Indian recipes
Indian cooking is incredibly diverse, with distinct traditions from every region, but many home-style dishes come together faster than people think. This page covers quick curries, dals, spiced vegetables, egg dishes, paneer and chickpea recipes, rice dishes and flatbread-friendly meals. Each recipe takes 20 minutes or less.
8 recipes, quickest first.
14 minMasala omelette
20 minChana masala
20 minChicken tikka masala
20 minChickpea, spinach and coconut curry
20 minKeema matar
20 minQuick butter chicken
20 minRed lentil dal
20 minSaag paneer
A small spice shelf goes a long way: cumin seeds, ground coriander, turmeric, garam masala and chili powder, plus fresh ginger, garlic and onions. Canned tomatoes, coconut milk, chickpeas and quick-cooking red lentils help speed things up. Use store-bought naan or rice to round out the meal, and see the tips for heat and dairy swaps.
Common questions
What Indian dishes can be made quickly?
Chana masala with canned chickpeas, red lentil dal, egg curry, palak paneer with frozen spinach, aloo matar, shrimp curry and vegetable pulao all fit a weeknight. Red lentils cook in about 15 minutes. Blooming whole spices in hot oil and using a good garam masala quickly builds deep flavor.
What does blooming spices mean?
Blooming, or tempering (called tadka or tarka), means frying spices briefly in hot oil or ghee to release their flavor. Whole spices like cumin or mustard seeds are cooked until they sizzle and pop, usually 30 seconds or so. Ground spices burn faster, so add them with onions or tomatoes and stir constantly.
What is garam masala?
Garam masala is a warm spice blend that typically includes cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black pepper, cumin and coriander, though recipes vary by region and family. It is not usually very hot. It is often added near the end of cooking to keep its aroma bright. Store it airtight and replace it when it smells faint.
Is paneer the same as tofu?
No. Paneer is a fresh Indian cheese made by curdling hot milk with an acid, then pressing the curds. Tofu is made from soy milk. They look similar and both hold their shape when cooked, so firm tofu is a common vegan swap for paneer in dishes like palak paneer or tikka masala.