New to Indian food? These are the best dishes to try

It’s easy to get lost in the spice markets and alleyways of India’s cities or be overwhelmed by the vast selection of curries at your local Indian restaurant, but you needn’t fret when deciding what to eat. Follow us as we go beyond the samosa and chicken tikka, into a world of spicy, hearty goodness with our list of the best Indian dishes to try.

Bhelpuri

Made with puffed rice, tomatoes, peanuts, green chillies and a tangy tamarind sauce, this savoury dish is a classic Indian street food sold everywhere in Mumbai. It can be eaten directly or served with flatbreads, and while it has a hint of spiciness, the ingredients bring a rich and balanced texture to this mouth-watering snack.

Butter chicken

Originally from Old Delhi, this dish is a favourite in the region. The chicken is marinated overnight with yogurt, ginger, garlic paste and red chilli powder, but the star of the show is a gravy made of tomatoes, butter and cream.

Its name derives from the huge chunk of butter that goes into the gravy alongside the fresh tomatoes and spices, creating a highly moreish tangy sauce that soaks into the chicken. Take a bite, then wait for the subtle explosion of flavours in your mouth.

Kosha mangsho (mutton curry)

This slow-cooked Bengali-style speciality features mutton cooked with spices in an onion, ginger and garlic gravy, and is often served on festivals and special occasions, especially in Kolkata. It’s cooked in mustard oil, an ingredient widely used in West Bengal, which gives a lot of dishes in the region their distinctive flavour. Steam cooking the mutton also helps retain its flavour and tenderness, making this a lip-smacking introduction to Bengali cuisine.

Masala dosa

A crispy crepe stuffed with a spiced potato mash, the masala dosa is a delicious, and ancient (some say it dates back 2,000 years) staple from South India. First made in Karnataka, the potato masala is seasoned with mustard seeds, coriander leaves, onions, green chillies, coconut chutney and ginger, then wrapped up in a thin dosa and served with various chutneys. Among must-try Indian dishes, this one is perfect for breakfast.

Hyderabadi biryani

Biryani is South Asian mixed rice made with Basmati rice, meat, yogurt and spices. The Hyderabadi version originally came together as a blend of Mughlai and Iranian cuisine, and features raw rice and raw meat cooked together with spices in an earthen pot, over wood or charcoal. The meticulous, time-consuming process of cooking the meat without overdoing the rice makes this a tricky process, but the results earn it a spot among top Indian dishes.

Kebab

Kebabs in India are much more than meats grilled on wooden sticks. Kakori kebab and galauti kabab are traditional dishes with more than 100 years of history. The kakori kebab is made with minced lamb or mutton, seasoned with black pepper, garlic paste and other Indian spices. The galouti kebab, best served in Lucknow, is said to incorporate more than 150 Indian spices, giving it a flavour medley that leaves other kebabs in the dust. Roasted or grilled over a charcoal fire, these meaty patties redefine what you know as a kebab.

Modak

Popular in many parts of India, modak is an Indian sweet flour dumpling filled with freshly grated coconut and jaggery. Fried or steamed, it’s perfect when served with ghee. A traditional sweet prepared fresh for festivals and ceremonies, today new fillings such as saffron, chocolate and nuts are added to make those modak even more moreish. 

Aloo gobhi

Made with soft potatoes, cauliflower and spices, this is one of the most popular vegetarian Indian dishes, and a great entry point for those new to Indian cuisine. It’s healthy and homely and goes perfectly with all sorts of other dishes, especially mild curries, rice and flatbreads. Fresh tomatoes and curry leaves are used in some restaurants to enhance the aroma and colour.

Paddu

Also known as kuzhi paniyaram or gunta ponganalu, this savoury puffed dosa is loved by adults and children alike. Crispy on the outside and soft in the middle, the batter is a combination of black lentils and rice. It can be made sweet or spicy depending on the mix of ingredients, which can include carrots, onions, coconut or brown sugar. The batter is then steamed using a mould and served as a popular tea time snack. 

Tandoori chicken

Love a good barbecue? This popular chicken dish, a Punjabi original, is famous for its tender, juicy and slightly charred meat. The chicken is marinated in a spicy yogurt mix, then roasted in a cylindrical clay oven. It can be served dry or in a gravy, which combines spices and other aromatics such as cinnamon, bay leaves and cloves to build layers of flavour.

This story was originally published in April 2018 and updated in September 2024.