Most Popular Indian Dishes in the UK

It’s been more than 200 years since an Indian migrant opened the first curry shop in London. Since then, Brits have developed an appetite for Indian food to say the least. And now in 2020, Indian food is among the most popular cuisines in the UK.

But, the truth is you just can’t beat good Indian food.

It doesn’t matter if you’re relaxing at the weekend or chilling at home after a hard day at work, a delicious curry will always put a smile on your face. The exotic mix of different herbs and spices will tickle your taste buds, while the amazing range of dishes always makes you want to experiment and try new things. 

Most of the Indian dishes do not necessarily follow its original recipes in England. Even though it represents the culture of India, most of them have a little local touch to favour the local Brits. They are free to create Indian dishes in a way that suits their palettes in the best way possible. Here are some of the most popular dishes in England, you know just in case if you are looking for some tips on what to order tonight:

Chicken Tikka Masala

No doubt it’s England’s most popular Indian dish. Chicken tikka masala bowl of roasted chunks of chicken in a spicy sauce. The sauce which is used in the curry is usually creamy, but the recipe varies a lot based on which part of England you are. So you never know what you’ll get!

For decades, the Tikka Masala has been a regular staple dish of the British diet. However, the latest research brings it in at number 2 of England’s favourite curries. While there has always been constant discussion surrounding where this dish actually originated from, there’s certainly no doubt just how delicious a great Tikka Masala can be.

The use of spices also differ between restaurants, but a typical Chicken Tikka Masala won’t be much spicy and will be full of flavours. This tomato-based curry contains chilli, garlic and onion, and it always serves as the perfect accompaniment for a piece of naan bread!

Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken – No worries, take a moment, clear your drool and we’ll be back.

Butter chicken has a very interesting story of origin. A restaurant called “Moti Mahal restaurant” in old Delhi invented this dish in 1947 by an accident when they mixed leftover chicken in a tomato gravy and cream. Ah well, whoever came up with, we are definitely grateful to them and appreciate them for bringing it to our lives.

More formally known as Murgh Makhani, butter chicken also includes Garam Masala, ginger, garlic paste, lemon, pepper, coriander, cumin, turmeric, and chilli. The chicken is usually cooked in a tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven used for cooking in Southern, Central and Western Asia which makes it even tastier. 

Biryani

Indian food is not just about curries. Biryani is a stir-fried mixture of pilau rice and lamb, although a chicken version is also quite popular among Brits. The dish is perfect for those that want something in the middle of the heat spectrum & royal Biryani dish never disappoints you.

Unlike many other curry dishes, a Biryani is a mix of either vegetables or meat with rice rather than just a curry dish alone. The Biryani is considered medium on the hot scale and has more of tomato & spices based taste rather than creamy texture. 

Biryani is so versatile that the meat in a Biryani can be replaced with either seafood or even a simply grilled vegetable. For a sweeter twist, chefs from different restaurants often add fruits such as apples and pineapples or cashews.

Korma

Korma, commonly served with chicken and rice, is a traditional dish originating from Northern India and Pakistan. But it involves little to no spice, making it one of the mildest Indian curry. Isn’t that cool already?

The flavour gives it a sweet and creamy taste rather than rich and spicy with the ingredients including yoghurt, coconut milk and nuts, such as almonds or cashews. Only mild curry powder is used to coat the chicken initially, then spices such as ginger, cardamom, cinnamon and cumin are added for the mild flavours.

Although the Korma is considered something of a “bland” dish, it still has a great deal of flavour. In the last few years, people are really getting crazy about Korma, with diners eager to try some Indian flavours with little less of the spice.

This creamy curry has always been a big hit in the UK, and diners just can’t get enough of the thick sauce and unmistakable flavour. If you’re dipping your toe into the world of Indian cuisine for the first time, then a chicken Korma is “The” dish to start with.

Phall

And we kept the spiciest one in the end. Phall is the last curry, but most definitely not least one. One of the hottest Indian curry dishes you can get your hands on. And guess where it originated? The answer is the United Kingdom itself. Birmingham-based British Bangladeshi restaurants accidentally invented this dish! The main base of a Phall is always dried chillies, which is done by an intense drying process known for maximising the heat of any chilli.

Phall often uses chicken or lamb for meat, and then the meat is marinated in the dried chillies to achieve that crazy spicy taste. The meat is also layered with ginger and fennel seeds, before being draped in a tomato-based sauce made with peppers, such as the Scotch Bonnet. Damn, That sounds spicy, isn’t it? 

Regardless of how comfortable you feel with trying something a little out of the ordinary, familiarizing yourself with the most popular curry dishes, along with their level of spice, Indian food always helps you choose a dish that will tantalise your tastebuds.

Have we got you craving a curry?