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Best Indian food dishes is famous worldwide for its rich flavors, aromatic spices, and vibrant colors. Each region in India has unique culinary traditions, resulting in a diverse range of dishes for all tastes.
Indian food includes curries, snacks, and desserts with distinct tastes from spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala.
The sweet, spicy, sour, and tangy flavors create sensations with every bite. Whether eating butter chicken from North India or dosa from the South, each dish reflects centuries-old culinary heritage. As Indian cuisine becomes more popular globally, people explore traditional recipes and street food to enjoy authentic Indian flavors.
The blend of modern cooking methods with old recipes has led to creative interpretations that highlight the versatility of Indian food. Every bite takes you on a journey through time and culture, leaving a lasting impression on your taste buds.
Indian cuisine is famous worldwide for its diverse flavors, vibrant colors, and rich cultural heritage. Aromatic curries and savory street food uniquely appeal to food lovers globally. Spices like cardamom, cumin, and turmeric enhance flavors and offer health benefits due to their medicinal properties.
Indian food caters to various dietary preferences with options for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, and meat-based diets. The trend towards healthy eating has made traditional Indian dishes like lentil dal and vegetable biryani popular choices on menus worldwide.
Ok, let’s now check the top 20 most popular and best Indian food dishes that have captured hearts and taste buds around the globe:
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Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Butter chicken is a famous Indian curry with chicken, onions, butter, cream, and a smooth tomato sauce.
Butter Chicken is mild and creamy, perfect for those who prefer less spicy food.
Butter Chicken is an excellent choice for anyone trying Indian food for the first time.
2. Biryani
The Mughals brought biryani from Persia to India. It is a classic Indian dish made with rice, meat or vegetables.
The ingredients are cooked separately and then combined and slow-cooked in the oven. Basmati rice is commonly used.
The meat, like goat, chicken, or mutton, is marinated in yogurt. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom are added for flavor.
Hyderabadi Biryani is the best in India. Biryani is a delicious choice to order!
3. Masala Dosa
Masala dosa is a popular dish from southern India. It is made from a batter of soaked rice and black lentils, ground into a paste, and left to ferment overnight. Fenugreek seeds are added for color and texture.
The batter is cooked on a grill with oil to make a thin pancake, then filled with potatoes, onions, and mustard seeds. It is garnished with coconut and coriander.
Masala dosa is often eaten as a quick snack or breakfast. It can be a whole meal when served with sambhar dal and idli.
This dish is famous all over India and is made with rice paste and vegetables. Eating masala dosa will keep you full for a few hours.
4. Chole Bhature
Chole bhature is a popular dish in North India. It includes spicy chickpeas served with deep-fried bread.
This meal is commonly found at street food stalls and restaurants throughout the region. Chole bhature is a mix of chana masala and bhatura puri, a deep-fried bread made from maida flour.
It is often enjoyed for breakfast and can be eaten with lassi.
5. Rogan Josh
Rogan josh is a Kashmiri dish with tender lamb cooked in a rich red curry. The spices and slow cooking make it very flavorful.
It is a red lamb or beef curry dish made with chili peppers. It is believed to be from Persia but is now associated with Kashmir in India.
The meat is browned and stewed with garlic, onions, ginger, chili pepper, and spices. Roghan josh is typically served with plain basmati rice or Naan.
6. Pani Puri
Pani puri is a type of street food made of a crispy deep-fried crepe filled with potato, onion, chickpeas, tamarind chutney, spices, and topped with flavored water.
It is served cold and should be eaten immediately. Ready-to-eat Pani puri boxes are available in stores if you need help finding them in restaurants abroad.
7. Tandoori Chicken
You may have heard of tandoori chicken. It is a popular Indian dish that marries chicken in yogurt and spices like turmeric, cardamom, coriander, ginger, garlic, red chili, and lime juice.
The chicken is grilled in a clay oven, producing a juicy and delicious main course.
8. Tikka Masala
Marinate chicken chunks in yogurt and spices like garam masala. Cook over charcoal in a tandoor oven. Mix with a creamy orange sauce made from tomatoes, paprika, and red chili. That’s chicken tikka masala! It’s a popular Indian dish that’s not too spicy.
It’s similar to butter chicken but creamier and less tomato-based. Butter chicken is from Delhi, while chicken tikka masala was supposedly created in Britain in the 1960s. Can’t decide? Pick butter chicken.
9. Aloo Gobi
Aloo gobi is a tasty dish with potatoes, cauliflower, onions, tomatoes, and spices. It’s a popular vegetarian meal with traditional Indian flavors.
Aloo gobi is a dry curry made with potatoes, cauliflower, and Indian spices. It gives it a warm, yellow-orange color from turmeric.
Other ingredients include kalonji, curry leaves, garlic, ginger, onion, coriander, tomato, peas, and cumin.
10. Jalebi
Jalebi is a famous Indian sweet made by deep-frying batter in pretzel or circular shapes and soaking them in sugar syrup.
People enjoy this special treat during festivals and celebrations. Jalebi is a favorite dessert in India, often made in a spiral shape and fried in hot oil.
It can be eaten on its own or with fresh yogurt for a tasty combination. You can find Jalebi in many parts of India at sweet shops or street stalls.
11. Kababs
The Mughals were skilled at cooking meat and introducing kabab-making to India. Kababs have become popular worldwide, especially in Britain. Minced beef mixed with spices is cooked on skewers over a charcoal fire.
12. Gulab Jamun
Gulab jamun is a tasty dessert made of soft milk dumplings soaked in sweet syrup. It’s a popular treat at parties.
To make gulab jamun, milk solids are mixed into a dough, shaped into balls, and fried in ghee. The balls are then soaked in a sweet syrup with saffron, cardamom, and rose water.
When served, gulab jamun is often topped with nuts for extra flavor.
13. Pav Bhaji
Pav Bhaji is a popular Indian fast food with spicy vegetable gravy and soft dinner rolls. The word Pav means bread roll, and Bhaji means vegetable dish in Hindi and Marathi.
It originated in Mumbai as a quick meal for textile workers and has become famous across India. You can find it in upscale restaurants, school canteens, street carts, and Indian restaurants abroad. The best Pav Bhaji is said to be in Mumbai.
14. Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken tikka masala is a popular Indian dish with marinated chicken grilled and simmered in a creamy tomato sauce. Its rich flavors and tender meat are a top choice at Indian restaurants worldwide.
This flavorful dish originated in Lahore and has become a global sensation. While many restaurants may not make the original version, they still capture the essence of its unique flavor.
15. Dal Makhani
Dal makhani is a well-known dish from North India that is enjoyed worldwide. It is a delicious Indian dish with lentils, butter, and spices.
It is usually served with roti or Naan. Dal makhani consists of slow-cooked black lentils and kidney beans in a creamy sauce.
This tasty dish is a common feature at Indian dinner tables.
16. Idli Sambar
Idli sambar is a popular South Indian breakfast. It includes soft rice cakes served with lentil-based vegetable stew. This dish is light, nutritious, and loved by all ages.
Idli sambar is made with lentils, spices, vegetables, and herbs. You can easily make this delicious meal home for a hearty and flavorful breakfast. It is also called tiffin sambar and is served with South Indian breakfasts.
17. Malai Kofta
Malai kofta is a vegetarian dish similar to meatballs. The balls are made with gourd or unripe bananas and cooked in a gravy of tomato, cream, and spices. They are served with bread or rice.
Originally from Punjab, this dish is now popular worldwide. Malai kofta is a rich vegetarian dish with deep-fried vegetable balls in a creamy gravy. It is a favorite for those looking for a special meal.
18. Amritsari Kulcha
Amritsari Kulcha is a type of bread that is both crispy and soft. It is filled with mashed potatoes and spices, similar to Naan. This recipe is top-rated in North India, especially in Amritsar, where the best Kulchas are made.
There are different types of Kulcha bread, such as Onion, Paneer, Cheese, Masala, Kashmiri, and Butter. The dough recipe for Kulcha is the same for all varieties; you need to change the filling.
19. Samosa
Samosas are delicious pastry triangles filled with spiced potatoes, onions, peas, and lentils, or sometimes with ground lamb, beef, or chicken. They are usually fried or baked until golden brown.
Samosas are served hot with chopped onions, yogurt, or Indian chutneys made with ingredients like mint, coriander, or tamarind. They are popular street food in India and are thought to have come from Central Asia along old trade routes.
20. Chicken 65
Chicken 65 is a spicy fried chicken dish from South India. Its bold flavor and fiery red make it a popular choice for those who like spicy food.
It is a favorite appetizer in South India and is commonly found on restaurant menus. It can be enjoyed as a side dish with South Indian meals like Rasam and rice or Sambar and rice.
So, Indian food is loved by many people around the world. You can find Indian dishes in restaurants everywhere. Try them at a nearby restaurant or order online. Enjoy popular curry dishes and other Indian foods at an Indian restaurant.
