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[siddhu33]

Here is the standard recipe for south indian grilled fish, called simply "fish fry".
It looks a little like this(not my image, but should look similar):

Here is the recipe:

Required ingredients:

1. Fish Steaks(Tilapia, Salmon , King Fish if you can get it)
2. Turmeric Powder
3. Lemon Juice
4. Peppercorns
5. Cumin Seeds
6. Curry Leaves
7. Garlic
8. Chilli Powder
9. Oil and Salt

Now:

1. Cover Fish in lemon juice, salt, turmeric ,and chilli powder(to palate)
2. Then, grind up the peppercorns, with the garlic, cumin seeds, and curry leaves
3. Cover fish with ground mixture. You can slash the steak if it is large, to help in marination
4. Then , drizzle the fish with oil ,and shallow fry in a large pan. If you are health conscious, then grill(broil) the fish instead
5. Fish cooked when ready

 

[Grakl]

Yeah, subbing this thread.

 

[crimzonflame]

Hakka Chinese is awesome too.

 

[The Internet]

butter chicken

Can anyone from India verify that this is a food that origins from India? I've been to Pakistan twice and never seen butter chicken. I thought it was just some westernized Indian dish that was invented in North America.

 

[siddhu33]

Can anyone from India verify that this is a food that origins from India? I've been to Pakistan twice and never seen butter chicken. I thought it was just some westernized Indian dish that was invented in North America.

Nah, it's from India.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_chicken Maybe you are confused with Chiken Tikka Masala, which originated in Glasgow.

 

[Keikaku]

Can anyone from India verify that this is a food that origins from India? I've been to Pakistan twice and never seen butter chicken. I thought it was just some westernized Indian dish that was invented in North America.

As an Indian, I confirm this

 

[enzo_gt]

I love Indian food but can't help feeling like I'm eating a bowl full of salt. Are there low sodium Indian foods?

Not really, us Indians love putting salt in EVERYTHING. Causes a lot of health problems for the elders but low sodium foods are a rarity.

Butter chicken is a great place to start really. Kind of like a marquee dish that is unarguably good. Eat it with some naan (type of roti) for the full experience.

 

[Keikaku]

Not really, us Indians love putting salt in EVERYTHING. Causes a lot of health problems for the elders but low sodium foods are a rarity.

Butter chicken is a great place to start really. Kind of like a marquee dish that is unarguably good. Eat it with some naan (type of roti) for the full experience.

I couldn't help but notice that you made a mistake. Surely you mean Puris.

 

[enzo_gt]

I couldn't help but notice that you made a mistake. Surely you mean Puris.

Puriya are damn good too, but in that case they should have them with cholay

 

[BertramCooper]

Chicken tikka masala is indeed delicious, even if it is the General Tso's Chicken of Indian cuisine.

I managed to make it on my own once and it was delicious. And not too difficult, surprisingly.

 

[Guerrillas in the Mist]

Don't go near Korma or Chicken Tikka Massala, try some proper curries.

I'd recommend a Balti, Bhuna or jalfrezi. Good standard stuff, at least in England. Nothing there to blow your brains out either, unless you're after that. Just good flavours.

Three of my favourite curries right here.

 

[Danne-Danger]

What's a good Indian cook book for vegetarian recipes?

 

[nitric0]

I live in the Chicago area so I have plenty of options. Feel free to recommend a place for me to try if you're from around here.

Lol you are in an amazing place for indian food.

Just go on Devon Ave and Western Ave and there is literally a mile block of restaurants. I highly recommend: Usmania Fine Dining, Anmol, Sabri Nehari and Swati (For non-veg)

From Usmania I highly suggest trying their kabob, butter chicken and nehari. From Anmol you have to try their Spicy Chicken 65 with naan, simply excellent. Overall, the dish you NEED to try is Biryani (Chicken or beef)

 

[SquiddyCracker]

What's a good Indian cook book for vegetarian recipes?

Just use any regular Indian recipe, and replace meat with bell peppers (and maybe mushrooms).

 

[Zoe]

That looks like Butter Chicken. Its really hard to make it good as you need to add Milk into the gravy that you make. Sometimes you end up making it too sweet. :\

Agreed, that looks like the butter chicken I always get. Unfortunately most places only carry Tikka Masala.

At the popular place around here, almost every Indian family we saw got a big plate of Biryani.

Just use any regular Indian recipe, and replace meat with bell peppers (and maybe mushrooms).

Paneer or eggplant are the usual substitutions I see.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

Lol you are in an amazing place for indian food.

Just go on Devon Ave and Western Ave and there is literally a mile block of restaurants. I highly recommend: Usmania Fine Dining, Anmol, Sabri Nehari and Swati (For non-veg)

From Usmania I highly suggest trying their kabob, butter chicken and nehari. From Anmol you have to try their Spicy Chicken 65 with naan, simply excellent. Overall, the dish you NEED to try is Biryani (Chicken or beef)

I'll give one of these places a try for sure. Thanks for the recommendations!

 

[RangersFan]

once again GAF dictates my eating choices. Ordered some Indian tonight. Veggie Samosas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Veggie Jalfarazi, Garlic Naan, and rice. Just had a serving of each, don't want to stuffed and feel bloated like I usually do after pigging out on Indian. Plus this will leave me more meals for the next few days. So damn good. I find it amazing considering how much I hated indian food a few years ago.

 

[blainethemono]

my family is gujarati but i don't really eat indian food that often. I do eat this yogurt sauce with basically everything though. I don't know the proper recipe but this seems to be it:

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1117314

1/2 c plain 2% greek yogurt
1/2 oz lemon juice (about 1 tsp)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
salt & ground pepper

I can put that shit on anything. Mostly use it with chicken (buffalo style or whatever really), but also have used it for this indian style fish with white rice and naan which is one of my favorite things to eat. Also we've made indian style burgers, kind of like tandoori chicken but with ground beef and this yogurt sauce. It just tastes great with everything i've put it on.

 

[Lamel]

FUCK MAN YOU GUYS HAVE MADE ME HUNGRY.


South asian food is amazing.

 

[cashman]

Biryani is top notch.

 

[Keikaku]

Puriya are damn good too, but in that case they should have them with cholay

Oh, it's on! Indian/Western style!

 

[Talon]

So last night I had Indian food for the first time. Lamb curry and samosas.

It was delicious.

The only problem is I wasn't really sure what I was doing and just kind of picked stuff at random. So my question is: What are some standard dishes I should try to get an idea of the basics? There's very few things I won't eat, so you can suggest pretty much anything.

I live in the Chicago area so I have plenty of options. Feel free to recommend a place for me to try if you're from around here.

Where do you live in Chicago? We have some great options here - Devon up in Roger's Park has the best Indian food in the city. In the North side, I'm really partial to Hema's Kitchen on Clark and Fullerton and Raj Darbar on Halsted and Schubert.

For your first meal, I would order some combination of Chicken Tikka Masala/Butter Chicken and Saag (or Palak) Paneer (Greens with cheese cubes). Order Naan/Garlic Naan and go to town.

 

[squidyj]

Oh man, it's been forever since I fried up some Bhajii and Pakoras.

 

[brokenbeans]

Chicken Rajastani and Palak Bahar.

Wow they are just amazing.

 

[GraveRobberX]

I'm Pakistani and Fatty + Foodie, so my words gospel

Best dishes: Nan goes best with them, Roti is not good with these, fuck the fake Pita ass bread, legit shit or go home

First try Nihari - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihari
Beef is the best, Lamb is second, Goat is bleh, Chicken is Blasphemy

Haleem - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleem
Beef is best, Chicken is Blasphemy

Butter Chicken or Chicken Makhani - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butter_chicken

Tandoori Chicken - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tandoori_chicken

Chicken Tikka (completely different from Tandoori Chicken) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_tikka

_________________________________________________________

Rice wise, the best is Biryani - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biryani

Beef Biryani #1, Chicken Biryani #2, Veal #3, Goat/Lamb #4

Next is Pulao, best is Goat, second is Veal or Lamb, Chicken is at third, Vegetable is 4th flavor wise - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulao

Never get white rice, unless you are getting curries

__________________________________________________________

Curries - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry

Chicken is best
Goat/Lamb is second
Vegetable is third

If protein + vegetable, most are best with Goat/Lamb, Chicken is not that good

___________________________________________________________

Side-Dishes wise

Samosas are great
Potato/Vegetable are king, Chicken is meh, the puff pastry one with Chicken is OK, but pricey per

Channa-Chat
Chick Peas (Garbanzos) + Potatoes + Diced Onions + Cilantro + Mint Sauce + Sweet Tamarind (Meethi Chutney) + Crunchy Chips, Delicious

Dhai Bhadi - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahi_vada

___________________________________________________________

Sweets

Best is Falooda - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falooda

Second is Kheer (Rice Pudding) - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kheer

Third is Rus Maila - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ras_malai

Hope I helped some in this thread, if need more info on other foods let me know


Remember this

If Pakistani - Spicy, Oily, Savory
If Afghanistani - Mild, Dry
If Indian - Moderate, Smooth

 

[GraveRobberX]

Sorry for posting again

This is how Pakistani, keep their houses stocked Yo':

Food Galore

Greatest creation ever made, for $4.99, can feed a family of 4... no joke
Halwa + Cholay vacuum sealed bags, Puris pre-made

step 0, leave Puris in the damn box, in the freezer, this will be the last step, don't leave them out, if you do, horrible sticky pieces, very hard to cook
Step 1, start up 2 small frying pans
Step 1.5, put both vacuumed bags under faucet of hot water to loosen
Step 2, add a little bit of water less than 1/4 cup of water in both, let boil
Step 3, cut bags add contents into each frying pan with boiling water, lower heat to simmer
Step 4, new frying pan, add oil, bring to hot liquid magma heat
Step 5, now close both the Halwa + Cholay pans, they're done (up to your thickness level)
Step 6, fry the Puris, watch out for the splashback, do one at a time, 30 seconds on each side
Step 7, have Halwa + Cholay + Puris with-in 15 minutes, Feast!

Chicken, beef, goat, lamb, veal, ready-made nan's Oh My!

Treasure Chest!

Homemade Egg Rolls
Stuffed with spicy shredded chicken + mixed spicy cabbage

Can never have enough Meat!

Beef feet for Nihari, bones used as stock

Left brown packed = Beef for Haleem
Right Brown Packet = Beef for Nihari

Pot used to cook haleem/nihari/kheer for family usage:

To give you a perspective, left everday usage, special occasion/deal with it + I feel like it today:

(*^_^*)

 

[FStop7]

Don't be reluctant to try goat. I don't like it but I'm glad I tried it because it's pretty distinct.

 

[Ken]

Chicken Tikka Masala is my go to meal. It's so damn good, I have a hard time ever ordering anything else. Ask for it hot.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/CTM.jpg/400px-CTM.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

*drool*

I usually love Indian food whenever I have it. Unfortunately it's a rare treat around here.

 

[GraveRobberX]

Also almost all meats are cured or ginger/garlic out of there ass, you will never get that meat smell

You will get the savory spices/curry flavor inside the meat

Most meats are done/well done, sorry rare meat guys

Goat is almost like stew beef, has some moist pieces with a few chewy

 

[victreeb3l]

paratha > naan

or any other flat breads. dont let anyone else sway you.

im also probably the one brown dude in this world that doesnt like biryani. i just cant stand it.

Don't be reluctant to try goat. I don't like it but I'm glad I tried it because it's pretty distinct.

i always assume people eat goat as much as i do. when i have guests over, they go bonkers for goat korma and im like "you never had goat before? wtf?"

Sorry for posting again

This is how Pakistani, keep their houses stocked Yo':

(*^_^*)

my god graverobber, that is an incredible kitchen :O my mom has two freezers full of meats and fishes like that. college was tough when i had to eat that supermarket bullshit considering im used to halal meat straight from the butcher. yeeugh.

 

[pappe]

Dal Makhani is the perfect dish to complement Butter Chicken.

Chicken or Lamb Dum Biryani is also an all time favorite.

Dal Tadka with rice is awesome.

 

[GraveRobberX]

paratha > naan

If you want to die with-in a few years, yeah sure go for it

Paratha should be eaten one in awhile

Too much, you will feel bloated, and start hating it

It is a heavy bread

Roti is the lightest
Puri
Then Naan
Paratha next
The Keema (beef, goat, lamb minced meat inside)/Aloo Paratha is the heaviest
Meeta (sweet) Paratha is Liquid Death Bread, you should only eat it once every millennium

I eat Paratha maybe once every 3-5 weeks, 2 pieces with 4 sunny side eggs

___________________________________________________________________

I even have Ameri-Pak Fusion some dishes

Beef cubes with salt, black pepper, (shan) nihari mix, (shan) beef tenderizer, little bit of garam masala, adobo, red hot chilli peper powder
Put into pressure cooker, 7 minutes cook after whistle starts blowing
2-3 boxes of Chicken Flavored Rice A Roni (you can choose any flavor, except Beef, it become over salty, and it's overkill of Beef Flavored Rice + Beef Meat)
Cook rice-a-roni side by side with cooker, when you to try reduce the water in the cooker, take 2 cups of beef stock and throw into r-a-r (don't put the same amount of water into r-a-r, keep it less due to the stock)
40 minutes later, enjoy spicy infused Pakistani flavored Rice-A-Roni, with Beef as side dish lol

 

[BobTheBub]

Anyone Getting into Indian Cooking should take a look at VahRehVah.com, the website and the Youtube Channel


Start with the Murg Malai Kabab Video, not particularly so that you cook that dish (Although it is great) but more to get the vibe from the man.

Tandoori Chicken was mentioned earlier - here's my attempt from the vahrehvah recipe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsb311KiG1U

 

[siddhu33]

If you want to die with-in a few years, yeah sure go for it

Paratha should be eaten one in awhile

Too much, you will feel bloated, and start hating it

It is a heavy bread

Roti is the lightest
Puri
Then Naan
Paratha next
The Keema (beef, goat, lamb minced meat inside)/Aloo Paratha is the heaviest
Meeta (sweet) Paratha is Liquid Death Bread, you should only eat it once every millennium

I eat Paratha maybe once every 3-5 weeks, 2 pieces with 4 sunny side eggs

Kulcha or chapatti is even lighter still, and probably what you should be eating for the day to day.

And try not to eat this:

 

[pappe]

Every1 of you forgot Malai Reshmi Kababs??? Thats like my favorite starters.

 

[victreeb3l]

If you want to die with-in a few years, yeah sure go for it

Paratha should be eaten one in awhile

Too much, you will feel bloated, and start hating it

It is a heavy bread

Roti is the lightest
Puri
Then Naan
Paratha next
The Keema (beef, goat, lamb minced meat inside)/Aloo Paratha is the heaviest
Meeta (sweet) Paratha is Liquid Death Bread, you should only eat it once every millennium

I eat Paratha maybe once every 3-5 weeks, 2 pieces with 4 sunny side eggs

oh dude, im way past the hating it phase, but i keep coming back because im a glutton

Spoiler

for pain

. i definitely cant have it more than 2-3 times a week though.

i too always have it with sunny side eggs and meats. that plus lenthils ("boot" daal. i dont know the english name for it) is amazing. 4 eggs is insane though lol. sometimes i think 2 is too much.

 

[GraveRobberX]

Every1 of you forgot Malai Reshmi Kababs??? Thats like my favorite starters.

Too many kebabs to list

They can be appetizers, but some even turn them into entrees

Shami kebabs used to be appetizer (minced meat mixed with lentil beans), but now you can grab 2-3 and a naan or two and it becomes a entree

Every South East Asian country has 5+ distinct kebab versions, some are just regional flavored, they may all look like Chicken, just 1-2 different spice changes the whole fucking profile

 

[Loofy]

Wow no mention of fish pakora.
I always fill my plate with this stuff at indian weddings.

Everytime I have it too its a different recipe but its always good.

 

[fritolay]

Corn. Oh wait that is native american. I dunno then.

 

[GraveRobberX]

Wow no mention of fish pakora.
I always fill my plate with this stuff at indian weddings.
Everytime I have it too its a different recipe but its always good.

That's the thing, fish pakora aren't an everyday item, they are made for special occasions

Regular pakoras are good, but too many type

Can go from cauliflower, eggplant, onion, potato, basic (plain), lentil, shrimp, chicken, fish

 

[Omzz]

Sorry for posting again

This is how Pakistani, keep their houses stocked Yo':

For a second I thought you some how got access to pictures of my house lol.

Props on that Tandoori Naan packets you got in the freezer. I get the same ones.

 

[Jake.]

indian food is the one regional cuisine that i just hate - think it all tastes/smells/looks like ass. huge generalization i know, but its just not my jam at all. wish it was. :\

 

[GraveRobberX]

For a second I thought you some how got access to pictures of my house lol.

Props on that Tandoori Naan packets you got in the freezer. I get the same ones.

Heh I have 5 packs in both freezers lol

I learned 2 new ways of making naan through those ready made

Most just microwave or broil/heat in oven

One is toaster oven, the naans come out so fucking crispy, so good with haleem/nihari
So crunchy, directly from freezer into oven, no thawing

Other is hot oil, thaw the naan a little bit (not too much)
Put under faucet running cold water, dont drench, just like a wash on both sides, put into hot oil (watch out for splashback), watch carefully, a little brown flip, repeat process
The top become crisp, yet the inside is so gooey/soft

My mom's making beef biryani tomorrow hopefully, I'll take pictures ^_^!
Everyone mom's is the best at cooking, my mom's is 10 times greatness than all of yours combined

Her goat/veal pulao will make you go ape shit (I don't like it that much, but my family starts civil wars for her food)
Biryani is #2

Seriously I would fed ex some of you my moms home cooking, you don't know what you guys are missing out on

 

[akachan ningen]

You know what they cook with in Indian restaurants?
Ghee. It's clarified butter.
You get a rancid hit of that...
God! I mean, you can imagine.

 

[Omzz]

Heh I have 5 packs in both freezers lol

I learned 2 new ways of making naan through those ready made

Most just microwave or broil/heat in oven

One is toaster oven, the naans come out so fucking crispy, so good with haleem/nihari
So crunchy, directly from freezer into oven, no thawing

Other is hot oil, thaw the naan a little bit (not too much)
Put under faucet running cold water, dont drench, just like a wash on both sides, put into hot oil (watch out for splashback), watch carefully, a little brown flip, repeat process
The top become crisp, yet the inside is so gooey/soft

I never microwave naans since they just come out soft and there's no fun in that. I always go with the toaster oven. Gives it a nice crisp feel to the naan and quick to do.

I started going with these ones since it's kept frozen. I use to get other naans with the plastic wrap kept out in the open and it was just bad. Weird smells and it just didn't taste good. So advice to all others, if you're going to go with naan, get frozen.

 

[GraveRobberX]

You know what they cook with in Indian restaurants?
Ghee. It's clarified butter.
You get a rancid hit of that...
God! I mean, you can imagine.

Most restaurants use canola/vegetable/corn oil

Ghee isn't used much in most places, maybe those classic stores that are nostalgic for it

My mom makes desi ghee from scratch, what a long arduous process
I hate the flavor/smell, family loves it

I have seen 12lbs of butter melt away and transformed into ghee, oh dear lord the smell
Butter smell through the whole house for a few days, never again!
Makes like 3-4 huge ass jars (think medium sized cookie jars), then it given to mom's sisters/sister-in-laws

 

[Mikeside]

Dopiaza is really tasty (medium spiced chicken with onions)

I had a really tasty take-out which was a spicy chicken dish with pistachios, but I can't remember what it was called for the life of me

I also love currys using mutton (even over just lamb - dat tenderness)

 

[GraveRobberX]

2 day old Haleem, re-cooked in frying pan is yummy!

Breakfast of Champions!

 

[Emwitus]

Indian food is best food. That is all.

 

[Emwitus]

*sigh*