30 Delicious Non-Vegetarian Indian Curries You Must Try


From classic Butter Chicken to Gongura Mutton or Meen Curry from the south, we have it all here.

1. Butter Chicken

Ask any Indian foodie their favourite Indian chicken dishes, butter chicken will invariably be in the top three. Succulent chicken pieces doused in a velvety gravy of butter and cream, makes for heavenly treat for non-vegetarians.

2. Spicy Chicken Masala

A typical north-Indian-style chicken curry! Spicy chicken masala is a heaven for all the spice lovers who love their chicken doused in a myriad of flavours.

3. Amritsari Chicken Masala

A Punjabi staple dinner party dish, Amritsari chicken masala is a mouth-watering delicacy packed with a host of spices that would instantly tantalise your taste buds. Flavoured with cumin, coriander and red chilli along with butter, cream and a tang of lime, this chicken recipe is the real crowd pleaser!

4. Chicken Chettinad

Southe India has a plethora of delectable regional dishes and Chettinad chicken is a gem from just one of them. The Chettinad cuisine belongs to the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu and has a rich and appetising blend of spices using local and fresh ingredients. Chicken Chettinad is one of the most popular features of the cuisine and is loved for its perfect balance of flavours.

5. Chicken Korma

A rich chicken curry, slow-cooked over low flame, chicken korma is as 'shahi' as it sounds. The word 'korma' is derived from the Turkish word 'Kavurma' that means cooked meat. It is a popular technique of braising meat with yogurt, cream, stock and various spices that became a favourite during the Mughal era.

6. Kadai Chicken

Kadai chicken is another extremely loved chicken curry, popular for its spicy flavour and got its name from the cooking technique, which uses 'kadhai' (or a wok) to make the delightful curry.

7. Malvani Chicken Curry

Love spicy chicken curry? Then Malvani chicken curry is exactly what you want! Malwani chicken curry is a popular main course dish in the Malwani/Malvani cuisine from the South Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa.

8. Chicken Kolhapuri

Kolhapuri cuisine is known to be spicy and full of flavour. This dish is no less - chicken curry cooked with a special Kolhapuri masala that uses bold flavours of peanut oil, bay leaf, black pepper and cloves. The unique flavour in this chicken curry comes from the fresh ground spices and grated coconut.

9. Chicken Vindaloo

Experience the traditional Goan cuisine in your own kitchen! Introduced to the Indian shores by the Portuguese colonists, the Vindaloo curries now stands tall amongst all Indian curries because of its distinct spicy flavour due to the spicy roasted mixture (masala) called the Vindaloo masala or paste.

10. Al Hachi Chicken

A Kashmiri delight, this is an interesting chicken recipe to prepare at home. Packed with whole spices and shallow-fried chicken along with the goodness of bottle gourd, Al hachi chicken makes for a great dinner party dish.

11. Laal Maas

A Rajasthani speciality, laal maas is a fiery combination of mutton, spices with a blast of chillies. A delicious bright red-coloured dish with oodles of ghee and coriander leaves on top, laal maas makes for a heavenly combination with piping hot parathas.

12. Pasanda

Long valued as the treasure of Kayasth cooking, especially from old Delhi, Pasanda is one of those heritage dishes that many may have only heard of but never quite tasted. Here is a pasanda recipe made with lamb thigh cuts, spices, herbs and nuts that you can try at home.

13. Mutton Kofte

Koftas are a part of Mughlai cuisine of the Indian subcontinent, borrowed largely from Persian cuisine and reserved for special occasions. Here is a delightful mutton kofte recipe made with an extensive use of spices and herbs, including sun dried leaves, cardamom, kasturi methi, deggi mirch and saunf powder.

14. Champaran Mutton Curry

Some know it as 'ahuna mutton', while some call it 'matka gosht', nonetheless, this one-pot mutton curry from Bihar has a fan base of its own drooling over it. Named over the Champaran district in Bihar, it is traditionally cooked in earthen pots or matka in dum style. Here's how you can make it at home.

15. Railway Mutton Curry

First prepared by the chefs of the Indian Railways during the British Raj keeping in mind the delicate palates of the British people, Railway mutton curry has caught everyone's attention with a delicious blended of mutton with spices and yogurt.

16. Nihari Mutton

No discussion over Indian mutton curries is complete without the classic Nihari. A stew based dish, made by slow cooking meat along with the bone barrow, it is believed that the origin of Nihari dates back to the 17th-18th century and was originally eaten by Nawabs in the Mughal Empire as a breakfast item after their moing prayers (Fajr).

17. Gongura Mamsam

One of Andhra's most popular lamb dishes that pairs well with steamed rice as well as chapati. The dish is bursting with flavours that are a great combination of Gongura or sorrel leaves that has a sour flavour, with red chilli and mutton. A fiery extravaganza that you must try.

18. Sali Boti

Give your mutton curry a Parsi spin with this traditional Sali boti recipe that comes with prominent flavours of tomatoes, onions, jaggery and vinegar.

19. Rogan Josh

Packed with robust flavours, dense, aromatic curry, made with red meat, Rogan josh stands tall as one of the most popular non-vegetarian dishes. A signature dish from Kashmir.

20. Andhra Crab Meat Masala

This one is sure to set your taste buds ablaze with crab meat tossed with fiery spices from the south including the chop masala.

21. Malabari Prawn Curry

Soak in the flavours of south with this authentic coconut-y prawn curry! Tangy tamarind, chillies and coconut paste stirred together and cooked with prawns in a luscious, spicy curry.

22. Bihari Fish Curry

Bihari cuisine is as unique as the style of cooking its dishes. Distinct flavours of fresh spices rule this fish curry in which marinated fish is pan-fried and cooked with a fine paste of spices.

23. Goan Fish Head Curry

Bring the authentic flavours of Goan cuisine right inside your kitchen! This fish curry has fish heads marinated in a thick paste of onion, coconut, garlic and chilli are cooked till soft and best served on a bed of rice.

24. Meen Curry

A recipe from 'God's own country', Kerala, meen curry has fish (also known as meen in south India) fillets cooked in coconut milk with tamarind, mustard seeds and other aromatic spices.

25. Chepala Iguru (Andhra Fish Curry)

This has marinated fish, fried and cooked in rich gravy, bursting with hot spices and mouth-watering flavours. Relish the gastronomic brilliance of this traditional Andhra fish curry.

26. Assamese Fish Curry

A simple, home-style, Assamese fish curry that is a regular feature during lunch and dinner. It is best enjoyed with steamed rice and a fresh green chilli on the side.

27. Hilsa Fish Curry

One of the most common Bengali fish recipes, hilsa fish curry is a delicious yet easy one to cook at home.

28. Parsi Fish Curry

A delicious mix of pomfret fillets with a host of spices and herbs, coconut milk, tamarind and tomatoes, this Parsi fish curry comes with a distinct flavour to devour.

29. Machcha Besarou

Bring in the taste of Oriya cuisine with this absolutely delightful fish curry. It has fried fish marinated in turmeric and cooked in mustard, garlic and tomatoes that makes for a typical Oriya dish that goes extremely well with rice.

30. Macher Jhol

Yet another common fish curries from Bengal, Macher jhol is a simple fish curry made in mustard oil with a host of spices and herbs.