Often times when I go out to eat in Paris, I announce like every person living away from the motherland, “This is not authentic Indian food, food is so much better in India.” Well, that is true. I do think food in India is some of the best in the world with a variety of spices, vegetables, lentils, cheese, and kinds of butter used. It’s like a celebration of the taste buds. I am Indian so I grew up eating the food but even if you get sick after eating it, trust me, it will be worth it. Haha, okay not really.

There are some misconceptions people have about Indian food. We don’t eat curry all the time. Not everything is created to burn your insides. Believe me. I often get asked, “What are the best dishes in India?” Well, here you will find them approved and recommended by a fellow curry person.

1.Dosa

I feel like I could write an ode to Dosa. This is my favorite dish of all time. It comes from the south of India but is available throughout the country. It is essentially a thin rice crepe which is often served with sambar, a type of lentil curry, and coconut chutney. When I say that I could eat a bucket full of coconut chutney, I mean it. Sometimes, it also comes with surprises in the middle – a potato curry. This is called Masala Dosa. Usually, it is enjoyed for breakfast but because it is so good, you can literally eat it any time of the day. It is also really cheap and filling. The bonus? It is vegan most of the time! Just ask the server to prepare it without ghee or butter and you have the best vegan meal of all time!

2. Naan

Repeat after me, IT IS NOT NAAN BREAD. Naan literally means bread so saying Naan bread sounds like bread bread. I know it has been popularized all over the world but Naan in India is especially special. It is made in a tandoor which is a clay oven. We also have so many varieties of naans – Naan, butter naan, cheese naan, cheese garlic naan, chur chur naan, pudina naan, and what not. I could just eat it by itself but it is best enjoyed with –

3. Dal Makhani

Yes, naan and dal makhani are a match made in heaven. This combination is especially enjoyed in winters because it warms your soul. Dal Makhani is a lentil curry but it isn’t just any other lentil curry, it is the most superior one. Dal Makhani literally means buttery lentils. Basically, the lentils are cooked for up to 24 hours in cream and butter which makes it so rich and melt-in-the-mouth. It can even be prepared without dairy for people with dietary restrictions.

4. Chole Bhature

This is the type of dish you enjoy once or twice a year and you’ll soon understand why. It is chana masala, the chickpea curry, served with a fried bread. Obviously, eating this regularly can be heart attack inducing but it is just so good. The bread and the spicy chickpeas complement each other so well. They are even served with onions and pickles sometimes. It is originally a street food from the north of India but now, it is available everywhere.

5. Chaat

Chaat is not a dish, it is basically street food. Chaat means to lick because it is so good that you will end up licking your fingers. Now, there are so many different chaats – bhel puri, which is puffed rice with potatoes, onion and mango served with chutneys and sev, sev puri, fried and crispy dough served with tomatoes, potatoes, onions and chutney with a dash of lime and gol gappe/pani puri/puchka which is a round-shaped hollow dough served with potatoes, onions and chickpeas with a mixture of flavored water. I know, my words don’t translate well enough to describe the experience but your tastebuds will thank me later.

6. Butter Chicken

Now, I am a vegetarian and I don’t personally know what butter chicken tastes like. But, I asked a friend to tell me. Chicken marinated overnight in yogurt and spices mixture and cooked with a special Makhani (Butter) sauce, tomato puree, and spices that gives the dish its unique flavor. It is also best enjoyed with naan and is the ultimate comfort food of non-vegetarians in India. It is also quite popular all around the world but of course, it’s the best in the motherland.

7. Thali

Thali is not a dish, it’s an experience. Thali means plate. It is like a tasting platter where you get to try different curries. It has all the courses - snacks, drink, main course, bread, and dessert. They also don’t stop serving you until you tell them. This is called unlimited thali which is very quintessential to India. Dishes served in a thali vary for regions in India with north Indian thalis serving North Indian cuisine and South Indian thalis serving south Indian cuisines. Irrespective of all that, it is absolutely delicious and you will leave with a swollen belly.

8. Biryani

This slow-cooked rice dish is sealed into containers with a bunch of spices including saffron. It traditionally includes either marinated chicken or mutton. But since almost 40% of the country is vegetarian, veg biryanis are also available irrespective of what people say. It is quite wholesome and is served with raita or yogurt on the side.

9, Gulab Jamun

Once, my friend ate 13 of these. I still call her a legend. I’d say this Indian dessert may be is an acquired taste. It is a doughnut made of cheese which is fried and then dipped in sugar syrup, yes. It is so sweet but also so good. What is worrisome is the fact that this is not the most diabetes-inducing dessert. That title goes to jalebi. We often enjoy it in winter but is often eaten with ice cream in summer. It is also the standard dessert in every Indian restaurant.

10. Kulfi

Kulfi is a type of Indian ice cream which is often served on a stick. It is similar to ice cream but is denser and creamier. It is flavored with many different things – saffron, pistachio, almonds, rose, mango, and whatnot. It’s the perfect dessert after a spicy meal, the mild flavors and sweetness along with the coldness calms down your burning insides.

Great, now I am hungry!