Our Most Popular Indian Recipes

We love ordering from our favourite local Indian takeout restaurant, but this homemade version of butter chicken gives it a run for its money. Clearly, since it’s the most popular Indian recipe on our website of all time! It’s creamy, sweet and spicy all at once, and relies on cashews for creaminess and a hint of nuttiness. Serve with warm, buttery naan or mattar pulao and enjoy.

While butter chicken may be the most popular Indian takeout dish, comforting daal chawal is easily the most popular Indian homestyle dish. Every family has their own take on this soothing meal of spiced lentils and rice, and this recipe might just become yours. Topped with a tadka of tempered warming spices and cooked in earthy homemade ghee, it’s the ultimate comfort food.

If you’re not familiar with Hakka (AKA Indian-Chinese) cuisine, you’re in for a world of flavour. It takes all the Chinese flavours you know and love and gives them a spicy Indian twist. Case in point: this mouthwatering Hakka chicken fried rice, which leans on fiery green chilis to amp up the spice on classic Chinese fried rice.

Related: Chinese Chicken and Shiitake Rice Cooker Dinner

Chicken curry is a staple dish in every South Asian home, and this simplified version is perfect for adding to your weeknight dinner roster. You probably already have most of the spices you need to make it (ground cumin, coriander and turmeric provide the base), while fresh aromatics like ginger and garlic give it a crave-worthy punch.

Craving curry in a hurry? Say hello to this speedy 30-minute Instant Pot curry that’ll have dinner on the table in no time. The best part of this recipe is that it’s super adaptable to your dietary needs or flavour preferences, so you can easily sub in shrimp for a pescatarian twist or veggies for a vegan take. The best part? Clean up is a breeze!

Step aside, butter chicken, because shahi paneer might just become your new favourite Indian dish of all time. Made with rich ingredients including cashews, heavy cream and paneer, it’s the ultimate decadent dinner that’s perfectly paired with some buttery, garlicky naan.

Related: Spicy Eggplant Bharta is the Perfect Vegetarian Main

Nothing beats the classic flavours of chai, and this gorgeous dessert incorporates them into a luscious crème brulée. Fragrant spices like cardamom, star anise and cinnamon, loose leaf tea are steeped in heavy cream then folded into whipped egg yolks for a smooth and rich dessert that’s finished off with a classic sugar caramelized top.

Biting into a warm, fresh and crispy samosa is a downright delightful experience, and thanks to this easy recipe, you can have that experience in your own home! This version uses store bought puff pastry as the base, which majorly cuts down on prep time and adds a gorgeously flaky, buttery texture into the mix. Loaded with savoury potatoes and a rich blend of spices, you might want to make a double batch because these are sure to go fast.

Seviyan, or vermicelli rice pudding, is a classic Indian dessert that deserves as much attention as popular jalebis or gulab jamun. Delicate vermicelli, nuts and dried fruits are combined together in a rich and creamy pudding base that’s so elegant and aromatic.

Chaats are a staple of Indian cuisine, and are actually their own entire category of food that mixes and matches staples like samosas and chutneys to create gorgeous dishes that combine sweet, salty, crunchy, spicy and savoury flavours. This version uses baby spinach as the base, coating and frying it until it’s perfectly crispy, then topping with everything from pomegranate arils to tangy cilantro-mint chutney.

Related: Chana Chaat is the Spiced Chickpea Salad You Need