Indian food

 Devour the delights of one of the world’s most celebrated cuisines with these Indian foods, and experience the magic of Indian cooking in its truest, most authentic form.

From the metropolis of Mumbai to the shores of Goa, dazzling dishes in their truest form can be found in abundance. They capture the heart and soul of what Indian cuisine is all about, igniting the senses with their aromas, textures, and flavors.

Indian food is undoubtedly well-traveled, but nothing is quite like trying these dishes in their homeland. Buckle up for a culinary expedition of color, heat, and flair, as an expert shows you Indian food in its purest form through 30 of its traditional dishes.

Table of Contents

Breakfast

1 – Alu Poha

Alu poha (or aloo poha) is the quintessential Maharashtrian breakfast. It is salty, spicy, with a little zing and a lot of flavor. The dish consists of “poha,” known as flattened rice, and most commonly, onions, potatoes, and various Indian spices, finished with a squeeze of fresh lemon.

Despite both potatoes and flattened rice being in the dish, alu poha is a surprisingly light breakfast. The inclusion of green chilis helps add a little kick, which is offset by the acidity of the lemon.

2 – Dosa

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Dosa is undoubtedly one of the kings of Indian breakfasts. While most historians believe dosa came from the Udupi cuisine of Karnataka, there is still debate that it originates from Tamil Nadu. What is indisputable, however, is that dosa is now beloved and enjoyed throughout the entire country.

Made from a fermented rice and lentil batter, the simple dosa is cooked on a hot pan with oil, most often sesame oil, until it cooks into a delicate and tasty crepe.

The true magic of the dosa, however, lies in its accompaniments. It is most often paired with sambar, chutneys like coconut, onion, tomato, peanut, or even mint, spicy “idli” powder called “milagai podi” or “gun powder,” jaggery, and even sugar.

What makes the dosa so popular is that it lends itself to so much customization. Masala dosa, for example, is a dish of dosa stuffed with spicy potatoes, while mysore masala is coated with extra chili powder, making it the ideal choice for anyone that loves breakfast with plenty of kick.

Ghee roast, rocket dosa, or fluffy kal dosa, which pairs nicely with chicken curry, are also some of the wide takes on dosa you can try and enjoy across India. Get creative, and have plenty of fun with this food!

3 – Idli

Idlis are super soft, cloud-like rice dumplings, steamed to fluffy perfection and eaten with an assortment of chutneys 

Idlis are made from a batter very similar to dosa, which is poured into special idli molds. The batter is then steamed, creating round, disc-shaped dumplings. 

This dish is the ultimate comfort food. It is a staple in most South Indian households and a popular food at weddings, functions, and other celebrations. 

The humble idli has several variations, including mini-idli, a smaller bite-sized version, rava idli, made of ground semolina instead of rice and lentils, and kanchipuramidli, which is sometimes cylindrical in shape and made with an assortment of spices such as black pepper, cumin, and curry leaves.