Indian Menu - Any Recommendations?

[april1693]

I've been invited to dinner tonight at an Indian restaurant and I'm dreading it! I've only eaten at an Indian a few times and each time I've been really disappointed. I've tried biryani - sounded so appetising but was so oily, and various curries, but never found one I liked and I hate the rice that tastes like perfume. Can anyone recommend a tasty, not too spicy or oily dish? I like all meats and any veg!

[gingejbee]

I'd go next door to the Chinese, if I were you!

[Prudie]

This will be hard as we all have different tastes. I'm a meat freak so always have a Lamb Tikka - that's large chunks of marinated tandoori lamb with a few onions but has no sauce. It comes with a side salad and I get a Naan, no rice.

[boxtops]

Biryani shouldn't be oily - Indian food shouldn't be oily - you must have had a duff experience.

If they have a meat or vegetarian Thali on the menu, go for that - it's lots of pots of taster-size little dishes. Really good value.

Depending on the veg you like, I always have sag aloo (potato and spinach) and something with chickpeas. Ask for plain boiled rice if you don't want an aromatic one.

[jeffa]

Make sure you order plain / boiled rice rather than pilao or basmati.

Try a lamb rogan josh with a side dish of saag aloo.

[New Judge]

Biryani should not be oily - you must have been unlucky.

If you want a nice meat dish with no sauce try a chicken or lamb tikka. My favourite saucy dish is jalfrezi though it can be a bit hot for some. A well cooked CTM (Chicken Tikka Masala) is usually good.

For vegetables Chana Masala (chickpeas) can be good. Sag Bhaji (spinach) is usually just spinach but can be a bit oily.

If you don't like "perfumed" rice go for plain, though Keema rice (with micemeat) is my favourite.

[Tilly2]

Chicken Shashlik is lumps of marinaded chicken, peppers and onion on a skewer. That's what I tend to have, as I don't particularly like a plate full of curry. Samosas are nice to start with, triangular pastry parcels of either meat or vegetable.

[pixie373]

I'm not great on very spicy flavours. I think Korma has a bit of a coconut taste, if you like that?

[sherrardk]

We recently went and the younger kids had curry for the first time - they had chicken korma and chicken tikka Marsala. They wolfed it down and they don't generally eat spicey food (they also loved all the pickles and chutneys too but we didn't let them try the really hot one).

[Psybbo]

Peshwari naan with raita and saag aloo gets me through an Indian meal

[marval]

I like a lamb passanda, it is mild but very flavoursome, it is not oily either.

[april1693]

Gosh thanks folks for your very swift responses! You've certainly got me thinking! I'll definitely look at the menu with a new enthusiasm - but I do like gingebee idea best lol!

[Psybbo]

Gingejbee for me too.

[beegeebee]

My other half dislikes spicy food and therefore always has either Lamb Passanada or Butter chicken with na'an bread

[Old_Geezer]

It so depends on personal taste. But if you dislike too much oil I think I'd advise checking out the tandoori menu items. Or anything else with no or minimum sauce.

[Caran]

Try alba butter chicken, not to hot quite smooth.