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15 Easy Indian Dinners

You love Indian food, but it somehow seems…hard to make. Not these recipes! They’re simple, fun, and deliver the flavors you crave

Margo True
1 /15 Annabelle Breakey

Shrimp and Spicy Mango Sauté

A super-simple pan-fried dish that comes together in 20 minutes, this is one of our go-to weeknight dishes. All you need is shrimp and a jar of your favorite mango pickle.

Recipe: Shrimp and Spicy Mango Sauté

2 /15 Annabelle Breakey

Indian-Spiced Lamb Kebabs

The smells coming off the grill are heavenly when you cook these delectable meat-and-vegetable skewers. If you’re not a lamb fan, use beef instead.

Recipe: Indian-Spiced Lamb Kebabs

3 /15 Iain Bagwell

Indian-Spiced Sockeye and Grilled Potato Salad

This delightful, unusual twist on fish and chips takes some time to marinate, but it’s time well spent for a fine dinner. You can do most of it the day before.

Recipe: Indian-Spiced Sockeye and Grilled Potato Salad

4 /15 Iain Bagwell

Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Coconut Chutney

Fresh, exciting cilantro-coconut chutney is often used for cooking mild white fish, but it’s great with chicken too, we’ve discovered.

Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Coconut Chutney

5 /15 Thomas J. Story

Indian Spice-Stuffed Okra

Indians are geniuses at cooking okra, and this crunchy, not-slimy dish is an excellent example. Have it as a vegetarian main course with rice, or as a side for grilled or roasted meat.

Recipe: Indian Spice-Stuffed Okra

6 /15 Iain Bagwell

Carrot and Dal Salad

Not only is this salad beautiful and tasty, it’s good hot or cold, making it very versatile. Oh, and did we mention how easy it is? And if you can’t find rainbow carrots, use regular orange carrots. It’ll taste just as good.

Recipe: Carrot and Dal Salad

7 /15 Annabelle Breakey

North Indian-Style Spinach Chicken

In just three steps, you can make this supremely comforting meal-in-a-bowl—and fill your whole house with the fragrant smell of curry.

Recipe: North Indian-Style Spinach Chicken

8 /15 Iain Bagwell

Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach

What do you cook when you’re a meat-eater trying to eat vegan? Something hearty, nourishing, and full of exciting flavors and textures. Like this recipe.

Recipe: Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach

9 /15 Thomas J. Story

Tamarind Chickpea Curry

Recipe: Tamarind Chickpea Curry

So simple, so good. Tangy, spicy, and sweet, this recipe got raves here at Sunset and has made its way into the repertoire of several staffers.

10 /15 Jennifer Martiné

Coconut Shrimp Curry

A Sunset reader of Indian heritage contributed this comforting, homey recipe. It only takes 20 minutes to make!

Recipe: Coconut Shrimp Curry

11 /15 Iain Bagwell

Curried Lentils with Paneer

The mild Indian cheese called paneer makes for a wonderful vegetarian curry. You can find it at well-stocked markets, or use tofu—or even cubed cooked chicken, if you’re an omnivore.

Recipe: Curried Lentils with Paneer

12 /15 Peden & Munk

Cashew, Coconut, and Squash Curry

Rich and substantial, this curry was developed for the fall and winter months—but it’s so good that we eat it throughout the year.

Recipe: Cashew, Coconut, and Squash Curry

13 /15 Annabelle Breakey

Broccolini and Chickpea Dal

Indian spices lend themselves to some delightful cross-cultural mashups, and this is a very tasty example. Sweet, mild broccolini and starchy chickpeas come together in a mild, comforting curry that works as a side dish or a main.

Recipe: Broccolini and Chickpea Dal

14 /15 Annabelle Breakey

Tandoori Naan Chicken Sandwiches

Tandoori chicken often comes with hot, steamy naan flatbread on the side. They’re perfect together, so it was only a matter of time before this brilliant (and easy) idea was born.

Recipe: Tandoori Naan Chicken Sandwiches

15 /15 Iain Bagwell

Pork Vindaloo

We developed our version of this fiery, tangy dish to pair with amber ale. But honestly, it tastes great with any light- to medium-bodied brew.

Recipe: Pork Vindaloo