India is a fascinating country with a diverse history. From the different cultures to 900+ distinct languages, India is culturally rooted. There is no doubt that India’s food is one of the most widely recognized things. With these Indian dishes, indulge in the pleasures of one of the world’s most renowned cuisines and discover the wonder of Indian cooking in its purest form.
Visiting India is a must for world travelers, and we also recommend the best places to visit in India if you plan a trip there. The variety of tourist locations in India appears endless, from aesthetically and culturally rich sites to cities bursting with commotion and chaos to places offering laid-back and peaceful stays. Of course, if you can’t make the trip, you can always enjoy the fabulous foods of India at your favorite local Indian restaurants or even recreate dishes in the comfort of your own home.
Oozing with magnificent cuisine, these dishes can be found anywhere from the metropolis of Mumbai to the beaches of Goa. With their scents, textures, and flavors, they awaken the sensations and encapsulate the essence of Indian cuisine.
And if you’d ever like to cook these dishes at your home, you want to be sure you’re using the best cookware that will leave you with perfectly cooked meals. A robust, durable, and versatile cookware set is a must for just about any kitchen.
All that said, if you’re looking to try a taste of the many wonderful cuisines from India and don’t know where to start, we’re here to help. We visited 12 “expert” websites to find the best Indian food, looking for the dishes most frequently mentioned in their reviews. If you have your own suggestions, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below the post.
The List: Best Indian Food, According To The Pros
1. Dosa
Chef’s Pencil says, “The humble Dosa is an ode to the unending love between the people of this country and rice. Dosa is the ever-popular South Indian breakfast of crispy crepes made with fermented rice and lentil batter. It is usually poured into a thin crispy crepe and served with spiced mashed potatoes, lentil stew called sambar, and coconut chutney.”
“Dosa is undoubtedly one of the kings of Indian breakfasts. While most historians believe dosa came from the Udupi cuisine of Karnataka, there is still debate that it originates from Tamil Nadu. What is indisputable, however, is that dosa is now beloved and enjoyed throughout the entire country,” writes Nomad Paradise.
“Typically it is served with an array of Chutneys and Sambar. It is also prepared in a plethora of variations like Masala Dosa, Set Dosa, Uthappam, Paper Dosa, Rava Dosa, 70 mm dosa, Pesarattu, paneer dosa, chicken 65 dosa, cheese dosa and Pizza Dosa,” notes wonderful wanderings.
Lacadamie adds, “Indians will love to use this dish for a light and quick breakfast. When eating, you will feel the crispiness of the dosa and the fatness of the potato filling. The peppery notes from the spices mixed accentuate everything.”
2. Butter Chicken
“This dish is quite similar to the famous chicken tikka masala since they are all curries and require tomato sauce as the soup base,” writes Lacadamie. “In this real Indian treat for dinners, the chicken meat will be tastefully tender and soaked with the tomatoes’ sourness and mild sweetness.”
The Travel adds, “Butter chicken was accidentally invented in the Moti Mahal restaurant in New Delhi when leftover chicken pieces were mixed with sauce. This dish is enjoyed with naan, roti, or even with rice.”
“Butter chicken is mouth-watering, tender chicken, cooked in a spiced tomato sauce. It’s traditionally cooked in a tandoor (a cylindrical clay or metal oven), but may be grilled, roasted or pan-fried in less authentic preparations,” says Blueosa.
Asia Highlights adds,” Comfort food like no other, nothing beats the satisfaction of lapping up the delightfully thick gravy with a crisp garlic naan while sipping on a cold beer.”
“Butter chicken is our go-to curry. We never tire of it!”declares Sand in my suitcase. Butter chicken is an especially good pick if this is your first time eating Indian food. This website ranked butter chicken as number 2 overall.
3. Samosa
“Another popular Indian street food is samosa. Samosas contain a small amount of spicy potato or meat filling that is then wrapped in dough and deep-fried until crispy and flaky,” writes Sukhi’s.
Out of all the sites, Eat This, Not That writes ranked Samosa in the second position. “Any meal where you’re able to secure a dish of fried, stuffed dough pockets is bound to be a good one. The shape and preparation varies based on their location of origin, and while some types have meat, others are suitable for vegetarians.”
“What food is India known for that can act as an easy takeaway snack? Samosas! A samosa is a traditionally fried conical snack made out of dough stuffed with a savory filling, sealed and then deep-fried to a crisp golden color. The usual stuffing is made out of potato, lentils, peas, or minced meat and onions or even noodles. They are usually accompanied with mint and tamarind chutneys,” says wonderful wanderings.
4. Chana Masala (or Chole Bhature)
“Sometimes called chole bhature, this much-loved street food and home-cooked dish is one of the most popular in the country. This dish can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as an evening snack and is commonly sold in North India, especially Delhi,” says Asia Highlights.
“Crunchy bhature dipped in a wonderfully spiced chole, garnished with diced onions, cilantro, and a dash of lemon explodes with flavor and will always leave you wanting more,” writes Nomad Paradise.
“This dish is best enjoyed on an empty stomach,” says Chef’s Pencil. “You can find this lip-smacking dish at all food joints, be it local joints or restaurants, given its popularity with Delhiites. It is generally accompanied by a thick, cold glass of Lassi.”
“This will be the first curry on this list, and I want it to be a dish that looks both light and healthy,” “says Lacadamie. “ In India, this dish is often served during holidays or special occasions, and you should definitely try to eat with bare hands when it comes to this food.”
5. Vada Pav
“The finger food delicacy is generally accompanied by a couple of chutneys and a green chilli, to appeal to the spice loving palettes of Indians up and down the country,” writes Jacada Travel.
Lacadamie adds, “The meat patty-like part stuffed inside this delicious sandwich from India is actually potato balls. They are usually mixed with green chili and garlic chili sauce and fried until crispy brown. That is a delicacy you should definitely try once in a lifetime”
Culture Trip writes, “Vada pav is a vegetarian fusion of potato patty, chilli and other spices sandwiched in a bread roll known as a pav. What began as a simple and cost-effective snack has gone on to achieve widespread popularity in India”.
“If you are not a Mumbaikar, this is something that should not be skipped, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or teatime,” says Chef’s Pencil.
Sources
- Chef’s Pencil
- Nomads Paradise
- wonderful wanderings
- Lacadamie
- The Travel
- Blueosa
- Sand in my suitcase
- Asia Highlights
- Sukhi’s.
- Eat This, Not That
- Jacada Travel
- Culture Trip
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