Sampling Exotic Indian Restaurant Dishes
Most people equate Indian food with vegetables and curry. This view is both limited and inaccurate because Indian cuisine has much more to offer – a fact that Indian restaurant dishes will easily show. While it is true that there are some spices consistently used in most dishes from this region of the world, it is equally true that there is a nearly endless variety of exotic Indian dishes which a food lover should try at least once.
• Chicken tikka masala is a dish that may one day overtake fast food fried chicken in popularity. This dish is made of chunks of chicken marinated in spices and yogurt. The chicken pieces are then baked in a tandoor oven then served in sauce. The sauce, with its blend of spices, is called masala. It is from this mixture that the dish gets its name. Nutmeg, cumin, coriander, cloves, cardamom and cinnamon are the standard spices that are roasted and ground together to make this distinctly Indian spice mix.
Some chefs will put tomato puree in the sauce and others will add coconut cream. In some cases, turmeric and paprika are added as well. There are many versions of this dish which features a deliciously soft and juicy chicken due to the long immersion in yogurt.
• As its name suggests, Bombay biryani is a dish which originated in Mumbai. This dish contains beef or lamb, rice, potatoes, salt, garlic, ginger or turmeric, allspice, cumin, coriander, and yogurt. It is basically a rice dish cooked with meat and potatoes. It takes time to cook biryani so if you want to try this dish, it is best that you call and order ahead.
• Tandoori chicken consists of roasted chicken but it is prepared differently from other roast chickens. The fowl is marinated in yogurt, seasoned thoroughly with a spice mixture called tandoori masala which is somewhat different from the regular masala. The chicken is thoroughly brushed on the exterior with cayenne pepper, turmeric and chili to give it a distinct red color. It is traditionally baked in a clay oven named tandoor but the dish can also be cooked in an electric oven or an ordinary grill.
• Samosas are delicate pastry with savory filling such as ground lamb or chicken. The vegetarian version of this delicacy will have peas, potatoes or lentils instead of meat. Samosas which can be baked or fried are somewhat similar to empanadas but a first bite will tell you that there are some marked differences between the two in terms of flavor. The most traditional samosa bakers will use maida flour, a finely ground wheat flour, for the pastry but plain all-purpose flour will do very well.
• Chingri macher malakairi is one of the best Indian restaurant dishes. Although it is usually served during special occasions, it is actually not too difficult to make. Still, many families like to order it when they go to restaurants. It is made with prawns marinated in lime juices and spices, garlic, chilies, cashews, raisins and coconut milk. To sauté the ingredients, many restaurants will use clarified butter instead of vegetable oil when religious considerations allow it.
• At the end of a meal, many restaurants will serve “payas,” a sweet pudding made of sweet rice. This dessert is usually served during feasts and celebrations such as weddings. In some places, it is believed that payas actually has to be served during weddings and child birth in order to make sure that the marriage will be fully blessed.
To accompany their main dishes, Indian restaurants will usually give their customers chapita bread, chutneys and pickles. These simple accompaniments enrich the entire meal and make diners come back for more.
