With all the sumptuous dishes, intricate ingredients, and tongue-tickling flavors, there is a lot of good Indian food, and Indian cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines in the world. Some of the most popular Indian dishes incorporate a whole palette of flavors – sweet, sour, spicy, tangy – all at once. It is an amalgamation of a wide net of spices, pulses, seasonings, and cereals.
Every region in India has its own unique cuisine indigenous to that locale. The types and varieties of dishes available in India are innumerable, all equally delectable. Listed below are 9 of the most famous Indian dishes.
You can read about them in detail or check out the summary video here:
9 of the most popular Indian dishes
1. Biryani
It is a mixed rice dish which can include any kind of meat, eggs or vegetables. It is a flavorful blend of spices, saffron, rice, meat and vegetables. Every place in India is known for its unique type of Biryani. Even though it was originally brought to India from Persia by the Mughals, Biryani is now synonymous with Indian cuisine due to its extensive consumption and evolution by the Indians.
The world-famous Biryani can be tasted in Hyderabad, Telangana, and Lucknowi Biryani in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
2. Dosa
Originally from the South of India, Dosa has traveled not only all the way up to North India, but has taken its place on the world map of tasty foods. It is a crisp pancake made from fermented batter of rice and “urad” or the black lentils.
Typically it is served with an array of Chutneys and Sambar. It is also prepared in a plethora of variations like Masala Dosa, Set Dosa, Uthappam, Paper Dosa, Rava Dosa, 70 mm dosa, Pesarattu, paneer dosa, chicken 65 dosa, cheese dosa and Pizza Dosa.
3. Butter chicken/Butter paneer
Source: Flickr by Chris Pople
Think of the most popular Indian cuisine and you'll think of Butter Chicken/Butter Paneer. It is creamy red gravy which is mildly spiced, yet extremely flavorful. The origin is often traced back to Punjab. Every restaurant and household in India has their own unique recipe for Butter Chicken and Butter Paneer. It's one of the most popular Indian dishes.
4. Tandoori meats, vegetables and bread
Source: Flickr by Jill Shih
Tandoor is a charcoal/clay oven used extensively in India for cooking. It's used for cooking an assortment of meats, breads and vegetables. The charcoal or wood fire burns in the Tandoor itself, thus exposing the food to live fire and imparting an excellent charred and smoky flavor and tenderizing the food at the same time.
Some typical Indian dishes prepared in the Tandoor include Tandoori Chicken (murg), Tandoori Roti, Butter Naans, Kulchas, Tandoori Gobi and Aloo.
5. Samosas
What food is India known for that can act as an easy takeaway snack? Samosas! A samosa is a traditionally fried conical snack made out of dough stuffed with a savory filling, sealed and then deep-fried to a crisp golden color. The usual stuffing is made out of potato, lentils, peas, or minced meat and onions or even noodles. They are usually accompanied with mint and tamarind chutneys.
The samosa was also brought to India by the Mughals, but the popularity and prominence they enjoy in India have made them famous as a popular Indian food.
6. Chaat
Sourche: Flickr by Senhorhost Jahnsen
Chaats might just be one of the favorite Indian dishes. They include a variety of savory eats, refreshments and grub, typically served at roadside carts and stalls found in plenty at the corner of almost every street in India.
Chaat usually includes components like crispy fried dough chips, called Papadis, boiled potatoes, lentils, chickpeas, tamarind chutney, green chili, and mint chutney, dried mango powder, puffed rice, yogurt, and onions; all mixed in different combinations to produce different delicacies like Bhel Puri, Dahi Puri, Sev Puri, Ragda, Samosa Chaat, Pani Puri, Pav Bhaji, etc.
It's one of the best Indian dishes to order when you want something hearty.
7. Daal Makhni
Source: Flickr by Pedrito Guzman
Daal Makhani is a very popular dish of Punjab and is a favorite among people from Northern India. Due to its delicious taste and flavors, it has traveled down south too. Daal Makhani is made with whole black lentils and kidney beans and also uses white butter and cream in it for decoration.
This dish is mostly eaten with hot rotis or naans – common Indian foods – or steaming hot rice. It's is high in calories and quite filling too.
8. Keema
Source: Flickr by Pelican
Keema is minced meat or chicken cooked in Indian masalas and made into a dry consistency by cooking it on slow fire. Usually had with hot chapattis or naan, this dish is a favorite for breakfast in many states in India.
9. Lamb kebabs
Juicy pieces of mutton are marinated and grilled in charcoal or fried and served hot either in skewers or as a platter. Sometimes the meat may also be minced to make a dish called sheek keebab which is an all-time favorite of all foodies. Lamb kebabs are delicious and, even though they're a bit more pricy, one of the most beloved dishes of Indian cuisine.
India has a wide variety of delicacies to boast about. Several dishes relished across the world have originated in India and won a lot of patrons. This is why it is no surprise that Indian cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines in the entire world!
Make these dishes with these Indian cookbooks
And that's it! What do you think is the best Indian dish?
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Rohit is a travel fanatic and a complete foodie. He loves to try the local cuisine whenever he travels; be it in India where he tried a lot of popular Indian foods, or across the world. His travel stories delve into the best cuisines of the states and countries to help the readers enjoy their food while traveling. You can read more about them on TransIndiaTravels.com.
Neni says
Oh I never tried or heard of Dosa but it sounds delicious. Now I need to find an Indian restaurant and try it :)
Sofie says
Let me know how you like it! :)
Yamin says
You will find good dosa in South Indian Restaurants. If you are living in GTA(Greater Toronto Area)try “Udupi, it is a pure veg South Indian restaurant, however, food taste awesome and the price is reasonable.
Ashish says
Surely it’s very delicious
Vivek Chavda says
I Love This Blogs, Thank You So Much, Sofie…!!!!!
Sofie says
Happy that you like it :-) Thanks for dropping by!
Siddharth Bharadwaj says
Good to see you mentioning chaats, something that provides a dimension of refreshing, cold, tangy against the cliched notion of Indian food being only spicy.
Sofie says
This is a guest post, not written by me, but I’m happy you’re happy with the chaats :)
Chitrarasan says
Without adding South Indianfamous idly,this article is incomplete.
Sofie says
Feel free to send me a text and photo and I’ll be happy to add it :)
Dave | Jones Around The World says
I absolutely love Indian food. This post is making me miss living in Kuala Lumpur, as there was the BEST restaurant just a few minutes away from my door. I haven’t been it to India yet, but am hoping to do so soon.
Sofie says
I still have to make it there as well. I’m sure we both will! :)
Raj says
You are well come we will host Indian food
India for life says
This Indian tradition is just the most beautiful and most delicious meal of all my years
Sofie says
Happy you think so :)
Aroosah Ehsan says
u go, Sofie! keep on making these blogs I seriously love them they help me a lot!
Sofie says
Thanks so much! That really makes me happy to read :)
Simar says
Nice blog
Sofie says
Thanks!
nancy says
thanks a lot sofie
Sofie says
You’re welcome :)
Deepthinath says
Just one dish of South India..That is some kind of ignorance..There is hardly any choice for breakfast in North India, whereas the options and variety available in South India for breakfast itself would easily cross 20..
Sofie says
Hey Deepthinath,
I’d be happy to update this guest post with your suggestions if you’d be willing to contribute :-)
Kiran Kumar says
We’ll try idli, upma for a start
Sofie says
I’d need text and a photo to add it to the post but I’m sure people will find your recommendation here in the comments as well :-)
Prashant says
I think you are not familiar of North Indian breakfasts which include from plain paratha with sabzi, stuffed parathas, poori sabzi, poha, kachori and yes we eat sweet such as jalebi too for breakfast. However I agree there can be more dishes from South too but you need to enhance your idea about North Indian food too.
Sofie says
I’m open to adding dishes to the list if anyone can provide a text and photos for them :)
Michelle says
Yum. Sad that my beloved Korma was not mentioned. If in Rockville, Maryland and searching for good Indian food..check out Saffron. It is my favorite.
Sofie says
Thanks for the tip!
As this is a guest post, I’d be happy to add more to it :)
Sheila says
You have to visit Kerala to try valliappam (lotus shaped rice cake )with chicken stew or mutton stew in kerala style. Those stew are prepared in coconut milk.Kerala Syrian Christians makes the best valliaappams, palappams idiappams, vattayappams, Ellaaddas!
If you visit India and you have not tried the cuisines of Kerala ( God’s own country), it is an injustice!
Sofie says
Sounds yummy!
Kaushik says
If you ever plan to visit, kolkata, please let me know beforehand.. This city can be called foodies paradise…
Sofie says
Thanks!
Mina Modi says
Beautiful tips. Pretty much all the dishes from all the region of india are really tasty and moth watering. They are very diverse in taste. Proud to be indian.
Sofie says
Happy to read that :)
Kkdev says
If you really want to know the taste of Authentic Indian food … you have to visit, stay for few days and eat food at Calcutta, The City of Joy! & Culture!
Sofie says
Thanks for the tip!
connie says
it is good for wighting a poster^-^!
Nihakeni says
I am Indian vegetarian and love all Indian vegetarian dishes and also desserts like Chandrahara. Indian food is yummy
Boss says
Hummmmm,Ja tou a ficar com Agua Na Boca ,Quando for a india irei exprementar isso tudo eheheh!
Boss says
*Ups enganeime Numa coisa (Queria ter dito quando for a India irei)Nao .Qua ndo Por Uma India
truth says
kebab is not Indian. It’s turkish.
Maeryn says
Could you explain how it tastes?