What comes to mind when you hear the words “Indian buffet?”
What comes to mind when you hear the words “Indian buffet?” Do you automatically conjure up images of naan bread, mango lassi, and butter chicken? There is so much more than just those offerings. Two provinces (Punjab and Sindh) are part of the region known as Northern India. They are joined by multiple states: Jammu, Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Gujarat, and West-Central Uttar Pradesh. As a result, cooking traditions, dishes, recipes, spice blends, and cooking techniques are highly similar and wildly different at the same time.
Butter Chicken (AKA Murg Makhani)
The dish known as butter chicken is one of the most beloved dishes originating from Indian cuisine. Compared to its counterparts, it is relatively new – it wasn’t invented until the 1950s. Delhi’s Moti Mahal can claim butter chicken as its house specialty, and its delightfully creamy can be made as spicy as you would like. That said, it’s usually toned down until it’s mild enough for most ordinary diners.
Rogan Josh
The second Indian dish you should experiment with is called rogan josh. Lamb lovers will be excited to know that this is a tasty stew. While it’s easy to assume that this would be fiendishly spicy, it actually is not. Kashmiri dry red chilies lend the dish its eye-catching color.
Fish Amritsari
Are you attempting to follow a non-carnivorous diet? In that case, fish Amritsari (named after the city it comes from) will amaze you. Although it is fried fish, it is only considered an appetizer or a side dish. For best results, use tilapia, sole, or even salmon!
Layered Bread (Lacha Paratha)
No North Indian meal would be complete without some freshly-baked bread to go along with it! Despite its classification as a flatbread, it comes in several layers. If you are in the mood for thicker dishes such as tikka masala or masala gosht, you owe it to yourself to make some!
Spinach and Cottage Cheese Blend (Palak Paneer)
Yes, we understand that a combination of spinach and cottage cheese sounds unappetizing. But give it a chance anyway! You might be surprised by how much you like it. Paneer is the word for farmer’s cheese or dry curd cheese. For your dining companions who want to avoid dairy products, you can substitute with tofu, cauliflower, and potatoes. The mild flavors of spinach and cheese help emphasize the more exuberant dishes that await you as you become more adventurous!
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