Every Indian dish tastes so different from the other dishes. Even though the core spices may remain the same, no two Indian dishes can taste the absolute same. A person from a foreign culture might think that there is some sort of sorcery involved in cooking Indian food. However, Indian people are just smart who have figured out the art of creating different flavours and aromas by using different culinary aids.
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One of the most important things while cooking Indian food is the utensil that it is being cooked in. In India, it is often believed that the utensil is also responsible for giving a distinct flavour to the food. One such utensil which is very popular in India is a Kadhai. Kadhai has been a staple Indian utensil for years. There is at least one Kadhai based dish from all regions of India.
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What is a Kadhai
Kadhai in Hindi language simply means a deep pan. In English one can call it a wok. Kadhai is used in India for multiple purposes, including stir-frying, deep frying, and sautéing. It is very easy to cook a dish in Kadhai as not only does it cook all the food uniformly but also gives its rustic flavour to the food. In India, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes are prepared in Kadhai. The best part is that one needs at most half an hour to cook any dish in Kadhai.
Five Indian Kadhai Dishes
* Kadhai Paneer
Kadhai Paneer is a pure bliss for vegetarians. It is one of the most popular vegetarian recipes and one can easily find it in most marriage ceremonies and celebratory occasions. The highlight of this dish is the tangy and spicy tomato paste that is used to make the gravy of the dish. There is also an evident use of other condiments like ginger, garlic, bell peppers, and onions and some spices, such as Garam masala and cumin. Kadai Paneer is specifically prepared in a Kadai only and one needs only 20 to 25 minutes to make this dish at home. This can be served with different types of Indian breads and even white rice. This hassle-free recipe is so flavourful that one will certainly become obsessed.
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* Kadhai Bhindi
In most Indian households, Bindi is generally prepared in Kadhai only. There are two ways to prepare Bhindi. It is to chop Bindi into small pieces and season it with some spices and sautéed onions. The other way is to split the Bindi in half and fill a spice mix inside it. This Bhindi is then cooked in a Kadhai with some oil, spices like red, chilli, salt, Garam masala and turmeric along with some sautéed onions. There is also a use of a lot of ginger and garlic to make this appetising dish. Bhindi is also loved by most of the children. The best part is that this dish also gets prepared in 10 to 15 minutes. There is no need for any kind of pre-preparation. This delicious sabzi is generally paired with some fresh roti or Paratha.
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* Kadhai Chicken
This list would be certainly incomplete without Kadhai chicken. Kadhai chicken is a very famous Indian non-vegetarian dish that is made by using boneless chicken and a heavy gravy that is made from tomatoes and onions. To make Kadhai chicken, one has to cook chicken in a heavy gravy and cream at low heat for at least 30 minutes. Slow-cooking chicken makes it tender and also lets it absorb all the flavours of spices and gravy. Generally, if chicken is cooked in any other type of utensil, then it takes a lot more time. However, cooking chicken in a Kadhai gives it a very rustic flavour and at the same time also cooks it properly.
* Kadhai Mushroom
Kadhai mushroom is also a classic vegetarian dish that tastes almost like chicken. The preparation is very similar to that of Kadai Paneer. This dish is also made with a heavy gravy made of tomatoes and some aromatic spices like Garam masala, turmeric, red chillies, and dry coriander powder. There is also a very generous use of ginger and garlic. Some people also like to use different types of bell peppers in the dish. The best part about this dish is that it can be customised as per one's preference. One can easily skip using ginger and garlic if they feel that it is too strong for them.
* KadhSabziai
Kadhai sabzi is a delicious way of eating a lot of healthy vegetables. Most of the time kids do not want to eat vegetables but this is one recipe that everyone is going to love. To make Kadhai sabzi, one may choose any type of vegetable. A lot of times people like to make a mixed vegetable sabzi by using every vegetable that is available in their fridge. It is often made as a mixture of potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, bell peppers and whatnot. A subtle flavour of spices along with some gravy made from tomatoes, onions, and garlic is also added to the dish.