Everything from creamy paneer masala to soft naan bread and tangy raita you won’t regret ditching the takeaway for these flavour-packed food items. Don’t think that these healthier dinner options won’t keep you feeling full. It’s time to get your taste buds tingling with our favorite homemade Indian dishes. Drop the phone and menu!
I have included both North Indian and South Indian foods. In North India usually different types of sabzi or gravy recipes are made for dinner and served with roti or phulka. However rajma chawal and kadhi chawal are two popular rice recipes that are made for dinner.
Here are our favorite homemade Indian dishes
1. Rajma Chawal
It is one of the regulars at any Punjabi house for lunch or dinner. Mostly it’s made on weekends and the combo of kidney beans curry with steamed rice is quite famous. This Rajma recipe is a lightly spiced, creamy and a delicious Punjabi curry made with kidney beans, onions, tomatoes and spices.
2. Paneer Butter Masala
It is an easy, quick and delicious recipe made with lot’s of veggies and spices. This is one of the most popular cottage cheese curry served in most Indian restaurants and is also made for special occasions.
3. Kadhi Chawal
This is a very popular North Indian dinner recipe of Punjabi kadhi pakora. Each state and region have their own ways of making dahi kadhi. We have Maharashtrian Kadhi, Rajasthani Kadhi, Gujarati Kadhi, Sindhi Kadhi and so on. The Punjabi Kadhi is thicker and creamier than other variations that have a slight thinner consistency. The main ingredients used to make the kadhi are more or less the same. The kadhi is either served with rice or with roti or phulka and usually made for lunch or dinner.
4. Masala Dosa
There are many popular varieties of dosa made in south India like Rava dosa, Neer dosa and Set dosa. they are usually had with Coconut chutney and sambar.
5. Dal Makhni
This is one of the most popular lentil recipe made in North India with whole urad dal and rajma. If you love authentic Punjabi food then dal makhni will top the list of your favorite food items.
6. Tamarind Rice
Tamarind rice is a popular South Indian recipe of a tangy, sour & spiced rice. The recipe dish is also known as puliyodharai in Tamil language. It is a vegan recipe.
7. Bhindi Masala
This is a semi dry lightly spiced Punjabi bhindi masala made with okra, onions and tomatoes. It goes very well with some soft pulkas or roti’s. It is made in an onion-tomato base with the regular masalas (spice powders) – a combination that is often used in Punjabi recipes. Gluten-free and vegan.
8. Sambhar
Sambar is a South Indian lentil and vegetable stew made with lentils, tamarind and a unique spice blend called sambar powder. Sambar is served with steamed rice, Idli, dosa or Medu vada or Uttapam. You can vary the consistency of sambhar and serve it with whatever dish you are making like idli or dosa or rice.
9. Veg Biryani
There are many varieties of biryani made in India. An authentic veg biryani is always slow cooked on dum. This cooking on dum gives the biriyani its uniqueness and originality. This is how the biryani has the beautiful medley of the aromas, flavors and tastes caused by the blending of the ingredients used in making it.
10. Indian Raita
Raita is a sour yummy Indian condiment made of yogurt, chopped veggies, and herbs. It’s often served with spicy dishes, as the yogurt has cooling properties that can save your taste buds from the fire of chilies. It is generally served with main course in northern parts of India.
11. Thekua Indian Biscuits
These biscuits, made with grated coconut, jaggery (unrefined sugar), and cardamom, are just what you’ll want to eat with your next cup of chai.
12. Vegan Curried Carrot Soup
Creamy and fragrant with curry powder and coconut milk, this soup is one of the tastiest ways to use up that bunch of carrots that’s been languishing away in your produce bin.
13. Baked Tofu With Vegetable Biryani
Biryani is a rice dish that’s spiced with cloves, ginger, and star anise and usually filled with ingredients like cashews and raisins. Here it gets turned into a complete meal thanks to a topping of marinated baked tofu.
14. Homemade Garlic Naan
You’ll want to scoop up your curry, dal, and soup with a piece of buttery garlic naan. If you can keep yourself from eating it plain right off the skillet, that’s it.
These are some of the best Indian dishes which are eaten every day in every single part of India. They’re packed full of flavour and nutrients and are easy on the wallet too. Some really high in nutrition like dal makhni and paneer masala while others are incredible in taste and health. Which is your favourite Indian dish that you’ll never get bored of having every single day?
