So many iconic dishes spring to mind when thinking of this beautiful cuisine, each one as complex and exciting as the next. A staple of Indian cooking, there are many different kinds of Dahl. A popular dish often seen on a Thali is the classic vegetarian dish – Dal. Made chiefly from beans, peas, or lentils, Dal is consumed widely in staunchly vegetarian regions. It is versatile and easy to make. It is high in protein and fibre and always contains immune-building aromatics of fresh ginger, garlic, and turmeric. Another famous vegetarian dish - Palak paneer. An intensely green sauce of spinach and spices coating cubes of firm paneer cheese.  Thanks to the Afghans, a favourite among many Indian regions is Tandoori Chicken – tender, brick-red chicken marinated in a mix of yoghurt and strong spices then cooked in a flaming-hot Tandoori clay [...]

There is no dish more iconic in Pakistani cuisine than the Biryani. Meat such as goat is slow-cooked with yoghurt, spices, sweet onions and chillies for hours then combined with saffron-infused rice in layers with fresh mint, tomatoes, nuts, sultanas and crispy onions. A divinely spiced dish that is served at just about every major celebration. Pakistan is divided into people who like bread with their meal and people who like rice – it’s crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The two main types are roti and naan. Naan has yeast, milk or yoghurt added. Only one way to enjoy a Pakistani feast – and that’s without a knife or fork. Hence why dishes like Tandoori chicken and sides like naan are too very popular in Pakistan. Dishes like Mantu are also famous in these parts and can of course [...]