Introduction –

Traditional Indian Food is renowned for its wide variety of dishes, delicious spices, and rich flavours. Even though many traditional Indian recipes are already well-liked all over the world, there are a few lesser-known or surprising food pairings that might improve your cooking. These seven innovative takes on traditional Indian Food will shock your taste buds and make you wonder how you ever cooked without them.

1. Kashmiri Dum Aloo

Origin: Kashmir

Type: Vegetarian

Profile of Flavor: Tangy, spicy, and aromatic

A classic potato meal that is a mainstay in Kashmiri homes is Kashmiri Dum Aloo. The use of yogurt, flavorful Kashmiri spices, and a slow-cooking method that gives the potatoes a thick, creamy gravy are what distinguish it from other aloo (potato) meals. The meal has a distinct flavor profile since it uses young potatoes cooked in a mixture of spices like fennel, cardamom, ginger, and saffron.

Ingredients

• 500g baby potatoes

• 1 cup yogurt

• 2 tbsp mustard oil

• 1 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder

• 1 tsp ginger powder

• 1 tsp fennel seeds

• 1 tsp garam masala

• Fresh coriander leaves for garnish

Method:

1 Boil the baby potatoes until tender, then peel them.

2 Heat mustard oil in a pan and sauté fennel seeds, ginger powder, and Kashmiri red chili powder

3 Add the yogurt and cook until the gravy thickens.

4 Add the potatoes, salt, and garam masala. Let it simmer for 20 minutes on low heat

5 Garnish with fresh coriander leaves before serving with steamed rice or naan

2 Keralan Fish Curry

Origin: Kerala

Type: Seafood

Flavor Profile: Tangy, spicy, coconutty

Keralan Fish Curry is a vibrant and flavorful dish from Kerala, famous for its tangy and spicy coconut-based curry. The curry is made with fish like Kingfish or Tilapia and simmered in a fragrant gravy made with tamarind, coconut milk, and a mix of spices like turmeric, coriander, and curry leaves. It’s usually served with steamed rice or appams (rice pancakes).

Ingredients:

• 500g fish fillets (Kingfish or any firm fish)

• 1 cup coconut milk

• 1 onion, sliced

• 2 tomatoes, chopped

• 2 tbsp tamarind paste

• 1 tsp mustard seeds

• 1 tsp turmeric powder

• 2-3 dried red chilies

• Fresh curry leaves

• Salt to taste

Method:

1 Prepare the Fish: Clean and cut the fish into medium-sized pieces.

Marinate with a pinch of salt and turmeric powder. Set asid

2 Tempering & Sautéing Aromatics:

Add mustard seeds and let them splutter.

Heat coconut oil in a clay pot or deep pan.

3 Cooking the Base:

Stir in turmeric, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Mix well.

Add the ginger-garlic paste and cook until the raw aroma disappears.

3 Rajasthani Gatte ki Sabzi

This Rajasthani delicacy features gram flour (besan) dumplings cooked in a spicy yogurt-based gravy.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup besan (gram flour)

• 2 tbsp yogurt

• 1/2 tsp turmeric powder

• 1 tsp red chili powder

• tsp coriander powder

• 1 tsp cumin seeds

• 1 tbsp ghee

• 1/2 tsp garam masala

• 2 cups water

• Salt to taste

Method:

1 Mix besan, yogurt, turmeric, red chili powder, salt, and a little water to form a firm dough

2 Roll the dough into small cylindrical logs and boil them in water until they float.

3 In a pan, heat ghee, add cumin seeds, and sauté the dumplings

4 Prepare a gravy using yogurt and spices, then add the dumplings.

5 Simmer and serve hot with roti or rice.