Delectable Indian Cuisine

If you have a taste for spices, Indian food is a succulent cuisine that is worth sampling. Many people cannot taken the heat of Indian cuisine, but be aware that many of the dishes can be toned down. It does not all have to be hot and spicy.

When ordering Indian food for the first time, provide yourself with a variety of breads, condiments, curries, and Biryani so that you have foods with which you can cleanse your palate. Start with breads. Papadums are like large potato chips made from lentil flour. They are quickly fried or baked until crisp and golden. They have a unique flavor and are popular with kids.

Chapati and Naan are the two best breads to have on hand to tone down the spiciness of some of the curries. Chapati is wheat flat bread that is cooked in a scalding hot oven. Naan is similar, only white flour is used to make the dough. If you are a little more adventurous, try Aloo Paratha, buttery whole wheat flat bread that is stuffed with curried potatoes. Breads are often served with Raita, a yogurt, cucumber, and mint sauce, or Mango Chutney.

Most Indian restaurants offer a variety of Indian beers, teas, and then Lassi. Lassi is a yogurt smoothie that is not to everyone's taste. Flavored with rose water, the drink takes some getting used to. However, a mango flavored lassi is more likely to appeal to children.

Curries come in many varieties. A plain curry can be made mild or hot and contains meat, yogurt, onions, and the curry powder. Dishes like Vindaloo are much hotter thanks to the addition of vinegar. Shahi Korma is a mild curry dish that has pistachios added to the creamy sauce.

Biryani is India's version of fried rice. Biryani takes basmati rice, curry powder, pistachios, and a variety of vegetables and meats. The dish is mildly spicy and very delicious.

If you want to have a grilled dish, you cannot go wrong with tandoori. Tandoori is a hot clay oven in which meats are grilled after marinating in a mixture of Indian spices and yogurt. Chicken tandoori is extremely popular, but look for a Bombay Mixed Grill. You will find that this dish offers a sampling of many tandoori favorites from Tandoori chicken to chicken tikka to Tandoori Shrimp to Boti Kabaab (ground lamb kabobs).

If you are uncertain of what to order, ask if your restaurant offers Thali platters. These platters offer you a sampling of the most popular dishes. They always offer an appetizer, two different curries, Tandoori chicken, Basmati rice, breads, dipping sauces, and then dessert and tea or coffee. This is an affordable way to sample a little bit of everything.

Finally, finish your meal with some Gulab Jamun. This dessert includes steamed balls of milk and flour that are simmered in a mixture of honey, water, and cardamom. Kulfi is equally delightful. Kulfi is an ice cream made from ground pistachios, cream, honey, and rose water.