8 Iconic Dishes/Recipes from a Classic Punjabi Thali | NFCI

Dishes/Recipes in Punjabi Thali | Butter Naan, Butter Chicken, Prantha with lassi are Popular in Punjabi Thali.

However, India is renowned for its diverse culture and cuisine, with each state offering unique flavours, techniques, and dishes that reflect their rich heritage.

If you’re a foodie and you are planning to tour Punjab, you must have heard of butter chicken, butter naan, paratha, and lassi. Punjabi food is not only delicious but also nutritious, making it a must-try for anyone.

What Are the Famous Dishes to Try in Punjabi Thali?

Punjabis are passionate about their food, and the Punjabi thali reflects this with its rich variety of spices and condiments. The cuisine is known for its bold, flavorful dishes and has incorporated influences from Pakistani cuisine over the years. Here are some must-try dishes when you’re in Punjab:

1. Butter Chicken: The Creamy Classic You Can’t Miss

This iconic dish is famous worldwide for its creamy texture, succulent meat, and authentic aroma of kasuri methi. It pairs perfectly with rumaali roti or naan makes it a perfect Punjabi thali dish.

Punjabi Butter Chicken
Ingredients:

• 500g chicken
• 1 cup yogurt
• 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup tomato puree
• ½ cup cream
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)

Method:

Marinate chicken with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, chili powder, and salt for 2 hours.
Grill or sauté the chicken until lightly browned.
Sauté ginger-garlic in butter, add tomato puree, spices, and simmer.
Add cream, grilled chicken, and kasuri methi. Simmer for 10 minutes.

2. Lassi: The Perfect Punjabi Thali Refreshment Drink

A staple in every Punjabi household, lassi is a sweet and creamy drink topped with malai (cream). It comes in various flavours like mango, strawberry, and rose, making it a refreshing choice on a hot summer day.

Lassi Recipe:

• 2 cups Plain Curd (yogurt/dahi) (500 ml)
• Sugar/salt (as per required)
• 1/4 teaspoon Cardamom Powder (you can skip it if you don’t like it)
• 1/2 cup Water or Milk
• 1 tablespoon chopped mixed nuts, for garnishing, optional

3. Parathas:

Authentic Punjabi thali has parathas with generous quantities of desi ghee on it , offering a treat for your taste buds. Popular varieties include aloo paratha (potato-stuffed), paneer paratha (cottage cheese-stuffed), and Gobi paratha (cauliflower-stuffed). Chefs are also experimenting with unconventional stuffing’s like minced chicken or mutton.

4. Dal Makhani: A Punjabi Thali Essential

This rich gravy dish is made of lentils and red kidney beans, cooked with generous portions of butter and cream. Traditionally made on a low flame, it brings out the flavours exceptionally well.

Dal Makhani Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup black lentils (urad dal)
• ¼ cup kidney beans (rajma)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup tomato puree
• ¼ cup cream
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

Method:

1. Soak and pressure-cook dal and rajma until soft.
2. Sauté ginger-garlic in butter, add tomato puree and cook.
3. Add cooked dal, garam masala, and simmer.
4. Stir in cream and butter, cook for 20 minutes.

5. Amritsari Fish: A Punjabi Thali Delight for Non-Veg Lovers

Originating from the Mughal kitchens, this appetizer is made with fish fillets coated in a spicy batter of rice flour and mustard oil.

The crispy outer layer and juicy fish create an explosion of flavours.

6. Tandoori Chicken: Non-Veg Treat in Punjabi Thali

A common Indian meal called “tandoori chicken” is made by grilling marinated chicken in a cylindrical clay oven called a “tandoori.” The first stage involves marinating chicken overnight in a mixture of yogurt, spices, and herbs. The secret to flavorful tenderized chicken is this marinade. Charcoal or wood fire is used to heat the clay oven.

Tandoori Chicken

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken legs
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp oil

Method:

Marinate chicken with yogurt, spices, lemon juice for 4 hours.
Preheat oven to 220°C and bake for 25-30 minutes, basting with oil.
Grill for a charred finish.

7. Amritsari Chur Chur Naan: Flaky Bread in Every Bite

This dish is a must-try for its unique texture and flavor, often paired with rich gravies. A kind of naan and a traditional Punjabi Naan are called chur chur.

Typically, the ingredients for the dough include flour, sugar, baking powder, ghee, yogurt, salt, water, and oil.

After the dough has been molded, it is filled with a blend of mashed and cooked potatoes, grated paneer, chopped onion, spicy chili peppers, ginger, red chili powder, garam masala, amchur, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper.

Amritsari Fish

Ingredients:

• 500g fish fillets
• 1 cup gram flour (besan)
• 1 tsp carom seeds (ajwain)
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

Method:

1. Marinate fish with ginger-garlic paste, spices, and lemon juice for 30 minutes.
2. Prepare a batter with besan, ajwain, and water.
3. Dip fish in batter, deep-fry until golden.

8. Makki di Roti & Sarson da Saag:

A traditional winter delicacy, this flatbread made from maize flour is typically paired with sarson da saag (mustard greens). It is often served with cubes of gur (jaggery) and a generous portion of desi ghee.

9. Kada Prashad:

Distributed at Gurudwaras, this delicious halwa made from whole wheat flour, ghee, and sugar. This represents the pure love of Punjab.

Punjabi cuisine offers a lot to vegetarians as well, with dishes like sarson da saag being a winter favourite. Prepared using mustard plant leaves and sometimes spinach, it is cooked with a generous portion of desi ghee to enhance the taste.

In conclusion, the rich and flavorful Punjabi thali offers a culinary experience that should not be missed. Whether you’re a fan of vegetarian or non-vegetarian dishes, Punjabi cuisine has something for everyone.

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What is the famous dish of Punjab?

‘Butter Chicken’, it’s maybe the most well-liked Punjabi food. Restaurants attempt to replicate this famous meal in their kitchens all throughout the nation and frequently the world. This meal will wow you with its creamy texture, tender chunks of beef, genuine kasuri methi scent, and generous amounts of butter.

Which five Punjabi dishes are there?

India is highly familiar with Punjabi cuisine, which includes Kulcha Chole, Chole Bhature, Dal Makhni, and butter chicken. The state’s culinary customs are both traditional and unique. Punjabi food is renowned for its abundant vegetarian and meat meals as well as its rich, buttery tastes.

What is Punjab’s traditional cuisine?

Punjabi cuisine is known for delicacies like Makki di Roti, Shami Kebab, Tandoori Chicken, Sarson Da Saag, and Kulcha Naan or Chur Chur Naan that capture the hearts of foodies around. The cuisine of the state is straightforward, homey, and unique at the same time.

Related: 32 Vegetarian Cuisine Recipes in India