A Simple Refresher on 9 Indian Culinary Terminologies
For some people, walking into an Indian restaurant and checking the unfamiliar meals can be confusing. However, that doesn't mean they're impossible to distinguish. With a little work, you'll be able to read and order what you want with ease.
Here are a few Indian culinary terminologies you'll need to know before your first trip to your favourite Indian restaurant:
1) Bhuna
Bhuna is a Hindi term for a dry-frying cooking technique. It's a rapid cooking method that involves sautéing whole spices with onion, garlic, and tomatoes before adding them to the meat. Because the spices are cooked the same way as a curry, this meal may appear on an Indian restaurant's menu as such.
2) Bhaji
The word "bhaji" refers to a vegetable dish that is usually deeply fried—the classic vegetable dish you'll usually find next to roti and naan bread. It can be made with mushrooms or beets, or any other vegetables of your choosing. It's famous for being served with peas pulao.
3) Biryani
Biryani is a meal that is packed with flavours and filled with spices. The word "biryani" itself is a Hindi term that means "fried with rice." It's a hearty meal with a rice dish filled with meat and vegetables. Popular biryani ingredients include potatoes, red meat, chicken, and prawns.
4) Dopiaza
Dopiaza is a Hindi term for a fried pork meal with many onions. This dish is common in Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi cuisines. Thick slices of onions, tomatoes, and pepper with spices are used to make this dish. It's a dry dish without any gravy.
5) Gosht
Gosht is a Hindi word that refers to a type of meat that is usually either lamb or mutton. Gosht is usually prepared with spices, onions, and tomatoes. It is a hearty, non-vegetarian meal and is quite popular in Northern India, especially in Kashmir.
6) Jalfrezi
A Jalfrezi is a Southern Asian dish that combines Indian food with Pakistani cuisine, usually sprinkling in some Chinese spices here and there with meats and vegetables. It's a spicy, non-vegetarian stir-fry dish served with naan bread or roti.
7) Kadhai
Kadhai is a term that refers to a type of Indian dish. This dish is a spicy curry that is made in a traditional wok, though many have shifted to making it in other pots instead for convenience. It is usually served with vegetable or meat patties with paratha bread, bhatura bread or naan bread as a side dish.
8) Tandoori
Tandoori is a popular cooking method that originated in India. Meat, vegetables, or shellfish are cooked over a charcoal fire in a clay oven for this dish. It is a uniquely Indian approach that is distinguished by its red hue, along with its smokey taste and texture.
9) Tikka
Tikka refers to a variety of Indian dishes that are based on Indian barbecue. It's a north Indian dish that usually contains chicken or lamb. It's traditionally prepared by marinating meat in chickpea flour before it's cooked. It is a non-vegetarian meal. A tikka meal can be served on its own, with rice or bread.
Conclusion
It's important to know what you're ordering, how it's made, and how it should be served. Now that you know the basics of Indian culinary terminologies, you can ask for your favourite dishes easily the next time you're in an Indian restaurant.
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