India: Menu of Typical Dishes
A list of typical Indian dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a Indian-style meal, party or festival.
Typical Indian Dishes
Appetizers and Snacks
- Bhelpuri (Puffed rice snack)
- Kothimbir Vadi (Savory cilantro cakes)
- Murukkus (Pretzel-like fried crackers)
- Pakora (Vegetable fritters)
- Panipuri (Stuffed puff bread)
- Pappadum (Pea-flour crackers)
- Samosas (Deep-fried potato pastries)
Soups and Stews
- Mulligatawny (Curry soup)
- Mysore Rasam (Tomato-lentil soup)
- Sambar (Spicy lentil stew)
Salads
- Kachumber (Tomato and cucumber salad)
- Rajma Chana Salat (Kidney bean and chickpea salad)
Eggs and Dairy
Poultry
- Murgh Dopiaza (Chicken with onions)
- Murgh Ilaychi (Cardamom chicken)
- Murgh Masala (Chicken masala curry)
- Murgh Tikka (Yogurt marinated chicken kebabs)
- Murgh Tikka Masala (Grilled chicken in masala curry sauce)
- Tandoori Murgh (Yogurt marinated and broiled chicken)
Meats
- Baffat (Goa pork curry)
- Biryani (Layered meat and rice dishes)
- Dhansak (Lamb and lentil stew)
- Husaini Kabob (Grilled skewered lamb)
- Kofta (Spiced meatballs)
- Moghlai Kabob (Ground spiced lamb skewers)
- Rogan Josh (Lamb in spiced cream sauce)
- Shahi Korma (Indian lamb in a creamy nut sauce)
- Vindaloo (Vinegary pork dish)
Fish and Seafood
- Jhinga Goa Curry (Shrimp in spicy coconut curry)
- Jhinga Kari (Shrimp curry)
- Kerala Fish Curry (Fish in a tangy coconut curry)
- Mustard Prawns (Shrimp with mustard seed)
- Pakki Hui Machli (Fish baked with coriander paste)
- Patrani Machli (Fish curry baked in banana leaves)
Vegetables and Beans
- Aloo Dam (Potato curry with yogurt)
- Aloo Gobi (Potato and cauliflower curry)
- Aviyal (Vegetable curry)
- Baigan Bhurta (Indian eggplant and tomatoes)
- Bhindi Bhaji (Fried okra)
- Dal Makkhani (Black lentils)
- Gobi (Spiced cauliflower)
- Matar Paneer (Curried peas and cheese)
- Moong Dal (Simmered mung beans)
- Pav Bhaji (Bombay-style mashed vegetables with a bun)
- Saag (Spiced spinach)
- Sabzi Bhindi (Fried okra with cumin)
Breads and Grains
- Appam (Rice flour pancake)
- Biryani (Layered meat and rice dishes)
- Chapati (Wholewheat flatbread)
- Dosa (Crispy lentil crepe)
- Idli (Steamed rice cakes)
- Kesar Chaval (Saffron rice)
- Kulcha (Savory stuffed bread)
- Naan (Baked flatbread)
- Paratha (Skillet-fried flatbread)
- Puri (Deep-fried puff bread)
- Pulao (Aromatic rice)
- Uppama (Semolina with vegetables)
Sauces, Condiments and Oils
- Bombay Duck (Fried dried fish condiment)
- Dhanya Chatni (Cilantro chutney)
- Garam Masala (Spice blend)
- Ghee (Clarified butter)
- Corom Chatni (Mango chutney)
- Jaggery (Unrefined palm sugar)
- Imli Chatni (Tamarind sauce)
- Piaz ka Chatni (Onion chutney)
- Podina Chatni (Mint chutney)
- Sambar (Spicy lentil sauce)
Pickles and Preserves
- Am ka Achar (Mango pickle)
- Nimbu ka Achar (Lime pickle)
Desserts
- Balushahi (Fried dough in syrup)
- Barfi (Nut sweets)
- Besan Laddu (Sweet chickpea flour balls)
- Gajar Halwa (Sweet carrot pudding)
- Gulab Jamun (Fried cheese balls in syrup)
- Jalebi (Deep-fried dough with sugar syrup)
- Kheer (Rice pudding)
- Paan (Betelnut leaf digestif)
- Rasmalai (Sweetened cheese balls)
Beverages
- Chai (Spiced tea)
- Falooda (Basil seed milkshake)
- Lassi (Yogurt drink)
- Nimbu Paani (Lemonade)
- Sharbat (Fruit beverages)
Breakfast
- Sambar (Spicy lentil stew)
