India and its flavors
May 10, 2024
Nothing better than letting yourself be transported by the aromas and flavor of Indian cuisine. Traveling is also eating, so we leave you with the 14 best dishes of Indian cuisine.
The gastronomy of a country is the perfect way, not only to enjoy good food, but also to get to know the culture and customs of the place you are traveling to.
If you have come this far you are probably planning your trip to this fascinating country. So the first thing you have to know is that there are 14 dishes that you should not miss to try the best of this delicious cuisine.
What is Indian cuisine like?
But first of all, we want to explain to you what Indian cuisine is like and what type of food you are going to try in this country . In India, the first thing that catches your attention is the flavor of spices and seasonings , always perfectly combined to enhance the delicious taste of the dishes.
Some of the most characteristic Indian flavors are cayenne, cloves, ginger, cardamom or saffron. With a mixture of these and other spices you get the famous garam masala or curries which, after all, are the perfect mix of various seasonings.
In Indian cuisine you will find all kinds of stews and legumes, rice and vegetables are also widely used , always with curries or masalas. A truly exotic flavor that is sometimes accompanied by chai (tea), one of the country’s star drinks that is also served with spices and aromatic herbs.
Indian starters or snacks
1. Samosa
Samosas are a typical empanada from India but also from other nearby countries such as Pakistan or Tibet. It is a dish that is also common to find in Indian restaurants or kebabs in Europe. Inside the samosa there is a potato filling accompanied by vegetables. The texture of the outer dough is very crunchy and is served fried. Like many dishes in the country, it is a vegetarian snack. The price of a samosa is about €0.25.
*The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
2. Masala Dosa
Masala dosa is a kind of crepe or galette rolled with potatoes, onion, curry, turmeric, cilantro, rice and lentils. It is a filling dish, since these and many more ingredients are hidden inside this crêpe accompanied by a coconut chutney. This dish is vegetarian cuisine and also has a spicy touch.
It is normally served in two different sizes and the price is usually around €0.60. It is a dish that is eaten with your hands and that you can find both in street stalls and in restaurants.
*The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
**Prices updated as of June 2023.
3. Chole Bhature
When you are in Delhi, the capital of India, you cannot miss the chole batura. It is a puffy fried bread eaten with chole , a paste of spicy chickpeas and spices. This combination is designed for you to dip the bread in the chole and enjoy a pleasant contrast between the milder flavor of the bread with the spiciness of the sauce.
This dish originates from Punjab and is usually eaten as a quick meal or for breakfast. If you eat it for breakfast you will see that it is often accompanied by lassi, a drink made from coconut, water, spices, yogurt and, sometimes, fruit.
4. Bhelpuri
Source: stu_spivack
This snack is made with a base of chickpea flour noodles, puffed rice and tamarind sauce . It is sometimes served in a cone format with a spoon and can be enjoyed while visiting the city. It is common to see it in Bombay, especially in the beach area, where people come to have this tasty snack.
5. Kati roll
If you want to try an authentic kebab, you will surely love the kati rolls: a paratha bread dough rolled with lamb and vegetables inside. It is also common to find kati rolls with chicken meat. It is eaten accompanied by a refreshing sauce, lime or lemon or chaat masala , a mixture of spices that contains mango powder. The price of a kati roll ranges from €0.40 to €1.80 approximately.
*The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
**Prices updated as of June 2023.
6. Daulat ki chaat
Daulat ki chaat is a type of soufflé – as the Indian food critic Pushpesh Pant calls it – made with milk, cream, sugar, pistachios and spices such as saffron. It is especially common in the city of Delhi, especially when the temperatures are pleasant, as the heat destroys it. Its price is very economical: a serving costs about €0.25.
*The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
**Prices updated as of June 2023.
Typical Indian main dishes
7. Kashmiri Aloo Dum
Kashmiri Aloo Dum is a potato-based vegetarian dish . It is a recipe that is part of the traditional gastronomic culture of the Kashmir region, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir , in the north of the country. Even so, this dish can be eaten throughout the country in different versions.
To prepare Kashmiri Aloo Dum, what they do is first fry the potatoes in oil and then slowly cook them in a characteristic spicy sauce that gives a touch of grace to the dish.
8. Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken cooked the traditional way in a clay oven – Source: Nitinmaul
Tandoori chicken is a very popular dish in Southeast Asian cuisine . It consists of an oven-roasted chicken with spices. In fact, tandoor means clay oven and is cooked with firewood and charcoal .
The mixture of spices with which the chicken is cooked is called tandoori masala. This mixture can consist of coriander, cumin, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, cayenne, pepper, ginger, cloves and bay leaf, among others. But you must keep in mind that the proportions and number of species of tandoori masala will vary depending on the region of India in which you are.
9. Chicken Tikka Masala
Tikka masala, a typically Indian dish – Source: Preeti Tamilarasan
Chicken tikka masala has arrived in the West as one of the most international Indian recipes. Despite this, there is nothing like tasting an authentic chicken tikka masala in India, where you can try the real recipe for this popular dish.
This dish is made up of chicken tikka – that is, chicken marinated with yogurt and spices and cooked in the oven – and masala sauce. Masala literally means “ mixture of spices ”, so the dish has a very aromatic flavor. It is also cooked with tomato sauce and coconut milk.
Indian sweets
10. Mithaa paan
In northern India, especially in towns such as Bombay, Agra or the Rajasthan area, you can find mithaa paan. Paan is made of a rolled betel leaf that contains other ingredients , usually salty. In the case of mithaa paan, the flavor is sweet (thanks to sugared fennel, cardamom or coconut, depending on the recipe) and this is why it is especially pleasant for both children and adults. Its approximate price is about 0.25 euros).
There are some scriptures in the cookbook Nimmatnama-i Nasiruddin-Shahi that already describe paan recipes, making it a centuries-old type of dish that has endured to this day.
*The prices indicated will be paid in local currency.
**Prices updated as of June 2023.
11. Jalebi
When walking through an Indian city you see a dessert in the shape of a flower or spiral, you will surely be in front of the renowned jalebi. These sweets are made from maida flour , sugar and oil and are bathed in a syrup with cardamom, saffron and lemon, which gives them a very characteristic flavor.
Jalebi are also known as zulbia and are popular in several Asian and North African countries. They are served cold and sometimes warm and when you bite into them you will notice the small sugar crystals inside. They are usually accompanied by lime or lemon juice or rose water.
12. Falooda
And if what you are looking for is a refreshing drink , a perfect alternative is falooda. This drink is made with milk, basil seeds, ice cream, vermicelli noodles, fruit, and ice cream. A mixture that may seem curious to the traveler but is very common in northern India or Myanmar. There are some variants of this drink that are accompanied by some type of syrup, such as rose water.
Typical Indian drinks
13. Masala chai
For breakfast or after dinner, a good option to finish the meal is with a good masala chai. Street tea vendors sell it especially during the evening, when workers return home and take it on the way.
Masala chai is a tea that is boiled with water and milk . As is common in sweet and savory Indian dishes, this drink is also accompanied by various spices, such as cardamom, cloves or pepper.
14. Chaas
Chaas is a typical drink throughout the country. It is characterized by being a drink made from yogurt , which gives it a slightly creamy texture, very cold water, salt and spices such as cumin. The yogurt can be fresh or a yogurt that is already a little sour, which will give it a slightly stronger flavor.
In India it is believed that this drink has digestive properties . Its flavor is refreshing, perfect for the hottest days in India. It is drunk all year round, especially in summer, accompanied by ice.
