Ordering Indian Food?

[HeatherH]

Any advice?

A friend of mine is ordering Indian food for a missions festival "taste-test". Any recommendations? She's planning on serving lassi - but what else? Any meat recommendations?

I told her if anyone knew, the Hive would! TIA!

[Melinda in VT]

Chicken tikka masala (probably not spelled right) is my absolute favorite. Chicken korma is good too.

[Tutor]

Raita is the yogurt/cucumber sauce. I could eat a meal of that stuff.

Also, lamb curry. Yum.

[Plaid Dad]

For vegetarians, palak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palak_paneer) or saag paneer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saag). Aloo gobi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloo_gobi) is also really good.

I had Indian food for dinner, and just thinking about these dishes is making me hungry all over again! Enjoy!

[Karen sn]

tandori chicken
naan or garlic naan, onion kulcha (breads)
also - need to use the condiments - I like the onion with green stuff, and the tamarind sauce....
I worked for an Indian Restaurant in Tallahassee my senior year at FSU. We're going back this weekend. I think I will hit the buffet for lunch!
Oh yeah - raita is good on everything, for dipping bread or cooling the main meal.

[Begonia]

Our favorite vegetarian Indian meal is mattar (sometimes spelled mutter) paneer-- peas in a curry-like sauce with really juicy cubes of fresh Indian cheese. Yummy.

We also love the poofy "puri" or "poori" bread. When the batter is deep-fried, it produces a lovely hollow ball of delicious bread, but you'd have to order it in a restaurant, I think.

[*anj*]

For vegetarians, palak (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palak_paneer) or saag paneer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saag). Aloo gobi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloo_gobi) is also really good.

Those are all really good, but saag paneer is my all time Most Favorite Indian dish.
And I haven't had it in far too long. :(
Thanks, Drew, now I'll be lusting after it til I can get some! http://easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-tongue-smileys-792.gif (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/%5Burl=http://easyfreesmileys.com/%5D%5Bimg%5Dhttp://easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-tongue-smileys-792.gif%5B/img%5D%5B/url%5D)

[Mekanamom]

Melinda.. Chicken tikka masala... that is my favorite too... sooo good.

Jaipur Vegetables is yummy too. Er... Heather if there is a Trader Joes nearby, your friend could maybe get their packaged Jaipur Vegetables and just heat it up. Best served over rice. Yum!

[HeatherH]

Trader Joes, in Alabama?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!:D

(Sorry, my momentary Yankee-ness snobbery coming out!)

Good suggestion, though - everyone's been so helpful. Umm. . . and I've never had Indian food. (How could I go to school in Amherst, Mass. and not eat Indian food!?!?!?) And we just studied India and Gandhi last week! I really missed the boat!!!!

[StaceyinLA]

the chicken tikka masala AND/or the chicken korma (preferably AND). I have also had kofta curry which is really good as well as lamb korma which is also good.

I would now have to get the saag paneer and LOTS of garlic naan! I could sneak the meats in if I really wanted to, but I have enjoyed the saag paneer, and I just LOVE the indian rice. It's so plain, but SO good!

The dipping sauces are great too. There are several that are really good. There are also a few appetizer-type things that are really good (street food is what it's called on our menu here). There are some little puff pastries with this delicious sauce in them - gosh I love those.

Anyway, I'm totally drooling now. I want some Indian food!

[Sue in St Pete]

Sorry, I lean vege...

Channa Masala (goes by different names) is a yummy chickpea dish. I love to scoop it up in naan, but usually I'm too cheap to pay for naan and just eat it over the rice that comes with it.

[Mekanamom]

LOL, okay okay... no TJ's... you can get almost the same thing at this site. Some are better than others; I can vouch for the Jaipur Vegetables (http://www.tastybite.com/product_p/i00005jv.htm)! :)

Tasty Bite (http://www.tastybite.com/Indian_Food_s/1.htm)

[Soph the vet]

Samosas are great with mint cilantro chutney and tamarind chutney. I make these from scratch at home. Chicken vindaloo is good too. There is also shami kabab which is like a small hamburger with chiles, onion, ginger and other great spices molded into it....very tasty.:rolleyes:

[Cindy in C-ville]

:)

[kalanamak]

It is a chicken dish.

Can she get some jelabis or burfi for dessert?

[Gwen in TX]

Curried chick peas -- Yummy --- and I don't really like chick peas any other way!

[A.J. at J.A.]

Chicken tikka masala (probably not spelled right) is my absolute favorite. Chicken korma is good too.

Yes Yes!! That is our favorite dish. I have a good recipe if someone needs one. :0)

[A.J. at J.A.]

Decided to go ahead and post the recipe. This is sooo good! My 9yo requested this as his birthday dinner...he requested it extra hot!

Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients:
Marinade:
1 cup yogurt
1 Tb lemon juice
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 Tb minced ginger
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts,
cut into bite-size pieces
Sauce:
2 Tb butter
2 cloves garlic
2 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped (I just grab a handful or so out of the sliced jalapeno jar and chop them up instead of using fresh - tastes just as good IMHO)
4 tsp ground cumin
4 tsp paprika
2-8 oz cans of tomato sauce
2 cups half 'n half
1/2 cup fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 tsp cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper
and ginger. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Saute chicken in 1 Tb oil.
3. Remove chicken from skillet and discard marinade.
4. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 4 tsp cumin and paprika. Stir in tomato sauce and half 'n half. Add chicken back into skillet. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20-30 minutes.
5. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve over brown rice or basmati rice.