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India is known worldwide for its rich spices and complex dishes, but do you know which Indian dishes are most popular?
Whether you’re a vegetarian or a meat-eater of Indian origin or born elsewhere, you have a place in my list of the most popular Indian foods in the world.
It’s likely you have eaten or heard of some of these Indian foods, as they are a great example of how you can use food as an entry point to get people interested in dinners, occasions, and more.
Let’s quickly discuss these Indian foods that everyone is talking about!
Most Popular Indian Foods In The World
1. Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken is the most popular dish in India. It is a dish made with chicken, butter, and spices.
It is boneless pieces of chicken in a spicy, creamy tomato-based sauce. The recipe for Butter Chicken varies from region to region, but the basic ingredients are always the same.
The ingredients are chicken, tomatoes, butter/vegetable oil, onion, ginger, garlic, and whole spices (cumin seeds).
Butter Chicken tastes delicious and richly because of heavy cream or yogurt and butter.
The spice level can be adjusted according to your preference. It’s best served with naan bread, rice pilaf, a side salad, or any other vegetable dish like aloo gobi (potato cauliflower).
2. Chaat
Chaat is a traditional Indian food with different ingredients such as potatoes, chickpeas, onion, and other vegetables.
It is a popular dish that can be seen at any time of the day. The main ingredients used in making chaat are tamarind juice, yogurt, cilantro, and spices.
This dish tastes very delicious because it has a sweet and sour taste. It also contains different flavors, making it attractive to many people who like spicy foods.
Chaat is very popular because of its unique taste and texture, making people want to have more of it.
3. Madras Curry
Madras curry is a type of curry from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s made with coconut milk and spices, like cumin and coriander, which give it a distinct flavor.
Madras curry is high in protein and fiber, so it will keep you feeling full longer than other foods. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help fight disease and keep your body healthy!
4. Mutter Paneer
Mutter Paneer is one of the most popular Indian food in the world. It’s a type of curry made with paneer cheese and peas.
This dish is popular worldwide, but it’s especially loved in India.
The main ingredient in this dish is paneer cheese, a slice of soft Indian cheese with a mild flavor and texture similar to ricotta or cottage cheese.
It’s also used in many other curries, including Palak Paneer (spinach and paneer), Saag Paneer (paneer and spinach), Chana Masala (chickpeas), and other Indian spices like coriander or cumin seeds, red chili powder or paprika, ginger root, cilantro leaves (cilantro), fenugreek leaves (methi), turmeric powder (Haldi), salt, vegetable oil or ghee (clarified butter).
5. Papadum
Papadum is one of the most popular Indian snacks. It is made from lentil flour, rice flour, or chickpea flour and then fried in oil.
It is often served as an appetizer with various dips such as chutney, pickles, or yogurt. Papadum can be eaten plain or with some spices sprinkled on top of it.
Papadum also has a crispy texture and a soft center, making it very easy to eat and digest. It also has low calories, making it ideal for those trying to lose weight.
On top of that, it contains more fiber than regular bread, which helps keep your digestive system healthy too!
It is very popular worldwide because of its great taste and nutritional benefits.
Many people consume papadum regularly as part of their diet because they know how healthy it is for them!
6. Biryani
Biryani is a dish popular in the Indian subcontinent, neighboring countries, and many parts of the world. It’s made with rice, meat or vegetables, spices, and other ingredients.
It’s also one of the most popular foods in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. And it’s not just for special occasions — many families eat it regularly!
Biryani has a rich flavor thanks to its use of spices like cardamom and cinnamon. The rice is typically cooked with these spices before being mixed with meat or vegetables. It can also be served with raita (yogurt-based sauce) or chutney (a type of vegetable relish).
7. Paratha
Paratha is an Indian flatbread that is made with whole-wheat flour, and it’s usually cooked in a skillet. It has a thin base and a slightly thicker top, and it’s usually eaten for breakfast or dinner.
Paratha tastes like flatbread or naan, but it’s thicker. It’s also fluffier than naan because it’s made with whole-wheat flour instead of white flour.
The basic ingredients of paratha include water, salt, oil, and wheat flour (or maida). You can add spices like turmeric powder or chili powder to give your paratha an extra kick!
Lastly, they’re versatile and can be used in many ways, such as snacks or appetizers before dinner!
They can also be eaten with soup or chutney if you want something healthy!
8. Raita
Raita is another most popular Indian food that has been enjoyed for centuries. It’s a blend of yogurt, chopped vegetables, and spices. It can be eaten by itself or used as a topping for many other dishes.
It’s made from several basic ingredients: yogurt, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro. The mixture is then seasoned with salt, pepper, and other spices.
Raita originated in India, where it’s still very popular today. It’s also become very popular in many parts of the world, including the United States and Britain, where people try to eat healthier and add more vegetables to their diet.
It is often served alongside spicy dishes like tandoori chicken or lamb vindaloo because it helps cool down your mouth after eating something spicy.
Raita can also be eaten as a side dish or snack when you’re looking for something refreshing or light to eat instead of something heavy like naan bread or rice pilafs with meatballs or curries inside them!
9. Roghan Josh
Roghan Josh is a popular dish of lamb cooked with onion, tomatoes, and aromatic spices.
The main ingredients are tomatoes, garlic, onions, ginger, cinnamon powder, coriander powder, and garam masala powder.
And it goes well with Naan or Tandoori Roti. The traditional recipe for this dish calls for lamb to be marinated in yogurt and spices.
Roghan Josh is also known as “red meat” in Urdu, which has led some people to believe that the name comes from the color of the food when it’s cooked.
10. Saag Paneer
Saag Paneer is the world’s 10th most popular Indian food on our list.
This dish originates in Northern India and has spread throughout the world. It combines fresh spinach and paneer cheese cooked in a creamy tomato-based sauce. It’s delicious, nutritious, and full of flavor!
The main ingredients in Saag Paneer are spinach, paneer cheese, and tomatoes. Spinach is rich in vitamins A and C, iron, calcium, magnesium, and folic acid.
Saag Paneer is considered to be one of the healthier foods.
11. Samosas
If you’ve never heard of Samosas, you’re missing out on one of the tastiest foods in the world.
Samosas are Indian pastries stuffed with meat or vegetables, then deep-fried. Samosas taste delicious and have a crunchy outer layer and soft inside.
And other things are usually served with a spicy sauce and are a great snack or appetizer!
They’re so popular in India and worldwide because they’re so tasty and easy to make! You can get them at almost any local Indian grocery store in the freezer section.
You’ll never want to stop eating them once you try them yourself.
12. Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is a popular dish in India, and it has become increasingly popular worldwide. It’s also one of the most delicious foods you’ll ever try.
It tastes like heaven—that’s all there is to it! It’s made with a marinade that includes yogurt and spices like cumin, coriander, ginger, paprika, and others.
The marinade gives the chicken a tangy flavor that will leave your mouth watering for more.
And the best reason to eat Tandoori chicken is that it tastes so good—but there are other reasons too!
Moreover, eating this Indian dish will help you experience new flavors and cultures while satisfying your taste buds at the same time.
You’ll also be getting plenty of protein from each bite (about 20 grams per serving!), which means you’ll feel fuller longer than if you were eating a different meal like pasta or meatloaf.
13. Tikka Masala
Tikka Masala is a traditional Indian dish that originated in Britain. It’s a rich, creamy curry with chicken or lamb and a tomato-based sauce.
The word Tikka means “chunks” in Urdu, and the word Masala means “spice mix.”
Furthermore, Tikka Masala is basically a chicken tikka masala: chunks of boneless chicken breast marinated in yogurt, then grilled and simmered in a rich sauce of tomatoes, butter, onions, ginger, and garlic before being served with basmati rice.
The most common way to prepare Tikka Masala is by using chicken tikka pieces on skewers which are then cooked in the sauce for about 45 minutes.
And it is often served as an appetizer or as part of a meal consisting of other dishes such as naan or rice pilaf with meat or vegetarian options like samosas or vegetable pakoras.
14. Vindaloo
Vindaloo is a traditional Indian curry dish made with vinegar, garlic, and chili peppers. It’s popular in India and around the world.
It is one of the most popular dishes in Indian cuisine. And it is made with red chilies, mustard oil, and vinegar, which gives the dish its name: vindaloo means “garlic” in Portuguese.
The sauce is usually tomato-based but contains other spices like turmeric and coriander seeds.
Among other things, vindaloo can be prepared with either seafood or meat as its main ingredient. It’s often served with rice or naan bread on the side to soak up all of that delicious sauce!
People love eating them because they’re spicy enough to satisfy any craving for heat but not so hot that they’ll burn your mouth off —though they may leave you feeling just a little bit uncomfortable if you haven’t eaten one before!
15. Aloo Gobi
Aloo Gobi is an Indian dish combining potatoes and cauliflower flavors. It’s one of the most popular dishes in the world and has been around for hundreds of years.
It is made with potatoes, cauliflower, and a variety of spices, including ginger, garlic, turmeric, cumin, and mustard seeds. The finished product will be bright yellow-orange and can be served hot or cold.
The dish has a distinct taste that may be hard to describe at first—it’s somewhere between sweet and sour but with a bit of spice added on top. The best way to describe it would be “spicy.”
In addition, Aloo Gobi is considered by many to be a comfort food because it reminds them of home.
It’s often served at celebrations such as weddings or birthdays because it brings back memories of family meals together where everyone gathers around the table with their favorite foods on hand to enjoy each other’s company while eating delicious food together.
Because it has such strong cultural ties within India itself (as well as outside), this dish has become very popular throughout Asia, Europe, and America!
16. Naan
Naan is a flatbread among the most popular Indian food in the world –if not number one. It’s made with flour, water, yeast, and salt and cooked in a tandoor oven.
Naan is delicious and popular because it’s soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. It has a subtle sweetness that makes it perfect for dipping into chutneys or eating with curries.
Moreover, it is easy to make at home—all you need to do is mix up a batch of dough and let it rise for about an hour before you bake it in your oven (or tandoor).
It’s delicious. Naan is most preferred fresh out of the oven -since it’s soft, fluffy, and juicy.
Naan also comes in many different flavors and styles: plain or garlic, spinach or onion-filled—the possibilities are endless!
It’s versatile. You can serve it with any Indian dish or eat it alone as a snack or side dish. You can even put it in your sandwiches!
17. Dosa
Dosa is a type of crepe made from rice and lentil flour. It’s popular in India and worldwide, and it’s often eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
Dosa is made by pouring a batter of rice and lentil flour onto a hot griddle.
The crepe is then cooked until it’s crispy on both sides. This can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on how thick the crepe is and how hot your grill is.
The batter for Dosa is typically prepared using a special lentil called urad dal, which has been split open so that its white interior resembles tiny beads.
This lends the Dosa its characteristic crunchiness when done right—but if you’re not careful, you’ll end up with chewy bits instead!
Moreover, you can eat Dosas plain or fill them with vegetables like potatoes or onions before cooking them on your grill.
You can also serve them with chutneys such as coconut chutney or tomato chutney for dipping into while eating them (these are usually served alongside any other Indian dish).
Conclusion
The most popular Indian food In the world is Chicken Curry. Most Indians find curry as a key ingredient in their home-cooked recipes.
Today many restaurants also serve curries which provides an overwhelming choice to people.
So, my friend and I have presented a list of the most popular Indian food to make it easier for you to choose the best one for your meal.
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