It may seem daunting to cook your favorite Indian dishes at home, with the cuisine's unusual and complex spices. But, if you stock your kitchen with some of the essential ingredients found in Indian cuisine, you can easily prepare these dishes and enjoy that lively, spicy taste any time you want. From tandoori chicken to palak paneer, the recipes are relatively simple. You can even learn to make your own naan, the tasty flatbread ideal for scooping up rice and sauce.
01 Murg Makhani (Butter Chicken)
Murg Makhani (butter chicken) is one of the top orders at any Indian restaurant in the West and for good reason—it is delicious. This sultry poultry dish tastes great with kaali daal (black lentils), naan, and a green salad.
If you have a well-stocked spice drawer, the only ingredient you may need is kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves). Otherwise, this recipe calls for common ingredients like olive oil, onion, garlic, ginger, butter, chicken stock, and tomato puree. The chicken is marinated twice, once in a dry rub and then in a yogurt mixture. This makes the chicken moist and flavorful, adding to the richness of the dish.
02 Tandoori Chicken
It's hard to find anyone who doesn't fall in love with tandoori chicken, that famous Indian barbecue chicken recipe. Although traditionally cooked in a clay oven, you can prepare the yogurt-marinated chicken on a grill or in the oven. You do need to plan ahead, as the coated chicken should sit in the refrigerator for 12 to 14 hours.
The signature flavor comes from the tandoor masala, a spice mixture including coriander seeds, ginger, and turmeric to name just a few. You can make your own or use store-bought. Serve tandoori chicken over basmati rice with lemon wedges on the side.
03 Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken tikka masala is a delicious grilled chicken dish with a thick, creamy gravy that is unforgettable after the first bite. A tomato-yogurt sauce is spiced with chili, garlic, ginger, and garam masala, the ubiquitous Indian spice blend. The chicken is marinated overnight, grilled, and then gently cooked in a slightly smoky gravy. You will want to serve this dish over basmati rice with warm naan bread for soaking up the sauce.
04 Rogan Josh (Red Lamb)
The literal translation for Rogan Josh, the name of this dish from Kashmir is "red lamb." The color comes from Kashmiri dry red chilies. While the name may sound fiery, the heat of the dish is toned down by the cream that is added at the end.
The list of spices called for in this recipe may seem long, but a trip to your local international food market should set you up nicely. Spices such as cardamom, cumin, turmeric, and garam masala are often sold in small bulk quantities, so they'll last for quite a long time.
05 Malai Kofta
Malai kofta (vegetable "meatballs" in a thick sauce) is the vegetarian alternative to meatballs. The koftas are made with a mix of potatoes, carrots, beans, peas, and sweet corn, which are cooked and mashed before mixing with spices and paneer, that essential blocked "cheese" that is similar to tofu in texture and a great addition to any vegetarian meal. It's rather easy to find if you don't want to make it, especially if you shop at a natural foods market. Malai kofta goes very well with naan or jeera rice.
06 Chole (Chickpea Curry)
A classic and easy chole chickpea curry, is a favorite in Northern India and has become a worldwide sensation. It's perfect for a crowd, especially if you serve it hot along with fried Indian leavened bread like poori or bhatura.
The ingredient list looks more intimidating than the recipe is in reality. Once you have the chickpeas, onions, and tomatoes, along with garlic and ginger pastes, all you need are those common Indian spices that make this cuisine unique.
07 Palak Paneer (Spinach and Cottage Cheese)
The most popular paneer recipe at Indian restaurants is, by far, palak paneer. It is a mildly flavored dish that is super healthy, as it is nothing more than spinach and cottage cheese (the paneer), along with the typical Indian spices.
Thanks to the large portions of spinach and fenugreek leaves included in the recipe, this dish takes on a deep green hue. The cubed paneer are pan-fried first, contributing a nice texture to the dish. Palak paneer gets even better when served with your favorite flatbread.
08 Kaali Daal (Black Lentils)
There are certain dishes, such as butter chicken, that go perfectly with a side of kaali daal, which is also known as ma ki daal (mom's lentils) because it is wholesome and delicious.
You'll need to soak your black lentils overnight, but after that, it's an easy recipe. The only new ingredients you'll need are ghee (clarified butter) and asafetida (a resinous gum), both of which will be useful in your Indian food adventures.
09 of 10 Papdi Chaat
Chaat has to be the most popular North-Indian snack. Vendors literally crowd the streets selling all kinds of delicious variations of chaat in this part of the country. Chaat parties are also popular and a nice alternative to a sit-down dinner.
Papdi chaat is a great introduction to this dish and a lot of fun to make. The first step is to make the papdi (or papri) dough, and then form it into thin circles and deep-fry. These wafers are then topped with potatoes and chickpeas and drizzled with a tangy, spicy, and sweet sauce.
10 Naan (Leavened Indian Flatbread)
Naan, a puffy flatbread, is a staple in the Indian kitchen and can go with everything you make, including many popular dishes like tandoori chicken or all kinds of kebabs.
Though naan (leavened Indian flatbread) is traditionally cooked in a tandoor or earthen oven, they work just as well in your own oven. The ingredient list includes yeast, flour, sugar, and water, as well as yogurt and