There are many flavorful side dishes to choose from when serving curry.
While rice is a go-to dish for many families when serving a curry dinner, an exploration into Indian cuisine provides myriad options. Many of these dishes are simple to make and use ingredients found in the common pantry. Better yet, recipes are available on common food websites like foodnetwork.com and epicurious.com.
Raita
Raita is an excellent side dish to serve alongside curry. To name a familiar equivalent, raita is similar to coleslaw or Greek tzatziki. Typical recipes include a combination of yogurt, citrus, vegetables, Indian spices, and herbs like mint or cilantro. Raita is easy to make and provides a cooling effect when consumed with the spicy curry.
Chana Masala
Chana masala is another common Indian/Pakistani dish. While it lacks the cooling effect of raita, chana masala pairs well with curry due to its similar flavor profile. The main ingredient is chickpeas, but other ingredients vary widely depending on the recipe. Chana masala may include tomato, garlic, onion, chili pepper and a variety of Indian spices.
Saag Aloo
Saag aloo, a spinach and potato dish, is frequently served with curry. Like many other Indian recipes, garlic and chili pepper are featured flavors of saag aloo. But while raita and chana masala are traditional Indian dishes, saag aloo is more commonly served in Indian restaurants in the United States and United Kingdom. Aloo gobi, a similar dish, combines potatoes and cauliflower.
Palak Paneer
Palak paneer, a cheese and spinach dish, can be difficult to recreate, but there are some excellent recipes online using substitutions. Paneer is a cow's milk cheese found in southern Asia. Unless your neighborhood has an Indian specialty market, you will need to make your own paneer or use a substitute. Queso fresco is common one, but some recipes call for ricotta, sour cream or cottage cheese.
Tags: chili pepper, cooling effect, Indian spices, raita chana, raita chana masala