Famous Indian dishes are renowned for their unique and tasty ingredients and seasoning combinations. Here are some of the most delicious we are sure you want to try.

Bread

Bread is the perfect partner for almost any meal, and it is no different from popular Indian food. Whether it is a snack to munch on at the restaurant while waiting for the dishes to arrive or to soak up the last bit of unbelievable curry, Indian bread is something special.

Naan

Quite possibly the king of Indian bread, naan is an incredible bread you are going to want to add to your next order. This flatbread can be ordered plain or made even tastier with the addition of butter or garlic.

Tandoori Roti

This popular Indian food takes its name from the cooking utensil it is baked in, the tandoor. This bread differs from naan in that it is unleavened and made with whole wheat flour. 

Whole Wheat Paratha

For a bread that is multi-layered, crispy, and crunchy whole wheat paratha is a must-try. It is a perfect choice to pair with your favorite curry.

Starters

Appetizers set the tone for the meal. Choosing between a healthy and light option or something deep-fried and golden brown often influences what a diner will choose for the main course. No matter what you crave, you can’t go wrong with these famous Indian dishes.

Samosa

Similar to naan, almost everyone has a least heard of samosas. The glorious triangle-shaped pastry is packed full of unique spices, peas, and potatoes. Great on their own, or even more tasty with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Pan Puri

Deep-fried whole wheat unleavened bread puffed up for a delightful bite filled with ingredients such as chickpeas and potatoes, then served with spicy flavored water. A one-of-a-kind, delicious popular Indian food for sure!

Pakora

Your choice of paneer, chicken, vegetables, or chili breaded in spices and chickpea flour fried to a tasty crisp texture and served with dipping sauces. If it is a hard decision between proteins, ask for all the options!

Main Course

There are so many incredible and famous Indian dishes to pick from for an entrée that it is hard to narrow down. But the following are extraordinary and so flavorful that we had to add them to our list.

Rogan Josh

The tantalizing aroma of Rogan Josh is more than likely what you will be aware of first. A combination of tender lamb, onion, fresh garlic, and other spices leaves diners spellbound to have discovered such a fantastic curry.

Biryani

One of the most recognizable Indian cuisines, hands down, has to be Biryani. Whichever protein you decide on, the well-seasoned Basmati is what makes this a memorable feast! Order enough for leftovers or to share with your friends and family.

Chicken 65

This classic entrée has juicy pieces of boneless chicken, a savory tomato sauce, and a blend of herbs and spices. Add a side of rice or buttered naan as a side. How spicy will you order, mild or extreme?

Dessert

Once you have tried the bread, starters, and entrees in Indian cuisine, you have to save some room for dessert! Creamy or crisp, hot or cold, taste the wonders of popular Indian food with these sweet goodies at the end of your meal.

Double Ka Meetha

Have a sweet tooth? Get two times the sweetness with a helping of double Ka Meetha! Buttery-fried bread cubes cooked in a sugary syrup topped with pistachios and almonds. Now that is a dessert.

Kheer

This popular Indian food incorporates a Basmati rice pudding, traditionally made icing, raisins, and almonds. One bite will definitely leave you wanting to devour the whole bowl!

Gulab Jamun

Gulab Jamun is made up of soft cheese cooked until a gorgeous golden color, surrounded by flavored syrup, and brought to the table still warm. Taste this confectionary to round out your meal in the most scrumptious of ways. This famous Indian dish is a pleasant dessert indeed.

With such ingredients and talent in creating dishes, it is no wonder at all that Indian cuisine is such a hit. Find your favorites at a local restaurant near you!

Indian Delight serves all the famous Indian dishes mentioned above and so much more! Visit us for a fine meal in the dining room, enjoy lunch or dinner on the patio before summer ends, or get delivery to your home. Special occasion coming up? Ask about our catering services! Please view our entire menu and get in touch with us by visiting our website www.idcleveland.com.

For years untold Biryani has been one of the world’s favorite Indian dishes. The flavors blend seamlessly into an almost perfect dish. Full of history and incredible tastes, its popularity only continues to grow. For all the fans -have you ever wondered where it all began? Do you wonder if it has changed or evolved? For the newbies – do you worry if it is too spicy hot? Well, you are in the perfect spot! Let’s explore this gem of Indian cuisine.

What is Biryani?

Biryani is a basmati rice-based dish with saffron, coriander, and turmeric, among other spices. Additional elements can include:

• Fish
• Mutton
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Vegetables

To give the meat a rich flavor and tender bite, chefs may marinate it in yogurt before cooking. Biryani recipes can differ based on the region. Here are five variations you may want to try:

• Lucknowi Biryani
• Sindhi Biryani
• Hyderabadi Biryani
• Memoni Biryani
• Calcutta Biryani

For those that love to cook, add this to your menu. Remember, practice makes perfect when it comes to preparing this dish at home. If you can’t even boil water, don’t worry. Lucky for us, many delightful Indian food restaurants are masters!

Where is it from?

The debate continues about the origin of this Indian cuisine. Some say the Mughals developed the dish, while others argue that it is Iranian or Persian. Biryani comes from the Persian word Birian, which translates to “fried before cooking.” No matter how it came to be, it is fair to say that many cultures have impacted Indian food. India took those new flavors and cooking methods and adapted them into its society. 

Is it very spicy?

Spice is subjective. While what some consider spicy hot might be barely warm to others, Indian dishes are known to produce the heat! Unlike the fiery dish Vindaloo, Biryani is more of a mildly spiced dish. Recipes do vary from restaurant to restaurant. Ask your waiter about the heat level of their restaurant’s Biryani before you order if spicy is not your thing. We say embrace the rice and spice goodness, give it a try!

What about nutrition?

Can anything as universally loved as Biryani be healthy? A recent study concluded this about the health benefits of this Indian Cuisine – “Biryani is a unique dish in itself in the sense of prepared from healthy ingredients. Non-veg biryani is a good source of carbohydrates because of rice content and is also rich in protein because of chicken, mutton, fish, and egg. Veg biryani is a good source of vitamins and minerals and is a healthy option to incorporate plenty of veggies into a single meal.” Good news indeed!

Did you know?

According to the Uber Eats Craving Report for 2021, Indian Food was the fourth most ordered cuisine of the year. Garlic Naan and Chicken Tikka Masala were also in the top ten most ordered items. DoorDash saw a 541% increase in kabob orders. And finally, Zomato is a popular food delivery service in India. In 2018 they reported that Chicken Biryani was the most ordered dish in the country.

With at-home chefs, Biryani is cooked over low heat. A best practice when preparing this meal is to make the meat and rice separately. As the rice is the star, take extra care not to overcook it. For an authentic taste, perfectly fried onions are a must. Use Ghee, or clarified butter, to add flavor.

Wondering what to serve at the next birthday party, wedding shower, or lunch meeting? Indian food can be a great option for special occasions and corporate events. Delight your guests and co-workers with mouth-watering appetizers, incredible entrees, and sweet desserts for your next get-together! Great food and happy people all around!

While this is a hearty meal, you may want to offer your family, friends, and guests a bit more. Add a side dish or two when serving this meal. How about dessert? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Kachumber Salad

Bring on the freshness with chopped pieces of cucumber, onions, tomatoes, and garnished with cilantro, lemon, and chat masala.

Samosa Chat

Vegetable samosas topped with chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, seasoned yogurt, tamarind, and mint sauce. Perfectly delicious!

Garden Salad

Tender layers of crisp lettuce, ripe red tomatoes, savory onions, and vegetables of your choice are a great addition to this feast.

Samosa

Who doesn’t love a Samosa? Especially when the filling is potatoes and green peas!

Kheer

Add some cheer to your dinner table with Kheer. Sweet basmati rice pudding with raisins and almonds

Gulab jamun

Deep-fried soft cheese balls dipped in rose-flavored syrup. Gulab Jamun, yes please!

Ras Malai

Ras Malai incorporates sweet cottage cheese dumplings flavored with cardamom and rose water in a creamy milk sauce. Yum!

Final thoughts –

It is no wonder that this Indian Food is famous all over the world. The flavorful spices, toothsome meats, and perfectly seasoned rice: its fame is well deserved. The history and culture are cooked into every bite of Biryani. Whether you try this dish at home or support your local Indian diner, we are sure your palate is about to expand. When you are tired of the same old fast-food burger & fries, or soggy to-go tacos, add some Indian cuisine into your life! 

Indian Delight is located in the great city of Cleveland, Ohio. Biryani is one of the many wonderful Indian dishes on our menu. We offer dine-in, take-out, and delivery. Do you have a special event coming up? Ask us about catering. When you are in the area, be sure to stop in for a meal you won’t forget! We hope to see you soon!