18 Delicious Indian Foods That Aren't Curry

~Spice up your life~

1. Chilli paneer

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Paneer is a curd cheese and super popular in Indian cuisine. This paneer recipe, coated in a jam-like chilli sauce is a filling and tasty option if you feel like going meat-free. Recipe here.

2. Masala fish

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The great thing about this is that it can be done with pretty much any fish. The spicy, paste-like sauce uses the popular spices of garam masala and turmeric, and is absolutely delectable. Recipe here.

3. Biryani

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There are tons of variations on this popular dish including, but not limited to, mutton, lamb, chicken, or vegetables. It's all mixed in with rice, as well as ingredients such as cardamom and bay leaves which make it even more aromatic. Kind of like curry, minus the sauce. Recipe here.

4. Aloo paratha

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The most heavenly of all Indian flatbreads, it's baked on the tawa (a flat frying pan used in Asia) before being shallow fried, and it's stuffed with a spicy mashed potato filling. Aloo Paratha is a very popular breakfast dish, and unsurprisingly so. Recipe here.

5. Shami Kebab

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Not dissimilar from burgers, these little patties are shallow-fried in ghee (a clarified butter) or oil and are usually made of mutton or lamb (or potatoes and paneer if you're vegetarian). They're eaten as a snack and are sometimes served with a side of raw onions.

6. Samosas

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These are deep-fried stuffed pastries made with maida flour and filled with mashed potatoes, peas, and sometimes mincemeat. They're often served with a dip such as raita (mint sauce) or chutney and they're incredibly moreish. Recipe here.

7. Keema

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This is mincemeat, usually lamb or mutton, cooked in a blend of onion, garlic, ginger, and tomatoes, as well as a load of spices. It usually contains peas and potatoes too. It tastes just as great if you want to try it vegetarian-style and swap the lamb for a soy mince. Recipe here.

8. Dal makhani

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Dal makhani is a popular Punjabi dish comprised of lentils, kidney beans, and chopped tomatoes. This slow-cooked meal is calorie-laden because of all the cream used, but you can make it without. Recipe here.

9. Aloo tikki

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These are delicious and popular Indian snacks, and are essentially small, divine burgers made of mashed potatoes, and sometimes peas, that are fried a lovely golden brown colour. Recipe here.

10. Crispy paneer fingers

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Another dish using the versatile ingredient of paneer, the cheese is coated in chilli powder, batter, and finally breadcrumbs to make this amazing appetiser. This is a kid-friendly option, and you can always pare back the spices accordingly. Recipe here.

11. Dosa

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This South Indian dish is a giant crispy pancake made from a rice-based batter and filled with a stuffing of your choice, such as paneer. It tastes every bit as wonderful as it sounds. Recipe here.

12. Pakoras

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Pakoras contain potatoes or chicken, which are then coated in a gram-flour batter and shallow fried to make the perfect snack. They're also a big hit at Indian weddings and lovely with a cup of masala chai, an Indian spiced tea. Recipe here.

13. Tandoori chicken

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Dry chicken needn't be flavourless, and this chicken marinaded in yoghurt and spices is delicious in a naan. Traditionally it's cooked in a tandoor (clay oven) and generally it should be a bit charred. Recipe here.

14. Aloo gobi

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This delicious and simple dish is made using potatoes and cauliflower, with turmeric to give it its yellow colour. Recipe here.

15. Chole masala

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This is often sold as a street food in India, and it's a tangy, sour snack of spiced chickpeas, cooked with chopped tomatoes and onions. It's often eaten with bhatoora, a fried bread. Recipe here.

16. Saag aloo

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This is a combination of spinach and fried potatoes spiced with mustard seeds and cumin. The potatoes absorb much of the flavour and it is an excellent dinner option, especially when eaten with chapati. Recipe here.

17. Papri chaat

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There are many variations of chaat (savoury snacks), and this papri chaat is insanely filling. It consists of fried doughy wafers topped with potatoes, yoghurt, and chickpeas among other things. Recipe here.

18. And for dessert, gulab jamun 😍

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This dessert is often eaten at weddings and other celebrations such as the festival of Diwali. Made using milk solids, these doughy spheres of goodness are then coated in a sugary syrup. Recipe here.