Let the warm, complex flavors of Indian food shake up winter-dinner doldrums.

Spicy Potato Samosas (Aloo Samosas)

No country uses a wider range of spices in its cuisine than India. Those spices give Indian food its distinctively complex fragrance and flavor, but they can seem like a bit of a hurdle for folks who haven’t cooked Indian food at home. But the most common Indian spices can be found in grocery stores—the difference is how they’re combined and used in recipes. Learn how to buy and store spices, toast whole spices, and make a spice-infused oil. And if you want to explore even further, we’ve asked our editors to pick some of their favorite Indian cookbooks.

An Easy Entertaining Menu

Indian-Spiced Chicken with Lime & Cilantro

A Passage to India

• Toasted Spiced Cashews
• Indian-Spiced Chicken with Lime & Cilantro
• Basmati Rice Pilaf with Pistachios
• Spinach with Yogurt & Chickpeas
• Mango Lassi Parfait

Indian Restaurant Classics

Chicken Tikka Masala

• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Spicy Potato Samosas (Aloo Samosas)
• Stir-Fried Cauliflower with Green Peas & Ginger
• North Indian Chicken Curry
• Tandoori Chicken
• Eggplant with Frangrant Spices & Herbs (Bhartha)
• Raita
• Peppery Pink Lentil Soup
• Masala Chai
• Homestyle Indian Naan
• Basmati Rice Pilaf with Whole Spices, Saffron & Mint

Inspired by Indian Flavors

Shrimp, Chickpeas & Spinach with Ginger & Cumin

• Shrimp, Chickpeas & Spinach with Ginger & Cumin
• Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb with Garlic & Curry Spices
• Chicken with Potatoes, Peas & Coconut-Curry Sauce
• Glazed Meatloaf with Peppers & Warm Spices
• Purée of Sweet Potato & Ginger Soup with Apple-Mint Raita
• Spinach Salad with Apple, Dried Apricots & Pappadam Croutons
• Six-Spice Braised Short Ribs
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Warm Spices

Bonus Download

Finally, don’t miss our bonus download, a checklist for the essential Indian pantry -- free of charge when you register with your email address. The checklist is a comprehensive guide to herbs, spices, lentils and more. It includes flavor profiles, mini-recipes for spice mixes, and sources for the few harder-to-find ingredients.

Bonus Download: The Essential Indian Pantry Guide

• Feature Articles
  • Tandoori Chicken on the Grill
  • Making Irresistible Indian Samosas
  • Tandoor-Style Flatbreads From Your Own Oven
• Recipes
  • Tandoori Chicken
  • Cauliflower & Green Beans with Indian Spices
  • Eggplant with Fragrant Spices & Herbs (Bhartha)
  • Spicy Potato Samosas (Aloo Samosas)
  • Cilantro Dip
  • Sweet & Sour Fruit Dipping Sauce
  • Homestyle Indian Naan
  • Indian-Spiced Shrimp
  • Peppery Pink Lentil Soup
  • Raita
  • South Indian Chicken Curry
  • Coconut Milk
  • South Indian Curry Spice Mix
  • Tangy Potato Chaat (Aloo chaat)
• Tips, Tools & Ingredients
  • The Essential Indian Pantry Guide
  • Equipment Review: The Best Spice Grinders
  • Fine Cooking's Favorite Indian Cookbooks
  • Ghee Adds Toasty Flavor to Indian and Western Dishes
  • A Flavor-Infused Oil
  • How to Buy, Store, and Grind Spices
  • How to Cook Rice Perfectly
  • Toasting Whole Spices