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5 Indian Dishes Worth Trying

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5 Indian Dishes Worth Trying

An immense quantity of native, slightly spicy spices is undoubtedly something that sets Indian cuisine apart from others. Typically, restaurant menus feature both aromatic meat dishes and attractive vegetarian options. Preparing such meals does not require exceptional culinary skills. Quite the contrary! You can easily prepare them at home, as long as you use the appropriate spices.

Table of Contents

1. Indian cuisine - characteristic features

The dishes served by the inhabitants of India vary by region - those prepared in the north consist mainly of meat and sauces, while in the south the country is dominated by vegetarian dishes with the addition of seeds of pulp plants, such as garlic or lentils. The most famous dish in Indian cuisine is curry, which can be prepared in various ways. Other popular dishes include: - chicken tikka masala, i.e. marinated chicken meat in a silky sauce, - kofta, prepared on the basis of traditional Indian cheese paneer, fried in deep fat and most often served with sauce, - samosa, i.e. triangular dumplings, - butter chicken, which stands out with its slightly spicy and aromatic sauce. The basis for desserts are most often dairy products - yoghurts, milk or curd cheeses (e.g. cottage cheese). There should be no shortage of such positions in the restaurant menu as gulab jamun, which look like small donuts, or lassi - the traditional Indian drink. What connects the dishes of Indian cuisine is their taste and aroma, all thanks to the use of spices and herbs.

2. Spices utilized in Indian cuisine

Indian cuisine is characterized by the use of a variety of spices. According to the inhabitants of India, not only do they impart flavor to dishes, but they also possess and perhaps above all therapeutic properties. Therefore, they are also employed in the preparation of desserts, beverages, or snacks. The most frequently utilized spice is curry. It imparts a slightly spicy flavor to food, mainly thanks to ingredients such as turmeric, ginger, chili, amla, and cardamom. This spice blend has nutritional benefits and imparts a characteristic yellow color to dishes. The turmeric contained in it can lower total and LDL cholesterol levels and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties (A. Orkusz, L. Bogacz-Radomska 2017). Another popular spice blend is garam masala, which can consist of up to 30 different components. However, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cumin, and coriander are typically used for its preparation. The majority of these spices undergo roasting and then are ground. Other frequently used spices include lemongrass, cloves, and nutmeg.

3. Five Indian dishes worth trying

Preparation: 40 minutes (without marinating) Ingredients (per serving): Chicken: Breast (100 g), Rice: Brown (50 g), Yogurt: Greek (80 g), Oil: Olive (5 g), Spices: Garlic (5 g), Onion (15 g), Ginger (10 g), Cumin (2 g), Turmeric (2 g), Garam masala (2 g), Salt (0,5 g), Parsley (5 g). Sauce: Tomato passata (120 g), Coconut milk (30 g), Oil: Olive (5 g), Butter (5 g), Garlic (5 g), Onion (15 g), Cinnamon (0,5 g), Garam masala (2 g), Chili (2 g).

4. Vegetable curry with lentils

Preparation time: 60 minutes Ingredients (per serving): brown rice - portion (30 g), red lentils - 4 tablespoons (50 g), water - glass (240 ml), red bell pepper - 1/2 piece (115 g), tomato - piece (170 g), zucchini - 1/2 piece (200 g), carrot - piece (45 g), garlic - clove (5 g), onion - slice (15 g), coconut milk - 10 tablespoons (100 ml), olive oil - teaspoon (5 g), curry - pinch (0.5 g), turmeric - 1/2 teaspoon (2 g), salt - pinch (0.5 g). Preparation method: 1. Press the garlic through a press, finely chop the onion. 2. Cook the rice according to the instructions on the packaging. 3. Wash the vegetables. Cut the bell pepper and tomato into cubes, slice the zucchini and carrot. 4. Heat the olive oil in a pan, sauté the onion for about 5 minutes. After this time, add the garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes. 5. Add the chopped vegetables to the pan, simmer for about 10 minutes. 6. Add the rinsed lentils, pour in water, cook for 15 minutes. 7. After this time, season and pour in coconut milk. Cook for another 5 minutes. 8. Serve the dish with rice. Nutritional value (per serving): energy - 697 kcal, protein - 23.4 g, fat - 30.9 g, carbohydrates - 81.2 g, dietary fiber - 14.6 g.

5. Dahl soup from lentils

The preparation time is 35 minutes. Ingredients (per 1 serving): green lentils (5 teaspoons/60 g), water (a glass/240 ml), coconut milk (10 teaspoons/100 ml), garlic (1 clove/5 g), onion (1 plaster/15 g), olive oil (1 spoon/5 g), tomato (1 piece/170 g), curry (a pinch/0.5 g), turmeric (1/2 teaspoon/2 g), cinnamon (a pinch/0.5 g), chili (a pinch/0.5 g), salt (a pinch/0.5 g), parsley leaves (1 spoon/5 g).

6. Chicken curry of cauliflower with fried potatoes

Time of preparation: 45 minutes Ingredients (per 1 serving): cauliflower 1⁄2 pieces (200 g), potatoes piece (200 g) water 1⁄4 cup (60 g), coconut milk 10 teaspoons (100 ml), carrots pieces (45 g), tomato 1 1⁄2 pieces (85 g), garlic cloves (5 g), onions plaster (15 g), ginger root plaster (10 g), oils of olive oil 2 tablespoons (20 g), curries spices (0, 5 g), turmeric (2 g), cinnamon gr., salted onions (0. 5 g) and salted paprika (0, 3 g), peppers (0, 5 c) and parsley (0, 3 c) topped with olive oil. Chicken breast (100 g):

7. Fresh mango lassi

Preparation time: 10 minutes Ingredients (per 1 serving): ripe mango slice 1⁄2 slice (140 g), thick natural yogurt 1 1⁄2 cup (125 g) pistachios 3 slices (10 g) for sprinkling, honey spoon (12 g), cardamom pinch (0.5 g). Preparation: 1. Deseed the ripe mango slice and transfer it to a bowl to blend into a smooth consistency. 2. Add yogurt, honey, and cardamom. Blend again. 3. Pour the lassi into a tall glass and sprinkle with pistachios. Nutritional values (per serving): – energy: 271 kcal, – protein: 7.6 g, – fat: 9.2 g, – carbohydrates: 39.5 g, – dietary fiber: 3.3 g.
Source

Orkusz A., Bogacz-Radomska L., Znaczenie przypraw w żywieniu człowieka, „Nauki Inżynierskie i Technologie” 2017, 4(27), 55–65.