New Delhi Express: 10 At-Home Authentic Indian Recipes

No Comments | Written on September 10, 2012 at 5:00 pm, by Ann Hodgman

Boiled Basmati Rice

"Plain old rice?" you're asking. Yes! Yes! If you want to make authentic Indian dishes, you have to know how to prepare authentic basmati rice — and it's a tad more complicated than you might have realized. (Not hard, though.) So let's begin here.

Tandoori Chicken with Tomato-Cucumber Raita

Tandoori chicken is the first taste of Indian food for many Westerners. Bring it home with this grilled version — not 100 percent authentic, but a great start.

Grilled Sour-Cream-Marinated Shrimp

Grilling is also the secret behind these wonderful shrimp, the creation of chef Suvir Saran.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Here's a first-rate version of one of the most popular Indian specialties. Using dark meat keeps the twice-cooked chicken moist and tender. Note that for maximum flavor, you can marinate the chicken thighs in the fridge for up to 48 hours — a step I always make sure to take.

Beef Patties with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce

If you're like me, you're constantly wishing for just one more way to use ground beef. Well, this is your answer to prayer — though you'll need to double the recipe if you want to serve four people. These spicy patties can be served burger-size (as in the photo) or as meatballs.

Braised Lamb Shanks with Garlic and Indian Spices

Braised lamb shanks are perfect for the nippy weather that's just around the corner. This richly flavorful dish gets even better if you make it a day or two ahead and reheat it.

Tandoori-Style Lamb Chops

... But since we're still enjoying warm weather now, why not try these delicious grilled lamb chops with their tangy minted sauce? And while you're at it, make up a batch of garam masala to have on hand for other Indian recipes. It keeps for months in the refrigerator and probably for years in the freezer.

Basmati Rice Curry Casserole

In Indian cuisine, vegetables are treated with the respect they deserve. You simply won't find a better vegetarian main dish than this curry, which could be the centerpiece of a dinner party.

Mixed Vegetable Masala

This intensely spicy masala blends five fresh vegetables. Served with rice, it's a complete protein — and you'd better make a ton of rice to sop up that delicious sauce.

Red Lentil Rice

Indian cooks make great use of legumes, which we all know are healthy, cheap and delicious — and which we're often a little unsure what to make with besides chili and split pea soup. Allow me to suggest the following! It's high in protein, fiber and taste, and it can be served hot or at room temperature.

One of my favorite things about Indian cooking is that the Indian recipes I make at home generally taste “authentic” to everyone at the table. By authentic, I mean restaurant-quality. Most “international” recipes I try — Thai, Chinese, even haute French and Italian — end up good, but not as good as professionally prepared versions. But with Indian food, the results usually come pretty close to what I’d hoped for. I realize that that might sound patronizing, but it’s true — and, as I say, it’s one of the things I love best about Indian food.

Of course very few home cooks have the blasting heat that restaurant ranges can provide. And we don’t (usually) have tandoori ovens in which to make our naan. And those of us who grew up on Western food probably don’t know what we’re talking about anyway. But still! Isn’t it great to know that you can prepare authentically delicious Indian dishes right in your own kitchen? Here are some Indian recipes that should make you very happy. I’ll be over in half an hour to help you eat them.