280 + Mughlai Recipes | Mughlai Dishes in India | Vegetarian Mughlai Food | Mughlai Cuisine |

Indian Mughlai Recipes | Mughlai Dishes in India | Vegetarian Mughlai Food | Mughlai Cuisine. Mughlai cuisine is one that has stood the test of time. Brought to our country by the Mughals, it continues to be a favourite, especially on special occasions that call for rich food. Loaded with ghee, dry fruits, saffron, and other dairy products and spices, authentic Mughal cuisine is very rich and heavy. However, nowadays there are lighter variants being made by replacing some ingredients and cooking methods with low-fat alternatives.

This section introduces you to authentic Mughal cuisine, including a whole range of traditional favourites spanning all courses of a meal. You will find that there is a very large variety of Mughlai dishes, ranging from mild and creamy to extremely spicy ones. Take your pick from the innumerable choices we have in this section. From koftas and kebabs to biryani and mithai, you will find most popular dishes as well as some lesser known delights in this section.

Mughlai Indian Vegetarian Starter Recipes

Makhmali paneer tikka delicacy is one of the most popular starters in Indian restaurants. Cottage cheese marinated in a hung curd and cheese, strung into skewer sticks, and cooked in a wood-fired tandoor but here we have got you a Mughlai makhmali paneer tikka in an oven that needs no tandoor and can be easily made in an oven. 

Makhmali Paneer Tikka Made in Oven, Tawa

Making makhmali paneer tikka is super easy, all you need to do is marinate paneer for half an hour, cook and it is ready to be relished. We have made the marination with hung curd, cheese spread, cashewnut powder and garam masala. 

Afghani paneer tikka is also from the kitchens of Mughals. Learn how to make restaurant style Afghani paneer. The Mughal maharajas had an umpteen number of chefs who spent laborious hours toiling in the kitchens to prepare the perfect meal. They ground most ingredients to powders to ensure the perfect eating experience. The spice powder of this paneer Afghani, is a classic example of this.

Afghani Paneer

Mughlai Indian Vegetarian Roti and Naan Recipes

A traditional bread from the imperial Mughal times, the Mughlai Roti recipe features a plain flour roti aesthetically flavoured with aniseeds powder. Follow the kneading and leavening procedure exactly as mentioned to get the best texture. You can enhance the flavour and aroma of the Moghlai Roti by crushing the aniseeds with a mortar and pestle instead of powdering it in a mixer-grinder.

Moghlai Roti

Think Nawabi, and luxury is the first word that comes to mind! Indeed, what better way to recreate that richness than by using mixed nuts. This scrumptious Nawabi Naan is an amazing creation of traditional tandoori naan studded with nuts. This gives you a lovely texture and mildly sweet flavour as you chew on the naan. Once you sprinkle the nuts on the rolled dough, roll it lightly once again, so that they stick to the dough and do not fall off when cooked in the tava. Serve this naan with a tangy, spicy Subzis / Curries to make a memorable meal.

Nawabi Naan

Sheermal is a mildly-sweet, saffron-flavoured naan popular in the Indo-Pak sub-continent. While this Moghul delight is traditionally prepared in a tandoor, it can also be comfortably prepared in a Tava in the convenience of your own kitchen. Using warm milk and spices in the dough gives it a really rich flavour, which makes this usable as a main course as well as a standalone snack that you can have with tea. Do not forget to brush the Sheermal with a little ghee before serving, as it accentuates the aroma manifold.

Sheermal

Mughlai Indian Vegetarian Sabzi Recipes

Baingan musallam recipe is a rich sabzi with a vibrant mouth-feel. You will surely enjoy the mix of flavours and textures. A delightful combination of brinjals and tomatoes with spices and fresh cream, the shahi baingan sabzi has a luscious texture and mouth-watering flavour. It has an intense flavour and aroma, which will linger on your palate for a long time.

Baingan Musallam, Mughlai Baingan Masala

While the traditional Mughlai baingan masala uses whole brinjals, we have chopped it to make it easier to cook and consume. Enjoy this delicacy with rice or your favourite roti.

Paneer in white gravy is a slightly sweet and slightly spicy gravy for people of all ages. Deliciously soft paneer in a rich and luscious gravy, which is sure to make your main course very, very special. The Mughlai paneer in white gravy features a rich onion-cashew paste, perked up with a special powder and whole spices. Although the gravy does take some time to cook, this Nawabi paneer curry is otherwise quite easy as it makes use of everyday ingredients and simple cooking methods.

paneer in white gravy recipe | Mughlai paneer in white gravy | Nawabi paneer curry | restaurant style Indian paneer with white gravy

The Mughlas made use of every ingredient in their cooking and in the most unusual ways. Kacche kele ke kofte as the name suggests uses phal or fruit to make the kofta. Raw banana is combined with a few basic spices and deep-fried to make wonderfully tasty kofta. These are eaten with an equally unusual gravy that is a little sweet as it makes use of honey. A must try for everyone!

Kachhe Kele Ke Kofte

Mughlai Indian Vegetarian Rice Recipes

Achari paneer pulao is a perfect party fare. Paneer, marinated with achari spices like fennel and nigella is tossed together with rice, which is cooked to perfection with typical spices like cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and caraway. This gives the feeling of having a nice paneer tikka rice with a mild pickle, but it comes in a single package, making it convenient to serve or pack.

achari paneer pulao recipe | Indian paneer tikka pulao | paneer tikka rice | achari biryani

After having seen Mughlai food it is evident that saffron or kesar is a much-loved ingredient that can be used in a number of dishes. Zaffrani Pulao or saffron rice is simply rice prepared with saffron flavouring. Paneer, cashewnuts and raisins make this preparation a rich delicacy that is easy to prepare and that can be cooked up in a jiffy.

Zaffrani Pulao

Sweet rice is a sweet version of pulao with some basic spice and condiments along with sugar. Learn how to make zarda pulao. Try this simple version of the popular zarda pulao. With the addition of saffron, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaves, a sweet, spicy aroma fills the whole house kindling everybody’s appetite!

Sweet Rice

The presence of the word Shahi always hints at the richness of a recipe.
Indeed, the Shahi Pulao is a rice dish that is loaded with spices, veggies and a horde of other ingredients, which give it a memorable flavour and texture.
While an assortment of spices including saffron and caraway seeds gives this shahi veg pulao preparation a rich aroma, taste and hue, veggies, pineapple and paneer give it a wonderful range of textures. Pineapple also gives the mughlai shahi pulao a juicy tanginess, which you are sure to enjoy.

Shahi Pulao

Mughals were known to name certain dishes after themselves to signify where they were invented. Shahjahani khichdi is a comforting Mughlai one pot dish meal. It is a super easy dish to make. Shahjahani khichdi recipe is a brilliant khichdi made from rice and moong, this preparation is flavoured with whole garam masalas. Freshly grated coconut and cashew nuts are used to add volume and flavouring to the khichdi.

Shahjahani khichdi recipe | Mughlai Shahjahani khichdi | whole green moong khichdi | moong ki khichdi

Mughlai Indian Dal Recipes

Dal kabila is a mouthwatering Mughlai dal kabila made with urad dal or split black lentils this dal is tempered with whole Kashmiri red chillies that add the spiciness and colour. This dal can be served with rice as well as with rotis or parathas.

Dal Kabila

Dal Mughlai may have originated from the royal kitchens, but this one’s a delight to make in the kitchen as well as relish. Toovar and chana dals are pressure cooked with lauki, tomatoes and turmeric and mixed well, before a tadka of garlic, ginger and jeera is added to it. Delicious!

Mughlai dal recipe | dal Mughlai recipe

Shahjahani dal is a rich dal which combines the unique aroma and flavour of both whole spices and spice powder. This shahjahani chickpea dal is named after the Mughal emperor Shahjahan. A truly magnificent creation, this dal is made with kabuli peas that have been boiled and pureed. It is further perked up with a host of Indian spices for an authentic aroma and taste.

shahjahani dal recipe | shahjahani chickpea dal | chickpea stew | Indian style kabuli chana dal |

Mughlai Indian Dessert /Sweet Recipes

Shahi tukda is one of the most popular Indian desserts. True to its name it is a ‘shahi’ delight! Pieces of bread are dipped in delicious saffron flavoured sugar syrup and topped with rich and creamy rabdi. Though rabdi is usually made by thickening milk over the stove for hours we have provided a shorter recipe using condensed milk that tastes just as good! Ghee has been used for frying the bread however you could substitute oil for it if required. If you enjoyed this Mughlai mithai, enjoy other Mughlai Mithai.

Quick Shahi Tukda

Happy Cooking!

Try our Indian Mughlai Recipes | Mughlai Dishes in India | Vegetarian Mughlai Food | Mughlai Cuisine and other Mughlai Recipes…

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75 Mughlai Mithai Recipes
17 Mughlai Rotis Recipes
35 Mughlai Shahi Shurvat Recipes
65 Mughlai Subzis Curries Recipe