You don't need to travel far to get a change of scenery, but you can also travel through your plate. Whether you're in India or elsewhere, you can discover the country through its many culinary specialties. Spicy lovers and vegetarians alike will easily find what they're looking for in this cuisine, which features vegetables and chillies, among other flavours. Discover the 20 best Indian culinary specialties and prepare your palate, this selection will be spicy!
1- Naan, the famous Indian bread
In the eyes of the world, naan is toIndia what baguette is to France. However, this lightly puffed flatbread is eaten in many Asian countries. Its familiar shape is a legacy of the Persian Muslim conquerors who came to India in the 16th century. Since then, naan has undergone a number of variations, including cheese, parsley butter and garlic.
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2- Lentil and curry dahl
Dahl is a vegetarian sauce dish made with legumes. It takes its name from dal, the word used in India to designate several types of legume. Although there are over 50 varieties of legume in India, the most popular dahl is chana dal, made from a variety of chickpeas, or masoor dal, made from red coral lentils. In fact, dahl is one of the 10 succulent dishes you must try on your travels.
3- Try Pakoras
For a quick bite to eat, as an appetizer or side dish, don't hesitate to try pakoras. These fried vegetable fritters are made with chickpea flour and spices. They are generally made with zucchini, eggplant or potato and are eaten mainly inUttar Pradesh, the region of the country where the Taj Mahal is located.
4- Palak Paneer for vegetarians
If India is one of the best destinations for vegetarian eating, it's not for nothing! According to one study, over 40% of Indian families are vegetarians. Among the country's leading meatless recipes, don't miss out on palak paneer. This North Indian dish is a spinach, spice and tomato sauce to which paneer, India's famous soft cheese, is added.
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5- Best Indian culinary specialties: Aloo Gobi
Always vegetarian, aloo gobi is a traditional dish based on potatoes, cauliflower and spices such as turmeric, ginger, cumin and red pepper. This dish is said to be a "dry" curry, meaning it has no liquid sauce. If you don't like spicy food, don't bother!
6- Samoussas
A classic of Indian street food and very popular around the globe, samoussa is a small triangular doughnut originating from the Middle East and Central Asia. Made from a thin wheat flour dough, the filling is a choice of vegetables or meat with spices and chili.
7- Enjoy Chicken Tikka Masala, one of India's finest culinary specialties
India is a must-visit destination for culinary travel, and this is partly thanks to the international popularity of chicken tikka masala. However, this dish isn't actually native to India. While its origins are uncertain, it is thought to have either originated in the UK in an Indian restaurant in Glasgow, or to have been adapted from a local dish to suit the tastes of settlers from England. This famous dish consists of cooked pieces of chicken in a sauce based on tomato, yoghurt and various spices.
8- Bhajjis, spicy fritters
Whether eaten on their own, as a side dish or as an appetizer, bhajjis are small fried fritters made with onions. Traditionally, onions are mixed with rice, chickpea flour, spices and chilli.
9- India's finest culinary specialties: Chicken Korma
Originally from Central Asia, korma comes from the Urdu word kormah , meaning to braise. In this dish, the meat and vegetables are braised beforehand. Broth, yoghurt or cream and a mixture of spices are then added to the dish. This dish can be very spicy, and is commonly made with mutton or chicken.
10- Raïta, a yogurt-based sauce
Perfect for accompanying meat kebabs or vegetable fritters, raïta is above all a sauce that softens the taste of spicy dishes. Made from yoghurt, it is mixed with vegetables such as cucumbers, onions and green chillies, before adding cumin and black mustard seeds.
11- Enjoy Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is, as the name suggests, cooked in the tandoor : an earthenware oven traditionally buried in the ground. The chicken is seasoned with a variety of spices before being marinated in yoghurt. It is then placed in the tandoor to cook, usually accompanied by saffron rice.
12- Aloo Chaat, typical of northern India
Aloo chaat is a typical North Indian street food dish. Made from potatoes cooked in oil and seasoned with spices and chutney, it can also be eaten as a side salad. Note that in India, this dish is very common and can be presented in several forms, depending on the region you're in.
13- Hyderabadi Biryani
Biryani is a rice-based dish derived from the Persian word beryā, meaning "fried". Also imported to India by Muslim travelers, this dish is also very popular in the Middle East. Rice is generally prepared with spices, and meat, eggs or vegetables are added to the dish. Hyderabadi biryani is made from meat, mainly lamb.
14- Drink a Lassi
A kind of Indian milkshake, lassi is a refreshing gourmet drink made from fermented milk and water. Above all, it's the ideal drink to soothe chili burns! It can be enjoyed either sweet or savoury, but you'll mainly find it plain, with mango, ginger or rose.
15- India's finest culinary specialties: Mirchi ka Salan
A dish typical of central and southern India, mirchi ka salan will delight fans of spicy dishes. This dish in a sauce is usually served with a biryani, for example. This dish of "curried chillies" consists of green chillies seasoned with a variety of spices and accompanied by peanuts, sesame seeds, ginger and coconut.
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16- Chicken Karahi
Chicken karahi is a spicy dish typical of South Asian cuisine. What distinguishes karahi from other curries is that no onions are added to the base of the dish. It takes its name from the type of wok in which it is prepared. You'll find chicken, tomatoes, ginger and garlic, seasoned with a variety of spices. This dish can also be made with lamb or mutton.
17- Enjoy Kulfi ice cream for dessert
To end your meal on a sweet note, and to put out the fire that all those spices have left in your mouth, try kulfi ! This traditional Indian ice cream made with reduced milk comes in a jar or a cone. It comes in a variety of flavors, including rose, pistachio, saffron and cardamom.
18- Gulab Jamun, one of India's finest culinary specialties
More a delicacy than a dessert, gulab jamun consists of dough made from flour and milk, fried in oil. The dough is then sweetened and rosewater and cardamom are added for flavor. Saffron is often added to the dough to give it a pretty color. You can easily find gulab jamun in street food outlets in different parts of the country.
19- Bebinca, a Goa specialty
This dessert made from several layers of pastry comes from the Goa region, located next to the Karnakata area. Traditionally, the cake has between 7 and 16 layers. The dough consists of flour, sugar, egg yolk, ghee and coconut milk.
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20- India's best culinary specialties: Payasam
Payasam, also known as kheer and with other names depending on the region, is a traditional dessert. It is often prepared as prasād, an offering made during Hindu ceremonies, and is one of the country's oldest desserts. It consists mainly of vermicelli cooked in sweet milk, which is then flavored with cardamom, saffron, cashews or raisins.
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