Ever so often, I come across people who tell me that they love Indian food but it's too complicated for them to try cooking at home. Indian cuisine is a unique blend of flavors, spices and technique but it is not as hard to cook as many people think. The biggest barrier for most people regarding cooking Indian food is intimidation of the spices and technique. But with a few simple steps it's easy to be well on your way to cooking a delicious Indian meal. Here are my simple tips to a delicious Indian meal:
- The first and foremost step to easy Indian cooking is to get everything ready before you start. The magical taste of Indian food comes together all at once. To get true flavors you can't stop in the middle of cooking to run to the store for something.
- 'Curry' is synonymous with Indian food. 'Curry powder' is thought of as the key ingredient in every dish. But this is not the truth! This all-important powder is actually a mix of spices collectively known as garam masala. It is added to some dishes along with other spices to enhance their flavor and aroma. While the basic ingredients used are the same, each Indian household has its own proportions so that the end result will often differ from home to home. Over time you can learn to adapt the recipes you cook to your own tastes. In the mean time, keep your eye on the big picture and the best way to do that is to buy the key masalas or spices and over time you'll know how to blend them into your favorite recipes.
- Indian food is often considered hot and spicy. But the truth is that chilies are a matter of preference and can be easily omitted when cooking most Indian cuisine.
- All Indian food is not rich and can be cooked with a minimal amount of oil or even cooked in olive oil and still taste great.
- Vegetables are a large part of Indian cooking. To create the best Indian food, most Indian cooks advocate using fresh produce and preparing a dish from scratch.
Indian food is surely not hard to cook. Tandoori chicken, one of the most popular grilled foods, is so easy to prepare that you will be quite amazed at its simplicity but great taste (see recipe below). This is just the start as far as delicious yet quick and easy-to-cook Indian food is concerned! Dive in and discover for yourself, the wonderful world of Indian cuisine. It's a journey you will never regret!
Easy to cook Tandoori Chicken - 4 skinned chicken legs
- 3 tbsps Tandoori Masala spice (available at Indian grocery stores)
- 4-5 tbsp plain yogurt
- 1 tsp freshly grated garlic and ginger
- 2 tbsp vegetable or canola cooking oil
- Salt to taste
- 1 tbsp Chaat Masala (available at most Indian grocery stores), optional garnish
- Onion rings, optional garnish
- Lemon wedges, optional garnish
1. Wash and pat dry the chicken. Make small slashes in the chicken pieces and keep aside.
2. Mix the tandoori spice with the yogurt, cooking oil, grated garlic, grated ginger and salt to make a smooth paste.
3. Smear this paste all over the chicken pieces, ensuring you rub it well into the slashes you made earlier and that the pieces are well coated.
4. Allow chicken to Marinate for 3-4 hours or overnight.
5. Preheat charcoal grill on medium. Put the chicken on it. Allow to cook on both sides, brushing cooking oil on as necessary. Once browned, reduce heat and cover the grill. Cook till the chicken is tender and fully done. Do not overcook or the chicken will dry out.
6. When done, place chicken in a plate and sprinkle Chaat Masala, garnish with lime juice, lime wedges and onion rings. Serve piping hot with mint chutney.
About the Author
Gitika Baveja of Flavors to Savor has always been passionate about cooking and shown a keen interest in trying out different recipes from around the world since she was a teenager. She chose to study cooking in high school where she was the recipient of numerous awards. She also took various classes while at college in Baking, Ice Cream making, Indian-Chinese and specialized Indian cuisine. Her first cookbook, "You Can Cook Too!", was published in 1994. This book was written for beginning cooks and consists of simple and basic recipes presented in a stepwise manner. Her second book, aptly named "Variety at Meal Times", suggests a variety of dishes that you can make at different meal times. Her newest book, "Indian Flavors to Savor - The Easy Home Cooked Way", is a fun and easy cookbook that everyone will love. It has very simple and easy to make recipes in less than 20 minutes. It also gives you a step-by-step introduction to Indian cuisine.
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