46 of Our Favorite Regional Indian Recipes
We're talking everything from tandoori, vindaloo, saag paneer, and much more
The tandoori and vindaloo at your local Indian restaurant represent only a tiny portion of the country’s rich culinary tradition. From fiery stews to cooling yogurt drinks, we’ve collected 46 of our favorite regional Indian recipes.
As a Hindu-majority country, India has a long history of vegetarian cooking. Rice, lentils, and greens are the staple foods of much of the country. Our lime rice is a refreshing side to pair with any dish. Shredded cabbage can also be paired with lime for a great alternative to coleslaw. Want lentils instead of rice? Look to our creamy dal spiked with sour green mango. Saag paneer, stewed spinach and fresh cheese, can be found on any Indian menu in America. We’ve got that recipe, but if you want to branch out from that traditional Indian recipe, try mixing paneer with peas, tomatoes, and fenugreek greens. Meat does show up in Indian cooking, particular amongst the country’s Muslim population. Butter chicken, another classic of Indian-American menus, is great when loaded with ginger and garam masala. Chettinad pepper chicken might be less familiar to you—it’s a Chennai staple of chicken flavored with fennel seeds, curry leaves, and urad dal, the skinned split black lentils that are a popular ingredient in southern India.
WATCH: Indian Cooking Techniques
Below, check the list of our 46 favorite regional Indian recipes.
Rice Flour
Salmon in Bengali Mustard Sauce
Spiced Ground Beef Patties (Shami Kebabs)
Whole Mung Bean Pancakes (Pesarattu)
Creamy Fenugreek and Spinach with Cheese (Methi Malai Paneer)
Hyderabadi-Style Steamed Chicken and Rice (Kachi Yakhni Biryani)
Naan (Indian Leavened Flatbread)
Kashmiri Lamb in Chile Sauce (Mirchi Qorma)
Chettinad Pepper Chicken (Koli Milagu Masala)
Andhra-Style Sautéed Spinach (Palakoora Vepadu)
Red Lentils with Green Mango (Malika Masoor Dal)
Rajasthani White Chicken Curry (Safed Maans)
Indian Vegetable Fritters (Pakoras)
Plantain with Sesame Seeds and Peppercorns (Yellu Molaghu Vazhaipazham)
Spiced Black-Eyed Peas with Curry Leaves
Samosas (Potato Dumplings with Tamarind Chutney)
Sweet Yogurt with Saffron and Pistachios (Shrikhand)
Lime Juice with Seltzer, Black Pepper, and Sugar (Nimbu Pani)
Spiced Mango Drink (Aam Panna)
Tamarind and Cumin Drink (Imli Ka Pani)