Top 5 Best Indian Foods
India is an expansive land of great diversity and rich traditions. Common ingredients used in its cuisine are grains like rice and wheat, pulses (lentils and chickpeas) as well as clarified butter in the form of ghee.
Dosa is southern India’s version of crepe, featuring delectable fillings and robust chutneys, plus its fermentation-fed batter is both gut-friendly and gluten-free!
Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is an iconic Indian dish of marinated and roasted meat. While traditionally prepared in a cylindrical clay oven known as a “tandoor,” this recipe can also be done using regular oven or pan methods. First marinating with yogurt and spices before roasting until the chicken has become tender while boasting its signature smoky flavor.
Indian restaurants worldwide serve this classic Indian dish, which can often be found with either rice or naan bread as part of a buffet spread. It features mild spice levels to satisfy most palates while remaining low in calories and fat while providing ample iron to support overall wellbeing.
Smoky and delicious flavors combine perfectly in this dish, making it the ideal dish for any celebration or special event. Serve as either an appetizer or main course, this easy recipe can be prepared ahead of time and the ingredients can easily be found at any grocery store.
Although chicken can be an excellent source of protein, it may contain excessive fats and cholesterol levels. Therefore, it’s best to consume this food in moderation and choose natural-grown chicken without being injected with any chemicals; furthermore, opt for grilled instead of fried varieties when choosing this food option.
At the core of every delicious tandoori chicken is its seasoning – commonly referred to as “tandoori masala.” This mixture includes several spices that are ground together into an irresistibly aromatic blend containing garlic, coriander seeds, cayenne pepper flakes, turmeric and ginger for maximum authenticity. You can purchase premade seasoning in stores but for maximum authenticity create your own homemade mixture from scratch with some added lime juice for an enhanced flavor boost! For optimal results let the chicken marinade for at least overnight but an hour at room temperature will suffice.
Dal Makhani
Dal makhani is an irresistibly creamy mixture of lentils and beans simmered in butter, cream and carefully spiced seasoning, creating an indulgent yet fulfilling dish. While traditionally prepared in tandoor ovens for its signature smoky taste, you can also create this dish at home using slow cooker or stovetop simmer. Experimentation can have an immense influence on flavor and texture so be sure to experiment until you find one you prefer most!
Dal Makhani is an excellent source of dietary fiber, protein and vitamins – particularly B vitamins such as folic acid and B6, both essential components in energy metabolism and red blood cell production. Furthermore, this dish also boasts minerals like iron, potassium and magnesium as well as quercetin (an antimicrobial flavonoid that supports healthy immune functions) from coriander leaves used in this recipe.
To create this delicious meal, soak black lentils and rajma beans overnight, before boiling until softened before adding garlic-ginger paste, tomato puree, makhani powder, garam masala and salt according to taste. Mix thoroughly while cooking over medium heat for several minutes before reducing it to low and simmering for 30-40 minutes; adding water as necessary until desired consistency is reached before stirring in fresh cilantro and kasoori methi before serving.
This dish can be served with accompanying accompaniments that complement its flavors, such as tandoori roti, naan, butter paratha or plain rice, to enhance and intensify its taste. However, due to its high calorie count and portion control considerations when trying to manage weight, one serving of dal makhani contains about 100 calories; to lower this figure use low-fat milk or cream instead of full-fat dairy products or vegetable oil instead of ghee for better results without losing flavor or nutritional value.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Tikka Masala is an easily re-created restaurant staple at home. This meal combines succulent grilled chicken simmered in a tomato fenugreek sauce finished off with cream and butter – delicious Indian comfort food that also packs lots of nutritional goodness into one delicious bite! Plus it makes great use of chicken breast, plain yogurt, tomatoes, ginger garlic as flavor enhancers – an important source of protein to build muscle mass and repair cells!
Chicken marinated in an aromatic mixture of herbs and spices before grilling or baking produces tender meat with an irresistibly juicy texture that boasts delicious smokiness. After this step, it is tossed in the creamy curry sauce featuring coconut and almond to offset its spice level, before being served over basmati rice with its distinct textures and flavour profiles – for an added twist, try baking homemade naan to complete this experience!
This dish is immensely popular and there are multiple variations for it. However, its basic components remain similar: tandoori-seasoned chicken chunks swimming in creamy tomato curry sauce. There have been various tales surrounding its origin; perhaps from Punjabi cuisine in the 1920s or maybe created by Ali Ahmed Aslam himself in 1971.
The dish’s signature smoky flavour comes from its two-step marinating process: firstly, chicken is marinated with salt and lemon juice for about ten minutes; after which it is marinated again with ginger, garlic, garam masala cumin powder coriander chili powder and paprika for two additional hours before it is finally skewered and grilled.
Chicken is then combined in the creamy coconut and almond sauce before it is served over basmati rice for an excellent textural and flavour combination. If desired, add a pinch of saffron before cooking it to give this dish even more exquisite golden hue and enhance its tastiness!
Dosa
CNN named dosa one of the 50 Best Foods of All Time by declaring it one of India’s 50 Must Eats; dosa is a thin and crispy folded pancake made from a fermented batter of fermented batter made with fermented batter made of rice and black gram (urad dal). Dosas can either be enjoyed plain or filled with spiced filling; typically it comes served plain with or accompanied by sambar (light stew of vegetable and lentil) and coconut chutney; dosas can be found anytime day or night at cafes and restaurants across India or elsewhere worldwide.
No matter your palate, Indian restaurants provide plenty of delicious choices from traditional masala dosa to more unique creations such as idli and dosa with potato filling, paneer cheese or other fillings like cheese. Dosas should always be enjoyed with both hands; many Indian restaurants will provide sinks equipped with soap and water so you can clean your fingers between bites – only use your right hand for eating while leaving your left for other tasks!
Dosa batter can be prepared by soaking and grinding both urad dal (red lentils) and moong dal (black beans), then mixing in salt and sour yogurt before creating a thick batter. Allow to sit overnight in an open-mouth glass jar in your fridge.
Once the batter is prepared, heat a dosa pan or griddle on medium-high and spread oil evenly with a clean cloth. Pour one ladleful of batter in the center of the pan; spread with your ladle as you move it in circular motions around to create an even coating around its perimeters until its edges begin to brown before flipping with a spatula until both sides become golden-brown in color.
Dosa is both delicious and nutritious. Low in calories and full of essential fiber and iron content, plus protein and calcium for bone health benefits as well as helping to maintain weight management. Plus it’s super easy to prepare at home – all it requires is some patience and a few ingredients!