What is a tandoor, and why it changes how the food tastes
A tandoor is a deep, bell-shaped clay oven fired by charcoal at the base, running well above 400C. Food cooks […]
What is a thali? The Indian platter meal explained
A thali is a complete Indian meal served on one platter, made up of several small portions rather than one
What is biryani, and how it differs from pulao and fried rice
Biryani is a layered rice dish where parboiled basmati and separately cooked marinated meat are stacked in a pot, sealed,
What is butter chicken? A straight explanation
Butter chicken, or murgh makhani, is a north Indian dish of chicken marinated in yoghurt and spices, cooked in a
What is ghee, and where dairy hides in Indian food
Ghee is butter that’s been simmered until the water evaporates and the milk solids separate out and brown, then strained.
What is masala? The word explained, and what it isn’t
Masala means a mixture of spices. That’s the whole translation. It isn’t a dish, a sauce or a particular flavour,
What to order at an Indian restaurant: a first-timer’s guide
Order fewer curries than people and share everything. For two, get two curries, one rice and one bread. For four,
Why your homemade butter chicken doesn’t taste like the restaurant’s
Homemade butter chicken tastes different for five reasons: a tandoor runs hotter than any home oven, restaurant chicken is marinated