Indian food is popular all around the globe. Renowned for its spicy curries and different types of bread, Indian cuisine is loved by many. Strong spices and earthy flavors are primarily used to create Indian food. Indian lunches are rich and flavorful and sometimes also have sweet or smoky qualities. An assortment of spices and herbs are used in making Indian curries. These spices include hot pepper, turmeric, tamarind, garlic, ginger, coriander, and cardamom, to name a few.
Indian curries are known to be thick, rich, velvety, and creamy. Indian food can be entirely vegetarian or can also be prepared using meat. This depends on religious preferences and the region where that dish originated.
Let’s have a look at some delicious Indian lunch recipes that can easily be prepared at home.
Channa Masala
Channa masala is an extremely popular Indian lunch recipe. It consists of chickpeas cooked in thick masala gravy. It can be eaten with basmati rice or with different types of bread. The various types of bread Channa Masala can be eaten with are flatbread or roti, naan, poori, or paratha. Several different regions in India have their own version of this recipe. Hence, Channa Masala can be prepared in different styles. But the basic steps include soaking chickpeas overnight and steaming them until tender. The chickpeas are then mixed in the tomato curry. This tomato curry is prepared by roasting onions and tomatoes into a mixture which is then blended with spices to create the gravy.
Daal Tadka
Dal Tadka translates to a lentil stew. It’s a common Indian lunch and dinner recipe and is loved by many. Daal Tadka is mostly eaten with boiled and drained basmati rice, but it can also be eaten with bread. This stew can be made with different types of lentils, pigeon pea lentils or red lentils. The lentils are cooked are cooked in oil, fried spices, and herbs until they simmer into a gravy. You can adjust the consistency of the gravy by making it thick or liquid-like. Usually, in restaurants, the dal is further smoked using hot charcoal. This adds to the flavor of the overall dish.
Bhindi Masala
Bhindi translates to okra. Bhindi Masala is a dish in which okra is cooked in a masala base until it is tender. The okra is pan fried first in garam masala to create a base of flavor. Then it is mixed in the masala mixture. This mixture is made from roasting onions, tomatoes with whole and ground spices. Bhindi masala is a semi-dry curry and can be consumed with a side of bread or rice. This vegetable dish is mildly spicy and is bursting with flavor.
Malai Kofta
When it comes to Indian food, Mali Kofta is very popular. It’s present in the menu of almost all Indian restaurants. This dish can either be vegetarian or made from meat. In the vegetarian option, the kofta or meatballs are made by mixing potatoes and paneer (cheese). In the non-vegetarian option, you can make Koftas from mincemeat. The Koftas are then mixed in a thick, velvety gravy. This gravy is rich and delicious as it has malai or cream added to it.
Palak Paneer
Palak paneer is a famous Indian dish cooked in almost every Indian household. Palak refers to spinach and paneer is the Hindi word for cheese. In Palak paneer, the spinach is boiled and pureed. It is then cooked in an assortment of masalas with paneer added to it. Palak paneer is widely loved in India. It tastes rich and creamy with a spicy undertone. It is mostly enjoyed with cornbread or buttered naan.
Vegetable Biryani
Biryani is a classic Indian dish. It basically refers to aromatic spicy rice. Biryani is prepared with basmati rice mixed with vegetables, herbs, and spices. Biryani is extremely in India and is an absolute essential in dinners and weddings. Cooking biryani involves a series of steps. These include cooking the biryani gravy with vegetables, cooking the rice separately, and then layering both these items in a pot. There are different types of Biryani, such as vegetable biryani, chicken, or mutton biryani.
Indian Omelet
Indian Omelet is also known as masala omelet. This delicious and fluffy omelet is pretty quick to prepare. It is made with a combination of spices, vegetables, and cheese. The spices you can use to prepare masala omelet are garam masala, coriander powered, cumin powder, chili powder, and turmeric powder. Make sure to use all these spices in powder form, so they blend with the egg easily. For your vegetables, you can use onions, tomatoes, and capsicum. Mushrooms and spinach are also a good addition, depending on your taste. Cheese is optional, but the omelet tastes great with it. Mix all the ingredients together and pour the mixture in a pan layered with oil or butter. As the omelet is cooking, you can add the cheese so it melts easily.