So you’ve finally done it – you’ve tracked down just the right restaurant, one that by all appearances serves the best Indian food Ottawa has to offer. You’ve asked your friends, you’ve read the reviews, and you’re ready to put some mouth-watering delicacies to the taste test. There’s just one little problem: you’ve never actually tried Indian food before, and there are so many menu items to choose from! Before you can really enjoy the best Indian food in Ottawa, you’re going to have to decide what to order. Do you try the kebab or the chicken tikka? The butter chicken or the saag paneer? How do you go about your first Indian experience?
India’s most famous culinary tradition, of course, is curry. Curry dishes usually consist of meat or vegetables cooked in a variety of tantalizing spices, a wonderful meal all on their own when served over a bed of plump rice. If you want to go the curry route on your first try, your safest bet is butter chicken: slow cooked until it falls apart in your mouth in a marinade of yogurt and spices, it’s every bit as delicious as its spicier cousins, but a little easier for beginners. Of course, if you like things a little spicier, traditional curry chicken or beef is always a safe bet for turning up the heat.
Curry has many delectable vegetarian options as well: saag paneer, for example, is a sweet yet savoury curry made up of spinach and cheese, and every bit as irresistible. And korma is a delicious blend of yogurt, coriander, and cumin, often available either with meat or vegetable.
If you’re looking for something a little different, chicken tikka is an option as popular as it is delicious. Marinated and baked in a tandoor –a type of clay oven – on skewers, this savoury chicken entrée lends itself easily to being served in several ways. Serving it on the skewer with a side of rice and vegetables makes for a nice, hearty meal sure to satisfy. But chicken tikka can also be served in a salad, or even in a wrap – one of the best Indian food solutions the busy Ottawa native can find for squeezing in a truly delicious meal on the go!
Of course, the best way to enjoy any Indian dish – whether chicken tikka or saag paneer or beyond – is with friends. So why not bring the whole gang, and sample a little bit of everything? As you discover the best Indian food in Ottawa with good company, your taste buds will thank you.
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