Garam masala is a blend of ground spices originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is common in Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, and Caribbean cuisines. It is used alone or with other seasonings. The specific combination differs by district, but it regularly incorporates a blend of flavors like cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, bay leaves, star anise, and peppercorns. Garam masala can be found in a wide range of dishes, including marinades, pickles, stews, and curries.
Indian cuisine consists of a variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to the Indian subcontinent. Given the diversity in soil, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these cuisines vary substantially and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits.
Chicken tikka masala is a dish consisting of roasted marinated chopped chicken in a spiced sauce (masala). The sauce is usually creamy and orange-coloured. The origins of the dish are debated, with many believing it was created by South Asian cooks in Britain. It is offered at restaurants around the world and is similar to butter chicken.
Spice mixes are blended spices or herbs. When a certain combination of herbs or spices is called for in a recipe, it is convenient to blend these ingredients beforehand. Blends such as chili powder, curry powder, herbes de Provence, garlic salt, and other seasoned salts are traditionally sold pre-made by grocers, and sometimes baking blends such as pumpkin pie spice are also available. These spice mixes are also easily made by the home cook for later use.
Upma, uppumavu, or uppittu is a dish of thick porridge from dry-roasted semolina or coarse rice flour. Upma originated from South India, and is most common in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and in Sri Lankan Tamil communities. Often, depending on preference, it has various seasonings and/or vegetables added during cooking.
Bhatura is a fluffy deep-fried leavened sourdough bread originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is commonly served as a midday meal or a breakfast dish in northern and eastern India. Paired with chickpea curry, it forms a traditional dish called chole bhature.
Chana masala is a chickpea curry originating in the Indian subcontinent. It is a staple dish in North Indian cuisine. It is often eaten with a deep-fried bread called bhatura.
Papri chat or papri chaat is a popular traditional fast food and street food from the Indian subcontinent, in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and parts of Pakistan. Many various additional dishes throughout India are also referred to as papri chat. Some restaurants in the United States serve the traditional version of the dish.
Tandoori masala or tandoori sauce is a mixture of spices specifically for use with a tandoor, or clay oven, in traditional cooking in the Indian subcontinent. The specific spices vary somewhat from one region to another but typically include: garam masala, garlic, ginger, onion, cayenne pepper, and sometimes other spices and additives. The spices are often ground together with a pestle and mortar.
Jalfrezi is a stir-fried curry dish originating in Bengal and popular throughout South Asia. Jalfrezi means "hot-fry". It consists of a main ingredient such as meat, fish, paneer or vegetables, stir-fried and served in a thick spicy sauce that includes green chilli peppers. Common further ingredients include bell peppers, onions and tomatoes.
Kachori is a deep-fried, spicy, stuffed pastry originating from the Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. It is made of maida filled with a stuffing of baked mixture of moong dal or onions, besan, coriander, red chili powder, salt, and other Indian spices and deep-fried in vegetable oil until crispy golden brown. It is served hot with sweet and spicy tamarind chutney or occasionally with mint and green chilli chutney.
Rājmā, also known as rajmah, rāzmā, or lal lobia, is a vegetarian dish, originating from the Indian subcontinent, consisting of red kidney beans in a thick gravy with many Indian whole spices, and is usually served with rice. It is a part of the regular diet in Northern India, Nepal and Punjab province of Pakistan. The dish developed after the red kidney bean was brought to the Indian subcontinent from Mexico. Rajma Chawal is kidney beans served with boiled rice.
A tandoor is a large vase-shaped oven, usually made of clay. Since antiquity, tandoors have been used to bake unleavened flatbreads, such as roti and naan, as well as to roast meat. Tandoors are predominantly used in Western Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Horn of Africa.
Aloo paratha is a paratha stuffed with potato filling native to the Indian subcontinent. It is traditionally eaten for breakfast.
Masala chai is a popular beverage originating in India. It is made by brewing black tea in milk and water, and then by sweetening with sugar. Adding aromatic herbs and spices creates masala chai.
The Thalassery cuisine refers to the distinct cuisine from Thalassery city of northern Kerala, which has blended in Arabian, Persian, Indian and European styles of cooking as a result of its long history as a maritime trading post.
Street food, as in other areas of India, are popular in Chennai, despite the common belief in India that street food is unhealthy. The idly sambhar is a popular dish, which is served as breakfast or dinner. Apart from regular South Indian street food, the city's streets are also filled with several North Indian street food outlets, most of them established by North Indian migrants themselves. Gujarati and Burmese are also available. Street food in Chennai is so popular that a game had developed based on the TV show The Amazing Race where contestants have to follow clues to street-food spots in the city.
Masala puri, or Masalpuri, is an Indian snack which is especially popular in the southern state of Karnataka. A form of chaat, the dish originated in the Indian state of Mysore and has now become famous in the entire Indian subcontinent. Typically spicy, the dish can also be made sweet based on the requirement.
Paneer makhani is an Indian dish of paneer, originating in New Delhi, in which the gravy is prepared usually with butter (makhan), tomatoes and cashews. Spices such as red chili powder and garam masala are also used to prepare this gravy.
