Indian food is known for its rich taste, flavour and aroma. Spices and oils are the secrets to preparing delicious Indian delicacies and for this reason, they are often avoided by people who dislike hot and spicy food. People fear that most of the menu will be too spicy for them at an Indian restaurant and they’ll be left with very little choice but, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
You will find something for everyone on an Indian menu and we can guarantee that the majority of sides, such as samosas, onion bhajis and naan bread, can be enjoyed by everyone. Of course, people usually like to order a main dish too and this is when they start to panic. We have put together a list of incredible mild yet flavourful dishes that you can rely on whether you order food online or book a table at an Indian restaurant.
Korma
Korma is probably known best for being a mild Indian dish and it is usually the dish that people turn to when they don’t like spice. Although it is mild, a Korma is never bland. This curry dish is usually made with chicken or lamb which is cooked in coconut milk, cream or yoghurt sauce with some mild spices. It is cooked using the low-and-slow method, to ensure that the sauce doesn’t curdle, providing you with a tender, mild stew-type of curry.
Butter Chicken
Another great option if you want to avoid spicy heat in your meal is butter chicken. This is a classic Indian truck stop dish and it really is as straightforward as it sounds. For this dish, chicken is cooked in a tomato and buttery sauce that includes lots of cream and yoghurt. No matter which Indian restaurant you choose when ordering this dish you know that you will be avoiding spice.
Tandoori Chicken
A chicken tikka masala is the all-time most popular dish on the Indian restaurant menu and is somewhere in the middle of the spice scale. However, did you know that you can often order just the meat without the sauce? This is called tandoori chicken. Essentially this dish is chicken that has been marinated in a lightly spiced yoghurt sauce, then cooked in the tandoor (a clay oven) until juicy and smoky. It isn’t served with a sauce so you can add a yoghurt based dip if you would like and you won’t need to worry about any unexpected spice.
Biryani
This is a classic rice dish that is known for its mild flavour. On the surface, biryani can look like just a pot of steamed rice, as there’s no actual sauce involved however it is delicious. This dish is traditionally made by cooking the meat and vegetables in a covered pot with the rice so that the rice becomes flavoured with the juices from the meat. This is a complete dish so you don’t need to worry about ordering any sides if you want to keep things simple, you will definitely be left feeling full.
Malai Kofta
Most people are unfamiliar with this dish but you really should try it. Malai, which means creamy in Hindi, kofta is not only mild for those who don’t like spice but it is also the perfect vegetarian alternative to meatballs. It has a rich creamy texture due to the ingredients it is made with such as cashews and fresh cream. You can always rely on this dish to work perfectly with a range of sides and once you have tried it we are sure it will become your go-to dish.
Ordering these dishes
Now that you know there are lots of different main dishes you can order at an Indian restaurant there is no reason for you to avoid this cuisine. If you would like to try it for the first time in the comfort of your own home to avoid any awkwardness if you dislike the food then order a takeaway. This way you can try a few new things and get a feel for the Indian food that you do enjoy.
You can order from a range of different nearby restaurants quickly and easily on ChefOnline. All of the Indian restaurants on ChefOnline are known for their food quality and if you’re unsure which restaurant to choose from you can see what other people have had to say about the food they received on the website also. So, it is the perfect place to order your very first Indian takeaway.