Indian cuisine is ever-changing, so in India, there is no so-called orthodox Indian cooking method. The way food is cooked and the materials used are different across India, and also vary with the traditions of each family, only rice is the staple food that every household eats in India. Here are some of the most famous foods in India.


1. Biryani


Biryani is a rice dish brought to India by the Mughals. It is a stew of long rice with mutton, chicken or vegetables, so it tastes soggy. Among them, the Hyderabad Biryani Stew is the most famous, and there is also a vegan Biryani Stew.


2. Tandoor Chicken


This is a famous court dish in North India. The whole chicken is marinated with yogurt and spices and then roasted in a Tandoor furnace. After roasting, the chicken turns red and tastes a little spicy. Served with a green sauce and onions, it was delicious.


3. Butter Chicken


It is also a famous dish in North India. Boneless and diced tandoori chicken cooked in a creamy, tomato and spice sauce and served with naan. This is a dish that is served in almost every restaurant.


4. Thali


Thali is an Indian meal. Every province in India has its own style of thali. Basically thali is a round plate with about 4~6 dishes such as purée, refried beans, potatoes, stews, yogurt, desserts, etc. Also comes with rice, puri, roti or chapati flatbread.


Thali is basically divided into North Indian and South Indian Thali styles. North Indian thali is a puri, chapati or roti flatbread, with several heavy side dishes and a dessert. The South Indian thali is a fried cake (papad), rice with a few side dishes. What's more special is that the fried cake is crushed and served with rice and curry.


5. Nan


Nan, which is similar to the Middle East bag cake, is a flour cake that entered India from the Middle East through Punjab. The thickness is thicker and softer than that of Chabati or Roti. This is also the most classic Nan in India. What is more special is that there are many flavors of Indian noodles.


In addition to the original flavor, there are also cheese, potato, vegetables, coconut, etc., which are sweet and salty. Since the authentic method is to stick Nan to the wall of the Tandoor oven for grilling, the average Indian family also eats more in the restaurant.


6. Chapati


Chapati is one of the most common whole-wheat flatbreads in India, and it is chewy and somewhat similar to scallion pancakes. Using unfermented dough, similar to the practice of scallion pancakes, the crust is flatter and the taste is drier.


Chabati is larger than Roti. Every household in North India uses this as a staple food, and because its preparation method is only roasted, it is healthier.


7. Poori


This is a North Indian dessert. It looks like a palm-sized round cake that puffs up when fried, and the center of the round cake is hollow. It can be eaten with a main course or vegetable puree, and also occurs in normal thali meals.


There is also a Phulka similar to Poori, which is a pancake made of whole wheat flour. It is much smaller than Puri and is often seen at roadside stalls.


8. Dosa


A pancake-like snack, used in South India for breakfast. Dosha is a rice paste made of lentil paste, fermented rice and water. It is fried and baked on a large iron plate, and then the filling is added and the crust is folded in half. Its size can be larger than a normal cooking pot, and when folded in half, it is still larger than a normal plate.


The fried crust is crispy and tastes a bit like a French crepe. There are many kinds of dusa, the most common of which is masala dusa, which is filled with potatoes mixed with mustard, curry leaves, onions, and turmeric. In hot India, a masala dusa can make you feel full!