The cuisine of India is not only tasty but also has an array of different food names that you can use for reference and after-thought.
Sadly, there is no official food dictionary to help you discover the meaning behind each Indian word.
Well, today, you are going to have one.
We’re going to take a stroll to all Indian food name A to Z and everything in between.
It will be an epic alphabetical journey, especially if you’re very big on Indian cuisine. So fasten your seat belt.
Indian food names A to Z
1. Aloo Parantha
Aloo Paratha is a savory flatbread popular in the Punjab region of India. It is made with whole wheat flour and boiled potatoes mixed with spices and herbs.
Stuffed Parathas are a staple in many North Indian homes, roadside diners, and restaurants. They typically come with white butter (churned from buffalo or cow’s milk) and may also be served alongside pickles and yogurt.
It’s also commonly used as a base for many other dishes, such as tandoori chicken or butter chicken.
Most people prefer it with mutton curry and vegetable curry.
2. Biryani
Biryani is an aromatic and flavorful mixed rice dish prepared with spices and any meat of your choice (chicken, beef, goat, lamb, prawn, fish).
Some biryani comes alongside eggs and potatoes and is heavily spiced with saffron in a rich gravy.
This dish originated in the Indian subcontinent, but ham exploded across the continent.
Biryani can be eaten with raita or yogurt sauce on the side. You can also eat it with pulao or roti.
3. Chole Bhature
Chole bhature is a dish widely enjoyed in the northern regions of India and Pakistan.
It is made with spicy white chickpeas (chana), and deep-fried bread called bhatura or puri.
Chole Bhature is often served with roti or naan, though it is also delicious. You can use chole bhature for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
You can use chole bhature as both a side dish and as part of your main meal. Chole bhature would be great on top of rice, in place of bread when making pizza, or as an appetizer before dinner.
4. Dhokla
Dhokla is a savory Gujarati dish made with fermented lentil patties that are steamed and then served with hot chutney to create a fluffy cake-like texture.
You can use dhokla in many ways! You can make dumplings (momos) for your next potluck event or serve them as a side dish at lunchtime.
But if you’re feeling adventurous, try to add it to soups or stews for extra flavor and nutritional value!
5. Egg Curry
Egg curry is a hearty Indian dish made of hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, onions, whole and ground spices—and many herbs.
This mildly spicy curry is sure to appeal to all egg lovers and pairs well with roti or steamed rice.
And because Indian cuisine is so diverse, egg curries can be made in many ways and by region.
6. Falooda
A falooda is a cold, sweet Mughlai dish made with noodles and served in a glass. It originates in the Persian dessert called faloodeh—although there are different versions of it across West Asia.
It’s a luxurious and cooling dessert drink that is perfect for the summer.
The drink is creamy and sweet, mimicking a milkshake with a beautiful floral fragrance and flavor.
Some tangy jello-like cubes contrast beautifully in texture with the chewy vermicelli noodles.
Furthermore, it is traditionally made by mixing rose syrup and sweet basil seeds with milk and vermicelli noodles and served over ice cream.
7. Gol Gappe
Gol gappas, or Pani puri, is a popular Indian snack that consists of hollow crisp-fried balls filled with spiced potatoes and chickpeas.
The outer casing is made from wheat flour dough. At the same time, the stuffing inside can include various combinations such as tamarind juice/spices mixture for tanginess or minty chutney for flavor variation.
Gol Gappa’s sweet and spicy flavors come from a variety of tamarind, jaggery (a type of unrefined cane sugar), and chaat masala—an Indian spice mixture that’s often made with amchoor.
The tangy yogurt dip is given its sourness by the liquid added during fermentation.
8. Halwa
Halwa is an Indian sweet dish made from semolina, carrots, or other ingredients.
This meal has a mild, nutty, and toasty flavor or grounds same or tahini. The sweetness from the sugar syrup also helps balance things out.
This dessert is one of the most widely eaten throughout India. The variety in which it can be prepared—such as suji ka halwa (made with wheat flour), moong dal halwa (mung beans), and gajar ka halwa (carrots)—is immense.
9. Idli Sambhar
Idli Sambar is perfect for anyone who wants to get in touch with their Indian roots.
It’s also great for people trying to eat healthier but still want something delicious when they wake up in the morning!
Idli Sambar is a hearty and satisfying South Indian breakfast of soft fluffy idlis served with spiced, savory, and lightly tangy sambar.
10. Jalebi
Jalebi is a crisp, juicy, spiral-shaped sweet made with flour, gram flower, and sugar syrup.
It is a famous dessert in India that can be eaten plain or with any fruit or flavoring you want. It’s also good with ice cream, chutney, and nuts.
11. Kachori
Kachori is a spicy deep-fried snack.
The best way to describe Kachori is that it tastes like Indian-style pizza. It’s very flavorful, with a bit of sweetness from turmeric and other spices.
It is a sweet dish, traditionally cooked in Gujarat. It usually consists of flour and dough filled with yellow moong dal (lentils), black pepper, red chili powder, and ginger paste.
In Delhi, it’s often served as chaat —an Indian snack made from rice or lentil batter dressed with diced fruit.
You can use Kachori for everything from breakfast to dinner to dessert!
12. Lachha Tokri
Lachha Tokri is a very popular sweet in Lucknow. The name means “many flavors,” and it lives up to its billing with crunchy goodness inside.
This meal is layered with tangy chatpati chaat, topped with flavorful and aromatic chutneys, nylon sev, and yogurt.
The shape is like a nest or basket filled with delicious allo tokri and flavor.
13. Mushroom Matar
Mushroom Matar is a spicy Indian curry dish that’s made with mushrooms. It is delicious with freshly ground condiments.
The sauce for this dish is made from ground cumin, coriander seeds, green chilies, turmeric powder, red chili powder, and garam masala blend. The mushrooms are sautéed in butter or oil before being added to the sauce.
14. Navratan Korma
Navratan Korma is a traditional dish from India. It consists of lentils, cauliflower, peas, chunks of potatoes, and lots of dry fruits cooked in a mild curry-like sauce.
It’s not too spicy, but it has enough sweetness to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.
You can serve it with naan, tandoori roti, paratha, chapati, or rumali roti. It also pairs gracefully well with jeera rice or biryani rice.
15. Obbattu
Obbattu is a Maharashtrian and southern Indian dish. It has its roots in Maharashtra, but it can be found all over South India—especially on auspicious occasions!
Obbattu is made from sweetened dough, which involves mixing jaggery (brown sugar), lentils, and coconut, with flour, then kneading to create a pliant mixture that’s easy to roll into balls.
These little balls are cooked on banana leaves in ghee until they form a golden crust around their entire surface.
16. Paneer Do Pyaza
Paneer do pyaza is another of my favorite Indian food names A to Z. At least I’ve eaten this one way too many times to count.
This recipe is a restaurant-style curry with paneer cheese, which has an aromatic gravy with hints of sweet and sour flavors.
It has plenty of onions in a beautiful medley of spices, herbs, and tomatoes. The sauce is rich, creamy—but not too heavy—and delicious with soft succulent paneer cheese.
17. Quinoa Pulao
Quinoa Pulao is a flavorful, rice pilaf Indian-inspired dish made with quinoa and fresh vegetables in an Instant pot pressure cooker.
It is nutritiously mixed with other spices and herbs.
You can serve quinoa pulao with any number of things: meat, chicken, fish, or even vegetables like tomatoes or spinach.
But this dish is best suited to milder flavors, so it’s excellent as an appetizer or side dish, but it could also be used as a base for other dishes like curries or stews.
18. Rajma
Rājmā has to represent the letter R in the Indian food names A to Z.
It is a spicy dish of red kidney beans, whole Indian herbs, and spices. It originated in the Indian subcontinent and can be served with rice or bread.
The best combo for this luxurious meal is rice, roti, bread, or paratha.
19. Samosa
A samosa is a fried or baked pastry that contains spicy potato filling. The dough used to make it is folded into a triangle or cone shape before cooking.
The most common way to eat Samosa is by stuffing it with a mixture of potatoes and spices like cumin, coriander seeds, black pepper powder, and green chili peppers. You can eat it with your hands or use any kind of utensils you have in your kitchen.
To make it tastier, you can serve samosa with chutney, like mint, tomato, or mango chutney.
20. Tandoori Chicken
When we talk about exotic and crazy experiences, good tandoori chicken is one of the first things that comes to mind.
This Indian dish is an authentic preparation of chicken that calls for grilling or roasting and lengthy marination—in yogurt, lime juice, and other spices.
The lip-smacking taste of this appetizer can bring even to most hard-core non-vegetarian to his kneels.
21. Upma
Upma is a South Indian breakfast dish made with semolina flour (called Rava or suji), lentils, vegetables, and spices—it’s both flavorful and tasty.
Sugar can be used to add a touch of sweetness and flavor to this food.
It’s a healthy and satisfying dish that will get your water buds all watery in no time.
If you get hungry very often in a day, try having upma for breakfast—it’ll fill you up quickly while also being good for your health!
22. Vada Pav
Vada pav is a vegetarian dish native to the Indian state of Maharashtra.
These vegetarian fast-food items are made of a deep-fried potato fritter sandwiched between the soft and fluffy Indian bread bun (pav).
Also, Vada pav is served with three condiments: a tangy tamarind chutney, a spicy garlic-and-chili powder blend, and a coriander chutney.
23. Warqi Samosa
During Ramzan, Muslims in India prepare warqi samosa as a traditional dish. But most Indian make them on special occasions too.
Warqi samosas are small fried patties usually made of potatoes and peas but can also include other vegetables or meats.
The samosas are typically served with chutney and a spicy tomato sauce. They are generally eaten as an appetizer, with an accompaniment of rice or bread.
24. Xacuti Chicken
Xacuti Chicken is made from chicken breast, which is marinated in a special sauce for about an hour before being baked.
The result? A tender, juicy piece of chicken with a delicious, slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with rice or just by itself!
This curry is flavored with a unique blend of spices and coconut, creating a delightful flavor. The ground spices and the shredded coconut give this dish a fantastic texture that you will love!
Serve Chicken Xacuti over steamed rice or Ladi pav for your next weekend brunch treat!
25. Yellow Moong Dal
Yellow moong da is a yellow variety of the Indian moong bean, known for its creamy texture and sweet flavor.
It’s also commonly served as a dessert with milk or cream, and in traditional Indian cuisine, it can be used to make moong da halwa, a pudding made with thickened milk.
You can serve this delicious treat at any time of day, but if you’re looking to kick up your brunch game, we recommend putting it on top of some vanilla ice cream or custard!
26. Zarda
And lastly, we have zarda closing Indian food names A to Z list.
Zarda is a traditional sweet dish made with saffron, milk, and sugar popular in the Indian subcontinent.
It can be flavored with cardamom pods or other spices like cinnamon.
Mind you, the taste of Zarda can vary between regions, but it generally has a mild flavor that complements other foods well.
Conclusion
Here’s the bottom line. Indians are extremely proud of their rich heritage and great culture.
That’s why this list is here. It’s a small contribution to help you in your next dinner party with your Indian friends.
This list gives a basic overview of the variety of Indian foods, but it doesn’t even scratch the surface of all the different recipes.
The cuisine is constantly evolving, we’ll do our utmost to keep you posted.
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