25 Easy Indian Recipes

There’s nothing nicer than opening the front door to have your senses bombarded by the smell of Indian cooking. Indian food is some of the tastiest around. In fact, the hardest part is deciding what you are going to make and eat. Well, if it is a choice that you want, it is a choice that you will get. Here is a list of some amazing Indian recipes for you to try at home. Good luck choosing your favorite!

25 Easy Indian Recipes To Make At Home

Let us introduce you to the most popular Indian food in the world with our list of easy Indian recipes to make at home.

1. Chicken Biryani

Chicken, rice, and curry spice! That’s what this recipe is all about! The best thing about chicken biryani is that it is a one-pot meal that is really easy to prepare. We start by spicing oil with a few subtle blends and some oil. We fry our chicken in this spicy mix before adding a few cups of chicken stock and stewing the entire thing until the rice turns fluffy and tender. It freezes well too! 

2. Tikka Masala

We couldn’t possibly talk about Indian recipes without giving the nod to the greatest curry of all time. Chicken tikka masala is tomatoey, a little creamy, and far from spicy. It is thought that this dish was invented in the UK, as opposed to India. Apparently, a truck driver said his tikka was too dry, and the chef tipped a can of tomato soup over the top. Wherever it was invented, we think it is sublime.

3. Palak Paneer

If you aren’t familiar with paneer, it is a sort of Indian cheese. Think of it a little like halloumi in texture and taste, and you are nearly there. The best thing about paneer is you can make it yourself with little more than a pan of milk, a pinch of salt, and a squeeze of lemon juice… Oh, and some patience. Because it is fairly robust, it is great for bubbling away in curries as it keeps its structure.

4. Butter Chicken

When cooking for guests, the last thing you want to do is blow their heads off with spice (or maybe you do… Check out vindaloo below). Butter chicken is about as mild as it gets and uses very mild Indian spices such as turmeric to give it flavor. The turmeric, along with cream and butter, gives this curry dish a pale golden color. The sauce is divine when soaked up with puffy naan bread.

5. Mango Chicken Curry

This one is totally tropical. If you like a hint of sweetness with your chicken curry, then this is the one to go for. There are a few ways that you can get all of that mango sweetness into the dish. The first is to use a nice ripe mango. This is great as those chunks soak up the curry sauce and provide a nice texture. If you prefer a smoother curry, then you could always consider using a tablespoon of mango chutney.

6. Vindaloo

This one isn’t for the faint-hearted. Vindaloo is made from a base of chili and tomatoes. And when we say chili, we mean a lot of chilies. It’s fiery, and you are going to know about it the next day for sure. We would tell you the secret spice recipe, but it doesn’t matter because you won’t taste anything after the first mouthful. 

7. Rogan Josh

Rogan josh is a great curry to serve. It is what we would call ‘medium’ in spice. You’ll know you’ve had a curry, but you won’t be crying in a heap on the floor (unlike with the vindaloo). Rogan josh is full of crunchy vegetables like peppers and onions and is also a little bit saucy. You can make it with any meat, from lamb or beef to chicken and even shrimp! 

8. Lamb Bhuna

Lamb bhuna is a real treat. However, we must warn you, it is not waistline-friendly. Why? The best bhuna has absolutely loads of oil. If you can get a layer sitting on the top after cooking, you know that you have done something right! Bhuna is meant to be cooked until the sauce turns really thick. It is traditionally served spicy, but with this recipe, you can turn it up or down depending on your preference

9. Pilau Rice

No Indian meal would be complete without a generous portion of pilau rice. If you want to go for an authentic Indian look, take a couple of spoonfuls and give them a little sprinkling of red and green food coloring before mixing it back into the rest of the rice. If you want to add a touch of flavor, add 1 teaspoon of cumin jeera seeds to the pan as you cook the rice. These break down and infuse it with a delicious savory flavor. 

10. Poppadoms

If you’ve ever had an Indian without the poppadoms, you’ll know that they are just as important as the main meal. These crispy discs are perfect for dipping into sauces, eating on their own, or crumbling and sprinkling over the top of curries for some added texture. Here’s a top tip. Don’t deep fry them. Instead, brush them with oil and ping them in a microwave for about 20 seconds. All the taste and about half the calories! Time to make twice as much! 

11. Fish Makhani

This is a dish that comes from the east coast of India. Goan fishermen will land their catch, and within about an hour, it is served in sizzling chunks on the table topped with a rich and spicy tomato-based sauce. This is a great dish to cook quickly. Be sure to use a firm-fleshed white fish and avoid stirring it, so the chunks don’t break up in the pan! 

12. Tandoori Chicken

Sauces are all good and well, but sometimes you just want to prep something and leave it. This dish is perfect for making in the morning and keeping in the fridge marinating all day. The longer, the better. We use a touch of red food coloring, lemon juice, garlic, and ginger, along with some spices like garam masala. This is a great one for a summer BBQ as the grill is similar to the tandoor oven in which it is traditionally cooked! 

13. Daal

Described as the fuel of India, daal is the name given to split red lentils. There isn’t much fancy in their raw form, but with a little love and many spices, they can really be made into something special. We boil ours until soft and add ghee, cumin, chili powder, salt, and simple spice mix. We top the entire dish with a layer of melted butter and golden garlic. This one is super easy to prepare and works out really cheap too! 

14. Chicken Madras

If you don’t want to go too hot but still like more than a little heat in your curry, then a chicken madras could be for you. It is fiery and borders on the edge of dangerousness without ever actually reaching it. This dish is served with base gravy of tomatoes and onions. The chunks of the chicken cook as you bubble the curry. This keeps them really tender and juicy.

15. Jalfrezi

Jalfrezi is a mix between a stir fry and a curry. The aim of this dish is to cook it quickly. We like to use pre-cooked meat for curry in ours, that way, we don’t ruin the sauce with overcooking. It is traditionally made with plenty of crunchy vegetables such as green peppers. 

16. Bombay Aloo

Bombay Aloo is the Hindi word for potato, and this is such a versatile dish. Bombay aloo is roasted potatoes coated in a spicy tomato sauce. You can also try saag aloo, which is potatoes stewed along with wilted spinach. Aloo is a really good way to pad out an Indian dinner, so if you have unexpected guests, you need to check this one out! 

17. Okra Masala

We haven’t forgotten the vegetarians. Okra is a great vegetable to use in curry as it holds its shape really well. It is also really filling. The best thing about okra is that it soaks up those delicious oils and spices, so every bite is the taste of heaven.

18. Prawn and Coconut Curry

Sometimes you get in from work and don’t want to spend all evening frizzling and frying. That doesn’t mean that you need to do without a tasty dish. This Indian recipe can be prepared in around 15 minutes and will have the family fighting over the last spoonful. It is a breeze to prepare with a coconut, chili, and coriander base in a blender. We like to add a spoonful of turmeric and garam masala to give it that final Indian vibe.

19. Kadai Chicken

If you’ve never heard of a Kadai before, don’t worry. This isn’t actually an Indian recipe, but the name of the pan that it is cooked in. A Kadai is a wok shaped with a round handle on either side. It allows you to fry and boil simultaneously. Traditionally this dish was prepared and served in the pan, but we won’t blame you if you want to decant this curry into a separate bowl. 

20. Indian Beef Kebab

There are a few ways that you can make these tasty kebabs. They aren’t quite traditional, as in large parts of India, cows are considered sacred. We aren’t quite as fussy. We prefer to use chunks of beef tenderloin if we are all posh, but ground beef works just as well when we don’t have it. Think of this one a little like an Indian burger on a stick. This is another great Indian recipe for a BBQ. The fat dripping down and igniting gives it a slightly smoky taste.

21. Mango Lassi

All that curry spice can start to play havoc on the inside, and you might want something that will settle your stomach. This is the answer. Lassi is a drink made with cool and creamy yogurt, some ice, and, errr, mango, of course. The trick to getting this super sweet drink right is to use overripe mangos, which are jam-packed full of flavor.

22. Fish Tikka

White fish is great for tikka as it is really absorbent and takes well to the herbs and spices used in the marinade. It couldn’t be simpler to make. The best thing about this dish is that it marinades quicker than chicken, meaning if you have had a last-minute change, you can still enjoy succulent mouthfuls of fresh fish, turned slightly pink by the herbs and spices. Be sure to use plenty of lemon juice and try and use fresh yogurt if possible. These are the two secrets to getting a good tikka going! 

23. Golden Garlic Naan Bread

Naan bread is the food of the gods. Provided you cook it right, little can beat a soft pillowy naan bread for soaking up the curry sauce. We like to make a large batch in our house as they freeze really well. We whip one out and give it a minute in the microwave whenever we want one. The key is no to use yeast but mix baking powder with yogurt. This slowly bubbles in the dough and will give your naan a soft crumb. Bake on a hot pizza stone for a slightly charred effect

24. Chicken Saag

This mild Indian recipe uses chunks of succulent chicken breast combined with a little cream, Asian spices, and thick layers of stewed spinach. This is a real secret weapon in our house to get the kids to eat some greens. They even ask for seconds! If you need an Indian meal that takes all of 15 minutes to prepare, this is a great option! 

25. Mushroom Curry

Mushroom curries are a great option if you have got vegetarian guests. We like to use huge portobello mushrooms cut into thick quarters. They hold their shape really well. Aside from that, you need a little stock, a squeeze of lemon juice, and some Indian spices like cumin and jeera. Because mushrooms don’t take long to cook, this is a really quick and simple recipe to make.

Conclusion

The hardest part for us was deciding what should make our list of 25 Indian recipes. When it comes to our favorite, we couldn’t possibly decide, as they are all delicious! What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.