A gourmet Indian restaurant is not a common occurrence. In fact, it is rare to find a restaurant that has this special combination of fine cuisine and an ambiance that appeals to the whole family. If you are lucky enough to come across one, you will quickly become a fan. The best gourmet Indian restaurants offer a wide range of foods, including traditional and fusion items.
Dhokla
Dhokla is a popular and very tasty Gujarati snack. It is a soft, steamed snack that can be eaten as breakfast or served as a starter. This snack is made from chickpea flour, which provides protein and fibre.
There are several variations of dhokla. One of the most popular is Khaman Dhokla. It is usually steamed, and made using a mix of rice and chickpea flour.
Another common version is White Dhokla. It is steamed instead of fried, and is not spicy. Instead, it is lightly spiced with ginger and green chilies. Usually, it is served with a green chutney, such as tamarind chutney.
To make traditional dhokla, you need to grind the ingredients into a thick, idli-batter consistency. You can then refrigerate the batter and use it later.
Samosas
Samosa is a very popular Indian snack or appetizer. The samosa is a thin crust pastry filled with a potato, peas, or lentil mixture. They can be deep fried or baked.
Samosas can be eaten with a chutney or served alone. In some regions, they can be made with dried fruits and spices. However, most people prefer them with a chutney.
You can make samosas in different shapes. They can be round or triangle. Most samosas are stuffed with green chilies, lentils, or potato. Some samosas are stuffed in dried fruit.
Samosas should be fried in neutral flavored oil such as peanut, canola, sunflower, or safflower. This will prevent them from having a salty taste. For best results, you should fry your samosas in batches. If you are cooking your samosas on a stove, be sure to turn them often so that they cook evenly.
Tandoori chicken
Tandoori chicken is one of the most popular Indian dishes. The dish is very easy to prepare. It can be eaten on its own or as a side dish.
Traditionally, the dish is grilled or baked in a tandoor, which is a cylindrical clay oven. Usually, it uses charcoal or firewood. However, in modern times, many tandoors are electric.
Tandoori Chicken is often cooked with red onions and sliced fresh cucumbers. These are both perfect accompaniments to the flavorful chicken. Alternatively, it can be accompanied by basmati rice, roasted corn on the cob and even Indian ice cream.
Before cooking, make sure that your tandoor is prepared and your chicken is marinated. To do so, use a spice mix or homemade garam masala.
Dal makhani
If you have ever been to an Indian restaurant, you have probably seen a dish called Dal Makhani. This is a buttery lentil curry. Traditionally it is made on a slow flame overnight.
You can make dal makhani on the stovetop as well. It is not hard to do. Just keep in mind that the longer you simmer the dal the creamier and more flavorful it will be.
Once you have soaked the lentils for at least an hour, add them to a pot and cook them on medium heat. When they are cooked, add whole spices to the dish. Whole spices give the dish a special aroma.
After the whole spices have been added to the pot, add the boiled beans. Let the mixture simmer on low for another 30 minutes. The water will start to separate.
Chaat
Chaat is a traditional Indian snack and a popular street food. Chaat is made from a variety of ingredients and is usually spicy, sweet, and tangy. It can be eaten as a light breakfast or as an afternoon treat. The base ingredient is often a flatbread such as naan or papdi. Other ingredients may include pomegranate seeds and a variety of chutneys.
Traditionally, chaat was served with hand-mixed tamarind and coriander chutneys. Today, there are a variety of chaats that are available and some are even topped with a chaat sauce.
These include the classic aloo tikki, which are spiced fried potatoes. Also popular are potato bhajis, which have a deep fried, crunchy taste. Often chaat is served with a tangy chutney or yogurt.
