Known for its diverse range of intricate ingredients, tongue tickling flavors, and health benefits, Indian food has become one of the world’s most popular cuisines. From London to Dubai, Bangkok to Brunswick, you can find an Indian restaurant just about anywhere these days.
Every region in India has its own unique cuisine indigenous to the local populations and ingredients available. Bombay Mahal in Brunswick, Maine has been cooking up some of India's most famous dishes for its customers for over 30 years.
Here are 5 of the most popular and ordered dishes at Indian restaurants around the world.
1. Chicken Tikka Masala
Officially the national dish of the United Kingdom chicken tikka masala is a mouth-watering bowl of roasted chunks of boneless chicken in a creamy spicy based tomato gravy. Several native spices are added into the mix and this dish is hands down a favorite of Indian food lovers globally.
2. Butter Chicken
Butter Cicken of more formally known as Murgh Makhani in India is as Indian as it gets. The dish is made of marinated chicken overnight in a yogurt and spice mixture which cooked in a traditional tandoor clay oven. Garam masala, ginger, garlic, pepper, coriander, cumin, turmeric and chili finish off this divine dish. Goes equally well with naan bread or basmati rice.
3. Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is a popular North Indian dish consisting of roasted chicken prepared with yogurt & spices. The name comes from the type of round clay oven, a tandoor, in which the dish is traditionally prepared.
The chicken is marinated in yogurt and seasoned with a mixing of several Indian spices. Indian chefs traditionally use cayenne pepper, red chili powder, or Kashmiri red chili powder to give it a fiery red hue.
4. Lamb Roghan Josh
Rogan josh is actually a lamb dish of Persian origin, and its name roughly translates to “cooked in oil at intense heat.” It was brought to Kashmir & other parts of India and is now one of the most popular dishes for lamb lovers globally.
Lamb Rogan Josh consists of braised lamb chunks cooked with gravy. Indian chefs make this gravy from browned onions, yogurt, garlic, ginger, and aromatic spices.
5. Malai Kofta
Malai Kofta is the vegetarian version of meatballs. It goes well with naan bread and basmati rice. Usually Malai Kofta is found and special occasions, however its rich creamy tomato based sauce is cooked up by many local Indian restaurants around the world. Potatoes, a mixture of vegetables, paneer cheese, heavy cream, & spices are combined and formed into round balls, and then stuffed with chopped nuts and raisins. The koftas are then deep-fried and served in the mouth watering gravy.