Indian food thread
 

Lippy posted this in the suggestion thread:

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I would love to see someone with a passion for it create an Indian food thread. I frequent a small buffet style restaurant near my campus and am in love with it.

The only thing is, I have NO idea what I am eating. All of it is incredibly flavorful which is a fantastic contrast to most of what I eat in dull Minnesota.

I know I really like vegetable curry on a bed of biryani, but I don't really know what either of these things are?

Inform me Mr. Indian Food Afficiando of El D's Forum.

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I have the same problem. I like Indian food, but never really know what to order.

I am hoping that this thread will give some hints, tips and recommendations for all

ED: Edited to narrow this down to Indian food. OP was also interested in other ethnic foods including Korean, so let's get some other threads going after we get a good handle on Indian.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

As far as Indian food I will kick it off with some veggie dishes:

Saag Paneer (the best one I've ever had was in NYC at Haveli, 2nd ave between 5th and 6th):

http://gorgorg.org/photos/food_apr_2...e/p4270003.jpg

Baingan Bartha

http://dimer.tamu.edu/simplog/images...gan_bartha.JPG

-Al

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

ED: I am leaving this space open for By-Tor to provide a sexy picture of him eating Indian food.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

I would like to suggest that we have a separate thread for each cuisine type, it would be a lot easier to handle the massive volume of information that way. Perhaps retitle this to "The Indian Food Thread"?

For a well known choice, I'd suggest Saag Aloo, which is spinach and potatos, often spicy. Similar to the Saag Paneer you see earlier in the thread, but with potatos instead of cheese cubes.

For a fine lesser known choice, I'd like to recommend Chana Batura, which is basically spicy stewed chickpeas with awesome puffy bread.

Mango lassis are obviously a superstar here as well.

I'll have to think about this.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
I would like to suggest that we have a separate thread for each cuisine type, it would be a lot easier to handle the massive volume of information that way. Perhaps retitle this to "The Indian Food Thread"?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a solid idea.

-Al

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

GR,

Mehfil is my favorite Indian place in SF, mainly because it's my neighborhood place.

I'll list a few things that are pretty tasty Indian standards w/ some pictures from Mehfil.

Apps:

http://mehfilindian.com/images/127_2795_samosas.jpg

Somosas are fried pastry, generally stuffed w/ potatoes and vegetables, sometimes some meat. Pakora are battered, fried vegetables. Plain cucumber salad is found in a lot of restaurants. Much better is raita, a cucumber/yogurt mixture.

Chicken:

http://mehfilindian.com/images/128_2...ikkamasala.jpg

Chicken Tikka Masala is a sort of Westernized Indian dish, said to have originated either in England or from Brits in India. It's a tender chicken breast w/ delicious creamy tomato sauce with Indian flavors, quite mild. Chicken is often referred to as something like Murgh or Murghi. Murgh Makhni or Butter Chicken is another mild and rich dish. Similar to Chicken Tikka Masala but a butter cream sauce instead of tomato sauce, again with mild Indian spices. These two dishes are pretty much my two favorites, but they are far from standard Indian home-cooking fare.

Chicken Tikka or Tandoori chicken is chicken marinated in delicious spices and then baked. It is really delicious, though by itself a little on the dry side. This is generally a little spicier, but not too much. Some restaurants will serve some other stuff tandoori style too. This chicken will often be red or orange due to the spices.

Most other chicken dishes will be curry style dishes that have less rich, but spicier sauces, and usually are dark or mixed meat. Chicken Vindaloo is a pretty popular hotter-style curry dish. This sort of dishes are much more typical of actual Indian home-cooking.

http://mehfilindian.com/images/128_2807_lambcurry.jpg

Lamb curries are also pretty common. These are generally more traditional Indian flavors, a lot of curry and cumin and saffron type flavors.

There are always tons of vegetable dishes. Potatoes (Aloo), Cauliflower (Gohbi, Cobi), Eggplant (Benghan, Bengana), Peas (Mattar), Spinach (Saag), and Tofu-like Cottage Cheese (Paneer) are standard components. Saag Paneer and Mattar Paneer are among my favorites.

http://mehfilindian.com/images/129_2923_chxbiryani.jpg

Biryani is sort of the Indian version of Spanish paella or Asian fried rice. Basically rice w/ a bunch of stuff in it.

Sides

http://mehfilindian.com/images/129_2...ritsarinan.jpg

Rice, Dal (which is like lentil soup), and Naan (baked flatbread, sorta like pitas) are standard sides. I'm not a fan of Dal, don't like the taste at all. They'll often have flavored varieties of naan like garlic naan or stuffed naans. I find most all varieties of naan delicious.

That's a pretty good start to your Indian food ordering.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

I used to eat Dal every day at lunch, but after about a month of that I can't touch it anymore.

Garlic Naan is perhaps my favorite thing about Indian food.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

so funny, i actually had a craving for indian food today around noon and was very close to posting basically this thread. good work guys.

love that chicken tikka masala

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

kid & El Diablo - You two are making me jones for some garlic naan. I feel like I'm about to get the shakes.


One of my favorite Indian secrets is an Indian bakery called Hot Breads, which doesn't have very many locations in the U.S., but does have 22 in India. Every time I have ever went into my local Hot Breads, I and the guests I have brought have always been the only non-Indians in the place. That should be a tip off right there that you need to be clicking the link above.

They specialize in breads stuffed with Indian goodness, including buns and croissants. I highly recommend the minced goat/lamb stuffed croissant, as well as the saag aloo bun. The chicken tikka croissant is also amazing.

Even better is that this place is dirt cheap. The croissants and buns are in the $2-$3 range, and when you look at one, you will be wondering why they aren't charging twice the amount, as people would have no problem forking over that for these delicious delights.

They also have massive (think 16oz or so) premade lassis (mango, rose, and more) for some crazy low price like $3.

Get thee to your nearest Hot Breads, my 2+2 friends.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

chop,

Gratuitous delicious naan pic:

http://mehfilindian.com/images/128_2806_mintnan.jpg

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
chop,

Gratuitous delicious naan pic:

http://mehfilindian.com/images/128_2806_mintnan.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

That naan looks awesome. I always eat like 4 things of naan . Part of the reason I can only eat so much at an Indian buffet.

Re: Indian food thread
 

The best indian food I've had was in prague oddly enough. I don't really eat out anymore so the only indian food I eat these days is simple chicken curries I make myself. Favorite dish at the prague restaurant (Taj Mahal if anyone's been there) was Chicken Vindaloo. Soooo spicy, soo much flavour. I'd have to order it "hot for white people" just so the pain wasn't too much. Also, nan is amazing. Forever meaning to make some myself.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

El Diablo -

I will see your garlic naan, and raise you a garlic naan from a little get together I had at my place not too long ago:

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/408...latewa4.th.jpg

What you see (will get bigger if you click it - thumbnailed because I assume we don't want horizontal scrolling in this forum) includes rogan josh, mole, an Indian potato "pierogie", two different chutneys, and a french crostini with sun-dried tomato spread.

Oh, and some chicken with toothpicks stuck in them.



But really, it's all about the garlic naan. I bought about three pounds of freshly made naan for this get together, it was well received.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
ED: I am leaving this space open for By-Tor to provide a sexy picture of him eating Indian food.

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Baxterrrrrrr, you know I don't speak Spanish! In English please. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]


I've actually never had Indian Food and will be looking to this thread to eliminate my fear of the nasty smell my brain has yet to overcome.

So far, only that pizza looking thing has caught my eye.

There is however a fairly decent Indian Food Buffet right downstairs from work, so if I see something here that looks interesting, maybe I will get up the courage to venture inside it.


[img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
ED: I am leaving this space open for By-Tor to provide a sexy picture of him eating Indian food.

[/ QUOTE ]


Baxterrrrrrr, you know I don't speak Spanish! In English please. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]


I've actually never had Indian Food and will be looking to this thread to eliminate my fear of the nasty smell my brain has yet to overcome.

So far, only that pizza looking thing has caught my eye.

There is however a fairly decent Indian Food Buffet right downstairs from work, so if I see something here that looks interesting, maybe I will get up the courage to venture inside it.


[img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

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Just have naan and butter chicken. That is all you really need.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

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One of my favorite Indian secrets is an Indian bakery called Hot Breads, which doesn't have very many locations in the U.S., but does have 22 in India.

Get thee to your nearest Hot Breads, my 2+2 friends.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's one probably less than a mile from my house. I haven't actually been there since there are so many Indian restauarants in the area, but will give it a try - sounds like good snack food.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

El D, are you eating at the joint on the corner of 2nd and Folsom? I used to lunch there once/twice a week when I worked a block away.

From the moment I tried Indian food I've been of the mindset of "this is why America was discovered, now it all makes sense."

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]

I've actually never had Indian Food and will be looking to this thread to eliminate my fear of the nasty smell my brain has yet to overcome.


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You live in the South Bay, no? If so, PM me if you want some recommendations for Indian restaurants - it's great stuff!

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
El D, are you eating at the joint on the corner of 2nd and Folsom? I used to lunch there once/twice a week when I worked a block away.

From the moment I tried Indian food I've been of the mindset of "this is why America was discovered, now it all makes sense."

[/ QUOTE ]

Hey, I work right across the street (303 2nd St.). That place is good, plus for fast Indian, Chaat Cafe is right at 3rd and Folsom.

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I've actually never had Indian Food and will be looking to this thread to eliminate my fear of the nasty smell my brain has yet to overcome.


[/ QUOTE ]

You live in the South Bay, no? If so, PM me if you want some recommendations for Indian restaurants - it's great stuff!

[/ QUOTE ]

A:

Please post here, I moved to campbell about 6 months ago. Royal Taj on Camden just off of 17 is my normal spot (about 2 minutes from my house).

Re: Ethnic food thread
 

dessert:

chilled monkey brains

http://www.londonist.com/attachments...y%20brains.jpg

Re: Indian food thread
 

Here's some links to Indian food that I made:


Chicken curry

Aloo-gobi (modified recipe)

Re: Indian food thread
 

All,

Beef cooking question: What cuts of beef/lamb do you choose from the grocer? And how do you cook it so the meat stays soft and tender?

Re: Indian food thread
 

I have always loved indian food, and have spent the past couple of years trying to really learn to cook it well. by far my favorite indian cookbooks is classic indian cooking, because she spends the whole first part of the book not on recipes, but talking about the styles of cuisine in different parts of india, and the reasons behind the different spice blends used (religous, economic, climate and geography are all major factors). it really does a great job of explaining the "whys" of spice usage as well as the "hows".

anyways, it turns out that the lady that wrote this book teaches a cooking class in nyc, so my in-laws got me a two day class with her for my bday. it was two days, 22 hours, and only 3 people in the class. it was really an amazing experience, and I learned a ton of techniques and other tricks. we made yogurt, paneer, sambhar, dal, goan shrimp, bengali shrimp and vegetables, saag paneer, parathas, pooris, idlis, dosas, kormas, tikka, mango lassis, and a lot of other things. also learned some great, simple ways to dry cook fish and vegetables.

the thing that's interesting about indian food that is hard to gather from going to many indian restaurants is the cuisines vary a ton by region, south indians use more coconut than dairy and rice is more of a staple than in the north. also they use different spice blends than in the north.

I also learned a lot from the wikipedia series on the different regions.

although I initially thought indian cooking would be complex, it is actually not that hard and doesn't usually require any fancy kitchen stuff. what it does require is a large collection of different spices, which can be daunting when you are first getting into it. also a lot of ingredients, like the different varieties of lentils, can be hard to find outside of an indian grocery.

at any rate, I am far from an expert but have cooked a lot of indian food over the years, some of it has turned out awesome and (especially in the beginning) some of it not so great. if anyone has any cooking related questions I would be happy to add my 2 cents.

Re: Indian food thread
 

Before we started dating my (future) girlfriend thought that jalebis were something I made up. I even took her for Indian to prove her wrong, but the restaurant we were at didn't serve them. But they are real, and ooohhhh soooo delicious.

http://www.iskcon.net.au/manila/stat...ma/jalebis.jpg

Re: Indian food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
All,

Beef cooking question: What cuts of beef/lamb do you choose from the grocer? And how do you cook it so the meat stays soft and tender?

[/ QUOTE ]
In terms of cooking, curry is like a stew or braise. So you should choose tougher roasting cuts. I think chuck is best, but shoulder and round roasts can also be cut up and stewed with excellent results.

After that the key is long slow cooking to break down the connective tissues without overheating the meat and breaking down certain proteins. If that happens they constrict and squeeze the water out of the meat, leaving it dry and tough, despite being cooked in liquid.

Re: Indian food thread
 

***,

Eating them while they are still hot is so delcious. Maybe we should open up a Krispy Kreme style store "Hot Jalebi Now!"

Re: Indian food thread
 

Indian food is the product I miss most from England, by a long way. It's available on every street (maybe somewhat like Mexican food over here?), whereas in Chicago it's scarce, and all Indian places are proper restuarants, rather than somewhere casual you can eat for $15.

Re: Indian food thread
 

dean, there are tons of indian places in nyc that are sit down restaurants where you can eat for much less than $15. places where curries are $4-5 are much more prevalent than more upscale places. chicago doesn't have places like this? they typically have white tablecloths and waiters and lots of colorful xmas lights.

Re: Indian food thread
 

Turnip - mentioned this above, but Haveli (2nd Ave between 5th & 6th, right by Curry Row) has a delicious saag paneer, and is great overall imo - I used to frequent this place like 98-99 when it first opened. Recently went back last time I was in Manhattan and still really good!

-Al

Re: Indian food thread
 

Dean,

NYC and SF are two places in the US where, while not to London levels, there are tons of Indian places of all ranges from takeout curry shops to nice sitdown places.

Re: Indian food thread
 

El D,

Do you get offended that people think you are an expert on Indian food? They probably also assume you are really good with computers.

Re: Indian food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
Turnip - mentioned this above, but Haveli (2nd Ave between 5th & 6th, right by Curry Row) has a delicious saag paneer, and is great overall imo - I used to frequent this place like 98-99 when it first opened. Recently went back last time I was in Manhattan and still really good!

-Al

[/ QUOTE ]

Haveli was my favorite in nyc for its price and I have probably tried 75% of the Indian places in that area.

Re: Indian food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Turnip - mentioned this above, but Haveli (2nd Ave between 5th & 6th, right by Curry Row) has a delicious saag paneer, and is great overall imo - I used to frequent this place like 98-99 when it first opened. Recently went back last time I was in Manhattan and still really good!

-Al

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Haveli was my favorite in nyc for its price and I have probably tried 75% of the Indian places in that area.

[/ QUOTE ]

So Haveli is the restaurant on Curry Row that you guys would recommend? Any others in the neighborhood that stand out more than the rest? I've been looking for a good place in the East Village area where I can get my Indian Food fix. I've been loath to try any random one, as I wouldn't want to stumble across the bad one of the bunch that are on the Row.

Re: Indian food thread
 

best Indian food in L.A. are Electic Kharma on 3rd St. and Electric Lotus on Vermont in Los Feliz. Both are run by the same people. Great food, great atmosphere. Best Indian food I've ever had.

I'm still looking for a comparable place in Vegas.

Re: Indian food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
So Haveli is the restaurant on Curry Row that you guys would recommend? Any others in the neighborhood that stand out more than the rest? I've been looking for a good place in the East Village area where I can get my Indian Food fix. I've been loath to try any random one, as I wouldn't want to stumble across the bad one of the bunch that are on the Row.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is a little more expensive than the others in that area, but it is well worth it IMO.

Re: Indian food thread
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
So Haveli is the restaurant on Curry Row that you guys would recommend? Any others in the neighborhood that stand out more than the rest? I've been looking for a good place in the East Village area where I can get my Indian Food fix. I've been loath to try any random one, as I wouldn't want to stumble across the bad one of the bunch that are on the Row.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is a little more expensive than the others in that area, but it is well worth it IMO.

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Agreed. Also, Haveli has nicer interior than the other Curry Row / 6th Street places (IIRC), so along with superior food, well worth a slight price premium.

Dom - maybe some other LA people can chime in, but I live like 3 blocks from Electric Lotus, always been disappointed. Maybe it's gone donwhill since you left LA, or just not to my taste. It is though, definitely a cool spot for drinks with nice aesthetic.

Good new place I found (K-Town) is Halal Tandoori - great "benchmark" dishes to borrow from another thread (Tikka Masala etc.) but kind of ghetto inside.

-Al

Re: Indian food thread
 

Phil,

"Do you get offended that people think you are an expert on Indian food? They probably also assume you are really good with computers."

It's only logical for people to think I'm expert on pretty much everything, so no.

What's funnier is that whatever ethnicity you are, I think it's pretty common when you visit a new city to have friends/colleagues there say something like "OMFG, I MUST take you to this INCREDIBLE Mexican/Indian/Korean/Japanese/Chinese/Italian/whatever place you will LOVE it." Like they are gonna really impress someone who grew up on that food with some special restaurant of a level they've never had before. "OMG, WOW, I NEVER REALIZED THIS CUISINE COULD BE QUITE LIKE THIS!!!!"

Re: Indian food thread
 

If any of you are ever in Baltimore and are craving some Indian food, I highly recommend Akbar on N. Charles St. Looks like a hole in the wall from outside, but OMFG, so good.

Re: Indian food thread
 

mia: have you been to Mango Grove in Columbia. All vegetarian but insanely delicious none the less.

All: Is palak paneer the chow mein of indian food? Spicy creamy tomato sauce and big hunks of chese and cauliflower= YUM. But is it too Americanized to be good?

--GA