this mixture which should be smooth and non-sticky. Now cover it and let it rise to twice its size.
- After an hour, flatten the dough and divide in 8 equal parts and then make balls out of all part.
- Now, to prepare naan, heat a large skillet on medium heat. Now, roll a ball to 6 inches in diameter and about ¼ inch thick. Place this flattened dough on skillet and cook on both sides. Serve by brushing melted butter and sprinkled herbs.
Rajma
One of the most enjoyed vegetarian Indian dishes is Rajma Chawal. There are many people who love to eat rajma with chapati too. If you are looking for a good and easy Rajma recipe then we have the perfect pick for you right below.
- 1.25 cup rajma, soaked overnight and 4.5 + ½ cup water
- 2tbsp oil and 2 bay leaves
- 2-3 green cardamoms pods and 3 black cardamoms
- 1-2 cinnamon stick and 2 onions finely chopped
- 1.5 tbsp ginger garlic paste and 4 tomatoes made into a puree
- cumin powder, coriander powder, red chilli powder – ½ tsp
- 2tbsp rajma masala powder and salt as needed
- 1tbsp ghee or butter, 1tsp kasuri methi and 2tbsp coriander leaves chopped
How to Make It
- Pressure cook overnight soaked rajma with 4.5 cups water, turmeric powder, salt.
- Now, heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan and add bay leaves, cinnamon stick, black cardamom, cardamom pods and saute for a minute.
- Add finely chopped onions and cook until translucent then add ginger garlic paste and cook for a while followed by tomato puree and mix well.
- Cover the pan and cook for 10 minutes on medium heat then add all dry spices and mix well.
- Now add cooked rajma and some water of rajma stock. Cook rajma for 20 minutes by covering the pan.
- For garnishing heat ghee in a pan and add saute green chilli and ginger julienne in it. Transfer it on Rajma along with kasuri methi and chopped coriander leaves then serve.
A Few Tips for Preparing Indian Food Recipes
Indian food recipes might be difficult to prepare but they taste surely delicious and you should get to know about a few cooking hacks to master Indian cuisine. The process is the soul of Indian cooking and there are a few tips that can help you in making your dish flavorful as well as aromatic. Indian cooking isn’t actually that complex and you just need good practice to learn it completely.
Dry Roasting is the Key to Increase Flavors
Dry roasting is one of the most common cooking steps practiced in India even when preparing dishes on a daily basis. Before you use your spices in the dish, make sure to dry roast them in a pan on a slow flame for a few minutes. This increases the flavour and adds really nice aroma to the food. You can also grind them to a fine powder after dry roasting if you are preparing a gravy.
You Should Sorts All of Spices
There are hundreds and even more spices available for Indian cooking in local Indian markets. If you want to master an Indian dish then you should have all sorts of spices in your pantry. Some of the most common ones being coriander powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, black mustard seeds, bay leaves and many more. Even in everyday cooking, you need at least 4-5 spices to prepare an Indian recipe.
Always Learn by Cooking Small Quantities
Now that you know about some of the most popular Indian food names, you can finally start preparing them. However, you must not start with large quantities. Make sure that you cook your food in very small quantities to master it properly. Once you have learned it all well then you can move on to make big portions for everyone else in the family. Also, remember to start with simpler dishes especially when you are a beginner.
Keep on Experimenting
The best thing about Indian cooking is that there is a huge scope for experimenting in it. Even if you have spoiled a dish, you can always redo it by experimenting with the flavours and giving them a nice balance. You can also create various versions of a single recipe on your own and interestingly, they all can taste super delicious too. Experimenting with recipes will also help you in learning Indian cooking from a closer perspective.
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