8 Best Easy Indian Starters to Make at Home

Posted on August 28, 2019August 11, 2024 by Chef Krishna Singh

The best starters are those that are easy to make and fun to eat with friends or family. Starting from samosas and paneer tikki to momo and pakoras, there are several Indian easy-to-cook and easy-to-serve foods that your guests will simply love.

Here’s a list of 8 best easy Indian starters that you must try at a reputable Indian restaurant in Colorado Springs.

Chicken Kebab

When it comes to Indian starters, Chicken Kababs make it to the top. The dish is easy to make and tastes awesome. The process involves marinating the chicken in yogurt, mustard, and flavored pickled spices. Serve hot with mint-coriander chutney and delight the guests with its splendid taste.

Khandvi

This appetizer from the Indian state of Gujarat is made with besan, sour curd, and haldi. Filled with sesame seeds, mustard seeds, and green chilies, it’s extremely easy to prepare at home. We bet its mouth-watering taste will make your guests crave for more.

Prawn Fry

If you’re eager to excite the taste buds of your guests, then nothing can beat the scintillating taste of Prawn Fry. The procedure is also quite simple. Shrimps are first marinated in a mixture of ginger, garlic, green chilis, and lime juice. Then, they are coated in a batter of eggs, flour, and breadcrumbs.

Going forward, the prawns are deep-fried until it turns golden brown. The succulent taste of crispy large shrimp served with tomato or coriander chutney will make your guests happy the moment you serve them.

Samosas

Samosas are delicious patties stuffed with potatoes, peas, and spices. A dough of flour is formed into cones and filled with spicy fillings of potatoes and seasonal vegetables. They are then deep-fried. When served with tomato sauce or coriander chutney, it tastes heavenly.

Bhajias

Also known as Pakoras, Bhajias are perfect for tea parties. You can prepare them with any vegetable you like. Cauliflower and potato being the most common ones. The procedure is also easy. All you have to do is, mix gram flour and spices with water into a dough. Then, mix the mashed vegetable and fry until it turns golden brown.

Vada Pav

Having originated in Maharashtra, this Indian starter has succeeded in exciting the taste buds of foodies all over the world. The most exciting part? It doesn’t involve much hassle. All you have to do is, mash the potatoes and mix it with ginger, garlic pastes, green chilis, fried mustard seeds, curry leaves, and turmeric.

Next, you’ll have to coat them in flour. Going forward, deep-fry it and serve hot with chutney.

Khasta Kachori

It is one of the best Indian foods in Northern and Central India. “Khasta” means crispy and that is exactly why these lentil-filled dishes are popular.

A flour and ghee pastry are first made into a circle and filled with lentil mixture. Then, the dough is deep-fried. Serve with Chutney, and make your guests crave for more.

Vegetable Pan Rolls

Though vegetable pan rolls take a little bit more time to make when compared to the previous ones, the result is well worth the effort you’ll put in.

The mouth-watering taste of this pancake made from flour, eggs, and milk filled with a mixture of potatoes, peas, and tomatoes will never fail to excite your guest’s taste buds.

So, here was our list of 8 best easy Indian starters to make at home. You can also visit Urban Tandoor – a premier Indian restaurant in Colorado Springs if you’re excited to taste authentic Indian starters at affordable prices or want to delight your guests with mouth-watering Indian starters. Give us a call on +654566743 to book your spot.

Discover the Main Differences between Kebab and Tikka

Posted on July 24, 2019August 2, 2024 by Chef Krishna Singh

Whenever we visit a lavish casual restaurant for a fine dining experience we look at the menu and find out whether it includes kebab or tikka. Similarly, a party of social gathering seems incomplete without the kebabs or tikkas being served on the platter.

Such is the popularity of the delicacies that they are even served at every Indian Restaurant in Colorado Springs and other places. Very often food connoisseurs consider kebabs and tikkas to be the same items. There is a world of differences between Kebab and Tikka. Let’s find out more about it in details.

History and Origin

Kebab

The history of kebab dates back to 1200 AD when it was first introduced at the Turkish kitchen. It was brought to India by the Afghans and Mughals. At that time, the Mughal soldiers of the royal army chopped pieces of boneless meat and threaded them over their swords. They later grilled and cooked them on an open fire to make them succulent.

Tikka

The birth of the recipe was in Britain. While some reports suggest, the recipe was first originated in a Pakistani restaurant at Glasgow named Shish Mahal. Tikka became popular in India during the era of royal Nawabs who came after the Mughals.

Terminology

The word “kebab” means grilled meat that is derived from Persia and Turkey

The word “tikka” means small bits or pieces

Ingredients Used

Kebab’s Ingredients

Lamb and chicken are the traditional ingredients used for making kebabs. But with changing times and tastes, the recipe can be customized and made with beef, goat, fish, and pork. Other ingredients include salt, pepper, and olive oil. The spices and condiments used for making kebabs tend to vary depending on the type being made.

Tikka’s Ingredients

Chicken, fish and paneer are mainly used as ingredients for making tikka. Other ingredients include spices, yogurt, and lemon juice.

Cooking Method/Procedure

Kebab

At first, minced meat are marinated with different spices. Then they are grilled on a skewer over a fire. Many kebabs can also be prepared by grilling or baking the meat pieces in a pan over an oven. You can use beef, goat, chicken, fish, mutton, lamb and pork for the recipe.

A Colorado Springs fine dining restaurant serves a customized version of the recipe that is known for its unique flavor and taste.

Tikka

At first, boneless chunks of meat are marinated with yogurt and various spices. Then the meat pieces (you can use chicken or lamb) are baked in a clay oven called tandoor and stir fried.

Sometimes, the recipe is also prepared by barbequing the meat pieces on a hot coal to bring out a unique taste and flavor. Savor the authentic Middle Eastern delicacy at a grand Indian Restaurant in Colorado Springs.

Types

Kebabs

Kebabs are of different types. It includes

Galawati Kebab
Shami Kebab
Kakori Kebab
Sheekh Kebab
Doner Kebab
Chelo Kebab
Shashlik Kebab
Hariyali Kebab
Kalmi Kebab
Burrah Kebab
Reshmi Kebab

Tikkas

Tikka is classified into four types. It includes

Chicken Tikka
Paneer Tikka
Malai Tikka
Lamb Tikka

The difference between kebab and tikka is striking but both have one thing in common. They both are delicious and can add zing to any event or dining experience.

Top 15 Indian Appetizers for Parties That You Must not Miss at Any Cost

Posted on June 17, 2019August 4, 2024 by Chef Krishna Singh

Are you simply in awe of Indian appetizers?

Then, this blog is a must read for you!

Here, we have listed the top 15 Indian appetizers for parties that you mustn’t refrain yourself from eating.

Vegetarian Appetizers

- - - Tikki Trio – This is one of the best vegetarian starters that you will ever find in any Indian restaurant in Colorado Springs. These cutlets of beets, potatoes, and spinach stuffed with cheese will mesmerize you the moment it will touch your taste buds.

Samosa – Samosas are patties stuffed with potatoes, peas, and spices. The savory filling of samosas is cherished by food lovers across all age groups. Stuffed with chickpea chat, Samosas never fail to excite the taste buds.

Chili Paneer Dry – Chili Paneer is one of the best Indian foods that you could ever taste! This spice, tangy preparation of cottage cheese is loved by adults and children alike. Make sure not to miss this wonderful item while in a Colorado Springs fine dining restaurant.

Hariyali Paneer Tikka – This is yet another preparation of cottage cheese and one of the best Indian appetizers for parties. The perfect blend of mint, coriander, and spices make this dish a must-try for every food lover.

- Vegetable Kabab –These Kababs are minced vegetables with ginger, garlic & green chilies. No party is ever complete without vegetable kababs on the platter. Be it grilled or roasted; they’ll surely enthrall you!

- Tandoori Phool – Well, if you want to taste an authentic vegetarian appetizer, you must try ‘Tandoori Phool’. The Florets of cauliflower & broccoli spiced with tandoori masala will surely make you eat more and more.

Dahi Puri Chaat – Dahi Puri Chat consist of crispy mini shells topped with yogurt. If you are in love with Indian, then you simply can’t afford to miss Dahi Puri Chaat. The spectrum of flavors and textures of this popular Indian dish make it one of the best Indian appetizers for parties. As the best Indian restaurant in Colorado Springs, we recommend it to try it at least once.

Non-Vegetarian Appetizers

Chicken Reshmi Kabab – Chicken Reshmi Kabab a must-try if you are a hardcore non-veg lover. The boneless pieces of chicken marinated in fresh cream and yogurt with fragrant spices will instantly make you fall in love with this amazing dish.

- Tandoori Chicken – A whole marinated chicken cooked in tandoor is so tempting that it will definitely excite your taste buds. This Mughlai chicken recipe is an amazing appetizer and is sure to leave you wanting for more and more.

- Chicken Tikka – The name itself is enough to excite your taste buds. The chunks of chicken marinated in spices and yogurt and baked in a tandoor oven will surely make you fall in love with this appetizer over and over again.

- Chili Chicken – Well, one of the most common items in Indian Restaurant Colorado Springs, you simply cannot afford to miss it! Small to medium sized pieces of chicken are sautéed in chili sauce with peppers, onion & ginger. We bet, you will cherish the taste forever!

- Lasuni Seekh Kebab – Kabab lover? Well, then you must try Lasuni Seekh Kebab. They are minced lamb, flavored with garlic and rolled on skewers. The perfect blend of spices and tenderness of lamb is a great choice for all food lovers.

- Adraki Lamb Chop – This is yet another mouth-watering preparation of lamb. The shreds of lamb are marinated with ginger, cardamom, coriander & yogurt, and served hot. Make sure not to miss this savoring dish, if eating lambs excites your taste buds.

- Masala Calamari – If you are in awe of seafood, then you must not forget to include Masala Calamari in your bucket list. The marinated squid deep fried and tossed in spicy masala are bound to give you with immense joy and pleasure.

- Tandoori Salmon – Salmon fish spiced with special urban tandoori masala is another seafood, that will excite your taste buds. Try it from the best Indian restaurant in Colorado Springs, and we bet you will cherish it for the rest of your lifetime.

Well, here was our list of top 15 Indian Appetizers for parties. Let us know in the comment section if you want to add more. Also, let us know your favorite pick.