7 Favourite Foods with a Desi Twist

Traditional foods are always there to fall back on when you don’t know what to cook, but sometimes it’s good to experiment.

Trying a Desi twist on your favourite food is a great way to spice up your mealtimes.

If you don’t want to stray from your favourite foods, adding a Desi twist is the best way to try something new while still sticking to the classics.

Get these recipes bookmarked for a new and exciting twist on your mealtimes.

Butter Chicken Burritos

Everyone loves a burrito. They’re easy to eat and it’s fun for your whole family to assemble them together.

Burritos are a great way to put a Desi twist on your dinnertime. Instead of making the standard fillings you’d expect in a burrito, you should try filling it with a delicious and spicy curry for something more exciting.

For a fun and exciting way to eat your curry, try this butter chicken burrito recipe here. 

Spicy Indian Chicken Stir Fry

You’d normally associate a stir fry with Chinese food, but once in a while, you might want to try a different version.

For a spicier take on the traditional stir fry, making an Indian-inspired version can really be a treat for your taste buds. The perfect compromise if your family can’t choose between Chinese and Indian for dinner.

Give this spicy and healthy meal a try here. 

Masala Pasta

It’s a strange combination to consider: Indian flavours in an Italian style.

This pasta dish is perfect for kids. It can be whipped up in a hurry and it’s a good way to get fussier children to eat their vegetables and try more spices.

A lot of the time, curries can take quite a lot of time to cook and prepare. This pasta dish is a great alternative if you’re craving the spices of curries but don’t have the time to make one.

Try this desi twist on an Italian favourite here. 

Stovetop Chapati Pizza

If you’ve mastered the art of rolling the perfect roti, you’re probably going to want to put your skills to the test.

Making your own pizzas is a fun activity and you can get your friends and family involved. If you don’t want to make your own pizza dough, then using roti can be a great alternative and a way to put a desi twist on your meal.

This is a great meal idea if you’re cooking for a lot of different people. It’s easy to prepare and since pizzas are so customisable, you can make them to suit everyone.

Give this fun and simple fusion recipe a try here. 

Spiced Lamb Burgers with Herbed Yoghurt

This is a great example of Indian flavours in a Western style.

Everyone loves a burger. They’re one of the most popular fast foods around and they’re so easy to make at home.

Instead of the usual beef burger recipes, you can mix it up and give these lamb burgers a go. They’re richer and more unusual than a standard burger, so it’s a great way to bring a new twist on an old favourite.

Try this flavoursome favourite here. 

Empire Roast Chicken

This recipe is the quintessential British Asian fusion food.

“Ask any British person what their two favourite meals are and I reckon most people would say their mum’s roast chicken, and a curry.”

For a more exciting Sunday roast or just something to really wow at dinner, give this one a go. The recipe is for the chicken itself and all the trimmings, so you can put a desi twist on every part of your roast.

Try this total show stopper here. 

Tandoori Chilli

Chilli is a dinnertime classic. It’s easy enough to make and you can let it simmer for hours to get all that flavour. With just a few different spices, it’s so simple to put a desi twist on this old favourite.

Ingredients

• 500g beef mince.
• 2 onions, finely chopped.
• 1 can chopped tomatoes.
• 2 tbsp. Tomato puree.
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed.
• 1 tsp. Chilli powder.
• 1 tsp. Turmeric.
• 1 tsp. Tandoori powder.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Method

1. Fry the onions in a pan for 2 minutes.
2. Add the mince and cook until browned.
3. Next, add the spices, chopped tomatoes and tomato puree.
4. Then add just enough water to cover the mince.
5. Simmer on a low heat for 30-40 minutes and reduce.
6. Serve with rice and enjoy.

Everyone has their favourite foods and few people want to deviate from them. If you’re looking to experiment with your old favourites but you don’t want to branch out too far, adding a desi twist to a classic is a great way to start.

Give one of these recipes a go to get you going on changing up your mealtimes. There’s something for everyone here, and you’re sure to want to try new things after a few of these.