A Simple Glossary on Indian Food

October 2, 2020

Indian cuisine has been around for thousands of years and there are many recipes that have been passed down through families. Here at Royal Nawaab, we want to ensure that our diners are familiar with some of terminology that is used within Indian culture which is why we have put together a simple and brief glossary. Read on as we define the following five food items…

Bhuna: A well-known curry that is cooked ‘dry’ in hot oil in order to create a flavour profile like never before. The meat in this dish is often left to marinate in a blend of spices and its own juices which allows the flavour to penetrate deep into the meat without drying it out.

Bhaji: A popular Indian street snack, bhaji’s are made from vegetables like onions which are dipped into a batter made from gram flour, water and variety of spices like turmeric, ground cumin and paprika. They are cooked in hot oil until golden brown and served warm with an optional side of raita.

Kulfi: A well-known Indian dessert, kulfi is made from evaporated milk, condensed milk and double cream. It is served frozen which means that it often looks like western ice-cream, however it isn’t whipped which gives it a much denser style both physically and aesthetically.

Masala: Although many people believe that masala is a curry, it is actually a word in Indian cuisine that is used to describe a mixture of spices. It is found either dry or in a paste and typically includes garlic, cardamom, ginger and coriander.

Tandoori: As a term used to explain how to prepare and cook the meat in a dish, tandoori dishes require the chef to marinate the meat in a mixture of yogurt and tandoor masala before being cooked at a high temperature in a traditional Indian clay oven called a Tandoor. This gives the meat a distinctive orange hue.

The team here at Royal Nawaab pride ourselves on our traditional dishes and authentic flavours. After all, Indian cuisine is a beautiful blend of aromatic spices and it is this attention to detail that keeps our diners coming back for more! To find out more information, get in contact with the best restaurant London has to offer and speak to a member of the Royal Nawaab team today!