What to order at Indian Restaurant?

Lassi Naan Saffron-Basmati-Rice Tandoori-Chicken Chicken-Tikka-Masala Vegetable-Korma Makhni-Palak-Paneer Dal Gajar-Halwa Garam-Masala-Chai

Americans are at a loss when visiting an Indian Restaurant. The food is different than American foods and Americanized ethnic foods (Italian, Mexican, Chinese).
Use keywords in the name of the dish to order foods: Tandoori, Tikka, Korma, Pasanda, Mughalai, Makhani, Buttery. Korma foods are prepared in a mild pale yellow color nutty creamy sauce consisting of: yogurt ground almonds cream and saffron. Pasanda are same as Korma with added coconut milk.

Makhani (Buttery) foods are prepared in a mild orange colored creamy sauce consisting of: tomatoes, yogurt, butter and cream. Makhni foods are also called Mughalai or Buttery foods. Tikka Masala foods are similar to Tandoori foods. These are oven baked, and served with Masala (Dip) on the side. Tikka Masala originated at Indian Restaurant in UK to suit the English palate.

Starters

Traditional starters include Salaad Plate (sliced cucumbers radish, onions lime wedges, watch out for whole fresh green chili peppers, they are every hot), Pickles, and Papad. Indian pickles contain mustard oil, you may not like pungent mustard oil. The Papad is a thin large 7" round bean cracker. Its good if dry roasted over open flame. Deep fried Papad is very greasy.

Breads

Limit yourself to Naan. Naan is a round or tear-shaped flat-bread baked in Tandoor

Avoid Paratha (layered flat bread griddle-fried), and Poori (Deep fried wholly puffed up). Paratha and Poori may be too greasy for you.

Rice

Order Saffron Basmati Rice with Green peas, or plain rice. The Biryani is a 'layered Rice and meat' dish but may have 'weird floral smell'.

Non-vegetarian Entrées or sides

- Murgh Makhani Kebab (Buttery chicken Kebab), Jhinga Tandoori (Baked Prawn), Chicken Tandoori, and Sikanderi Raan (Roasted leg of baby goat).
Tandoori chicken was served to Richard Nixon and John F Kennedy at State Dinner in New Delhi. Sikanderi Raan is favorite of President Bill Clinton, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
- Chicken Korma, Lamb Korma, Mutton Korma, Chicken Pasanda, Lamb Pasanda
- Chicken Makhani, Lamb Makhani, Mutton Makhani

Chicken Makhani was served to Richard M Nixon and John F Kennedy at State Dinner in New Delhi

- Chicken Tikka Masala,

Vegetarian Entrées or sides

Vegetable Korma was favorite dish of Indira Gandhi, Paneer Tikka, Khumbi Tikka, Palak Paneer, Aloo Tandoori, Navrattan (Nine Vegetables) Korma. Aloo Tandoori (Baked stuffed potatoes)

- Paneer Tikka Masala (Indian Cheese Kebab), Khumbi Tikka Masala (Mushroom Kebab)

Dal Bukhara Soup (Creamed whole black bean soup), Dal Makhani, Paalak Paneer (Spinach and Indian cheese)

Desserts

Indian desserts are sugary. To Americans, they have 'weird floral smell', it is like eating flowers and sugar. The floral smell is a result of: Roses, Screwpine, Vetiver, and Sandalwood.

First time visitor has five choices: Gajar Halwa (a rich carrot cake), Kheer (Rice pudding), Kulfi (a still ice cream made with reduced milk, Pistachios and flavored with Cardamom seeds), Rasmalai, and Mango Ice cream.

Mango Ice cream is a favorite of William J Clinton available at most of the Indian Restaurants.

Beverages

Mango Lassi (whipped sweetened yogurt with mangoes). This should be the first item to order. Get it before any of your food arrives. Lassi is a sweetened whipped thick yogurt beverage. This will be your oral fire-extinguisher. If you eat something that is too spicy hot for your palate, take a sip of Lassi, swirl it around your mouth and swallow. Repeat two more times and the fire will be extinguished.
Garam Masala Chai (Spiced Hot tea Latte)

Miscellaneous Food Items worth trying

- Raita, Cold thick soup made with whipped yogurt and cucumber served as a side dish

- Dal, Hot thick soup made with decorticated split Moong beans

- Aloo Gobhi, a mild vegetable curry made of potatoes, cauliflower, spices and yogurt

Dishes you must try, but with caution

- Samosa, A deep fried pastry stuffed with spiced potatoes and peas. This is the most popular snack all over India. It is served with Green Chutney (Made of fresh Cilantro and Peppermint), and Brown Chutney ( Sweet and sour spice chutney made with Tamarind). This can be spicy hot

- Rogan Josh, Most popular Mutton curry. Problem is too much fat floating on top of dish, it can be spooned off

Dare Dishes

- Phall Curry, This is the hottest curry associated with Indian foods, though it originated in Indian Restaurants in UK. It is made with Habanera or Naga Chili peppers, and fresh ginger. You can have Chicken Phall or Lamb Phall

- Tindaloo, Second hottest curry associated with Indian foods, though it originated in Indian Restaurant in UK. This is made with Habanera, and lots of Garlic. It is just a hotter Vindaloo. You can have Chicken, lamb, or Vegetable Tindaloo

- Vindaloo, This is a hot Indian curry originated in Goa based on a Portuguese preserve. The ingredients include lots of hot cayenne peppers, garlic , south west pickling spices and vinegar.

- Chicken 65, This is hot finger food similar to 'Buffalo wings' goes well as an appetizer at bar.

- Madras Chicken Curry, Spicy hot developed by Anglo-Indians during British Raj combines the heat of fresh green hot chilies and dried red chili powder.

- Kozi Kari. Hot spicy chicken Curry developed by early Jewish Merchants settled in Kerala. It combines the heat of fresh green hot chilies and dried red chili powder.

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