Rich in flavors, spices, scents and textures, Indian cuisine continues to seduce us. Presentation and recipes.
When the temperatures start to drop, who hasn’t wanted a nice creamy curry? A delicious and satisfying dish, whose aromas perfume the kitchen, and the orange hues are comforting when it’s cold. If this more or less spicy dish has won many hearts in the four corners of the globe, the word itself is not used in its country of origin. Indeed, in India, different names are used depending on the region to designate this dish with spice, herb and chili sauce. These ingredients also constitute the basis of many Indian recipes, whose rich, healthy and diverse gastronomy has not failed to influence many neighboring countries (and not only that).
Key ingredients
Impossible to mention Indian gastronomy without talking about spices. Chili pepper, cardamom, cumin, ginger, turmeric, cloves or saffron: so much flavor and colors inseparable from the cuisine and even culture of the country. Garam masala, a typically Indian spice blend, is currently sold in many supermarkets around the world, particularly here in France. To counterbalance preparations that are often very spicy, it is very common in India to accompany your dishes with a small bowl of yogurt.
Rice and legumes are also other key ingredients of the country, as well as oilseeds and seeds. Indian cuisine is mainly prepared with plant-based fruits and vegetables, and vegetarianism is very widespread across the country, particularly for religious reasons. Indeed, the consumption of beef and pork being prohibited by Hinduism and Islam, it is rather chicken, mutton or fish which are honored by the country’s chefs.
Iconic recipes
Among the most popular recipes is the legendary biryani, made with rice and spices. Depending on the region, it is prepared with beef, chicken, lamb or even shrimp, particularly in the Kerala region in the southwest. In the south of the country, vegetarian biryanis are more widespread with recipes based on cauliflower, pumpkin or beans.
Who doesn’t know naans, these breads cooked on the hot wall of an oven? In India, they are served as an accompaniment to many recipes. There are many variations in the region, also popularized in neighboring countries, but the best known remain plain naan, cheese naan (with cheese), or even chili naan.
As an aperitif, let yourself be tempted by homemade samosas, whose traditional Indian filling is made up of potatoes, peas and spices. As for drinks, there is of course the iconic chai, black tea with spices and boiling milk, but also lassi, a drink made from sweet or savory flavored yogurt.
For dessert, again the Indian cuisine did not do things by halves. Among the best-known dishes, there is gulab jamun, adorable little balls of dough cooked in oil, flavored with cardamom, or barfi, a cake with condensed milk and sugar, garnished with fruit or nuts.
To follow: 12 recipes other than curry to introduce you to Indian cuisine.
Indian chickpea and red onion salad
© Virginie Garnier and Aimery Chemin
- 4 people
- Level: Very easy
- 20 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Indian chickpea and red onion salad
Paratha
© Virginie Garnier and Aimery Chemin
- 6 persons
- Level: Very easy
- 20 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Paratha
Indian scrambled tofu
© David Loftus
- 2 persons
- Level: Very easy
- 15 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Indian scrambled tofu
Tandoori skewers and crunchy vegetables
© Jérôme Bilic
- 6 persons
- Level: Easy
- 20 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Tandoori skewers and crunchy vegetables
Daal muradabaadi
© Jérôme Galland
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 30 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Daal muradabaadi
Rose crème brûlée
© Lisa Klein Michel
- 8 people
- Level: Very easy
- 25 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Rose crème brûlée
Lamb shoulder with Goan spices, basmati rice
© Lisa Klein Michel
- 6 persons
- Level: Quite difficult
- 120 minutes of preparation
- Dear
- See the recipe: Lamb shoulder with Goan spices, basmati rice
Payasam with coconut milk and rose
© Virginie Garnier and Aimery Chemin
- 4 people
- Level: Very easy
- 15 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Payasam with coconut milk and rose
Salmon in a sesame crust and tandoori spices
© Virginie Garnier and Aimery Chemin
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 15 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Salmon in a sesame crust and tandoori spices
Beetroot tikki
© Lisa Klein Michel
- 6 persons
- Level: Quite difficult
- 120 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Beetroot Tikki
Pumpkin Vegetable Biryani
© Lisa Klein Michel
- 6 persons
- Level: Quite difficult
- 180 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Pumpkin Vegetable Biryani
Chicken biryani with sweet spices, pine nuts, yogurt sauce
© Valéry Guedes
- 4 people
- Level: Easy
- 45 minutes of preparation
- Cheap
- See the recipe: Chicken biryani with sweet spices, pine nuts, yogurt sauce