Top 15 Indian Dishes that are Not Spicy!

By Renuka Shahane on Mar 14, 2018
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Did you find Indian food spicy? Are you searching for non-spicy dishes to enjoy your next dinner or lunch? Here you go...

Indian food doesn’t need an introduction. A mirage of colours, flavours, textures and aromas, the Indian cuisine is science and art curated over a period of centuries. Combining sustainability, nutrition and taste, generations of Indian households have strived to make the cuisine what it is today. And the best part is, it is constantly evolving. 

Unfortunately, Indian food is labelled as merely ‘spicy’ and although this perception is changing, majority of the people in the world continue to deprive themselves of the experience of tasting Indian food, just because it is spicy! 

Yes, it indeed is spicy. And unlike the other cuisines in the world where spice is associated with enormous use of chillies, it’s the combination of condiments, chillies and spices that makes it so! The distinct tantalising sensation imparted to the tongue when you eat Indian food is what keeps most of the non-spice lovers away from this amazing cuisine!

Hear me out, there are plenty of Indian dishes that are not spicy at all! Leave alone the array of sweet dishes (we Indians don’t believe in desserts, we love our sugar with our spice), there are plenty of savoury dishes that are perfect for a sensitive palate that cannot handle spice! To begin with, Jeera Rice (Rice flavoured with cumin seeds) and Raita (veggie salad served with chilled whipped yoghurt) are the easiest to find and love! 

Not convinced? Here’s a list of 15 of my favourite Indian dishes that are not spicy: 

1. Dahi Bhaat (Curd Rice)

Dahi BhaatPC: Wikimedia Commons

Very few dishes in the world are as minimalistic, yet as tasty and healthy as this one! Known as Dahi Bhaat, Mosaranna, Perugu Annam and Daddojanam, each state in South India has a different variation of this dish. Few add a tempering of curry leaves, few add whole dry red chillies, few add fresh coriander leaves and pomegranate pearls! 

But the simplest of them is Dahi Bhaat, eaten in Maharashtra which is a mixture of a pinch of salt, sugar, curd (cultured at home), a splash of chilled milk and cooked room temperature rice!

Main ingredients: Curd, Cooked Rice, Salt

Category: Main Course 

Check out the recipe here

 

2. Malai Kofta

This Mughlai dish that primarily comes from North India is one of the creamiest Indian curries you can eat without getting your tongue burnt. Melt-in-mouth fried balls swimming merrily in a gravy with rich and creamy texture, thanks to those nuts and cream, is one of your safest bets to devour with a roasted butter Naan. 

Main ingredients: Malai (Fresh Cream), Paneer, Cashews, Vegetables 

Category: Main Course 

Check out the recipe here

3. Idli/Dosa/Uttapam

Idli/DosaPC: Wikimedia Commons

Eaten all over India but originating from the southern states of the country, Idli- Dosa- Uttapam are hands down the best brunch items in the world. The batter to make these remains the same and while Idli is steamed, Dosa is pan roasted (like a crepe) and Uttapam is cooked like a pancake. Served with a variety of different chutneys and sambars (curries), these when eaten on their own are absolutely non-spicy yet absolutely delicious!  

Packed with proteins, there is no doubt this is an amazing combo to start your morning! 

Main ingredients: Soaked Rice, Soaked Urad Dal, Fenugreek Seeds

Category: Brunch 

Check out the recipe here

4. Dhokla

A tea-time snack as well as favourite side dish in an elaborate thali, Dhokla is a fluffy, spongy piece of cloud that is full of flavour! Made from fermented batter of rice or split chickpeas, this steamed delicacy originated from the state of Gujarat. Slightly tangy, slightly sweet and not at all spicy unless you add tempering, this is one of the best non-spicy snack items of India! 

Main ingredients: Fermented Rice/ Spilt Chickpea Flour

Category: Snack

Check out the recipe here

5. Daal Baati Churma

Daal Baati ChurmaPC: Wikimedia Commons

Coming from the royal state of Rajasthan and enjoyed in the states of Harayana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh with slight variations, this wholesome meal is a joy ride, thanks to the variety of textures and flavours it offers. The Baati is a roasted ball of wheat flour which is crushed, soaked in ghee (clarified butter) and dipped in mild Daal (flavoured lentil soup). This can be a little spicy to handle, and hence the Churma! A preparation of lentils with jaggery, Churma balances out the little spice in the dish, making it a perfectly non-spicy dish! 

Main ingredients: Wheat Flour, lentils, Jaggery

Category: Main Course 

Check out the recipe here

6. Daali Thoy

This dish, is lesser known and yet worth mentioning in the list of non-spicy dishes of India. Eaten in Goa, this dish includes the use of coconut milk (attention vegans) along with churned and tempered lentils making it a protein-packed dish with a mild, soothing flavour! A comfort food in its own right, some prefer adding dry red chillies to it, which is totally optional! 

Main ingredients: Lentils, Coconut Milk, Grated Coconut

Category: Main course 

Check out the recipe here

7. Dahi Wada

Dahi WadaPC: Wikimedia Commons

A dish that is truly Indian, Dahi Wada is practically eaten across the country. Deep fried lentil balls soaked in water and then served in chilled, whipped and sweetened yoghurt with a dash of cumin powder, that’s Dahi Wada for you! It’s a dessert in the disguise of a snack, trust me! 

Main ingredients: Lentils, Yoghurt, Sugar, Cumin Powder

Category: Snack

Check out the recipe here

8. Tomato Khejur Chutney 

The dish comes from the state of West Bengal. And while there are many versions of Tomato chutneys eaten across the country, this one is specifically a non-spicy but a sweet-tangy accompaniment that can elevate any simple meal! A midway between a jam and a marmalade, the star of this recipe is not tomato but date jaggery! 

Main ingredients: Ripe Tomatoes, Date Jaggery, Dry Fruits 

Category: Accompaniment 

Check out the recipe here 

9. Kashmiri Pulao

Kashmiri Pulao

This mixed vegetable rice could just be a humble dish, but the Kashmiri people take it a notch higher. They add fresh fruits, dry fruits and strands of saffron, making it visually appealing! The taste of course is sweet with a mild flavour of the condiments added! Served with a curry or just on its own, Kashmiri Pulao will never disappoint! 

Main ingredients: Rice, Fruits, Dry Fruits, Saffron 

Category: Main Course 

Check out the recipe here

10. Navratan Korma

This Mughlai dish is replete of fresh vegetables/meat and dry fruits and is traditionally made with 9 main star ingredients. Navratan literally means ‘nine jewels’ and the recipe for the same is slightly tedious but totally rewarding! Cooked in dry fruit paste and garnished with cream, the dish is really a royal preparation! 

Main ingredients: Vegetables/Meat, Dry Fruits and Nuts, Cream, Saffron 

Category: Main course

Check out the recipe here

11. Butter chicken

Butter ChickenPC: Wikimedia Commons

A favourite chicken dish loved all over the world, butter chicken is a surprise package. A fairly new dish conceptualised in 1950’s, the chicken is first marinated, roasted in a tandoor and then served in a creamy sauce. Its deep red colour can be deceiving but when you taste the first morsel with a freshly baked roti/kulcha, you will be transported to a chicken heaven smothered with dairy goodness!

Main ingredients: Chicken, Cream, Yoghurt, Butter

Category: Main Course

Check out the recipe here

12. Daal Makhani

Slow-cooking is a practice followed in India for ages and Daal Makhani is one of its best outcomes! A simple lentil curry gets richer, thanks to the hours of slow cooking that it endures. Simmered with rich cream and topped with fresh, homemade white butter, Daal Makhani can be eaten by itself, with rice or roti! A North Indian dish, loved all over the world! 

Main ingredients: Lentils, Cream, Homemade White Butter

Category: Main Course 

Check out the recipe here

13. Raggi Mudde with Menthya Gojju

PC: Wikimedia Commons

In India, you don’t need to create new recipes for a nutritional diet. Raggi Mudde with Menthya Gojju is one such lesser-known, yet extremely healthy, a non-spicy dish eaten popularly in the state of Karnataka. Steamed, fluffy balls made with Raggi(Finger millet) flour served with a sweet-tangy curry made with fenugreek seeds is all you need to get your health right! Gluten-free, great for digestion and extremely delectable, this dish is magic potion! 

Main ingredients: Raggi (Finger millet), Fenugreek Seeds, Coconut, Jaggery 

Category: Main Course 

Check out the recipe here

14. Butte ka Kees

A popular street-food from Madhya Pradesh, Butte ka Kees is a healthy fast-food made with corn, best eaten in Indore! Grated corn cooked with milk and served with squeezed lime and coconut is one of the humblest yet appetising snack you can find on the planet. While spice lovers prefer adding a green chilly to it, you can totally skip it and rest assured you won’t miss a thing! 

Main ingredients: Corn, Milk, Lime, Coconut

Category: Snack 

Check out the recipe here 

15. Daal Khichadi 

Last but never the least, Daal Khichadi is without a doubt, comfort food for every Indian! With or without spices, Daal Khichadi is a one-pot meal that can be ready in less than 30 minutes! Lentils and rice pressure-cooked together and gobbled warm with ample amount of ghee (clarified butter) can solve any problem on this earth! 

Main ingredients: Lentils, Rice, Ghee (Clarified Butter)

Category: Main Course

Check out the recipe here 

Next time you say no to an Indian meal just because of the spice, think twice! These drool-worthy non-spicy Indian dishes await to offer you a gastronomic experience of a lifetime!

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