Only a true blue non-veg lover understands the dilemma of choosing between their favourite meat dishes. Whether at home or a restaurant, for a non-vegetarian good meal always equate to a meaty affair. Especially when traditional Indian recipes use the most aromatic spices that result in lip-smacking meals. From the versatile North Indian egg curry to South India’s succulent Chicken Chettinad, our list of non-vegetarian dinner recipes will leave you licking your plates clean.
Hosting an intimate dinner for friends, or celebrating a small milestone with the family, either way, these delicious non-vegetarian dinner ideas are simply soul-satiating:
1. Chicken Chettinad
A traditional dish originating from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, Chef Ajay Chopra’s recipe is something you can easily whip up any day of the week. A hearty Chettinad curry is flavoured with a paste of freshly ground spices and herbs made from dry roasting garam masala and grinding it into a fine powder. The use of coconut milk and fresh curry leaves adds a zing to the non-veg dish that takes seconds to devour once ready. Recipe here.
2. Butter chicken
Every meat lover's go-to comfort non-vegetarian food is butter chicken. A mildly spiced thick onion-tomato-based curry cooked with cashews and cream, butter chicken is an iconic dish in North India. The silken smooth makhani curry glazing the smoked and succulent chicken tandoori pieces is a melange of sweet, spicy, and tangy. Tantalising your taste buds, butter chicken is best enjoyed with butter naan- a soft fluffy flatbread slathered with more butter. Recipe here.
3. Champaran mutton
A delicious non-veg dish Champaran mutton, also known as handi or batlohi meat, has its roots in Bihar. Made traditionally in an earthen pot, Champaran mutton has a sweet onion-based curry, flavoured with whole and powdered spices. The clay pot adds a distinct flavour and smell to the curry while pieces of mutton are slow cooked on a low flame till tender. The pot is sealed with dough on all sides to give ‘dum’, a process that ensures all the ingredients release their flavour, and the mutton is cooked to perfection. Recipe here.
4. Anda or egg curry
The humble egg curry is every non-vegetarian’s number one choice when there’s no chicken or mutton. While the egg is a super versatile ingredient, we Indians love our food for its flavourful spices and delectable curries. This egg curry by Chef Ajay Chopra is convenient to make and can be made with personal twists. Spice it up, fry the eggs, or don’t, anda curry is a crowd-pleaser. Recipe here.
5. Murgh khushk pardah
Traditional Awadhi chicken style cooking, Murgh Khushk Pardah, is a laborious dish with mouth-watering results. A delicious appetiser dish where chicken pieces are covered and cooked with layers of dough to form an even pardah or curtain. Essentially using a tandoor the meat along with tomatoes, bell peppers, and red wine is charred to perfection. Recipe here.
6. Ganth gobi ke saath mutton
A heritage method of cooking meat with hearty vegetables, the ganth gobi mutton by Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi is a beautiful take on traditional Mughlai cuisine. Simmered on low heat with whole dry spice, mutton chunks, onions, tomatoes, and kohlrabi or ganth gobi, this tangy stew is a blend of tempting flavours. Savour this delicacy with soft fluffy chapatis and steaming hot rice. Recipe here.
7. Kerala chicken stew
A hearty non-veg dinner dish, the Kerala chicken stew is a quick comfort food recipe made using chicken, vegetables, spices, and coconut milk. Mildly spiced Kerala chicken stew, traditionally known as Nadan Kohzi Ishtu, takes a full 30 minutes to cook from preparation to finish. The stew is best served with papadum, appam, and rice. Recipe here.
When it comes to making lip-smacking non-veg food, incorporate freshly ground spices and cook the meat on a low flame. This allows the pieces to retain their succulent texture making each mouthful a burst of aromatic flavour.
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