11 Traditional Indian Foods you do not want to miss

1. Biryani

What It Is: An aromatic rice dish cooked with several spices, notably saffron, and a protein (typically chicken or mutton) that's been marinated.

Perfect For: A huge family dinner.

There are several main types of biryani, and they are also specific to a certain community. Here are just a few of them:

Sindhi biryani: The exotic and aromatic type of biryani is popular in Pakistan and known for its spicy taste, fragrant rice, and delicate meat. It is made with meat and Basmati rice, vegetables and various types of spices. 

Hyderabadi biryani: This biryani is one of India's most popular types of biryani. It incorporates goat meat that is marinated and cooked along with the rice and has coconut/saffron seasonings. 

Malabar Biriyani: this is the only version of Biryani in Kerala, an Indian state. It is a popular dish eaten by the Malabar Muslim community and incorporates Khyma rice, which is mixed with ghee.

Calcutta/Kolkata biryani: This biryani mostly uses potatoes and eggs. It is much lighter spice wise, and only sometimes contains meat. The marinade is made of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom and other spices, and the rice is flavoured with ketaki or rose water and yellow in colour.

Ambur biryani: This leather tanning city in Tamil Nadu makes one of the most famous types of biryani, and the town has more biryani shops than any other city in the world. 

Lucknowi biryani: This type of biryani is based on a Persian cooking style so it uses the dum pukht method where the meat and gravy are only cooked partially and are then layered and served in a sealed handi. The spice profile is not as intense. 

Mughlai biryani: This biryani is cooked with curd, chicken, almond paste, ghee, dry fruits, and green chillies, and has a rich flavour. 

Kalyani biryani: Small chunks of buffalo meat go into this form of biryani, which is known as the "poor man's Hyderabadi biryani." It is rich and flavorful but does not include more expensive ingredients.

2. Idli

What It Is: A heavy South Indian breakfast food. A fermented batter of ground rice and lentils, steamed in little circular moulds.

Perfect For: When you're done sleeping in on a Saturday morning.

Feels Like: Being woken up by the smell of cooking.

I've never been overly fond of idlis and yet it's almost always in the mix whether I'm fixing breakfast at home or eating breakfast on the go. It's easy (if you've got the batter tucked away in your refrigerator), it's nutritious and it's steamed - making it absolutely safe even in the dingiest highway restaurant. If you thought that there's just one way to make an idli, think again. The idli doesn't just come in many shapes and sizes, it also comes with markedly different flavours depending on which part of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Kerala you're at. 

3. Gulab Jaamun

What Is It: Small balls of dried milk, slow cooked and boiled in a sugar syrup.

Perfect For: When you've already had a delicious meal and have just enough room for dessert.

Feels Like:  When start eating them feel like put one after another in the mouth without stopping. They are best for me when served hot. Some people alo try ice cream with Gulab Jamun. 

4. Chole Bhature

What It Is: A spiced, curried chickpea dish served with a fried flour bread.

Perfect For: A late Sunday breakfast or a weekend breakfast. Children's , Adults everybody love this food. Popular on holidays or a family get together.

Feels Like: Seeing your family all dressed in new clothes on a festival day. 

5. Kati Roll

What It Is: A traditional street food popular across India (and abroad). A wrap of kebabs, eggs, vegetables, and spices rolled into paratha (a type of flatbread).

Perfect For: When you need a meal on-the-go. Also, a great way to use up leftovers.Perfect for students in college or friends get together in the evening in there near the market.

Feels Like: Standing on a dusty Kolkata street-corner at dusk, watching families go home through rush hour traffic.

6. Rajma

What It Is: Kidney beans in a thick gravy popular across North India.

Perfect For: An accompaniment for rice, particularly delicious when served piping hot in the winter. Indian families love to eat this in the afternoon on weekend as it consume lot of time while preparattions.

Feels Like: Summer holidays at your grandparents' house oR Bua house.

7. Pani Puri

What It Is: A small crisp hollow round bread filled with spiced water, tamarind paste, potato, onion, and chickpeas.

Perfect For: When you're craving a thousand flavours at once.The perfect time is the evening time or in a marriage or the party. Ladies or girls are crazy about this dish in India.

Feels Like: Drunkenly challenging your best friend to a contest of who can eat more of these, and then feeling like your mouth is on fire.

8. Jalebi

What It Is: A wheat flour batter deep fried in coil-shapes and soaked in sugar syrup, served hot.

Perfect For: When you want something hot, but also sweet.  In winter time people take it in milk as well in night and it make you tummy so heavy that you feel like going to bed straight away. Many Indian festivals or Puja's it is used as Prasad for god like in Diwali.

Feels Like: People-watching in a crowded bazaar while your mother haggles over sari prices.

9. Tandoori Chicken

What It Is: Chicken marinated for hours in a paste of yogurt and spices, and then roasted (traditionally) in a clay oven called a tandoor.

Perfect For: Wowing your dinner guests with minimal effort.

Feels Like: Making a pitstop at a roadside diner three hours into a family roadtrip.

10. Baigan Bharta

What It Is: Roasted eggplant mashed together with a variety of other vegetables and spices, served with flatbread.

Perfect For: An exciting and fancy vegetarian meal  and so tasty when you eat with naan or chapati. 

Feels Like: Going back fto school time when my mom put this in my lunch.

11. Dosa

What It Is: A crispy, flat bread (similar to a crepe or pancake) made of rice batter, served with a lentil sauce (sambar) and a variety of chutneys.

Perfect For: When you want breakfast to be the highlight of your day or lunch or dinner. Perfect to eat during any time of a day. Very light , you feel hungry after few hours.

Feels Like: Recounting last night's events the morning after a sleepover.