Indian Recipes & Food Ideas

I want to tell you so much about this tofu tikka masala, but let me start with the sauce. It’s layered with a mess of warm spices plus the smoky flavors of charred onion and ginger all infused into the requisite tomato cream sauce. That’s what you want from tikka masala, but at the same time, this dinner wouldn’t be the stand-out star it is without the firm cubes of tofu infused with a hint of tangy yogurt and lemon juice and a light spice that seeps all the way through.

I tend to forget that I usually have all the makings for egg salad in my refrigerator. It’s such an easy, protein-packed sandwich filling; one you can doctor up with new spices and ingredients. This version of egg salad is seasoned with warm curry spices, but instead of putting it between sandwich bread, I love serving it open-faced on Indian naan bread instead.

I’ve always loved collard greens, but usually in a stewed, completely cooked-down form, with lots of broth flavored with smoky meat. But eating the greens raw never occurred to me until recently, when they were suggested as a sandwich bread substitute. Turns out they’re a great, light alternative when you’re looking for something other than bread. I always assumed raw collard greens would be tough, fibrous, and have an unpleasant vegetal taste.

Meatballs! At big dinner parties and potlucks, meatballs seem to cause a stampede like nothing else. They’re crowd-friendly, kid-friendly — and so convenient. Many of you ask frequently about meals to make ahead and freeze, and honestly, meatballs are at the top of my list. These meatballs are my all-time favorite: Warmly spiced with garam masala, fragrant with onion, ginger, and garlic, and so tender and juicy. These are also my ultimate make-ahead meal.

Is it hot where you are? I’ve been hiking around New York City in 94°F heat, and I’m about to head back to the Midwest where it is still in the high 80s. It’s so hot, most food doesn’t even sound good. Drinks, on the other hand, especially fruity drinks, sound heavenly. Here’s one that I’ve been sucking down for breakfast, since it offers both nourishment and refreshment.

This version of a shepherd’s pie plays with the regional flavors of India, and in actuality, probably shouldn’t be called a real shepherd’s pie because it has no lamb. Perhaps an Indian chicken-wrangler pie would be a better name. Notwithstanding nomenclature and food history’s neurotic exactness, this dish embodies the flavors of the subcontinent.

There’s no denying that rice pudding is at the top of the list when it comes to comforting desserts. This classic Indian version, called kheer, is spiced with cardamom and flecked with golden raisins and pistachios, and is sure to become a new favorite. This recipe comes courtesy of Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi; it’s one of her favorite things to make for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

When I visited cookbook author and blogger Mallika Basu at her home in London last year, I found her ready and waiting to whip up a batch of pudla, chickpea crepes with cilantro, green chili, and ginger — a quick and easy breakfast staple she makes frequently for her family. I loved how light yet satisfying these gluten-free, vegan pancakes were, soft in the middle, and with a crisp edge. I asked her for the recipe and tried a batch in my own kitchen, and here are they are for you today.

Mangoes are divine any time of year, but this month they are used in a special dish for Ramadan. Do you celebrate Ramadan with any specific treats or traditions? We caught up with Pakistani food blogger Shayma for some ideas on breaking the fast.“Ramadan” refers to the ninth month in the Islamic year, and it is the holiest month on the Islamic calendar.

Have you ever tasted an appam? These lacy rice pancakes are served for breakfast and alongside dinner (frankly, they’re fantastic anytime of day) in many parts of South India and Sri Lanka. They require a little advanced planning and preparation, but are so worth it!This recipe was modified from my notes while traveling in India and cooking with aunties and grandmothers in their home kitchens.

Unlike traditional samosas, these are made with puff pastry for a buttery, flaky crunch. The filling, however, is very much full of South Indian ingredients and flavors.

Naan is an Indian yeast-leavened bread, traditionally baked in a clay oven called a tandoori. You’ve probably eaten it alongside curry at your favorite restaurant, grabbed it from the bakery, or maybe you’ve already made it at home. While we often associate naan with Indian food, it can be a staple of the everyday dinner routine, as this is one of the fastest, most versatile breads you can make at home. Like most yeast breads, naan is made of flour, yeast, water, and salt.

The best part about this vegetarian bowl recipe is how easy it is to make. This makes it an ideal candidate for one of those hectic mid-week dinners when all you want is a delicious meal on the table without having to think too hard. It’s made with hearty red lentils, fresh ginger, plenty of spices, a couple handfuls of baby spinach, and coconut milk — a perfect balance of heat and creaminess.

Nandita Godbole of Atlanta, Georgia, is originally from India, and she wanted to create her own version of Thanksgiving for her family. No matter the menu, this cranberry-cherry chutney is always on the table.

Of all the many frozen meals at Trader Joe’s, their Chicken Tikka Masala is definitely a fan favorite. Devotees feel pretty strongly that it’s the next best thing to the version served at their local Indian restaurant. This slow cooker version is equally as lazy, and we’d argue it’s even more tasty. If chicken tikka masala is your go-to Indian restaurant order but you’ve never tried making it at home, here’s your invitation.

Takeout curry is one of my favorite mid-week pleasures. Warmly spiced vegetables over a bed of rice, in all its creamy glory, is nothing short of soul-soothing. However, this year my family has been laser-focused on reigning in our food budget, leaving little room for impulse takeout purchases.

At the beginning of Soup Week we asked our readers what soups they would like to learn. One soup that cropped up with surprising frequency was mulligatawny. I decided to tackle it myself, and so I turned to my latest soup handbook: Clifford Wright’s The Best Soups in the World. I grabbed his version of mulligatawny and tasted it, tested it, and ultimately tweaked it for a gently spicy, fragrant soup chock-full of turkey, onions, ginger and garlic.

If you haven't tried the warming flavors of garam masala, it's time.

We can't get enough of this Indian-inspired parfait.

This curry is simple, flavorful, and made to fit the life of my mom — a harried cook, but someone who valued the texture and taste of a meal made with love.

Think of butter chicken as tikka masala's cooler younger brother.

So much better than takeout.

Filled with chiles, chaat masala, onions, and ginger.

It's as impressive as it is easy to make.

Nik Sharma says this recipe represents California due to the bounty of gorgeous citrus in the Golden State, and the recipe’s celebration of the state’s ever-growing immigrant cuisine.

Turmeric-spiked coconut oil travels into the nooks and crannies of smashed cucumbers, while toasted coconut flakes and peanuts add a welcome crunch to the mix.

Soups, veggie dishes, and one fragrant curry.

I’ll be completely honest: Being a food writer and photographer means my family is used to eating odd food at even odder times of the day. During the summer holidays, this is not much of an issue – my daughter will happily eat breakfast for dinner if I’ve been shooting pancakes in the bright afternoon light, or sit down for supper at 8 p.m. after I’ve taken advantage of the soft evening light to get a nicely shadowed shot.

How does a warm and creamy squash curry sound to you right now? Good, right?! This vegan curry is made with rich coconut milk and infused with enough spices to make your tongue tingle. It’s the kind of dish that makes you look forward to dinner all day long. Most of the ingredients are readily available in urban areas. Some of you may already have all this stuff in your kitchens.

Earlier this week, we highlighted one of the latest additions to our spice cupboard, anardana, or dried pomegranate seeds. Experimenting with the souring ingredient led to this recipe for warmly spiced chickpeas with a touch of sweet tartness. Served with grains or tossed in a salad, they make a zestful and wholesome vegetarian meal.Note: Anardana may be found in the form of whole seeds, powder, or something in-between.

It’s about to begin, the parade of sweet treats through your office, your holiday parties, and probably your very own kitchen. Consider this granola a much-needed savory break for you and anyone lucky enough to receive it from you as a gift. Savory curry granola?, you may be thinking. That’s right: salty, crunchy, curry-spiked granola studded with toasted pecans and browned coconut chips.

Fluffy fragrant rice, richly spiced vegetables, and a scattering of raisins, cashews, and herbs make up this colorful and warming biryani. Whether you eat it as a one-dish meal or as part of an Indian feast, it’s well worth the effort to prepare. Biryani – of which there are dozens of variations in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East – is comprised of layers of rice and vegetables or meat.

CookieHere’s a recipe, and a few more thoughts on this book, which is honestly just as good for busy singles as harried mommies.I see many, many books every year that promise quicker, easier cooking. (Quick! Fast! 30-minute meals!) My tolerance of these books reached a limit long ago; they often feel dumbed-down and slightly disingenuous in their promises of ever-quicker meals.This book, though, doesn’t fall into that camp.

Pongal is a fabulous, quick, any-time-of-day base for a healthy and hearty meal. It’s sort of like an Indian risotto.I first encountered Pongal at a typical family restaurant in Mysore, India. We ordered it by pointing at another diner’s plate, our usual technique when we didn’t understand anything on the menu. The mountain of glossy, creamy rice looked simple, safe and not too heavy.Well, After one bite of the mellow, risotto-like, savory rice dish, I was smitten.

In Devesh and Tara’s Spice Pantry kitchen tour we were led on an Indian spice adventure in Tara and Devesh’s Manhattan apartment. Devesh shared two recipes: one for a typical western India breakfast item of “flattened rice,” known as “Poha” and another for the authentic way to prepare Chai. Both dishes were rather extraordinary: the poha was an unexpected, full-flavor, mildly spicy, fluffy rice full of different elements.

Chaat always brings back memories of carefree weekends spent at my parents’ beach house in India. I’d walk over to the beach in the afternoon when the tide is low enough to pick sea shells. I’d return home with my pail full and stomach empty. A gorgeous bowl of chaat would be waiting for me – crunchy, sweet, tangy, spicy, filling all at the same time. I’d sit on the verandah eating chaat, listening to the waves crashing near by and watching the kites sail over me.

If you don’t already have plans to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, these recipes might make you reconsider. Like so many holidays around the world, food is an important part of Diwali. Snacks and sweets are especially present, along with many of the classic Indian dishes you know and love. It’s the perfect excuse to get into the kitchen and cook! Read more: What Is Diwali?

Grab that blender!

Our goal for ringing in the new year? Do it with a flash of color, vibrant flavor, heat, soulfulness, and, of course, sparkle. And no food said that for me this year like the creations coming out of Asha Gomez’s kitchen. Last year year, the chef and restaurateur became a cookbook author and published one of the year’s most celebrated cookbooks: My Two Souths.

During this month of Escapes we asked some of our food blogger friends to share their food experiences and home cooking inspiration from travel and faraway places. Here’s a Roman trattoria-style recipe from the delightful Maggie of Pithy & Cleaver.When a friend of mine moved to Rome, I was consumed with pasta envy: every day, he could get amazing Spaghetti Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe, Bucatini all’ Amatriciana…what a life!

Spicy, crispy, and packed with flavor, Chicken 65 is considered an Indo-Chinese recipe; a cuisine that is hugely popular in both India and Pakistan.

Cool slabs of watermelon and cucumber. Fiery slivers of hot pepper. Dark dollops of sour tamarind. Bright dashes of orange juice and muddled cilantro. These are some of the unexpected flavors and textures featured in the cocktails I sampled at the New York, New Indian restaurant, Tabla, this week.The best part? Each deliciously different drink was simple enough to make at home.

We like to think of this as our Stone Soup recipe. With a few basic ingredients and handful of lentils, we can make enough to feed and satisfy an entire crowd. While we can’t claim that this is the most authentic dal you’ll ever eat, we can promise a darn tasty meal! Take a look…Think of this recipe as a guideline. You can add more or less of any of the vegetables depending on what you have available and then adjust the spices as needed.

It’s flowery, creamy, yellow, studded with pineapple and flecked with aromatic cardamom. Have you ever had the South Indian breakfast, Kesari Bath?spices for Kesari Bath include saffron, cardamom and vanillaKesari Bath is a traditional sweet creamed wheat dish served in many South Indian States. I had the best versions of this perfumey grain in Karnataka, India. It was served to me, as well as hundreds of other guests before a grand Indian wedding–a celebrated “love marriage.

Khara Bath, the savory preparation of Kesari Bath (featured Monday) is so satisfying, tasty and delicious, you may become addicted! This past weekend, I made it for dinner two nights in a row. Have you tried Khara Bath?Grits, polenta, Cream of Wheat, risotto, bulgur, oats, wheat berries, barley — every culture has their way to transform an innocent little grain into something sublime, but it’s the South Indian Khara Bath that steals my heart.

This is one of my absolutely favorite things to give away at the holiday time. It makes a great gift, especially if given with a hand-thrown mug and one of those long, involved novels that are best read in January. (Armchair optional.) It’s also great to keep a few batches on hand as hostess or last-minute gifts.The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility. You can adjust any of the spices to your taste and even eliminate one altogether.

Vikram Vij and his wife, Meeru Dhalwala, own maybe the most splendid Indian restaurant I’ve ever eaten at: Vij’s, in Vancouver, BC. It has many unique facets: A women-only kitchen, run by Meeru; a warm, welcoming environment dim and flickering with candles, presided over by Vikram; an incredibly fragrant, fresh interpretation of Indian dishes that each take your breath away.

Are you in the mood for some comfort food? Of course you are. But now that spring is here and summer is on the horizon, you might, however, be leaning towards something with vegetables — perhaps even a vegetarian dish? I have a proposal for you: fresh baby spinach and chickpeas, slow-cooked with ginger, garlic, and onion in a creamy coconut milk sauce, finished off with a healthy dash of lemon. But it doesn’t stop there.

When I moved to New York City almost fifteen years ago, a friend took me on a downtown tour of inexpensive places to fill my belly. One stop was the Lahore Deli, a Pakistani joint on the edge of Soho where for four dollars I could have a little box of rice, dal and veggies plus a hot cup of sweet milky chai. The chai’s share of that bill was one dollar; these days it’s a buck fifty.

All week we’re sharing Asian food recipes and inspiration here at The Kitchn. Here are some refreshing drinks to sip alongside your East, South, and Southeast Asian meals – or just to cool down on a hot summer day.

My stepdad brought Indian home cooking into my life. He and my mother had been high school sweethearts, American students at an international school in the foothills of the Himalayas where my stepdad had grown up, stuffing himself on dal and pappadums throughout childhood and cultivating a lifelong craving for fragrant vegetarian curries. Thanks to him and to recipes like this mixed bean masala, it’s a craving I now share.