Indian cuisine is incredibly diverse, varying greatly from region to region due to its vast geography, diverse cultures, and historical influences.
Here’s an overview of some popular Indian foods categorized by type:
A staple flatbread made from whole wheat flour, usually cooked on a griddle called a tava.
A soft, leavened bread typically cooked in a tandoor (clay oven). It can be plain or stuffed with ingredients like garlic, cheese, or nuts.
A layered and flaky flatbread often stuffed with various fillings such as potatoes (aloo paratha), cauliflower (gobi paratha), or paneer (paneer paratha).
A fragrant rice dish cooked with spices, typically layered with meat (chicken, mutton, or fish) or vegetables.
Rice cooked with spices and vegetables or meat, often simpler than biryani but equally flavorful.
A comforting dish made from rice and lentils, often seasoned with turmeric and cumin, and served with yogurt or pickle.
Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) cooked in a creamy tomato-based sauce with spices.
Tandoori chicken cooked in a rich, buttery tomato-based sauce.
Various lentils cooked with spices, often tempered with ghee (clarified butter) and served with rice or bread.
Triangular pastries filled with spiced potatoes, peas, or minced meat, usually deep-fried.
Deep-fried fritters made from vegetables (such as potato, onion, or spinach) or paneer coated in chickpea flour batter.
A variety of savory snacks usually served cold or at room temperature, such as papri chaat, bhel puri, and pani puri, which are tangy and often spicy.
Deep-fried milk solids (khoya) balls soaked in sugar syrup.
Soft, spongy balls of paneer soaked in sugar syrup, originating from Eastern India.
Rice pudding made with milk, sugar, and flavored with cardamom, saffron, or nuts.
Sweet and tangy condiment made from ripe mangoes, spices, and sugar.
Refreshing green chutney made from fresh mint leaves, coriander, green chilies, and lemon juice.
Assorted vegetables (like mango, lime, and chili peppers) pickled in spices and oil.
Spiced tea made with black tea, milk, sugar, and spices like cardamom, ginger, and cloves.
A yogurt-based drink, either sweet (flavored with fruits or sugar) or savory (with spices like cumin and salt).
Commonly made from fruits like mango, guava, and pomegranate, often served with a sprinkle of chaat masala.
Mustard greens cooked with spices and cornmeal flatbread.
Tandoori chicken cooked in a rich tomato and butter-based sauce.
Spiced minced meat kebabs from Lucknow.
Deep-fried bread (puri) served with spicy potato curry.
Wheat balls (baati) served with lentil curry (dal) and sweetened wheat flour (churma).
Spicy mutton curry cooked with red chilies.
Thin, crispy crepe filled with spiced potatoes.
Spicy chicken curry from the Chettinad region.
Fermented rice pancakes served with coconut milk-based stew.
Mildly spiced fish curry cooked in coconut milk.
Spicy rice and lentil dish cooked with vegetables and tamarind.
Masala dosa topped with spicy red chutney and potato filling.
Light fish curry flavored with turmeric and other spices.
Soft, spongy balls of cottage cheese soaked in sugar syrup.
Lentil and vegetable stew seasoned with cumin and mustard seeds.
Baked cottage cheese dessert with caramelized crust.
Spicy potato fritter served in a bun.
Spicy mashed vegetable curry served with buttered bread.
Steamed fermented rice and chickpea flour cakes.
Mixed vegetable curry cooked with spices and coconut.
Flattened rice cooked with onions, potatoes, and spices.
Spicy mutton curry cooked in yogurt and cream.
Spicy chickpea curry served with fried bread.
Spicy potato snack with tangy tamarind sauce.
Spicy pork curry influenced by Portuguese cuisine.
Layered Goan dessert made with coconut milk, eggs, and sugar.