Dal (Indian Lentil Curry)

You think it’s impossible to make a Dal like Indian restaurants without hunting wide and far for exotic spices? Think again!

Chana Dal (Bengal Gram)

This simple, gluten-free, high-fiber Chana Dal (or bengal gram) is an excellent vegetarian and potentially vegan spiced Indian lentil dish. It's easy to make, hearty, and satisfying.

Punjabi Dal Makhani

Dal makhani is an extremely popular North Indian vegetarian curry dish of lentils and beans in a spicy and creamy sauce, often made for special occasions.

Smoky Yellow Split Peas (Tamatar Chana Dal) from 'Indian Cooking Unfolded'

Yellow split peas get flavored with a blended paste of toasted spices, chiles, and tomato. Stirring in the paste towards the end of cooking allows the spices to retain their vibrancy.

Beyond Curry: Khichdi with Eggplant Fritters

If Indian food is just chicken tikka and biryani to you, then please keep reading. In India, food varies from region to region, home to home, and religion to religion. And it's not all spicy and complicated. Most Indian food is surprisingly simple to make and very, very rewarding to eat. In this new Indian cooking column, I'd like to introduce you to the real food we cook and eat at home. For starters, khichdi, a sort of one-pot comfort meal of rice, lentils and vegetables.

Dinner Tonight: Chana Masala

[Photograph: Blake Royer] Chana masala, more than anything else, speaks to the wondrous things Indian cuisine can do with vegetables. I don't think any other cuisine can make dishes as hearty, rich, filling, and, well, meaty with nary an animal...

Tamarind Rice

This tangy dish embellished with peanuts and spices is a quick way to use up leftover rice.

Rajma chawal

This is a creamy vegetarian Indian curry. Don't let the amount of ingredients scare you, it's mainly spices and it makes this curry absolutely delicious!

Ultimate Chicken Curry (Tamatar Murghi) from 'Indian Cooking Unfolded'

Chicken curry is an obvious choice when assembling an Indian menu: it is often fairly simple, the subtle flavors of the poultry take Indian spice well, and it's generally a crowd pleaser. But obvious doesn't have to mean dull or predictable. In fact, chicken curry is a good place to show off carefully layered spices and a rich, voluptuous sauce. Raghavan Iyer's version in Indian Cooking Unfolded is just the ticket.

Chicken tikka masala

Chicken Tikka Masala - a tender, grilled chicken simmered in a rich, creamy tomato sauce infused with aromatic spices. Delicious!