Indian dishes are a fabulous choice for a perfect takeaway meal. However, ordering the best items from an Indian takeaway near you to ensure a well-rounded lunch or dinner can be tricky, too.
This is where our list of the top five Indian dishes comes in, be it for a happy family dinner, entertaining some guests at home, or a meet-and-greet party at home or the office.
So, let’s consider what a complete takeaway meal is and which dishes can make it perfect. If you read on to the end, we suggest some delicious beverages to complement your meal.
What Makes a Complete Takeaway Meal
Simply, there is no single recipe or item list for a complete takeaway meal. Each group has its own preferences of taste, nutrition, or cuisine.
For a standard guideline, a complete takeaway meal is made out of the following elements:
- Varied Textures and Flavours: A takeaway meal isn’t complete nor appetising without a variety of textures and flavours. Ex: Crispy Samosas as appetisers followed by a savoury Butter Chicken as the main to top it off with desserts like gulab jamun.
- Nutritional Balance: An Indian takeaway meal can’t be complete without a beautiful balance of nutrition, such as protein, minerals, carbohydrates, etc. Ex: Dal Makhni consists of vegetable-based nutrition vitals to go with protein-based dishes like Chicken Curry.
- Proper Portion Size: When it comes to enjoying meals as a group, the appropriate portion size is optimum, which is what Indian dishes generously consist of. Ex: Ordering a mix of appetisers or starters, mains, sides, and desserts can make a perfect Indian takeaway meal.
- Complimentary Items: When a range of items are included with the mains and sides, your takeaway meal turns out to be more than you expect. Chutneys, raitas, and pickles are complimentary items that make your savoury items more scrumptious.
Here’s a List of Top 5 Indian Dishes to Complete Your Takeaway Meal
A complete takeaway meal consists of four essential areas:
- Appetiser/Starter
- Mains
- Sides
- Desserts
Many restaurants offer customised takeout menus comprising these areas, so customers can easily choose and order according to their preferences. Such thoughtful menu designs may often win restaurant awards for the owners.
Nonetheless, here’s our list of the top five Indian dishes according to each aspect of the meal:
Samosas: Crispy Appetiser
A complete meal starts with the right appetiser. And when it comes to eating together, samosas are one of the best snacks to start with. The crispy and yummy samosas (chicken, beef, or veg fillings) are a light appetiser you can share with fellow diners.
The mix of meat fillings with spiced potatoes and peas in samosas can make your starter delectable. Dip them into mint or tamarind chutney before every bite, and you’ll discover a spicy, sweet or tangy flavour exploding in your mouth.
Chicken Tikka Masala: The Main Curry
Evolved to be a national dish in Britain, Chicken Tikka Masala easily comes to the forefront of any foody’s mind when ordering food online. Among a variety of takeaway dishes, this South Asian culinary delicacy can steal the show any day. And it’s an ideal main curry for a complete takeaway meal.
Chicken Tikka Masala is often enjoyed with rice or naan as a main curry. Its roasted chicken marinated in yoghurt tastes heavenly with a special tomato sauce blend. It would be a crime not to order it in your next takeaway meal.
Garlic Naan: A Main Bread
Although garlic nan can be coupled with Paneer Butter Masala, malai kofta, etc., Chicken Tikka Masala is probably the best choice. Dipping the flavourful, soft, and stretchy Garlic Nan into the creamy Chicken Tikka Masala curry and placing it in your mouth can taste out of this world.
Garlic Naan and Chicken Tikka Masala, combined with delicious chutney or raita, can create a unique flavour in your taste buds.
Dal Makhni: A Healthy Veg Side
As we discussed, balancing nutrition in a complete takeaway meal may require a healthy vegetarian side dish. When you think of vegetarian sides, what comes to mind first? Chole Bhatura, Bhindi Masala, Paneer Tikka? But when it comes to nutritional sides, our best pick is Dal Makhni.
Dal Makhni is a crowd-popular side dish that fulfils a takeaway meal on any occasion. Cooked in butter and cream, this black lentil dish is one of a kind for its deep flavour and subtle spiciness. It is a perfect dish that promises taste, delicacy, and nutritional balance.
Gajar Ka Halwa: A Complementing Dessert
Have you ever wondered how a complete Indian takeaway meal is completed? Desserts— that’s right. Indian desserts are in themselves distinct culinary spectacles. And without adding one of them to your meal, the meal may remain meaningless.
For an Indian dessert to complete your takeaway meal, we’ve picked the famous Gajar Ka Halwa, a mouthwatering, healthy sweet dish of Middle Eastern origin. This dish is made of gajar (carrots), full-fat milk, sugar, spices, etc. It adds depth to your Indian meal and helps you digest the savoury foods well.
Try Gajar ka Halwa from the takeaways near you. Make sure to be specific about the sugar level in your halwa. If you’re allergic to milk, you may order it without milk.
Care to Enjoy a Complimentary Beverage?
As we’ve compiled the top five Indian dishes for a complete takeaway meal, let’s add a list of perfect complimentary drinks or beverages. You may choose to order any of the following beverages:
- Mango Lassi: This yoghurt-based drink can also be used as a light dessert alternative. It can be cool and refreshing after a satisfying Indian meal.
- Salted Lassi: Salted lassi is tangy and a bit spicy; however, this yoghurt-based drink can soothe your stomach after enjoying a rich, spicy Indian meal.
- Nimbu Pani: A light and zesty Nimbu Pani can balance out the richness of the savoury dishes while ingesting freshness in your palate.
- Coconut Water: Another light choice for a post-heavy-meal drink, Coconut Water is a hydrating, sweet, and non-spicy natural beverage.
- Masala Chai: Masala Chai is a popular beverage after a palatable Indian meal, especially among elders. It consists of a blend of spices, sugar, and sometimes even milk, and it’s a wonderful counterbalance for a rich, savoury meal.
Final Thoughts
So, that’s it from our top five Indian dishes for a complete takeaway meal. It’s the best we came up with based on the popular choices in the UK. However, there’s no harm in alternating any of the items in the starters, mains, sides, desserts, or beverages as per your preferences.
While ordering from takeaways near you, make sure to maintain proper nutritional balance in your meal. Specify your preferences for spice levels, sugar levels, and allergens so you can enjoy a hearty and satisfying Indian meal with your loved ones.
