Are you tired of the same old rice, broccoli, and chicken meal prep? Healthy, easy meals shouldn’t be boring! Choose easy Indian meals that provide lots of protein, veggies, and, most importantly, flavor. We’ll guide you through what ingredients, spices, and dishes to know so you’ll be an expert in no time.

Indian Food Glossary

If you’re not familiar with Indian cuisine, here are some common terms to know to help you navigate a menu or look for the right recipe.

• Aloo: Potato

• Biryani: Spiced rice prepared with meat and vegetables.

• Chana: Chickpea

• Curry: Gravy-like tomato sauce

• Dal: Lentil

• Kofta: An Indian meatball

• Korma: Yogurt-based curry with a more mild flavor

• Makhani: Buttery curry, sometimes just called “butter,” such as Butter Chicken

• Masala: A spiced onion and tomato sauce.

• Mattar: Peas

• Pakora: Fried balls of vegetables, potato, and/or meat

• Palak: Spinach

• Saag: Green curry, typically created with spinach or other leafy greens

• Tandoori: Any dish cooked in a traditional oven called a Tandoor

• Vindaloo: Spicy vinegar-based curry

This list doesn’t cover everything, but it’s a helpful base to kickstart your knowledge about Indian food.

Traditional Indian Main Courses To Know

Indian main dishes are the stars of the show. If you’re a newbie to Indian food and checking out some local restaurants, butter chicken is a worldwide favorite so it’s a good starting point to expand your taste buds. When you want to expand your weeknight dinner menu, Indian is a great place to start. Many flavorful dishes are essentially stewed, so they’re perfect for hotpot or one-pan dinners.

Whether you’re looking for your next recipe or need help navigating a takeout menu, here are some essential Indian main courses to know:

• Butter Chicken: This creamy, buttery chicken dish is probably the most famous Indian dish outside of India. It’s a takeout fan favorite but simple to make at home too.

• Chana Masala: This common dish is chickpeas stewed in a flavorful curry with spices like cumin, cardamom, and coriander. This dish is perfect for meal prepping — it’s even better on the second day.

• Chicken Tikka Masala: This saucy dish has slow-cooked chicken pieces in a spiced and fragrant sauce. When you need a crave-able lunch or dinner, Chef Bombay Chicken Tikka Masala is paired with basmati rice for a satisfying and delicious meal.

• Lamb Vindaloo: This bright red favorite packs a punch with tender lamb in a vinegary paprika sauce. Enjoy the tangy sauce and tender meat that make this popular Indian main course irresistible.

• Vegetable Biryani: This all-in-one favorite is suitable for any taste or dietary restriction. Spiced rice cooked with all your favorite vegetables or meat packs a complete meal every time.

• Palak Paneer: Get your greens in and enjoy some Palak Paneer. This spinach-based sauce is full of flavor from garlic, ginger, and all the essential Indian spices.

• Spicy Chicken Curry: For the spice lovers and the brave, Spicy Chicken Curry helps fuel your fire. Chef Bombay Fiery Chicken Curry brings all the heat with turmeric rice to help cool you down in just 5 minutes.

• Tandoori Chicken

Popular Indian Side Dishes

Indian main dishes certainly have enough flavor to hold their own but with so many fragrant spice blends to explore, why limit yourself? Enjoy this guide to common breads, dips, and side dishes that will help you round out any meal. 

Breads and dips

• Roti: Thin flatbread, cooked on a grill.

• Baingan Bharta: Roasted eggplant dip with onion, tomatoes, and blended spices.

• Naan: Soft and chewy flatbread, cooked in a Tandoor

• Chutney: Dip or sauce made from slow-cooked vegetables and vinegar

• Papadum: Thin, crispy bread made from lentil flour

• Cucumber Raita: Yogurt-based dip made with chopped cucumber, chiles, tomato, and onion

Side dishes and appetizers

• Vegetable Samosas: Samosas are thin and crispy pastries stuffed with spiced vegetables and potatoes. For all the flavor without painstakingly filling your own Samosas, Chef Bombay Vegetable Samosas are an easy crowd favorite.

• Pani Puri: Pani Puri are deep-fried hollow spheres made from chickpeas and filled with spiced potatoes and vegetables. 

• Khichdi: Khichdi is a popular comfort food across India. Stewed lentils, tomato, onion, and rice are mildly spiced with turmeric and cumin, for the perfect sick day meal.

• Vegetable Pakoras: Vegetable Pakoras are crispy, bite-sized snacks of spiced potatoes and vegetables. Enjoy these delightful fritters at home with Chef Bombay Vegetable Pakoras — no fryer required.

• Kakdi Koshimbir: Kakdi Koshimbir is a cool cucumber salad, perfect for balancing your favorite spicy Indian main dishes. Keep it simple and spice it with curry leaves and cilantro for a refreshing side or kick it up with some green chile.

Enjoy Easy Indian Food at Home

Whether you’re branching out at a new local restaurant or looking to add some new Indian recipes to your toolkit, there are endless flavors and dishes to discover. On those busy days when you need a quick lunch to get you through your afternoon meetings or a dinner that doesn’t make a pile of dishes, Chef Bombay has all the nutritious flavor you’re looking for in your local grocery store.

Indian Food 101 FAQ

What is the best Indian food for beginners?

Butter chicken is a great first Indian food to try at a restaurant or make at home. It’s a more mild chicken dish in a creamy, tomato-based gravy. From there, you can branch out into other dishes to discover new Indian flavors.

What is a basic Indian dish?

A curry is the quintessential Indian dish. Technically, a curry is any Indian dish in a gravy-like sauce. But in Western countries, it typically means that sauce is based in turmeric, cumin, ginger, and pepper (sold as curry powder). Add some vegetables, your protein of choice, and serve over rice for a basic and delicious Indian meal.

What is the secret to Indian food?

The secret to Indian food is its complex use of spices. Not only does Indian food take advantage of many fragrant spices, but they’re also often toasted in a dry pan before cooking, which helps bring out the flavor. Many dishes are also slow-cooked, so these flavors develop over a long period.

What is the most common Indian food?

It’s hard to say what the most common Indian food is. Some global favorites that top the list include biryani, chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, and samosas.

Is Indian food from a restaurant healthy?

Yes, Indian food from a restaurant is relatively healthy. Nutrition varies across dishes, but Indian food typically includes a variety of proteins, vegetables, and nutrient-dense dishes. It’s also usually suitable for gluten-free and vegan diets.

What is the national food in India?

There’s no national food in India — the vast country has many diverse cultures and dishes, making it hard for the government to choose one. However, if you were to ask an Indian person, they might tell you it’s Khichdi, which is popular in different forms across the nation.