We crave hot, savoury foods that will warm us from the inside during the winter. For those chilly winter nights when all you want is something tasty, Indian recipes are the ideal choice. Although Indian food and Indian recipes are known for being extremely spicy and hot, they may be modified to suit a person’s taste and palate.
Every region of India has its own variation of a winter dish that only tastes nice when it is prepared during the appropriate season. These Indian recipes, which are made with fresh ingredients, showcase the best food that is readily available in the winter. Here are some of our favourite spicy and delicious wintertime Indian recipes from India.
Indian Recipes For The Winter
- Masala Chai (Spiced Tea)
One of the most well-known Indian recipes outside India is chai tea (Spiced Tea). However, during the winter, Indians make different types of chai tea. Masala chai is frequently served with breakfast, high tea, or even as a post-dinner snack because it is full of warmth from whole spices. Black tea leaves can be brewed with entire spices including cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns, ginger (fresh or dried), nutmeg, and cinnamon to create masala chai ( Spiced Tea). Alternatively, the whole spices can be ground into a powder and then added each time the tea is brewed.
- Garlic Rasam(Onion Rasam)
Many South Indian recipes, such as idli, vada, and rice, pair well with raita. For extra flavour in the winter, the majority of South Indian families prepare garlic rasam. Black peppercorns, chilli powder, split chickpeas, cumin seeds, garlic, and tamarind are the main ingredients in rasam. This dish has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects because garlic is used in it. It is possible to add garlic whole, mashed, or even as a dried powder.
- Khichdi
There are several varieties of the classic rice dish khichdi that are consumed within India. No matter what you have or don’t have at home, you can enjoy this dish because it’s the ultimate winter comfort food. At home, rice and pulses are combined to make khichdi (any that you have at home). Vegetables like carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, peas, capsicum, onions, and any other available vegetable can also be included. You can add chilli powder to this recipe to suit your taste if you want it to be hot.
- Gajar Ka Halwa (Carrot Pudding)
Carrot pudding( Gajar ka Halwa), the first dessert on our list, is cooked, especially during the colder months. Carrots, full milk, sugar, and ghee are the only necessary ingredients (clarified butter). Clarified butter and full cream are used to partially boil the carrots before sugar is added. It’s ideal to let this recipe simmer for at least an hour for maximum flavour. Gajar Ka Halwa can be consumed warm, that is, immediately after cooking, or it can be served cold. The pudding can also be kept in the refrigerator for three to five days.
- Undhiyu
This Gujarati vegetable meal can be prepared in only one pot. The veggies make up the majority of a decent undhiyu, and adding additional vegetables will make the dish taste better. In the past, this Indian recipes have also used yams, potatoes, eggplants (brinjal), raw or ripe bananas, Indian flat beans, ivy gourds, and pigeon peas (a sort of pulse). Also prepared and cooked is a vegetable dumpling made using gramme flour. In a sizable pan, each veggie is piled like a casserole before being covered and grilled.
- Tehri rice ( Veg Tahri)
Another one-pot rice dish that can be prepared in the winter is tehri rice(Veg Tahri). This dish, in contrast to khichdi, includes vegetables such as bitter gourd, bottle gourd, peas, and eggplant (brinjal). Before adding the rice that has been soaked and the water, each vegetable is cooked separately in oil. Because it can be eaten with cold yoghurt or with meat curries like chicken curry, this Indian recipes is distinctive. Traditional veggies like potatoes and onions don’t need to be added because they don’t improve the dish’s texture.
- Turmeric latte ( Golden Milk)
This Indian beverage, known as Haldi doodh, boosts immunity and metabolism. It is a hydrating beverage that is frequently consumed first thing in the morning. The beverage contains just milk and turmeric for maximum effectiveness. To make the dish sweeter, you might also add a little sugar. People who are ill, kids, and the elderly are frequently given this beverage.
- Kofta Curry
The culinary possibilities for kofta curry are endless. The Indian recipes call for shallow frying little dumplings composed of flour and vegetables before simmering them in a sauce. This meal frequently uses a tomato-based, cream-heavy curry. According to your taste, you can add any spice (whole or crushed) or masala. Fenugreek leaves, bottle gourd, or spinach are typically used to make koftas. But if you don’t have those, you may still prepare them using kale or popular mixed vegetables like carrots, peas, cauliflower, broccoli, and capsicum.
- Prawn Masala
The most popular seafood meal consumed in the winter is another well-known South Indian cuisine( Prawn Masala) . Before being marinated in yoghurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, coriander powder, turmeric, and chilli powder, the prawns are shelled and cooked. They are cooked in a curry made with tomatoes after being marinated. The prawns can be partially cooked in the curry for more flavour, and then the curry and prawns can be wrapped in banana leaves and steam-cooked.
- Smoked Eggplant Curry
This meal, which hails from Maharashtra, is great for a quick lunch or dinner. Although it can also be cooked in an oven, the eggplant is initially roasted over an open flame. After that, the eggplant is pureed and added to the tomato puree. Before the sabzi is served, salt, chilli powder, and turmeric are added, and the dish is briefly cooked. You can have smoked eggplant curry with rice or any variety of naan or flatbread.
These are the top ten must-have Indian recipes for winter. These recipes are easy to prepare, delicious, and filling, so they may be prepared when you don’t have time to prepare a fancy meal. These meals, which come from different regions of India, are regarded as the best comfort food.
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