10+ Indian Food Recipes to Spice Up Your Dinner Table

Indian food recipes let you explore rich flavors and diverse ingredients from many regions. You can create delicious meals at home that bring the warmth and tradition of Indian cooking to your table.

These recipes balance spices, herbs, and fresh produce to make dishes full of taste and color. Whether you’re new to Indian cooking or looking to try something different, many recipes are easy to follow and use ingredients you might already have.

This makes it simple to enjoy authentic meals without special skills or tools. Cooking Indian food can be both fun and rewarding.

1) Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is a popular Indian dish you can make at home. It features tender chicken pieces cooked in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce.

The sauce is rich, with flavors from onions, garlic, and a mix of traditional spices. You start by marinating the chicken in yogurt and spices.

This helps the chicken stay juicy and gives it a tangy taste. Then, grill or cook the chicken until slightly charred for extra flavor.

Make the sauce by cooking onions, tomatoes, cream, and more spices together. Combine the chicken with the sauce for a warm, creamy dish that pairs well with rice or naan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless chicken, cut into chunks
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 2 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp chili powder
• Salt to taste
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix chicken with yogurt, garlic, ginger, and spices. Marinate for at least 1 hour.
2. Grill or cook chicken on high heat until slightly charred and cooked through.
3. Heat oil, sauté onions until soft.
4. Add tomato sauce and spices, cook for 10 minutes.
5. Stir in cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Add grilled chicken to the sauce and cook for 5 more minutes.
7. Serve hot with rice or bread.

You can find a detailed recipe with similar steps on the Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe.

2) Paneer Butter Masala

Paneer Butter Masala is a creamy and flavorful Indian dish. You cook soft pieces of paneer in a rich tomato and cashew-based gravy.

This curry is smooth and has a mild, buttery taste that goes well with naan or rice. Make the sauce by blending tomatoes, cashews, onions, and spices, then add butter and cream to make it silky.

You can use fresh paneer or store-bought cubes. This dish is great if you want something special but not too spicy.

Ingredients

• 250g paneer (cubed)
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 onion
• 10 cashews
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak cashews in warm water for 15 minutes.
2. Blend tomatoes, onion, and soaked cashews into a smooth paste.
3. Heat butter in a pan and add ginger-garlic paste.
4. Pour the paste into the pan and cook for 7-8 minutes.
5. Add spices and salt, then cook for 2 more minutes.
6. Add paneer cubes and mix gently.
7. Pour cream and simmer for 5 minutes on low heat.
8. Serve hot with naan or rice.

3) Dal Makhani

Dal Makhani is a creamy and buttery dish from North India. It uses whole black lentils and red kidney beans, cooked slowly with spices.

Slow cooking brings out rich flavors and a smooth texture. Butter and cream give it a special, smooth taste.

Serve it with rice or Indian breads like naan. Cooking it low and slow helps the spices blend well.

Ingredients:

• Whole black lentils (urad dal) – 1/2 cup
• Red kidney beans (rajma) – 2 tablespoons
• Butter – 3 tablespoons
• Cream – 1/4 cup
• Ginger-garlic paste – 1 teaspoon
• Tomatoes (pureed) – 1 cup
• Red chili powder – 1 teaspoon
• Garam masala – 1 teaspoon
• Salt to taste
• Water – 3 cups

Cooking Instructions:

1. Soak lentils and kidney beans overnight.
2. Boil lentils and beans until soft.
3. Heat butter, add ginger-garlic paste, and sauté.
4. Add tomato puree and spices, cook for 5 minutes.
5. Mix in boiled lentils and beans with water.
6. Simmer on low heat for 1 to 2 hours.
7. Stir in cream and garam masala before serving.

4) Chole Bhature

Chole Bhature is a popular North Indian dish. It pairs spicy chickpea curry with soft, fluffy fried bread called bhature.

The chickpeas cook in a tangy tomato-based sauce with spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala. Make the bhature dough with flour, yogurt, and baking powder to make it light and puffy when fried.

You’ll often find this dish as street food or in restaurants. People love it for its bold flavors and satisfying texture.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried chickpeas (or 2 cans cooked)
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 3 tomatoes, pureed
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• Salt to taste
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Oil for frying

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak chickpeas overnight and boil until soft. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat oil, add cumin seeds, onions, and chilies. Cook until golden.
3. Add pureed tomatoes and spices. Cook until oil separates.
4. Add chickpeas, mix, and simmer 15 minutes.
5. Mix flour, yogurt, baking powder, and salt. Knead into soft dough and rest 1 hour.
6. Roll dough into circles and deep-fry on medium heat (350°F/175°C) until puffed and golden.
7. Serve hot with chickpea curry.

This recipe shows a tasty, traditional Chole Bhature you can enjoy at home.

5) Butter Naan

Butter naan is a soft and fluffy Indian flatbread. It has a slight chewiness and a buttery taste from brushing melted butter on top.

Usually, you cook naan on a hot griddle or tawa, but you can also make it in a very hot oven. Making butter naan at home is easy.

Use basic ingredients like flour, yogurt, and a little sugar for that classic soft texture. After cooking, brush the naan with butter for extra shine and flavor.

Enjoy butter naan with curries, stews, or even on its own. It’s a tasty way to dip and scoop your favorite Indian foods.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp sugar
• ½ cup plain yogurt
• About 1 cup water
• Melted butter for brushing

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix flour, salt, baking soda, and sugar in a bowl.
2. Add yogurt and water gradually to form soft dough.
3. Knead the dough for 5-7 minutes and let it rest for 1-2 hours.
4. Divide dough into small balls and roll each into an oval shape.
5. Heat a griddle (tawa) or oven to about 500°F (260°C).
6. Cook naan on the hot surface until bubbles appear, then flip.
7. Cook the other side until golden spots form.
8. Brush with melted butter and serve warm.

For a detailed guide, you can check this butter naan recipe.

6) Biryani

Biryani is a popular Indian dish made with fragrant basmati rice and well-spiced chicken or other meats. You cook the meat with spices, then layer it with partially cooked rice.

Seal the dish and cook it slowly to let all the flavors blend together. Use simple spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and bay leaves.

Good-quality basmati rice helps make the grains fluffy and separate. Cooking the chicken and rice together in a sealed pot locks in the flavor.

Serve biryani with raita or salad on the side.

Ingredients:

• 300 g basmati rice
• 500 g chicken pieces
• 1 large onion, finely sliced
• 3 cardamom pods
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 teaspoons biryani masala
• 1 cup yogurt
• 2 tablespoons butter or oil
• Salt to taste
• Fresh cilantro or mint (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Rinse the rice and soak it for 30 minutes.
2. Cook the rice until it is half done, then drain.
3. Heat butter or oil in a pot; fry onions until golden brown.
4. Add chicken, ginger-garlic paste, and spices; cook until chicken is browned.
5. Stir in yogurt and cook until chicken is tender.
6. Layer chicken with half-cooked rice in the pot.
7. Cover the pot tightly and cook on low heat for 25-30 minutes.
8. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

For a detailed recipe, you can check this Indian Chicken Biryani recipe.

7) Masala Dosa

Masala Dosa is a tasty South Indian dish you can enjoy for breakfast or any meal. It is a thin, crispy crepe made from fermented rice and lentil batter.

Inside, there is a filling of spiced potatoes cooked with onions and mild seasonings. Cook the dosa on a hot griddle until golden and crispy.

Add the potato filling and fold it. Serve with chutneys or sambar for extra flavor.

The batter needs time to ferment, but cooking is quick. This dish is filling and offers a nice mix of crunchy and soft textures.

Ingredients

• 1 cup rice
• 1/4 cup urad dal (black gram lentils)
• 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 3 large potatoes
• 1 medium onion
• 2 green chilies
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger
• Salt to taste
• Oil for cooking

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak rice, urad dal, and fenugreek seeds for 4-6 hours.
2. Grind into a smooth batter. Let it ferment overnight.
3. Boil potatoes, peel them, and mash.
4. Sauté chopped onions, green chilies, and ginger until soft.
5. Mix sautéed veggies with potatoes and salt.
6. Heat a pan. Pour batter thinly and cook until crispy at 350°F (175°C).
7. Place potato filling on the dosa. Fold and serve.

For a detailed recipe, you can check this Masala Dosa Recipe (Restaurant Style).

8) Samosa

Samosa is a popular Indian snack you can enjoy anytime. It’s a crispy pastry filled with spiced potatoes and sometimes peas or lentils.

The outside turns flaky and golden brown when fried. You make the dough with simple ingredients like flour and water.

The filling usually has boiled potatoes, onions, green chilies, and spices. Shape the dough into triangles, stuff the filling inside, and fry until crispy.

You can eat samosas with chutney or ketchup. They make a great snack for parties or at home.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 large boiled potatoes
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 green chilies, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 2 tablespoons oil (plus more for frying)
• Salt to taste
• Water for dough

Cooking Instructions:

1. Mix flour, salt, and 2 tablespoons oil. Add water slowly to make soft dough.
2. Boil potatoes and mash them. Mix with onions, chilies, cumin seeds, garam masala, turmeric, and salt.
3. Divide dough into balls. Roll into circles and cut each in half.
4. Shape each half into a cone. Fill with potato mix and seal edges with water.
5. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry samosas until golden brown.
6. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm.

9) Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori chicken is a popular Indian dish with smoky flavor and tender texture. You marinate the chicken in yogurt and spices like cumin, coriander, and chili powder.

This marinade keeps the meat juicy and flavorful. Cook the chicken in a hot oven or grill.

You can make it quickly at home, even if you have little time to marinate. Serve tandoori chicken with rice or naan bread.

It also pairs well with fresh salad or yogurt sauce.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken legs or thighs
• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-inch piece ginger, grated
• Salt to taste
• 1 tbsp oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, chili powder, turmeric, garlic, ginger, salt, and oil in a bowl.
2. Coat chicken pieces with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best flavor.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
4. Place chicken on a baking tray lined with foil.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes until cooked through and slightly charred.
6. Serve hot with rice or bread.

For a detailed recipe, you can visit this tandoori chicken recipe.

10) Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer is a classic Indian dish with fresh spinach and soft cubes of paneer, a type of Indian cheese. The spinach cooks until smooth and creamy, creating a flavorful green sauce.

You fry the paneer pieces until golden. Then, mix them into the spinach gravy.

It’s mildly spiced, making it a good choice if you want a dish that is tasty but not too hot. Enjoy it with naan, roti, or rice.

Ingredients

• 300g fresh spinach
• 200g paneer, cut into cubes
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, pureed
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-inch ginger, grated
• 1 green chili, chopped (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons oil or ghee
• Salt to taste
• 1/4 cup cream or yogurt (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Blanch spinach in boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and blend it into a smooth paste.

2. Heat oil or ghee in a pan. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle.

3. Add onions, garlic, ginger, and green chili. Sauté until soft.

4. Stir in pureed tomatoes and spices. Cook until oil separates.

5. Mix in the spinach paste. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on low heat.

6. Fry paneer cubes in a little oil until they turn golden on all sides.

7. Add paneer to the spinach sauce. Stir gently.

8. Add cream or yogurt. Cook for 2 more minutes.

9. Serve hot with naan or rice.