Indian food has been a cutting edge in British culinary from the Victorian rule. However, during the rule of the British Government in India Anglo- Indian cuisine was born, infusing Indian dishes with British supremacy.
Today, in the U.K, we have approximately 12,000 Indian restaurants. In England, 200 years ago, the first Indian curry shop opened. This restaurant has changed the view of the British people to try something unique apart from their bland food. Slowly, Indian food has found a way to develop an appetite for the British people. Today they are more Indian restaurants than fast-food joints in England. The popularity of Chicken-Tikka Masala has reached the spot as a National dish of the U.K, and it holds a place equal to fish and chips.
Indian food is comparatively spicier than British food, which is very bland. In England, Indian food reflects the Indian culture. It allows the dinners to choose the base ingredients like chicken, prawns, or other meat combined with several curry recipes. The people are free to create their Indian dishes according to their taste buds. Some may love spicy food, then opt for the original dish, and if one likes less spicy, they can make changes to the curry by adding less chili powder to suit their palettes. Less spice or more spice doesn’t change the taste of the traditional Indian recipe. If you visit an Indian restaurant or Indian Bar or Pub, these are the best dishes to order in England.
- Chicken Tikka Masala: The most popular Indian dish in England has roasted chicken chunks in a spicy curry. The curry is very creamy, but each restaurant has its way to prepare the dish. Some of the ingredients or cooking methods may vary, but the taste is mostly the same everywhere. This dish is often enjoyed with Indian Bread Butter Naan or with Rice.
- Butter Chicken: This dish is popular and is also known as Murgh Makhani. The chicken is marinated overnight in a spice mixture and yogurt. The spice mixture consists of ginger garlic paste, garam masala, lemon, pepper, cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, and turmeric powder. In Butter chicken, the main taste comes when the chicken is cooked in a clay oven known as a tandoor in southern, central, and western Asia. After the chicken is well cooked in the tandoor, the chicken chunks are then cooked with butter and the spice mixture to create an authentic Indian dish.
- Malai Kofta: People who love vegetarianism or those who don’t eat meat can opt for Malai Kofta. It’s a vegetarian version of meatballs, allowing you to enjoy the feel of eating meat. This popular Indian vegetarian dish is made with Potato and Paneer. The potatoes are boiled and mixed with grated paneer then, and they are made into small balls (Kofta) and deep-fried in hot oil. The curry is then prepared with onions, tomato puree, turmeric powder, chili powder, coriander powder, cashew paste, and cream to bring in more flavor. This dish is cooked on special occasions, and it goes well with butter naan bread or jeera rice.
- Rogan Josh: The name Rogan means clarified butter, and Josh means passion, fiery or hot. The main ingredient in this dish is lamb, and it is cooked in oil at high heat. This recipe includes ghee, cumin seeds, peppercorns, red chili powder, coriander powder, saffron, fennel seed powder, all-purpose flour, thick hung curd, and ginger garlic paste. The dish is prepared with tender meat in butter and spice mixture at intense heat. It was first originated in Persia then brought to Kashmir and other parts around India. Now, it is one of the classic vegetarian dishes in England.
- Chole: This dish is made from chickpeas which are soaked overnight and boiled till soft. The sauce is then prepared with onions, ginger garlic paste, boiled potatoes, tomato puree, and chole masala. This dish is enjoyed with fried Indian bread known as Bhatooras. It is a breakfast dish served along with onions, pickled carrots, green chutney, and achaar (mixed vegetable pickle). This dish is unlike any British breakfast.
- Palak Paneer: If you like spinach, then this dish is perfect to taste. It has chunks of Indian cottage cheese and spinach puree cooked in butter. It’s a simple recipe with few ingredients like onion, spinach, paneer, coriander powder, cumin powder, chili powder, and ginger garlic paste. First, boil water for 5 minutes and then put the spinach leaves and off the heat. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and then grind the spinach into a puree. Cut the Indian cottage cheese into whatever size you like. Then fry the onions, add all the spices and spinach puree. Once the raw smell goes off, add the paneer and cream for extra flavor. It is one of the most popular dishes in India and now in England.
- Chaat: Chaat is a popular Indian snack that is served in the streets of England. One can find dozens of street vendors selling chaat. Many varieties start from samosa chaat, dahi puri chaat, kachori chaat, and Potato chaat. The base ingredients same for all, fried dough base mixture with many other ingredients.
Now, after reading such mouth-watering foods, one might want to enjoy them too. The best place to visit is the Brook Pub in Cambridge that servers authentic Indian starters and main course curries. Of course, one can also enjoy traditional British Pub food and some great cask ales, beers, whiskies, gins, and other beverages.
You can visit the Indoor bar at the Brook Pub and enjoy live music & live sports on T.V or refresh yourself in the open air at our outdoor beer garden with family and friends. Our Beer garden is quite popular with the locals during the summer months as kids, families, and friends can enjoy the sun and the fresh air. This place is dog friendly too so that one can get their pets. Do visit our place to taste our Indian food, British Pub food, our wide range of alcohols and other beverages.