11 Indian Takes on Classic Comfort Foods

 

Change up your dinner routine by adding Indian spices like garam masala and ajowan to classic comfort foods. Your macaroni and cheese, meatballs and pizza will never be the same.

 

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Macaroni and Cheese, Indian Style

Turmeric makes this macaroni and cheese bright orange without any artificial dyes. Tomatoes add bright flavor that contrasts against slightly spicy chili powder, garam masala and other warm spices.

Get the Recipe: Macaroni and Cheese, Indian-Style

Indian Shepherd's Pie

Traditional shepherd's pie gets an Indian twist from ajowan — a slightly bitter, pungent, thyme-like herb — and brown lentils to beef up the texture.

Get the Recipe: Indian Shepherd's Pie

Indian Fudge

This easy condensed-milk fudge — filled with crunchy cashews and pistachios — has a warm, slightly spicy undertone from ground cardamom.

Get the Recipe: Indian Fudge

Indian-Style Gnocchi

Consider gnocchi a beginners' course in pasta making. In 30 minutes, you can make bite-sized potato dumplings and assemble a creamy mushroom sauce.

Get the Recipe: Indian-Style Gnocchi

Indian Pizza

The thyme-like spice ajowan is used in this simple pizza dough, complementing the garam masala-spiced spinach, cherry tomatoes and lots of cheese on top.

Get the Recipe: Indian Pizza

Garam Masala Ribs with Kachumbar Salad and Lychee Puree

Ribs may sound like a daunting dinner, but the most-difficult part of this recipe is waiting four hours for them to cook. Assembling the tomato-and-cucumber side salad and blitzing the lychee puree couldn't be easier.

Get the Recipe: Garam Masala Ribs with Kachumbar Salad and Lychee Puree

Curried Meatballs

Curried meatballs are perfect for when you're worried about getting dinner on the table quickly. Tamarind pulp, coriander and fennel pack big punches of flavor in the meatballs before they're simmered in a garam masala-wine-tomato sauce.

Get the Recipe: Curried Meatballs

Indian Potato Salad

Mustard seeds and turmeric give potato salad a zip of spicy flavor and a gorgeous color, while sour cream lends creaminess. 

Get the Recipe: Indian Potato Salad

Stuffed Peppers

Eat more vegetables by using peppers as bowls. The secret ingredient in these unassuming peppers stuffed with rice, potato and meat is slightly sweet, slightly tart pomegranate powder.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Peppers

Punjabi Quesadillas

The filling for these quesadillas — made with garlic, ginger and Indian-spiced chicken — is so tender and creamy that you may want to eat it with a spoon. Trust us, it's even better when sandwiched between tortillas, with melted cheese.

Get the Recipe: Punjabi Quesadillas

Curried Calamari with Cilantro and Mint Chutney

Fried calamari typically doesn't have a lot of flavor, but this curry-battered seafood dipped in fresh cilantro and mint chutney beats the odds.

Get the Recipe: Curried Calamari with Cilantro and Mint Chutney

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