Indian-Inspired Recipes

Staff Picks

Tandoori-Spiced Grilled Chicken

An Indian-inspired entrée that will give you a newfound love for chicken halves. They take on the same juiciness and smoky flavor as a whole or spatchcocked bird, but are much easier to move around the grill. A spiced yogurt marinade tenderizes without turning the meat mushy, so you can slather it on well in advance.

Chicken Curry

The slow cooker does the heavy lifting here when it's time for dinner. All you have to do is assemble this hearty coconut milk-based curry, which takes just 10 minutes.

Kitchari

The main ingredient in this good-for-you savory porridge is yellow mung dal, split mung beans that break down and thicken as they cook.

Wild-Salmon Kedgeree

Here's an easy and healthy one-pot dinner with salmon fillets. Stateside there isn't much name recognition for kedgeree, but across the pond it is a beloved dish with Anglo-Indian roots. In this version, basmati rice steams with curry powder, onion, and garlic; halfway through, the salmon is nestled on top to cook with the rice. Garnish bowls with hard-cooked eggs, parsley, and paprika for a weeknight meal.

Curried Chicken with Coconut Rice

All you need with this one-pot dish is a quick salad. Toss sliced cucumber and tomato with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and salt and pepper.

Samosas with Potatoes and Peas

Our homage to the savory Indian pastries calls for a cumin-studded dough and a hearty potato-and-pea filling. Serve fresh out of the fryer with a duo of homemade chutneys.

Instant Pot Chicken Curry

This instant winner recipe puts a delicious chicken curry on the table in about 30 minutes—as much time as it would take a (speedy) takeout order to be delivered. Made with chicken thighs, warm spices like coriander and cumin seeds, and zippy fresh garlic and ginger, this dish packs a lot of flavor into just one pot. Before starting, put on a pot of fluffy rice to serve on the side, and the whole dinner will be ready at the same time.

Shrimp Tikka Masala

One pot, family-friendly, and under one hour? Sign us up for this flavorful recipe inspired by the Indian-American classic. This recipe can also be made with one pound of sliced skinless chicken breasts. Both variations pair well with a bright and juicy mango chutney.

Peach Shrikhand

Served as either a refreshing summer dessert or a side dish with puris (puffed whole-wheat flatbread), shrikhand is a quintessential Indian dish. It is typically made with strained full-fat yogurt and mango purée; this version swaps in ripe peaches enlivened with Baraka cardamom ($15, diaspora.com) and Kashmiri saffron ($18, diaspora.com).

Spicy Indian Chicken Soup

Onion, ginger, and garlic -- a classic flavor trio in Indian cuisine -- form the base of this soup, which takes on a pleasing spiciness when finished with cumin, coriander, and chile. A squeeze of orange juice adds a touch of natural sweetness.

Slow-Cooker Indian-Style Fish Curry

The best part about making curry in a slow cooker? No stirring! Give it a couple of hours to thicken and to let the flavors meld, then add your favorite white fish 20 minutes before serving. This recipe appears in our cookbook "Martha Stewart's Slow Cooker" (Clarkson Potter).

Chai Tea with Soy Milk

Chai tea has been a favorite refreshment in India for centuries. Essentially a blend of tea, ground spices, honey, and milk, it can be enjoyed hot or cold. Our version, which replaces cow's milk with soy milk, is served hot.

Inspiration and Ideas

20 Easy Indian Recipes That Make Delicious Weeknight Dinners, from Curry to Tandoori

Intimidated by cooking Indian food? While there’s always a time and place for ordering takeout, it’s easier than you think (and healthier!) to recreate the flavors you love at home. Our best recipes for curry, tandoori, and more are oh-so-simple and ready in a flash.

Cacao Cookies

These cookies are flavored with cacao powder, ($24, diaspora.com), which delivers a lighter, more milk-chocolaty flavor than regular cocoa; they'll pair especially well with a steaming cup of chai.

Quick Chickpea Curry

Curry-Yogurt Dressing

Indian-Spiced String Beans

Quick Curried Lentils in Tomato Sauce

Basmati Rice with Onion and Ginger

Try serving this aromatic side dish with Tandoori Chicken Kebabs.

All Indian-Inspired Recipes

Butter Chicken

Also known as murgh makhani, this famous Indian dish is probably only rivaled in popularity by chicken tikka masala. Dinner takes on an intoxicating aroma as the chicken cooks in the creamy tomato sauce, thanks to the combination of garam masala and toasted cumin.

Simple Vegetable Curry

This warmly spiced dish is quick and satisfying. Who knew vibrant flavor could be such a cinch? Try adding cubed extra-firm tofu or chicken breast along with the vegetables if you like.

Easy Tandoori Chicken with Yogurt Sauce

Making your family's favorite take-out Indian food is easier than you think -- and much healthier.

Spinach Sauteed With Indian Spices

This side dish has all the flavors of traditional Indian cooking.

Madhur's Spiced Basmati Rice

Martha's friend Madhur Jaffrey, author of numerous Indian cookbooks, shares her secret for perfectly cooked rice. Washing the rice minimizes the starchy powder left over from the milling process, while soaking allows each grain to absorb water so that it sticks less to the next grain during cooking.

Bombay Fizz

This drink is based on nimbu pani, a lemon- or limeade popular in India. A little orange-blossom water, while not necessary, gives it a delicate fragrance.

Tandoori Chicken Salad

This delicious Tandoori Chicken Salad gets a kick from fresh ginger. The recipe courtesy of Padma Lakshmi.

Roasted Curried Cauliflower

An Indian-inspired spice blend adds a warm hue and gives this vegetable dish an exotic taste.

Broccoli-and-Potato "Samosa" Pie

Inspired by Indian samosas, here’s an appetizer to feed a crowd and—most importantly—avoid a vat of oil. Store-bought puff pastry crisps up beautifully in the oven, and a mixture of cumin, mustard seeds, and coriander spices up a basic potato and broccoli filling. The pastry is formed into a long rectangular package so there is plenty of surface area for maximum crunch.

Northern Indian Lamb Meatballs

Simmered in a silky tomato-based sauce, these delicate lamb meatballs have sweet prune centers. Indian flatbread and pickled carrots are, respectively, mild and mouthpuckering foils for the curry.

Guntur-Chile Chicken

This chicken dish is named after the famed fiery Guntur chiles from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh ($12, diaspora.com). A masala reduction coats each piece of chicken by the end of the cooking process. The masala caramelizes and the spices concentrate, fuse together, and permeate the meat.

Chai Tea with Milk

Chai tea is a blend of black tea, milk, and spices. This recipe was first published in Martha Stewart Living, September 2003.

Healthy Chicken Tikka Masala

No cream here! This healthy take on the Indian takeout classic—Chicken Tikka Masala—relies on yogurt for its rich texture. Broiling the chicken thighs before braising gives the meat a hint of smokiness.

Spiced Yellow Rice with Chicken and Vegetables

This chicken dish jazzes up the rice with coriander, turmeric, and cumin seed for an Indian flavor.

Cucumber Coconut Soup

This chilled cucumber-coconut soup gets its inspiration from Indian cuisine, which often marries the two components. Jalapeno and fresh cilantro add character to poached chicken.

Grilled Lamb Chops with Garam Masala

Garam masala -- a blend of Indian spices -- gives these succulent lamb chops a lovely flavor and aroma.

Chicken and Pork Seekh Kebabs

Ingredients borrowed from Indian cuisine give far-flung flavors to these kebabs. Naan and a summer-fruit chutney cool the spicy dish.

Yogurt-Marinated Chicken

Garam masala is a spice mixture that's commonly used in Indian cuisine. If you can't find it in your supermarket, substitute 1 teaspoon ground cumin. Greek yogurt is a great base for a marinade -- it tenderizes the meat while adding plenty of flavor.

Easy Chicken Curry

Serve this dish with rice and accompaniments, such as plain yogurt, raisins, toasted almonds, and store-bought mango chutney. Curry powder comes in many varieties. Madras, used here, is spicier.

Ginger Lime Fizz

The ginger syrup made in step one may be stored in an airtight container, refrigerated, for up to a week.

Golden Dal with Gingered Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes mingle with ginger, shallots, and cumin atop this Indian-inspired red-lentil stew spiced with sunny turmeric.

Potatoes with Sesame Seeds

Til ke aloois another of those easy, delicious dishes you might enjoy with both Indian meals and simple dinners of roasted and grilled meats. You can use leftover potatoes or cook them fresh; just be sure they're completely cool before you start. This recipe is courtesy of Madhur Jaffrey.

Indian Eggplant (Bharta)

Serve with cooked rice or even better, warmed naan or other flatbread for scooping. This Indian vegetarian eggplant recipe doubles easily if you're serving a crowd or just love leftovers.

Cardamom-Coconut Rice

Mild and creamy coconut milk mellows this spice-infused side dish.

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