Aromatic Indian Shrimp Pilaf (Kolambi Bhaat)

If, like me, you love rice and have a soft spot for seafood, you're bound to find this dish irresistible. It uses a host of whole spices that create a wonderfully heady aroma. Kolambi Bhaat literally translates to shrimp pilaf; it's an especially popular meal along India's west coast, where there's an abundant supply of fresh seafood.

Spiced Shrimp and Eggplant Stir-Fry

Shrimp and eggplant are a classic combination, contrasting the vegetable's mild, bitter edge with the sweet, faintly briny seafood. A blend of spices and hot chilies floods the dish with warm heat; coupled with roti or pilaf, it makes for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Kerala-Style Shrimp Curry

[Photograph: Max Falkowitz] Curries from Kerala tend to be pungent, sour, and full of seafood. They're rich, not with cream or ghee, but with coconut milk. There isn't a ton of easily found English-language information on the dish, but after...

Prawn Patia (Indian Sweet and Spicy Shrimp)

Sweet, spicy and tangy, Prawn Patia is a dish full of flavor. It's easy to make and is a wonderful side to your main dinner course.

Kerala Shrimp Moilee (Curried Shrimp and Coconut Soup)

Mild from the natural sweetness of the coconut milk and aromatic from the whole spices used, the Moilee is a delicate introduction to the distinctive flavors of the coastal Indian state of Kerala.

Red Curry with Shrimp, Zucchini, and Carrot

When it comes to convenient pantry staples to have on hand for a quick meal, a can of good Thai curry paste ranks up there with bacon and kimchi. Grab a can of coconut milk and whatever happens to be in the fridge, and twenty minutes later you have a stunningly spicy dinner waiting for you.

Dinner Tonight: Shrimp Tikka Masala

I'm a sucker for curry recipes that are deep and flavorful but also quick to make. Such is the case with this recipe from Martha Stewart Living for Tikka Masala. This recipe turns out a pungent, rich sauce in no time flat.

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.

Indian Prawn Patties

They take minutes to make and seconds to polish off. Prawn patties, or Kolmi Na Kavaab, makes quite an impression on a dinner table and is a good dish to have in your repertoire if you're a newbie in the kitchen.

Chickpea, Coconut, and Cashew Curry

This 30-minute curry is intense with garam masala and ginger cooled by coconut milk and ground toasted cashews.