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There is nothing like top 20 Indian foods. It’s almost impossible to rank the foods. There are so many varieties of food in India. It’s a country of 29 states and each state is like a country in itself. Even the spices used in Indian food has unique characteristics.
Although Indian food varies across states, what makes Indian food truly “desi” is the use of spices. Spices like dalchini, cloves, cardamon, dhania, tamarind, turmeric are used frequently in any Indian dish.
After tasting various Indian foods, we have tried to narrow down the list to 20 foods.
Samosa
Samosas are fried baked pastry with savory fillings such as spiced potatoes, onions, lentils, etc. Indian samosas are mostly vegetarian often served with chutneys. Samosas are common street food in India. It is also a street food in many South Asian countries.
Chai
There is no better feeling than having that cup of tea in a street-side stall in India. Tea is indeed a national drink in India.
Parantha
Paranthas are Indian bread made with whole wheat or white wheat flour. The paranthas may be stuffed with potatoes forming aloo parantha. If stuffed with muli it forms muli parantha. Normal paranthas are often served with Sabji and Aachar.
Naan
Naan is an oven-baked flatbread often served with various meals. Naan tastes best when served with curries. There are various varieties of naan available like garlic naan and cheese naan. ( Read 17 Punjabi Dishes You Must Try )
Chole Batura
Chole is a side dish made from chickpeas. And baturas are deep fried round Indian bread made with white flour. This dish is most popular in northern India.
Pani Puri
Pani Puri as the name states is composed of two words Pani + Puri where Pani means water and Puri means fried puff crisp dough balls. Often tamarind water is placed inside the puris to give its distinctive flavor. Irrespective of any state, this dish is a popular street-side food all over India.
Chaats
Chaat is a savory snack that originated in India. This dish is immensely popular in the Indian subcontinent. The chaat may vary according to its name. For example, aloo chaat, bhelpuri, dahi vada, papri chaat, pav bhaji are different forms of chaat.
Matar Paneer
This dish is prepared by mixing soft cubes of paneer and small green peas in a mildly spicy tomato based gravy.
Bengali Fish Curry
The dish is made by mixing fish with spicy curry. Normally three types of Bengali Fish curry are popular. They are a) Fish Kalia b) Mustard Fish Curry (Shorche Curry ) c ) Tomato Fish Curry. These three fish curries are also popular in neighboring Assam. Tomato Fish Curry is more popular in Assam. ( Read 10 Bengali Dishes You Need To Try )
Chicken Butter Masala
A good chicken masala powder is the main ingredient to make this dish. This dish is made by mixing meat in a medium spicy onion tomato gravy. A little bit of butter is added to give the final taste.
Dal Khichdi
Dal Khichdi is a rice and lentil dish made with medium spices.
Hyderabadi Biryani
It is a great choice for foodies who want to have rice with spices interspersed with small pieces of meat. Cooked in a unique Hyderabadi style it is layered with fried onions and mint. This dish tastes best when served with raita. ( Read 11 Hyderabadi Dishes That You Won’t Regret Taking )
Masala Dosa
Masala Dosa is a famous Indian dish. This dish is not only popular in India but it is also popular in many foreign countries. A potato paste is first made by mixing light cooked potatoes, onions, mustard seeds, and curry leaves. The potato paste is then wrapped inside a crisp crepe. Usually, masala dosa is served with sambhar and chutney. ( Read Best Customary Dishes Of Karnataka )
Idli
Idli is a savory rice cake. The cakes are made by steaming a batter consisting of fermented black lentils and rice. The cakes are served best with chutney and sambhar. ( Read Kerala Cuisine )
Medhu Vada
Medu Vada is an Indian fritter made from black lentil. It is usually shaped like a doughnut with a crispy exterior and a soft interior. The Vada is mostly served with sambhar and chutney.
Vada Pau
The dish consists of a potato dumpling (Vada) placed inside a bun bread (Pav). It is often served with powdered chutney and green chilies.
Dhokla
Dhokla is one of the best dishes to come out from the western state of Gujarat. The dish is actually a steam cake made from gram flour and chana daal.
Momo
Momo is a steamed dumpling with some form of filling. The dish is popular among people of Assam, Ladakh, Sikkim and Darjeeling regions of India.
Rasgulla
It is derived from the word Ras means Juice and Gulla means Ball. It is made from ball-shaped dumplings of chenna cooked in a light sugar syrup.
Gulab Jamun
This is another top Indian dessert. Gulab Jamun literally translates into rose berries. The Gulab Jamun is made from Khoya douse in sugar.
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