Indian gastronomy is one of the richest and tastiest in the world. The success of Indian restaurants proves it constantly. And as right now, with the return to confinement, it is impossible to go to the restaurant, here are some easy recipes to treat you at home. Exotic, quick and inexpensive recipes to forget that it’s not really party time outside…
1. Tandoori chicken
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What if it was the most emblematic of Indian dishes? Anyway, no need to brave confinement and bribe your favorite restaurateur to treat yourself to a good tandoori chicken. Just follow the recipe. We take a good chicken, two cloves of garlic, three lemons, tandoori paste, an onion and a cucumber. Cut the chicken into pieces, remove the skin and place it in a deep dish with the garlic cloves. A little yogurt, lemon juice, two tablespoons of tandoori paste and mix before pouring the sauce over the chicken. We put it all in the oven at 240 degrees for 40 minutes and you’re done. Serve with rice! Well, there are certainly some subtleties but you will get by!
2. Samosas
There are a multitude of samosas. Here we are going to focus on those with chicken. Start by cooking potatoes for 15 minutes, then peel and dice them. Then cook peas in boiling water for 10 minutes. Onions are peeled, chopped and sautéed in olive oil with the curry paste. We then cut chicken cutlets while the oven preheats to 210 degrees. We mix everything in a salad bowl and we make, with the pastry sheet, small donuts in the shape of a triangle (it also works with all the other geometric shapes). Place the samosas on the baking sheet and wait 30 minutes.
3. Naan
The naan, especially the cheese one, is kind of the thing we serve to Westerners to treat them and make them believe that they are eating typically Indian when not really. But since they are delicious, it can be good to know how to prepare them at home. To do this, mix 250 grams of flour with a little salt. Then dissolve the yeast in milk and add the flour. Leave the mess alone for 15 minutes. Mix the remaining flour with yogurt, eggs and 80 grams of melted butter and oil. Proceed to knead the dough, add a flavor of your choice (we do not recommend Channel number 5, it costs a blind and it’s disgusting). Knead a little more and make rolls before baking them at 190 degrees for 20 minutes.
4. Vegetable curry
A good vegetarian recipe, very easy to make and tasty as possible. Heat oil in a wok with minced garlic and ginger. Add curry powder, onions and cook for 5 minutes. Cut the vegetables of your choice into small dice, add chickpeas and red lentils and toss everything in the wok. Cook for 5 minutes and add 150 ml of water, with coconut milk. Let simmer for about 20 minutes. It’s good it’s perfect!
5. Tandoori turkey meatballs
In 20 minutes it’s done! Go! Peel an onion and garlic and mix everything. Cut the turkey into small pieces, with onion, garlic, tandoori paste, eggs, salt and oil. Mix it all up again. Make small balls between your wet hands (otherwise it sticks) and roll them in the flour. Brown the meatballs in a pan in a little oil and serve with coriander. Yum yum!
6. Tarka dal
Another super simple recipe! Take coral lentils and rinse them. Peel and slice spring onions, dice a tomato and chop garlic and ginger. The lentils must then cook for 15 minutes with twice their volume of water, but also the curry, turmeric, chilli, bay leaf, ginger and salt. Add the tomatoes and the spring onions. Cook for 5 minutes. In a small wok, heat some oil and toss in the cumin, fennel seeds, mustard and another bay leaf. Oh yes, don’t forget the garlic! Brown everything then add the lentils before mixing. It’s ready !
7. Vegetable dhal
The dhal can be eaten in several variations, with meat or vegetables (or both). We start here by cooking the red lentils in water with turmeric. Heat oil in a pan and add cumin and mustard seeds. Cover for a few seconds and add the onion. When the latter is transparent, we invite ginger to the party, with garlic, chilli, curry and coriander. Heat for 3 minutes. Then add the tomatoes and lentils, along with the cinnamon and curry. Add 50 cl of water and cook for about twenty minutes.
8. The aloo palak
Another famous vegan recipe from India! Let’s attack! Cut potatoes into cubes, prepare baby spinach and dice a tomato. Then slice an onion and cut a green chilli into small pieces. In a wok, add oil, cumin seeds, minced garlic, chilli and onion. Stir over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the spices, turmeric, coriander and curry, the diced tomatoes and a little water then mix. Then add the diced potatoes and spinach and mix again. Its good !
9. Grilled duck legs
Very simple ! First, prepare the duck legs (it also works with chicken). Collect cardamine seeds and mix them in a bowl with grated ginger, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper. Add a yogurt (plain, otherwise it’s not good at all) and brush the thighs (those of the duck not yours), with this tasty mixture. Bake the meat in the oven at 210 degrees for 30 minutes, taking care to turn it from time to time. It’s ready !
10. Indian white cabbage
We end with a cheap and quick recipe. In a pan, toast the cardamom, coriander powder, caraway and curry. Cut a white cabbage in four then slice it. Do the same thing to an onion and fry everything in coconut butter for 5 minutes. Add the cabbage, spices, minced garlic, raisins, cashews, pepper and salt to the mixture. Without forgetting half a glass of water. Cover and cook over low heat for 30 minutes. And above all bon appetit!