My little sister requested any great recipes I had for Indian food. I’ve discovered that I’m most apt to go out if I really want good food, but the couple recipes I have (and like) are to follow. If anyone else has good ones, please add them!

Indian-Spiced Braised Chicken

1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, drained
2 T. tomato paste
1 T. grated fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 t. ground coriander
1/4 t, cayenne pepper
coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 t. garam masala
cooked white rice, for serving

In a 5-6 qt. slow cooker, stire together the chicken, onion, tomatoes, tomato paste, ginger, garlic, coriander, and cayenne; season with salt and pepper.

Cook on high 4 hours (or on low for 8 hours) until fork-tender. Stir in yogurt, cliantro, and if using, garam masala. Serve with rice.

[You can also make this in the oven by heating the oven to 350, placing the ingredients through the pepper in a heavy pot with 2 c. of water and baking for 2 hours. When finished, stir in the final ingredients.]

Note: This is one of my favorite made-at-home Indian recipes and I’ve had good luck with it. It originally came out of Everyday Food back in 2007. Rex declared it most like a restaurant of anything I’ve tried in the Indian food category.

Curried Lentils in Tomato Sauce (click on this title to go to the recipe)

This is a recipe I posted awhile back that I think is fantastic too. Not sure you would find it on the menu of an Indian Restaurant, but also good for what’s possible at home!

Chicken Curry

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons medium to hot curry powder
• Coarse salt
• 3/4 pound small red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes (preferably zesty flavored), with juice

Directions

1. Place flour on a plate. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add chicken, and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a bowl; set aside.
2. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in same skillet; cook onion and garlic, stirring frequently, until onion is softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in curry powder and 3/4 teaspoon salt; cook 1 minute more.
3. Add potatoes and 1 cup water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cover, and cook until potatoes are just tender but still offer slight resistance when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, about 7 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and 1/4 cup water.
4. Return chicken to skillet along with any accumulated juices in bowl; simmer, covered, until chicken is cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.

Note: This recipe is from Great Food Fast, and it’s a nice, simple curry. As with any curry, though, its success depends on the curry powder you use. America’s Test Kitchen recently recommended McCormick Select Curries, which I’ve tried and liked. I’ve also had plenty of store-brand curries that are pretty bland, so I think it’s worth the extra $1-2 to get a good spice blend, or make your own.

Bombay House’s Vegetable Coconut Kurma
from S.L. Tribune or Deseret News, courtesy of Ricky and Carie Allman

1 large onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 in. piece ginger, finely grated
3 T. oil
1 1/2 t. Madras Curry Powder
1/2 t. cayenne pepper (or more, if desired)
1 t. salt or to taste
2 large tomatoes, finely chopped
1 1/2 lbs. mixed vegetables (cauliflower, carrots, peas, potatoes, or others), chopped
1 c. water
1 c. coconut milk
2 T. broken cashews
2 T. golden raisins
1 T. chopped cilantro for garnish

Blend half the onions, garlic and ginger in a food processor to make a paste. Heat oil in a sauce pan and add the remaining chopped onions, sauteing until they turn golden brown. Add remaining garlic, ginger and onion paste. Fry until the raw smell goes away. Add curry powder, cayenne and salt. Stir well. Add chopped tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes and then add the mixed vegetables and water. Cook for 5 more minutes and then add coconut milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are cooked. Add cashews and golden raisins and garnish with cilantro. Serve over steamed rice.

Makes 4 servings.

Note: I’ve loved this recipe, although it’s never turned out quite like Provo’s Bombay House. Still, it’s good. Again, the highlights of this dish are the garam masala used and the raisins and cashews. Without these three, it’s not nearly as good. It’s also really important to caramelize the onions, but not to let them burn. According to one recipe book I read, a curry depends entirely on how well the onions are caramelized.

Naan, Peshawri (click on title for the link)

I found this website a couple of years ago, and this naan bread worked perfectly. I was amazed. I stuffed it with chopped cashews, raisins, cardamom and some cinnamon and coconut to replicate my favorite restaurant peshwari. Although I haven’t tried making anything else on the website, judging from how well this recipe turned out, I wouldn’t hesitate to try. It looks really comprehensive.

Mango Lassi

3 c. chopped fresh mango (not frozen, or it will taste flat) from 2-3 mangoes
2 c. plain whole milk yogurt
1 c. ice water, about half water, half ice
2-4 t. honey (depending on how sweet the mangoes are)
2 t. lime juice from 1 lime
1/8 t. salt

Puree all the ingredients together in a blender until there are no visible chunks of mango, about 1 minute. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a pitcher, pressing on the solids to extract as muhc liquid as possible; discard any solids left in the strainer. Serve in chilled glasses (You can refrigerate the drink for up to 4 hours, but will want to reblend it before serving).

Note: This recipe is from The Best International Recipe. I have to admit I have not yet made it, but plan to as soon as I buy some mangoes, because I love this stuff.

So, I also have a great, but involved, Saag Paneer recipe that I will post if I hear someone’s interested. I am also inspired to try several other recipes I haven’t yet tried to see what other good Indian food can be made at home. I’ll let you know!