India is a country which is famous for its culture and cuisine. Indian cuisine consist a variety of food recipes ranging from historic era’s famous foods to newly discovered food items with few twist and turns. It also provides the best vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes found around the world.
Each region in India boasts of its specific flavor and every state has one or more dish to endorse. With region, changes taste, cuisine, ingredients, specialties and history of food. Following are the few best Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
Indian Food Recipes:
1. Pulao:
Pulao is a famous vegetarian food which is cooked very often in every house. It is basically a North Indian dish but it is famous all around the country as it’s much easier to cook with very less ingredients. It requires basic ingredients like basmati rice, few spices, cashews and raisins. There are many ways to make and customize a simple vegetable pulao like you can add chopped vegetables in it or soya beans in it or add egg, chicken, mutton to turn it into a non-vegetarian dish.
2. Biryani:
The most popular dish in India is biryani. It is also a rice based dish cooked with spices, rice (basmati), and chicken/mutton/fish/egg or simply with potato. It was invented by the Mughal emperors. The spices and other ingredients used in biryani include ghee (clarified butter), nutmeg, mace, pepper, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, bay leaves, coriander, ginger, onions and garlic. For garnish ingredients like raisins, cashew nuts and even caramelized onion are also used. Biryani is a delicacy, savory, and a must try indeed!!
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3. Daal Baati :
Rajasthani food is incomplete without the mention of daal baati. The dal is served along with baati which is made of wheat flour, yoghurt, salt and oil. For preparing baati it is important to make the dough first. Then small balls are made from the dough and are boiled in water later baked or can be fried for richer version. For making daal, rajma (kidney beans) and urad dal are used. It is cooked separately and later served along with the baatis.
4. Chili Butter Prawn:
It is a simple recipe for prawns in a garlicky sauce which makes it a delicious dish as an starter or side-dish. Prawns cooked in butter, garlic, lemon juice and parsley tastes even better with the help of mustard. Serve with fresh crusty bread.
5. Aloo Poha:
Poha is the Indian name of beaten rice. It is cooked in various ways along with different ingredients. It include ingredients like soaked poha (beaten rice), potato and onion finely chopped, mustard seeds, curry leaves, split black lentils and channa dal, peanuts and coriander leaves for garnishing. It is a complete vegetarian dish which is mainly taken as breakfast or as evening snacks.
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6. Tandoori Chicken:
Foods cooked on tandoor have a different flavor of its own. Tandoori chicken makes a regular appearance in all the Indian restaurants. An authentic tandoori chicken is marinated in yogurt, lemon juice and plenty spices for at least 8 hours or overnight then are grilled in tandoor or oven. It is served by sprinkling some chaat masala powder on it and with slices of cucumber, onion rings and lemon wedges. This chicken recipe is easy and delicious!
7. Paratha:
Paratha (flat bread) is one of the most used/known flat breads in the western part of the Indian subcontinent and is simple to make too. It is often stuffed with potatoes, leafy vegetables, radishes, cauliflower, and paneer (cottage cheese) or can be eaten simply with a part of butter spread on top/ chutney/ pickles or with yoghurt/meat/vegetable curries.
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8. Chappali Kebab:
Kebab are mainly made using minced meats like chicken, mutton, lamb, pork even with fish but now a days various vegetarian kebabs are also made using different chopped vegetables. First chop the meat, boiled eggs, chilies, ginger, garlic, onion, coriander leaves and mint. Mix all the chopped ingredients along with salt, crushed black pepper and green chilies. Make small patties of the dough and shallow fry on medium heat with ghee or oil in a pan.
9. Navratan Korma (nine-gem curry):
This is a delicious dish which got its name Navratan (meaning nine gems) from the nine different vegetables, fruits and nuts used in it. Serve it with hot naans and you’re sure to impress.
10. Mutton Haleem:
It is a stew popular in the Middle East, central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Although the dish varies from region to region it always includes wheat, barley, lentils, spices and meat (usually mutton). This dish is slow cooked for 7-8 hours which results in a paste like consistency, blending the flavors of spices, meat, barley and wheat.
11. Dum Aloo:
The potatoes used in this dish are usually smaller ones which are first deep fried then cooked slowly at low flame in gravy with spices. It is generally eaten up as a side dish along with parathas or naans or rice.
12. Fish Curry/Macher Jhol/Macher Ghonta:
It is a traditional Bengali and Oriya fish curry. Since fish is quite regular in these cuisines, making curry is the easiest way to cook the fish. Generally this curry is made of fish head and that’s the very reason it is known as ghonta which means the head of the fish.
13. Malai Kofta:
Malai kofta is a popular classic north Indian dish originated from the mughlai cuisine. Malai refers to the cream and koftas are fried paneer balls floating in it. It is the vegetarian alternative to meatballs where the balls are made up of grated paneer, mashed tomato, chopped green chilies, chili and cumin powder, chopped coriander leaves and salt. The gravy is made of ginger garlic paste, sahi jeera, tomato onion paste and cream. This dish is best served hot with chapatti, naan, all pulaos and parathas.
14. Egg Curry:
There are several different styles for making egg curry. It is a main course dish cooked with egg and with other spices. First boil the eggs and potato pieces. In a hot pan fry the spices in the oil first, then add chopped tomatoes and stir it till thick gravy is formed. Add the boiled eggs and potatoes in it. Cook for few more minutes and they are ready to serve hot.
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15. Stuffed Naan:
Other main course dish after rice comes the rotis, chapatis, parathas or naans. Basically these are the Indian version of breads which are eaten along with other gravy or dishes. It is made in the same way like the normal plain naans. But in case of stuffed naans, it is stuffed with various vegetables like boiled and mashed potatoes, grated onions, chilies, coriander and salt. It is served hot and fresh along with butter.
16. Indian Steamed Momo:
These are the Indian meat dumplings famous in North East India. They are even made with using vegetables instead of meat. This appetizer is delicious and is easily cooked on steamers. It is filled with minced meat of any choice or chopped vegetables served with tomato chutney/sauce and a clear soup called Thukpa.
17. Pudina Paneer:
Paneer/ cottage cheese are one of the favorites of many vegetarians. One of the best paneer dish is pudina (mint) paneer. For preparing these recipes we just need to fry the sliced onions till they turn brown in color. Then add turmeric powder, chili powder, salt, tomato pulp and cook it till it dries. Then add paneer, pudina and tomato slices, garam masala. Cook it for just 2minutes and they are ready to be served.
18. Kaaju Paneer Masala:
After paneer pudina, there is another dish using paneer which is similarly hit in restaurants is kaaju paneer masala. Use of kaaju or cashew and watermelon seeds made this dish very rich, exotic and creamy dish. It is basically as side dish for rotis, naans and parathas. Cashew and poppy seeds combine with the staple onions and tomato to form the base of this curry. Cream and full fat milk along with paneer, simmered in aromatic spices like garam masala and kasuri methi make it fit to be fed. This is a wonderfully recipe to impress your Indian guests at dinner.
19. Potato In Curd Gravy:
Potato in curd gravy is a famous dish which is eaten along with plain rice. To make this recipe we need to cut the potatoes in big pieces, boil it and mash few pieces with hand. Mix red chili powder, dhania powder, turmeric powder and garam masala powder in ¼ cup water. Heat the oil and add cumin and mustard seeds. When they splutter, add ginger-garlic, chili and curry leaves. Add the masala mixture and fry for 2 minutes then add beaten curd in it. Fry it till the curd loses its whiteness then add water, potato and flour and stir well. Boil and simmer for 10 minutes till the gravy thickens. Garnish it with chopped coriander and serve hot with chapattis and rice.
20. Bharwa Machli (pomfret):
In rice flour add chopped green coriander, ginger-garlic paste, jeera, tamarind puree, and green chili paste. Mix them well and marinate the clean-washed prom fret fish with it. Make few incisions on the fish and store some of the paste inside it. Keep the fish aside for 20-25 minutes then fry it in a pan and serve hot with few lemon juice squeezed on top of it.
21. Dhokla:
This nutritious snack from Gujarat is popular all over the country. It is a healthy snack which is way too easy and delicious too! It can be eaten as breakfast, side dish or even in main course. It is made with fermented batter derived from rice and chickpea splits (chana daal). This is made with chili pepper, coriander, ginger and baking soda. There are different kinds of dhokla prepared with different ingredients and ratios of chickpeas. Some of the popular kinds of dhoklas are khatta dhokla, rasia dhokla, khandhavi, cheese, toor daal, rawa, mixed daal.green peas and sandwich dhokla.
22. Roasted Crab:
Crab is very delicious to eat. Since it has a hard shell cover it takes much long time to clean. This dish is used as either side dish or main course dish. To prepare roasted crab we first need to fry the ingredients like grounded coconut, red chilies, onion paste, ginger paste, salt, chopped cashew, , in a pan and make a paste of it. Cut and clean the crabs and cook it with this prepared paste. In a pan heat the ghee (clarified ghee) and add chopped onion, mustard seeds, chopped cashew and fry them well. Add these fried ingredients in the crab paste and cook for a while. Garnish it with ringlets of onion and serve hot.
23. Dosa (crispy savory pancakes):
Dosa is a famous South Indian staple food made in every home on a regular basis. It is a thin, spicy, crispy crepe-like food made from fermented rice. It is very popular in the rest of the country too, dosas are hugely popular and udipi restaurants serving them and other south Indian foods can be found in almost every suburb. Many types of dosas are now made using different stuffings in it like sambar dosa, rava dosa, masala dosa, omelet dosa etc. It may be served plain with sambar and chutney such as coconut chutney or other curry and gravy.
24. Gajer Halwa:
It is a traditional Punjabi dish made with carrots and milk. First in a pan fry the spices like cardamom and bay leafs in ghee, then add chopped carrots. Fry them till they lose all its water then add sugar and milk. Cook it stirring for a while. When done serve it hot garnishing with chopped cashew on top of it. It can be refrigerated for up to 2months. Just warm it before serving.
25. Motichoor Laddo:
These are made with very small sized boondi, almost like little rice pearls. It is made in any occasions be it a wedding, births or given as Prasad in Hindu temples. Besan(chickpea flour) is used to make laddu, rava (wheat semolina) and ground coconut. These are combined with sugar and other flavorings, cooked in ghee (clarified butter) and molded into a ball-shape.
26. Spiced Corn and Rice Pilaf:
Corn is one of the healthiest foods out there and in Indian a lot of cooks ike to include corn in their recipes and in whatever recipe, there is a proportion of corn it automatically becomes healthy. This comes with an unique Indian flavor which can only be found in the Indian foods only. With a little but of cumin, this food can be served to the experts at Master Chef. Indians like to add a little bit of cardamom and cinnamon to it as well to make it taste delicious. It can be accompanied with meat such as poultry and grilled ones. If you are looking for a different and unique Indian food recipe, then this can be just the thing for you.
27. Tofu (sagg):
Sagg is considered to be one of the tastiest and healthiest vegetables in India. It is used in a variety of foods and is probably one of the things that the Indians are quite proud of. If you are looking for the perfect food out there to treat the vegetarians, then this Sagg tofu can be the right one to show off your healthy cooking skills. It is better known as pakal paneer (cottage cheese) and is one of the best classic recipes till date. Tofu is however a little bit different than cottage cheese and here you will have to replace that cottage cheese with the tofu. You will also require some yogurt and onions to make this dish delicious.
28. The Flat Cornbread (cooked):
It doesn’t always has to be cooked to the point. You can grill it as well. The flat cornbread (grilled or cooked) is one of the finest creations of the Indians. It is not fancy at all. Rather, it is very simple and almost anyone can make it with the necessaries. Again, due the presence of corn, this dish can be said to be extremely healthy for all the eaters out there. Give your tongue a different taste of health. Let’s make healthy food tasty! This dish is basically a Punjabi one and the prime requirements for making the flat cornbread are mustard greens, butter or ghee, etc on the top that will make the dish even more delicious. These two are like icing on the cake before the main flat cornbread is about to be served.
29. The Wok-Seared Chicken Along With Vegetables:
Sometimes it feels real good to mix a little bit of veg and non-veg together to make a delicious dish. If you are going to make a suitable chicken dish, then adding some vegetables won’t obviously hurt. Adding some color to a dish always makes it look appetizing for the eyes and that is sometimes required to make a dish look tasty for the eyes. This dish was basically created in India and now because of its healthy features is followed worldwide.
30. The Neem Flower Soup:
Often people all around the world criticize Indian food for being too oily and not good for the body. This one obviously, proves them wrong. It is one of the healthiest India liquid food recipes out there. This is the need flower soup which comes with the goodness of nature and can be said to be the perfect place for getting all the natural benefits that will promote a good health alongside providing some taste feeling for the tongue.
31. Broccoli Parthat:
This is basically known as Gobi ka Partha in India. But often people confuse both of these two similar-looking vegetables (different color, though). Gobi is cauliflower and that is totally different from broccoli, whatsoever. If you willing to make a healthy and tasty version of the paratha, the add broccoli to it and make it non-oily as much as possible. Broccoli has good amounts of protein and a bowl of broccoli is actually a equal to a serving of stake in terms of protein. So, you can be sure of your protein consumption, when you are having broccoli.
32. The Ginger, Split Pea, Vegetable Curry:
This is one of the finest foods out there right now and it does assist in keeping your healthy from the core. All these foods come with the goodness of nature and they contain good amounts of minerals and vitamins that can assist you in staying healthy. Thus this whole recipe can be termed as one of the best healthy food recipes of all time from India. The whole thing is known as Sabzi Dalcha.
33. Yogurt and Mixed Berry Parfait:
This is something extremely tasty and quite healthy as well. This food comes with the goodness of berry and yogurt as well. It will provide your body with all the necessaries along with the right taste. If you are looking to provide yourself with the right serving of tasty and healthy deserts, then include this in your list of the best deserts made at home.
34. Butter Allo With Saag:
This is basically stewed potato with spinach and good proportions of butter with spices. You cannot just look at the heavy amount of butter and say no to this food. You will have to look at the potato as well that come loaded with carbs. If you are willing to stay healthy then you need to carbohydrates and you also require the essential fats.
35. The Avocado Salad:
If you are looking for a tasty lot fat choice, then this avocado salad prove to be one of the best things for you. This is one of the best low fat servings there is and you will be totally amazed by the way this dish provides you with the right consumption of protein and all the necessary elements required for keeping you healthy from the core. Avocado is really good for the stomach and has also many other features which assist in keeping you healthy. The salad also contains low proportions of carbohydrates compared to other foods. You can add some ginger to it quite some times to make it taste better.
36. The Chicken and Vegetable Saute:
This is yet another awesome veg and non-veg combined food recipe. This dish comes with the goodness of protein and some vegetables as well. It is probably one of the best foods out there that can provide your body with the right amount of natural elements and vitamins required. If you are looking for a new and tasty food recipe, then this might be the best stuff for you.
37. The Chana Panner Recipe:
If you are looking for a good food recipe that will be delicious and healthy at the same time, then check out this awesome recipe that comes with the goodness of protein(in chana) and also with good benefits of paneer (cottage cheese). When you combine these two foods together, it gives out an awesome combination that is actually one of the best Indian protein-filled dishes.
38. The Mushroom Omelette Recipe:
This Indian traditional dish is one of the best things for your health. This dish comes with the goodness of mushroom and also has the protein supply from the eggs. It short it can be said that this dish is probably one of the healthiest Indian foods out there. It is one of the favorite dishes of the people of different cultures in India and is also one of the finest things to eat when you are in India.
39. The Lemon Pepper Chicken:
Looking for an awesome chicken recipe? This lemon pepper chicken is probably one of the best things that you can eat in India. It is a traditional dish and is still being cooked by some of the best cooks in India. The flavor that this food sports lasts in the mouth for a lifetime and is one of the finest things that one can eat, when they are asking for something India.
40. The Ragi Roti:
The ragi roti is one of the finest meals in Indian and it is one of the top listed dished in the menu’s of some of the best restaurants in Indian and in the European countries as well, such as in Whales. The roti is generally consumed with daal and the dish is filled with vitamins. People often eat the ragi roti with other curries as well.
41. The Little Millet Curd Rice:
One of the finest Indian dishes is the curd rice. This meal comes with some of the best vitamins required by the human body. Indians have a great way to make this dish tasty. It is considered to be one of the healthiest Indian recipes of all time and can be said to be the best food out there suitable for all Indian food-lovers all around the world.
42. The Kambu Koozh:
Here we have an awesome Indian meal that is considered to be one of the best ones for meeting all the healthy needs of the body. The dish is popular in almost all portions of the country and is one of the best meals so far, according to the Indians. If you are gonna consume something healthy, then this meal will be the best one for you (when you want to eat Indian). The recipe is considered to be extremely effective for weight loss as well.
43. The Pearl Millet Dosa:
This is again an Indian dish made with the presence of millet. This dosa is not so tasty as the masala dosa but it is really good for the stomach and can be easily digested. The food is recommended to all those who want to loose good amounts of weight within a specified period of time. If you are thinking of consuming something that will make you healthy from the core, then this food might get the job done for you.
44.The Oats Idli Dosa:
This dosa and ildi dish is made from oats and it is one of the finest things out there, when you are thinking of sporting something totally authentic and good for the body. The food is so good that it will keep you healthy and strong the same time. Oats obviously, doesn’t taste good. This you will need some kind of curry with the dosa and idli to make it taste good.
45. Pesarattu:
If you are looking for an Indian dish to change the casual taste of your tongue and treat your stomach with something new, then this food can be said to be one of the best ones for you. This food comes with the goodness of all the essential fibers required by the body and is something that dietitians recommend their clients with, while suggesting a healthy everyday diet.
46. The Chana Masala Sundal:
This Chana Masala sundal is one of the best light dishes for you that contains essential fibers and is good for the stomach as well. The food is really healthy and is one of the best choices of the Indian food addicts.
47. Banana Stem Mor Kootu:
Here is an awesome Indian recipe done with the fruit Banana. This food comes with the goodness of iron that is extremely essential for the body. It can be consumed at almost anytime of the day. It is tasty and healthy and is one of the most recognized Indian dishes of all time.
48. The Kambu Choru:
If you are looking for an Indian dish that is different from the ones that you have tasted before and can be easily made as well then you should definitely try the Kambu Choru dish.
49. The Bajra Rice:
This is one of the best forms of rice. The grains are different in this one but it is still quite healthy.
50. The Banana Stem Juice:
This juice comes with the goodness of all the irons in banana and keeps the body fit and healthy from the core. The juice comes with the extracts availed from the stems of a banana plant.
These are the top 50 healthy recipes that can be included in the diet without any second thoughts. The best part about these dishes are that they do not compromise on the taste of the food. So pick one today!
