Top 10 foods to try when in India

Indian food is feast for the taste buds. The variety of food you can find in India is countless. The Indian cuisine is as diverse as India itself. Here in India the food can be categorized mainly as North Indian and South Indian food. It can be further divided into region sub-groups such as Punjabi, Rajasthani, Sindhi, Guajarati, Chettinad, Bengali, Mughali, Kashmiri and Hyderabadi. I will not be surprised if you add a few more regional cuisines to the list!

India is a land of festivals and every festival has its own special menu; every occasion also has a special menu and these are vary from region to region. Now, are you getting the idea of how many other varieties of cuisines you can expect in one cuisine called the Indian cuisine?

Most Indian dishes are full of spices hence the flavour and the colour. The most common spices and ingredients used in Indian cuisine include mustard, cumin, curry leaves, green coriander, garam masala (a masala made of select range of spices), tomatoes, onions, garlic, and ginger, along with the main ingredients such as the vegetables or lentils that go into it.

Do you know why did I am giving you this insight about the diversity and variety of Indian food? Because I find it very difficult to come up with the just top 10 amazing dishes which I can recommend to you on your visit to India. Yet here I am with my list of top 10 foods you cannot miss when in India.

The top 10 foods you must try when in India:

10. Thali

"Indian Thali"
The Indian Thali. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Thali is not a dish in itself but it is a combo of meals which comprises of a sweet dish, two or more curries, dal (lentils), usually steamed rice, pickle, puri/naan/chapatti (one of these Indian breads), papad (poppadoms), butter milk, one raita, one or more chutneys, and more or less depending upon whether you opt for the north Indian thali or south Indian thali and also the place you eat.

Thali, according to me is the best way to relish Indian meals as you get to taste a variety of dishes in one go and the added advantage of this is you pay less and taste more. In this concept of thali you need not order different dishes for one person and end up wasting more food and also spending more money. Just order a thali and you are done, no side dishes, no dessert…just the thali (by the way thali means plate, in this case, its means a thali or plateful of food).

 9. Dam Aloo

"Aloo Dam"
Dam Aloo

It is a side dish prepared with the so called baby aloos (potatoes) which are simmered in the gravy prepared with tomatoes, onions and variety of spices. It goes will with rice or nan breads. If you love curries, you’ll love the dam aloo.

8. Stuffed Paratha

"Stuffed Parathas"
Stuffed Parathas. Source: Wikimedia Creative Commons

Stuffed parathas are a kind of Indian bread which are made of either whole wheat flour or white flour and stuffed with a variety of stuffings. The stuffings can be potatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, paneer (cottage cheese), and any other vegetables that you can think of.

7. Paalak Paneer or Sag Paneer

"Palak Paneer"
Palak Paneer: Source: lambdageek's photostream

Paalak means spinach and paneer means cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is either boiled in salt water or pan fried a little and added to spinach gravy. The spinach gravy is prepared by blending the slightly boiled palak along with ginger, garlic, green chilli and onion.

6. Samosa

Samosas

This is one of the favourite snacks of every Indian! You can’t come to India and not try the somosas out. It is a deep fried snack prepared by rolling the dough of white flour and then filling it with the mixture made of potatoes, green peas, garam masala, onions, chilli powder, fennel and salt. You’ll love it.

5. Chole Batura

"Chole Batura"
The Chole Batura

Chole batura can either be your breakfast, lunch, evening snack or dinner. Yes, you read it right. That is the beauty of this dish. Though it is a heavy meal, Indians do not hesitate to relish the flavours of chole batura any time of the day. Baturas are deep fried round Indian breads made of white flour. Chole is the side dish prepared with chick peas.

4. Biryani

Biryani

Birayani takes many forms and can be vegetable biryani or non-vegetarian. Either way, it is a dish you must give a shot. It is a rice preparation served with raita (yogurt with onions and shredded salad mainly cumumber).

3. Masala Dosa

"Masala Dosa"
Masala Dosa

It is form of thin pan cake prepared with the batter which is fermented over night. The batter is made of rice and white lentil (something called the udad dal). It is severed with potatoes, chutney and sambar.

2. Rasgola/Gulab Jamoon/Jalebi/ Gajar ka Halwa

Rasgola
The Indian sweet "Rasgola"

When in India, sweets and deserts cannot be left behind. But I am sorry I cannot really suggest just one dessert out of the hundreds of choices. These are the 4 desserts that made to my top 10 list. “Gajar ka halwa” is prepared with carrots, Jalebis are the deep fried gram flour savouries which are then dipped into the sugar syrup, Jamoons are deep fried balls made of condensed milk called “khoya” which are then added to sugar syrup. The Rasgola is a Bengali sweet prepared by boiling “paneer” in sugar syrup.

1. Chaats

Chaat
The Chaat - The number 1 food you must try in India. Source: Shruti Rathnagiriswaran's photostream

The king of all dishes! They are mostly had as starters or evening snack. Chaat is not the name of one dish but include a variety of other dishes mainly pani puri, sev puri, pav baaji, to name a few. Tamarind, chilli powder, curds, onions, tomatoes and sev (vermicelli) are the key ingredients that go into most of these chaats famously known as street food.

If you have travelled to India or if you live in India, I would like to hear your favourite Indian dishes. Don’t be shy; leave the name of your favourite Indian dish in the comment box.

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137 thoughts on “Top 10 foods to try when in India”

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  10. Nothing is really more appealing to tourists other than food. The food of a country shows the nature and persona of the people living in it. So, if you really want to understand people, you better see them prepare the food and know the meaning behind them.

  11. Some of my favorites are on this list! Samosas are very tasty, but they can also be fiery. Every time I had dum aloo in India, it was stuffed with paneer. So good! For meat eaters, butter chicken and lal maas are very good. On the sweets list, try barfi. It looks like white fudge. Delicious!

    I’ll take this list with me on my next trip and try some of the things I haven’t had yet. This trip will include a walk through Chandni Chowk and sampling street food. Yum!

    • When in Delhi – also try moong halwa in Sadar Bazaar. You also get great chola-bhatoora and rajma-chaawal in Delhi. And, of course, don’t forget the paraanthe-wali-gully when at Chandni Chowk.

  14. Of all the things I did in India (the only time I’ve been) what I enjoyed the most was eating. Samosas, thali, biryani, falooda… but my favorite of them all was by far the glorious Masala Dosa. I had it almost every breakfast for the 3 months I spent there for vacations. Wish I could go back now for just one more 😉

  18. Last time I came to kerala I had Masala Dosa.I dont live the outer covering but the “Masala” inside is supers and still mouth watering. I had it from Indian Coffee House.

  19. You can get all of these in my local Indian restaurant however as much as they are cooked by local chefs and close to local ingredients they are without a doubt nothing like the real life food from india itself – nice list and I’ll be sure to try everything when I visit the place

  22. Any visitor to India, specifically Delhi, should also not miss trying Rajasthani and Marwari food at Shraman restaurant. They serve some fabulous delights like Dal Batti Churma, Jodhpuri Mirchi ka Pakora, Papad aur Mangori ki Subzi and Paan Patta Chaat.

  23. Any visitor to India, specifically Delhi, should also not miss trying Rajasthani and Marwari food at Shraman restaurant. They serve some fabulous delights like Dal Batti Churma, Jodhpuri Mirchi ka Pakora, Papad aur Mangori ki Subzi and Paan Patta Chaat.

  24. Few of my favorites are here, If you’re in the capital city and want to try Sarson ka Saag and Makki ki Roti, go to Punjab Grill. They have a brilliant ongoing Winter Menu. Absolutely delightful!

  25. I like very much – Sarson ka Saag and Makkai ki Roti, Any Punjabi winter menu is incomplete without Sarson ka Saag and Makkai ki Roti. We were realy glad for that Punjab Grill didn’t leave this off the menu.

    • For the uninitiated – sarson ka saag is mustard leaves cooked in mild spices and makkai ki roti is Indian bread made from corn-flour and ideally fried with ghee. Aha! The way I am commenting on this thread, it’s proven! I am a fanatic foodie…

  31. i am on a fortnight long trip to India and ate Biriyani today, I don’t remember which type it was but tasted heavenly. It’s the best food I have every savored on this planet. But unfunately its very hot in Mumbai. I wish I had some more time to enjoy the monsoon in India too.

    • Hey Paul
      I am glad you liked the biryani. In fact, I love biryani myself. Invite me any day for Biryani. As for Mumbai, I agree – unfortunately its way too hot even for Indians. Thanks for comment.
      Best wishes to you.

  33. very comprehensive and helpful post, will come in handy when I visit India this year. I’ve tried the Thali, stuffed parathas and masala dosa in Malaysia a few years back.

  38. all Indian sweet dishes and fast food are my favourite one. Excellent article on our food culture. I also suggest everyone try this atleast once you really loved it.

  40. It’s perfect article for foreigner who wants to try food in India but with great tips of food. I like these all foods.

  41. I am proud to be an Indian our culture, our food, our togetherness is really awesome and are the best example of unity as what i think. Thanks for sharing this blog its really tempting.

  45. Wow yummy foods! I want to try to eat it. Looks delicious. I wonder what is the recipe of that. It’s like the Philippine food. Yummy also.

  46. OoOo India is sooo amazing , Everything about it is great , exotic people , food , traditions those are my kind of places to visit along with Morocco ,
    Morocco has a very famous Dish to try as well called :
    CHICKEN TAGINE

  47. India is one of the best country in the world for providing n number of tasty dishes. Thank u Shalu for this Article. Rajdoot The Indian Restaurant is also providing these dishes in Calgary, Canada

  56. India is one of the best country in the world for providing n number of tasty dishes. Thank u Shalu for this Article. Rajdoot The Indian Restaurant is also providing these dishes in Calgary, Canada

  58. I love samosa! Chaat looks very appetizing. Here we have something that looks like stuffed paratha which we call ‘Murtabak’ and it’s stuffed with veggies and chicken/meat/sardines.

  65. Those looks so good! I’ve always wanted to see India and plan to one of these days. Would you know where to find recipes for some of these dishes in the meantime? It would be great to learn to make them myself too.

  66. Stuffed Paratha is definitely my favorite Indian food. Goes great with most curries. I’d love to actually try it in India itself. One day I’ll get there

  68. hi

    mmhhhhh.. reading this article and its making me hungry

    i am Guju so i wish you can consider some Gujrati dish like “surti undhiyu” and there are many more

    nice article i am loving it

  71. parata stuffed that in my country Indonesia known as the bread maryam, it felt good.

    Indoneisa people usually enjoy this menu disore day with milk topping, cuklat, cheese or with added curry sauce delicious.

  72. Great !! I just surprised but confused which I will take from here. Each recipe is so delicious. But there have some recipes which might be out of diet system. Anyway, I am really interested with all of the recipes here.

  76. Great list,nice compilation,by the way i love India’s food,i visited India a few years ago and i full in love with a lot of recipe that i found so so so delicious and healthy.Thank you for the post.

  79. I have not been to India before. However, this summer my family will come to Delhi for vacation, I and my family will try these foods that you recommeded above.Thanks for your recommeded!

  80. This is a great list. India is one of the best country in the world for providing n number of tasty dishes.
    My favorite has also been the masala Dosa

  81. Hi shalu, Its a really nice read. It would be appreciable if you add some of India’s non veg dishes because majority of the population in the world is of non vegetarians and in India we do have some really great dishes in Chicken. Apart from that your article was just mouth-watering. 🙂

  82. Indian food is so spicy even Thai food can’t match. Im Thai and usually eat strong taste and spicy food but when i tried indian food. . . it’s like ohhh this is too spicy

  86. Nice Health tips and site.
    I like this site and all set. Good health is important to the happiness and professional life. I have a knowledge on the subject. and have such site, you can see it.
    site is dietary control.

  88. Really great and Help full article i have ever read . i will try this Food when i will be there ,I also have collected some great food , you might want to check this too:

  94. i think Indian foods one of famous foods in the world.i have taken lot of Indian foods and those foods are very interested.the people who live in out of India they can try Indian foods.

  98. What’s so special about Asian cuisine – particularly the Indonesian style of cooking food? Without a doubt, oriental cookery is fast becoming an important option among the many food varieties all over the world.

  99. Just after going through your drool-inducing must try food items, I’m eagerly waiting to have chaat after my office hours. I haven’t tried dam aloo yet, after going through your list I’d definitely be giving that a try. Thanks for compiling this awesome list.

  102. Hey there!
    Well I was just surfing internet for making something new today as I love to cook but it made me visit your site and here what I can see just left my mouth get watered and now I am just dying to eat any one of these.
    Can you just provide me a recipe for any of these dishes you mentioned above, I will be so grateful to you 😀
    And obviously I am going to give them a try whenever I get a chance to visit India! 😀

    Awesome share!
    Keep sharing please!

  103. Hey that is something really worth of sharing. I have been to India once and there are many dishes which I have already tried and seriously I liked them too much personally! 😀

    And Awesome post 🙂

  104. India cuisine is wonderful. I have tried curry and I was crazy with it. I wish I could try Thali and Dam Aloo next time when I visit India. Thanks for sharing interesting information with us.

  106. Best list of Indian dishes i love to it
    In the ancient time, India was greatly influenced by three regions: Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains. The rising of these religions increases the trend of vegetarianism in the country. But now, a major portion of Indian population is non-vegetarians. Non-vegetarians relish meats (chicken, mutton), fishes, eggs etc. Therefore, Indian foods now include a number of non-vegetarian items including different types of biriyanis (mutton, chicken, mixed), prawn curry, lamb vindaloo, lamb korma, lamb Madras, lamb tikka masala, lamb rogan josh, chicken Madras, chicken korma, chicken curry, chicken karabi.

  107. A great article i love it.you are really doing very good job please keep it up.god bless you.excellent points you have made here.i loved it your post. Thank You So Much.

  113. That is so tempting and Yummy Post thank You Shalu, I frequently order such Food Online from different near by using fabpromocodes.in to check out at best prices. Try it for you as well.

  114. In the last 2 years ago, I visited Siliguri, India the most amazing place. After reading your article i just remember my memories. Ohh. You have shared some good food list here. “Dam Aloo” is really a wonderful and delicious food. I also learnt from India how to make Dam Aloo. When i get free i usually cook my favourite this menu for me, my husband and my 4 years baby Boy.

  115. Very Nice Informative .I Love the way of Writing about Indian Food Collection .
    Can you just provide me a recipe for any of these dishes you mentioned above, I will be so grateful to you

  116. You had compiled a good list of Indian food collection and also doing great job of promoting our Indian food culture across globe through your website, Good wishes.

  124. it is a good topic about indian foods . in my life m want travel all india and try all local dish and share taste whith my family its very remerable things will make of my life

  125. Thank you for sharing useful information about Indian food. From mentioned list i like samosa to eat. it really tasty and delicious to eat. keep up the good work and keep on writing such article.

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