If you love Indian food, you've most likely tried one of these Authentic Indian Curry Dishes and want to try making one at home. Or, you're looking to discover something new! You'll find popular recipes, like Butter Chicken, as well as recipes that you'll never find at an Indian restaurant.
Each region in India has it's own distinct type of cuisine. I've included family recipes from both North and South India so that you can discover a new curry or a desi blogger to follow for more delicious, authentic recipes to try.
This roundup only begins to scratch the surface of all the different popular Indian curries out there, but I hope you try and fall in love with something new.
If you're looking for more ideas, be sure to check out theseIndian Potluck Party Recipes!
Jump to:
- What is an Indian Curry?
- Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes
- Non-Veg Recipes
- More Roundups to Check out
What is an Indian Curry?
An Indian curry refers to a variety of saucy dishes made with spices, vegetables, and usually a protein like lentils or meat. The term "curry" is derived from the Tamil word kari, meaning "sauce".
There are dozens of different types of curries, much like there are several different pasta shapes and sauces to toss them in. Curries vary from region to region within India. While some curries share the same base, there are several that are unrecognizable from the next one because they use entirely different techniques, ingredients, and combinations of spices.
Curries are best served with basmati rice, naan, roti, or paratha with a side of raita and a light vegetable-focused sabji like aloo methi. Cilantro-mint chutney is also a must in my household.
Indian curries are not to be confused with other curries you may see in Thai, Japanese, Caribbean, and other cuisines that may start off with a paste, seasoning blend, or curry powder.
Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes
A majority of Indian curry dishes are vegetarian. They are typically made with a base of beans, lentils, or paneer as a protein. Otherwise, they focus on filling vegetables such as potatoes, leafy greens, jackfruit, etc.
A lot of Indian curries are actually naturally vegan and gluten-free. If not, it's easy to substitute paneer for tofu, ghee for neutral oil, and asafoetida for fresh onion and garlic.
They're often served with roti and a sabji like Aloo Methi, which is a dry spiced mixture of vegetables.
Lentil and Bean Recipes
This collection of curries are made with a variety of beans and lentils. They're best served over Basmati Rice or with an Indian bread like roti or puri.
Chole
5 from 4 votes
Chole is a delicious vegetarian Indian curry made with chickpeas. It can be made in under an hour in an Instant Pot and meal prepped for the week! Serve it alongside bhatura or rice.
Chole Recipe
Whole Masoor Dal
5 from 14 votes
Lentils are an incredible way of eating a high fiber and protein diet! Masoor Dal is one of the easiest, most flavorful dump-and-go vegan lentil recipes that pairs well with rice, naan, paratha, or by itself with vegetables.
Whole Masoor Dal Recipe
Kala Chana Masala
5 from 4 votes
Kala Chana Masala is a delicious vegan Indian curry made with a unique ingredient, black chickpeas! Black chickpeas are nuttier and firmer than traditional garbanzo beans, making this a one of a kind dish. Serve it spicy with plenty of serrano peppers with basmati rice!!
Kala Chana Recipe
Kashmiri Rajma
Kashmiri rajma masala by Simple Sumptuous Cooking is a delicious and nutritious dish prepared with dry kidney beans simmered in an aromatic tomato puree base.
Dosakaya Pappu (South Indian Cucumber Dal)
Dosakaya pappu by Flavours Treat - a hearty and comforting south Indian dal made with toor dal, cucumber, and a few basic staple Indian spices. It is a vegan one-pot curry perfect for a weekday meal and pairs wonderfully with rice.
Black-Eyed Peas Curry
An easy to prepare curry for a meal, this Instant Pot Black-Eyed peas curry by Herbivore Cucina is super delicious. Enjoy with roti, rice or parathas.
Dal Makhani
Here’s the ultimate recipe for luscious Dal Makhani by My Food Story with instructions to make it on the stovetop, in a traditional pressure cooker & instant pot.
Traditional Sambar Recipe
This Sambar recipe by Dassana's Veg Kitchen made easy and gives you a perfect South Indian taste. Serve this sambar with steamed rice, idli, dosa or vada.
Vegetable and Paneer-Based Curries
This collection of curries use paneer, potatoes, or vegetables as their main ingredient.
Saag Paneer
5 from 6 votes
A fan favorite, this Saag Paneer is made with a unique ingredient - Swiss Chard! Enjoy this Indian dish made with lightly-spiced, creamy leafy greens and fried paneer. It's best when served with basmati rice or roti.
Saag Paneer Recipe
Mattar Paneer
5 from 4 votes
Mattar Paneer, a classic North Indian dish, brings together the vibrant flavors of soft paneer and green peas in a creamy tomato and onion-based curry. This 30-minute vegetarian dish is a delicious blend of aromatic spices that pairs perfectly with roti or rice.
Mattar Paneer Recipe
Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer Butter Masala by Dassana's Veg Recipes is one of India’s most popular paneer recipe. Make this restaurant style dish at home with my video & step-by-step guide
Echorer Dalna | Bengali Style Jackfruit Curry
Echorer DalnaorBengaliStyle Jackfruit Curry by Motions and Emotionsis aBengalitraditional dish in which raw jackfruit and potato are cooked in a spicy onion-tomato gravy with other spices. Unlike Kathal ki Sabji, this vegan dish is a gravy-based curry.
Sarson Ka Saag
Sarson ka saag by Spice Up The Curry is a classic winter staple from North India. This saag is topped with white butter and served with makki ki roti and sides (jaggery, sliced onions, pickle).
Punjabi Dum Aloo
Spicy and tangy Punjabi Dum Aloo by Cook with Manali is a flavorful curry made with baby potatoes, yogurt and spices.
Punjabi Kadhi Pakora
The perfect, quintessential comfort food from North India is Punjabi Kadhi Pakora by Piping Pot Curry. Crispy pakoras are dipped in a tangy, thick yogurt sauce.
Pumpkin Curry (Rasedar Kaddu)
Hearty, one pot indian pumpkin curry by Sinfully Spicy with creaminess of coconut milk and warmth of Indian spices.
Malai Kofta
Malai kofta by Whisk Affair is a delicious Indian curry made by dunking deep-fried potato and paneer balls (kofta) in a rich velvety smooth gravy.
Non-Veg Recipes
Eating non-veg Indian curries are just another level of deliciousness. The meats are marinated or braised in spices for maximum flavor.
You'll have to check out the queen of Indian non-veg recipes, Tanvi at Sinfully Spicy. I frequently use her recipes in my own home.
Chicken, lamb, goat, and fish are the most popular meats consumed by desis. However, you will find some Indo-Americans or Indian regional dishes that include pork. Cows are considered holy in Hinduism so there are far and few recipes, however beef curries like nihari are common in Pakistani cuisine.
Chicken Curries
Enjoy these popular, authentic chicken curry dishes!
You won't find Chicken Tikka Masala here. Why? While it's popular at Indian restaurants, it actually originated in Scotland! I want to focus here on curries you commonly find cooked in Indian households.
Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
5 from 43 votes
This Butter Chicken is the dreamiest creamiest Indian curry that you can make in the comfort of your own home, even down to the iconic bold orange-red color. It rivals your favorite restaurant's Chicken Makhani and is best when indulged with basmati rice or homemade garlic naan.
Butter Chicken Recipe
Traditional Chicken Korma
A recipe for traditional chicken korma by Mirchi Tales made in the Pakistani or North Indian style with chicken, yoghurt, whole spices and lots of fried onions. Serve with sheermal for the authentic Mughlai touch.
Coconut Chicken Curry
Easy & healthy Indian Coconut Chicken Curry by Piping Pot Curry made in an Instant Pot in just 30 minutes. Enjoy this dairy-free & gluten-free curry with rice or naan!
Fish Curries
We mostly see fish curries come from Bengali, Kashmiri, and Goan cuisines.
Indian Salmon Curry
Indian Salmon Curry by Sinfully Spicy consists of chunks of salmon cooked in a creamy, spicy, tangy sauce. It is an a healthy, flavorful & comforting dish.
Fish Curry (Fish Masala)
An easy-to-follow Fish Curry recipe by Tea for Turmeric made with an onion-tomato masala and simple spices. Tender yet crispy fish is nestled in a perfectly spiced, deeply flavorful curry and topped with garnishing ingredients for texture and vibrance. Tested to perfection!
Goat and Lamb Curries
Lamb (or mutton) and goat make for succulent Indian curries, especially when slowly braised.
Authentic Indian Lamb Curry
This authentic Indian lamb curry by Sinfully Spicy is cooked with lamb shoulder, spices, yogurt andaromatics. Prepare on stove top or with Instant Pot (no marination needed).
Slow Cooker Goat Curry
Slow-cooking goat meat with Indian spices results in a perfectly tender, juicy, and flavorful curry by My Heart Beets.
Lamb Rogan Josh
This Lamb Rogan Josh by Nish Kitchen has succulent pieces of lamb cooked in a rich, flavorful sauce.
More Roundups to Check out
- The Ultimate Guide to Indian Chaat
- 15+ Indian Potluck Party Recipes
- 25 Indian-Inspired Thanksgiving Recipes
- Indian Cooking Tools
