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Indian Family Meals Clear all

16 recipes

Bowl of misal with sprouted beans in red spicy gravy, topped with farsan, onion and coriander, served with buttered pavIndian

Misal Pav

A Maharashtrian-style breakfast of tender sprouted beans in a spicy coconut and onion gravy, topped with crunchy farsan and served with buttered, toasted pav. Filling, bold and easy to build in layers.

1 h 10 minServes 4
Golden lacy appams with fluffy white centres served with vegetable stew on a banana leafIndian

Appam

Soft, bowl-shaped rice and coconut pancakes from Kerala, with a fluffy white centre and crisp lacy edges. Start the batter the day before for a gentle sweet-sour flavour.

1 hServes 4
Golden medu vada doughnut-shaped fritters on a plate with coconut chutney and sambar, one broken open to show a soft centreIndian

Medu Vada

Crisp-shelled, fluffy-centred South Indian doughnut fritters made from ground urad dal, black pepper and curry leaves. A satisfying breakfast to dunk in chutney and sambar.

4 h 55 minServes 4
A bowl of buttery red pav bhaji topped with onion and coriander, served with toasted pav and lemon wedgesIndian

Pav Bhaji

A thick, buttery mash of spiced vegetables served with soft, pan-toasted buns. It's a filling street-food favourite that's easy to make at home and feeds a crowd.

1 hServes 4
Golden puffed bhature on a steel plate with chole, onion rings, green chillies and lemonIndian

Bhature

Soft, puffed, golden fried breads made with a yogurt dough that rests until light and slightly tangy. Serve them hot with chole for a weekend breakfast.

2 h 45 minServes 4
A bowl of sambar with vegetables and curry leaves, served with rice and idliIndian

Sambar

A tangy, gently spiced South Indian lentil and vegetable stew finished with a sizzling mustard and curry leaf tempering. Serve it with rice, idli or dosa for an easy everyday lunch.

1 h 5 minServes 6
A bowl of rajma masala, red kidney beans in a thick spiced tomato gravy, served with basmati rice, onion and lemon.Indian

Rajma Masala

Soft red kidney beans simmered in a thick onion and tomato gravy with warm spices. It's a filling, everyday North Indian lunch that tastes best over steamed rice.

1 h 40 minServes 6
A bowl of golden dal tadka topped with garlic, red chilli and coriander, served with rice and rotiIndian

Dal Tadka

Soft, creamy yellow lentils simmered with tomato and ginger, then finished with a sizzling garlic, cumin and chilli tempering. Simple, filling and ready in about an hour.

1 h 5 minServes 4
A bowl of creamy dal makhani topped with cream and butter, served with naan and lemon wedgesIndian

Dal Makhani

Whole black lentils and kidney beans simmered slowly with tomato, butter and cream until thick, smoky and velvety. A restaurant-style dal that is easy to make ahead for a family dinner.

2 h 5 minServes 6
Goan fish curry with fish steaks in a red coconut gravy, garnished with coriander and green chilliesIndian

Goan Fish Curry

A tangy, coconut-based fish curry with red chillies, tamarind and a gentle heat. It comes together in under 40 minutes and is best with steamed rice.

40 minServes 4
Brass pot of deep red Laal Maas mutton curry garnished with coriander, served with bajra roti and onionsIndian

Laal Maas

A fiery, deep red Rajasthani mutton curry built on dried red chillies, garlic and ghee. The meat turns tender and glossy, and the gravy is rich rather than heavy.

2 h 30 minServes 6
A pot of deep red rogan josh with tender lamb pieces, garnished with fresh coriander, beside rice and naanIndian

Kashmiri Rogan Josh

A deep red lamb curry from Kashmir, slow-cooked in yogurt, fennel and ginger with mild Kashmiri chilli. It is rich but not fiery, and perfect for a weekend dinner.

2 hServes 6
Copper pot of Lucknowi mutton biryani with saffron rice, mutton pieces, fried onions and fresh herbsIndian

Lucknowi Mutton Biryani

A fragrant Awadhi-style biryani of tender bone-in mutton and long basmati rice, gently spiced and finished with saffron, kewra and fried onions, then sealed and steamed on dum.

2 h 30 minServes 6
Open pot of Hyderabadi chicken biryani with saffron rice, chicken pieces, fried onions and fresh herbsIndian

Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

Bone-in chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, layered with par-boiled basmati, fried onions, herbs and saffron, then sealed and cooked on dum. Best made for a weekend table; allow 2 hours for marinating.

2 hServes 6
A pan of chicken tikka masala with charred chicken in a creamy orange tomato sauce, served with naan and lemon wedgesIndian

Chicken Tikka Masala

Yogurt-marinated chicken pieces are seared until lightly charred, then simmered in a smoky, onion-rich tomato gravy finished with a little cream. A dinner for roti, naan or rice.

1 h 25 minServes 4