Four Top Indian Starter Dish

Many of us have our favourite Indian restaurants, where we are assured we will always find a welcoming atmosphere and mouth-watering food. Whether you are dining with a big group, your nearest and dearest or treating yourself to a slap-up solo supper, it’s tempting to always go for the same tried and tested menu options. 

Take starters, for example. If you know you like an onion bhaji, why risk ordering something unfamiliar that you might not like? The answer is that a little experimentation can reveal a host of flavours and textures that will make your dining experience much more exciting.

The great thing about starters is that, to state the obvious, they are quite small. If you are worried about ordering a whole main dish of something new, a starter is a much easier way to broaden your experience of Indian food.

Of course, the starter you choose will be determined by what is available at the fine Indian restaurant you attend, but let’s look at some of the possible options. 

1.       Meduvada

These crispy lentil cakes are perfect teamed with sambar, a lightly spiced sour tomato soup, and a yoghurt and coriander dipping sauce. The cakes are made by soaking lentils then grinding them into a paste with onion, coriander, cumin and coconut. The mixture is shaped into a ball then given a little indent on top to give a distinctive doughnut shape. The balls are then deep fried until crisp.

2.       Paneer pakoras

Have you tried paneer? It’s an Indian cheese, but very different to other cheeses. It does not melt and has a firm texture, which means it can be used in all sorts of ways. To make paneer pakoras, cubes of the creamy, light cheese are marinated in ginger, chilli and yoghurt then dipped in a batter made from chickpea flour, cumin seeds and baking powder. The batter puffs up and turns a wonderful golden colour. Perfect served with a coriander and mint chutney.

3.       Samosa

These crispy pastry parcels are served in appealing triangle shapes, stuffed with all sorts of appetising fillings. A light pastry is made from flour, salt and lemon juice then kneaded until pliable. The dough is rolled out very thinly, then wrapped around delicious fillings: meat, peas, potato or anything else that takes the cook’s fancy. The little parcels are then deep fried until the surface bubbles and turns brown at the edges. They are a great way to start a memorable meal.

4.       Dahisevpuri

You will love these tiny crispy baskets packed with spicy lentils, creamy yoghurt and crunchy wheat noodles. The dish is served in panipuri, crispy balls of deep-fried dough which puff up, and can be opened and filled. The yoghurt and spicy lentils inside offer a wonderful contrast of textures, while a sprinkling of sev – the crispy whole wheat noodles found in Bombay mix – and fresh coriander leaves add additional interest and flavour.

Do you always go for the same starter dish? Why not try something more adventurous next time you visit a Kolkata’srestaurant?