This article consists of 10 classic Indian recipes including butter chicken, chicken biryani, chana masala, palak paneer, aloo gobi, chicken tikka masala, samosas, dal makhani, naan, and mango lassi. Each recipe includes a list of ingredients and instructions to make the dish at home. These dishes range from vegetarian to non-vegetarian and show the diversity of Indian cuisine.
10 Classic Indian Recipes You Must Try at Home
Introduction
Indian cuisine is known for its flavorful dishes that are rich in various spices and herbs. From butter chicken to samosas, there is something for everyone to try. In this article, we have compiled a list of 10 classic Indian recipes that you must try at home.
1. Butter Chicken
Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is a famous Indian dish made with chicken marinated in yogurt and cooked with a creamy tomato sauce. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 500 grams boneless chicken
– 1 cup of yogurt
– 2 tbsp chili powder
– 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
– 2 tbsp butter
– 1 onion, chopped
– 1 cup of tomato puree
– 1 cup of heavy cream
– Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, mix yogurt, chili powder, ginger-garlic paste, and salt.
2. Add chicken to the mixture and let it marinate for at least 2 hours.
3. In a pan, heat butter and add chopped onions. Cook until onions turn translucent.
4. Add tomato puree and cook for 5-7 minutes.
5. Add marinated chicken and cook for 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is tender.
6. Add heavy cream and cook for 2-3 minutes.
7. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.
2. Chicken Biryani
Chicken biryani is a rice dish made with chicken and various spices. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 500 grams chicken
– 2 cups of basmati rice
– 3 tbsp oil
– 2 onions, sliced
– 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
– 1 tsp cumin seeds
– 1 tsp coriander powder
– 1 tsp garam masala
– Salt to taste
– 4 cups of water
– 2-3 bay leaves
– 2-3 black cardamom pods
– 2-3 cloves
– 2-3 green cardamom pods
– 1-inch cinnamon stick
– 1 tsp saffron strands
– 1/4 cup of warm milk
Instructions:
1. Wash and soak rice in water for 30 minutes.
2. In a pressure cooker, heat oil and add sliced onions. Fry until golden brown.
3. Add ginger-garlic paste and fry for 2 minutes.
4. Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add cumin seeds, coriander powder, garam masala, and salt. Mix well.
6. Add water, bay leaves, black cardamom pods, cloves, green cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, and rice. Mix well.
7. Pressure cook on high for 2 whistles.
8. Mix saffron strands in warm milk and sprinkle it on top of the biryani.
9. Serve hot with raita.
3. Chana Masala
Chana masala is an Indian dish made with chickpeas and various spices. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 2 cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
– 1 tsp cumin seeds
– 1 tsp coriander powder
– 1 tsp chili powder
– 1 tsp garam masala
– 1 tsp amchur powder (dried mango powder)
– Salt to taste
– 1 cup of tomato puree
– 1 cup of water
– Chopped cilantro for garnishing
Instructions:
1. In a pan, heat oil and add chopped onions. Cook until onions turn translucent.
2. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes.
3. Add cumin seeds, coriander powder, chili powder, garam masala, amchur powder, and salt. Mix well.
4. Add tomato puree and cook for 5 minutes.
5. Add chickpeas and water. Cook for 10 minutes, until the gravy thickens.
6. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.
4. Palak Paneer
Palak paneer is a popular Indian vegetarian dish made with spinach and cottage cheese. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 500 grams of paneer
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
– 2 cups of spinach, washed and chopped
– 1 tsp cumin seeds
– 1 tsp coriander powder
– 1 tsp chili powder
– Salt to taste
– 1 cup of heavy cream
Instructions:
1. In a pan, heat oil and add chopped onions. Cook until onions turn translucent.
2. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes.
3. Add spinach and cook until it wilts.
4. Remove from heat and let it cool.
5. In a blender, blend the spinach mixture into a fine paste.
6. In a pan, heat oil and add cumin seeds.
7. Add coriander powder, chili powder, and salt. Mix well.
8. Add the spinach paste and cook for 5 minutes.
9. Add paneer and heavy cream. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
10. Serve hot with rice or naan.
5. Aloo Gobi
Aloo gobi is a vegetarian Indian dish made with potatoes and cauliflower. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
– 1 cauliflower, chopped
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 tsp cumin seeds
– 1 tsp coriander powder
– 1 tsp chili powder
– Salt to taste
– 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
– Chopped cilantro for garnishing
Instructions:
1. In a pan, heat oil and add cumin seeds.
2. Add coriander powder, chili powder, and salt. Mix well.
3. Add potatoes and cook until they are partially cooked.
4. Add cauliflower and ginger-garlic paste. Mix well.
5. Cook for 10-15 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked.
6. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.
6. Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken tikka masala is a popular Indian dish made with marinated chicken and a spiced tomato sauce. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 500 grams boneless chicken
– 1 cup of yogurt
– 2 tbsp chili powder
– 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
– Salt to taste
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 onion, chopped
– 1 cup of tomato puree
– 1 cup of heavy cream
– 1 tsp garam masala
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, mix yogurt, chili powder, ginger-garlic paste, and salt.
2. Add chicken to the mixture and let it marinate for at least 2 hours.
3. In a pan, heat oil and add chopped onions. Cook until onions turn translucent.
4. Add tomato puree and cook for 5-7 minutes.
5. Add marinated chicken and cook for 15-20 minutes, until the chicken is tender.
6. Add heavy cream and garam masala. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
7. Serve hot with rice or naan.
7. Samosas
Samosas are a popular Indian snack made with crispy pastry dough and filled with spiced potatoes and peas. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 2 cups of all-purpose flour
– 1/4 cup of oil
– 1 tsp ajwain seeds (carom seeds)
– Water as needed
– 3 potatoes, boiled and mashed
– 1/2 cup of peas
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 tsp cumin seeds
– 1 onion, chopped
– 1 tsp coriander powder
– 1 tsp chili powder
– Salt to taste
– Chopped cilantro for garnishing
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, mix all-purpose flour, oil, ajwain seeds, and salt. Add water and knead into a dough.
2. In a pan, heat oil and add cumin seeds.
3. Add chopped onions and cook until onions turn translucent.
4. Add coriander powder, chili powder, and salt. Mix well.
5. Add mashed potatoes and peas. Mix well.
6. Roll the dough into small circles and cut them in half.
7. Take one half and shape it into a cone. Stuff the cone with the potato filling and seal the edges.
8. Deep fry the samosas until they are golden brown.
9. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with chutney.
8. Dal Makhani
Dal makhani is a creamy lentil dish made with black lentils and kidney beans. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 1 cup of black lentils
– 1/2 cup of kidney beans
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 onion, chopped
– 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
– 1 tsp cumin seeds
– 1 tsp coriander powder
– 1 tsp chili powder
– Salt to taste
– 1 cup of tomato puree
– 1/2 cup of heavy cream
– Chopped cilantro for garnishing
Instructions:
1. Wash and soak black lentils and kidney beans in water for 6-8 hours.
2. In a pressure cooker, heat oil and add chopped onions. Cook until onions turn translucent.
3. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 2 minutes.
4. Add cumin seeds, coriander powder, chili powder, and salt. Mix well.
5. Add tomato puree and cook for 5-7 minutes.
6. Add the soaked lentils and kidney beans with 4 cups of water. Pressure cook on high for 4 whistles.
7. Let the pressure release naturally.
8. Add heavy cream and cook for 2-3 minutes.
9. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.
9. Naan
Naan is a soft, leavened bread that is traditionally cooked in a tandoor oven. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 2 cups of all-purpose flour
– 1 tsp sugar
– 1/2 tsp salt
– 1/2 tsp baking powder
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1/2 cup of warm milk
– 1/4 cup of yogurt
– Butter for brushing
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, mix all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
2. Add oil, warm milk, and yogurt. Knead into a dough.
3. Cover the dough and let it rest for 2 hours.
4. Preheat oven to 500°F or as high as it can go.
5. Divide the dough into 6-8 portions.
6. Roll each portion into a teardrop shape.
7. Brush one side with water.
8. Place the naan with the watered side down on a baking sheet.
9. Bake for 2-3 minutes, until the naan puffs up and turns golden brown.
10. Brush with butter and serve hot.
10. Ras Malai
Ras malai is a sweet dessert made with flattened cheese balls soaked in sweetened milk. Here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
– 1 liter of whole milk
– 2 tbsp lemon juice
– 2 cups of sugar
– 6 cups of water
– 1 tsp cardamom powder
– 1/4 cup of chopped pistachios
Instructions:
1. In a pot, heat whole milk until it boils.
2. Add lemon juice and stir until the milk curdles.
3. Strain the curdled milk through a cheesecloth and let it hang for 30 minutes.
4. Knead the cheese until it becomes smooth.
5. Divide the cheese into small portions and make flattened balls.
6. In a pot, mix sugar, water, and cardamom powder.
7. Bring it to a boil and add the flattened cheese balls.
8. Cook for 10-15 minutes, until the cheese balls are cooked and the milk thickens.
9. Garnish with chopped pistachios and serve chilled.
Conclusion
These 10 classic Indian recipes are a must-try for anyone who loves Indian cuisine. From butter chicken to ras malai, each recipe offers a unique and flavorful taste that you won’t find anywhere else. So, put on your aprons and get ready to experience the flavors of India at home.