Six Great Drinks For Dishes On The Taste Atlas Best Indian Food List
Indian cuisine is a vibrant mix of a lot of diverse ingredients and flavours that come together to produce some really exciting dishes. From sweet and spicy to umami and tangy, the sheer range of taste and textures that make up the cuisine of this subcontinent is absolutely marvellous. There are a number of dishes like the dal makhani, butter chicken and naan which have become famous the world over for their distinct taste and recipes that have been passed on through generations.
Taste Atlas has curated an extensive list of some of the best dishes that are part of Indian cuisine. And each of these numbers can be paired really well with lots of different alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks when you sit down for your meal.
We have curated a series of essays for you which recommend the best drink to have with all the items on this list.
Here is part five of this ten-part series highlighting the cocktails and mocktails you can pair with recipes like pulihora, barfi, kadai paneer and more!
Kulfi Falooda And Rose Sherbat
Kulfi falooda is a refreshing treat popular in northern India which combines the decadent, milky kulfi with delightfully thin and sweet falooda noodles. It is sweetness, luxury and decadence personified and is often garnished with crushed nuts, jelly, rose water and saffron. You can enhance the luxe qualities of this dish by pairing it with an aromatic rose sherbat that is sweet and cooling.
Chapati And Orange Juice
A staple flatbread cooked across many homes in Maharashtra and most other western Indian regions, the chapati made from wheat flour tastes best when it is served warm with a generous dollop of ghee spread over. It can be devoured with different powdered chutneys and would go well with a refreshing glass of orange juice that pairs a welcoming tang with the slightly starchy flatbread.
Pulao And Tomato Shorba
From the west Asian pilaf comes the local variant, pulao, which combines veggies, fruits and spices that are all cooked together in warm broth. The dish is best enjoyed with fresh salad and yoghurt and you can pair it with warm tomato shorba or soup. The shorba’s tanginess brings out the spicy and aromatic flavours in the pulao.
Pulihora And Tamarind Cooler
A popular southern Indian rice dish, pulihora is made from rice, turmeric, tamarind and curry leaves and generally has a very fresh and zesty quality. It can be paired well with a tamarind cooler made from the syrup of this sour fruit and carbonated soda. Pulihora accompanied by the tamarind mocktail is a perfectly light evening meal.
Sambar And Tender Coconut Water
Any southern Indian repast would be incomplete without the sambar made from tur dal, curry leaves, red chillies and the sambar masala, made using a secret recipe known only to grandmothers! The utterly aromatic warm drink coupled with rice, dosa or idli can go well with tender coconut water which highlights the sambar’s taste and energises the palate.
Dal Makhni And Beer
One of the most popular lentil variations, dal makhni is a delight for any gastronome and contains generous proportions of urad dal and red kidney beans cooked in lots of ghee and seasonings such as ginger garlic paste and chillies. Savour dal makhni and warm rice with a frothy craft beer whose bittersweet notes nicely counteract the dense flavour of the dal.
Aloo Gobi And Lillet Blanc
Made from potatoes and cauliflower, aloo gobi is a slightly spicy dish which is served best with warm rotis and a bit of pickle as a side. You can enjoy this delicious repast with the floral notes of lillet blanc by your side. The freshness of the aperitif will balance the slightly nutty flavour of the cauliflower.
Barfi And Beaujolais
Made from khoya or condensed milk solids, barfi is a popular Indian sweet treat. The dessert is often infused with various flavours like fruits, saffron, rose water and dry fruits for a truly decadent finish. Pair this luxurious treat with a fine beaujolais whose delicately tart and fruity notes match the sweetness and intensity of the classic dessert.
Kadai Paneer And Old Fashioned
This is perhaps the most favoured northern Indian dish, known for its spicy texture and slightly intense flavour. Douse the heat of the gravy with a classic old fashioned cocktail containing bitter citruses and the smoky notes of quality whisky.
