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Is there anything more satisfying after coming in from a cold day than holing up with Indian takeout? The answer is no. From spicy curries to crispy samosas and everything in between, Indian food is comfort on a plate. The good news is, it's nearly as easy to make Indian food in your own home as it is to pick up the phone and dial it in, and there's the added benefit of getting to control the spiciness (which can vary widely from restaurant to restaurant). Here are 10 classic Indian dishes to be made right in your own kitchen and warm you from the inside-out. Sinus-clearing heat is optional.
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Purnima Garg's Eggplant and Tomato Curry
Simmering slices of eggplant with canned tomatoes, onion and a mix of toasted spices yields a rich, sweet, seriously fragrant dish that would be great with grilled lamb or roast chicken. Best of all, the entire process takes 30 minutes from start to finish, which is a win in our book. Get the recipe on Food52.
Lentil Cakes Tikka Masala
These ginger spiced lentil cakes topped with a creamy tomato sauce feel like comfort food at first bite. If you need to kick it up a notch, make these extra hot by adding chile flakes or cayenne to the cakes, the sauce, or both. Get the recipe on Food52.
Shrimp Biryani (Indian Shrimp and Rice)
This biryani has the distinction of being both delicate and full of flavor. A bowl of this spicy rice and shrimp would be equally suited to lunch or dinner, either for chowing down on the couch alone or to serve as an impressive main at a dinner party. Get the recipe on Food52.
Sweet Potato Chana Masala
This savory and sweet potato masala is quick enough to whip up for a weeknight dinner. Add the serrano chili based on your own preference for heat, or omit it if you like. Get the recipe on Food52.
Cherry Bombe's Tandoori Murgh (Chicken Baked in Yogurt Sauce)
This traditional chicken dish requires you to plan ahead just a little bit, but trust us the resulting creamy, exoticly spiced chicken will be well worth your efforts. Get the recipe on Food52.
Homemade Naan
Naan is a requirement for any Indian feast. This chewy companion used as a utensil to scoop up your sauces and mains is ridiculously easy to make on your pizza stone or in a cast iron skillet. Stuff in your choice of onion, herbs, cheese, or garlic to amp up this classic accompainment. Get the recipe on Food52.
Tomato Rice (Tamatar Biryani)
This rice is loaded with aromatics and layers of heat but so easily made for a simple side or lunch. The rice comes out perfectly cooked and soaked through with the flavorful tomato broth. You can vary the spice with the type of chiles you choose, and whether you remove the seeds and heat-packed white ribs -- bear in mind that the spice will continue to build as you eat. Get the recipe on Food52.
Meen Porichathu (Fried Fish)
This fried fish recipe delivers simple, delicious Indian food in under an hour. Bonus: There's a good chance you have most of the ingredients hanging on your spice rack. Get the recipe on Food52.
Saag Paneer
If you've never had saag paneer, you've been seriously missing out. It's the Indian version of creamed spinach, except studded with chunks of tangy, firm paneer cheese. Get the recipe on Food52.
Lentil Stuffed Samosas
All your favorite Indian flavors—garam masala, cumin, coriander—flavor hearty lentils and get wrapped up in a crunchy shell and fried. What's not to love? Get the recipe on Food52.
