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Thinking of a road trip makes one instantly happy. There is music, food, fun, and great company. Also going on a road trip in one's vehicle gives the person the liberty to stop wherever they want to and take the journey at their preferred pace. One can stop at some famous dhaba points and relish the delicious foods on the menu.
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What distinguishes dhaba food from other regular restaurants is their authentic flavours and generous use of spices and desi ghee to make food. Dhabas are an ode to the very culture and the essence of true India and its culinary projection. If you are missing eating dhaba food, but cannot take a road trip now, then here are some famous dhaba recipes that you can try making at home.
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* Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is one of the flag bearers of Indian cuisine not just in India but around the world. It is a magnanimously popular recipe that has changed the way people look at Indian cuisine. Butter chicken is a must-have on road trips as the dhaba-made butter chicken is unparalleled. It is garlicky, buttery, spicy, and immersed in a heavy tomato and curd gravy. The flavour of Kashmiri lal mirch and kasuri methi is also quite powerful. Butter chicken at dhabas is generally served with parathas, tandoori roti, or naan.
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* Aloo Gobhi
Aloo gobhi is a famous vegetarian dish that has the goodness of cauliflower and some perfectly cooked potatoes. These two main ingredients are slow-cooked with tomatoes, onions, ginger, garlic paste, and traditional Indian spices like kasuri methi, black pepper, and garam masala. Aloo gobhi at dhabas is generally cooked in pressure cookers which makes both of these vegetables very soft and mushy. On the top, a lot of coriander leaves are sprinkled to make it fresh and flavourful.
* Rajma Chawal
The word rajma chawal is enough to make one feel butterflies in the stomach, especially if they've grown up in north India eating this very famous dish. Rajma chawal is a cult classic dish in north India and is something unmissable if one is on a road trip. This famous lunch and dinner dish is made by picking the most aromatic and robust kidney beans that are cooked in a thick gravy of onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and Kashmiri red chilli powder with lots of other spices. These rajmas are then served with some freshly boiled rice and lots of salad and pickles.
* Dal Makhani
Dal makhani is the queen of dals and is a delectable and creamy lentil dish that is served with flatbreads as well as rice. It is made by combining urad dal and rajma with lots of cream, butter, and spices. Dal makhani is generally not very overpowering when it comes to spices and the dhaba version of dal makhani is extremely creamy and minimally spiced. The best way to enjoy dal makhani is to have it with some tandoori roti or butter naan.
* Aloo Parathas
Aloo Paratha is a vegetarian paradise and has acquired an irreplaceable place in the heart of the people of India. No matter where a person comes from, aloo paratha is something that everyone in India truly loves having for breakfast. It is made by stuffing some spiced mashed potatoes in a rolled wheat dough and then cooking the paratha on the top of a pan with lots of butter and desi ghee. The desi ghee makes the paratha extremely crunchy and droolsome. Traditionally, paratha is eaten with curd and pickles on the side.
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* Paneer Butter Masala
Paneer butter masala is yet another dhaba delight that is vegetarian and oh-so-yummy. Just like chicken butter masala, fresh pieces of paneer are immersed in a thick and opulent gravy made from curd, tomatoes, onion, ginger, garlic paste, and a lot of Indian spices. Even though spices are used quite generously to make this gravy, the presence of butter and curd helps in subduing the taste of so many robust spices. This creates a harmonious blend of flavours and makes paneer butter masala, perfect for everyone.
* Dal Fry
Dal fry is an extremely popular dish that is probably one of the oldest dishes served in dhabas. The concept of the dhabas goes back to pre-independence and dal fry is one of the first or initial dishes that was served at dhabas since their inception. It is a simple yet impactful dish made from toor dal and chana daal. It is made by using some simple Indian spices like salt, red chilli powder, and garam masala and is tempered in ghee to give it a rich heaviness. It is garnished with a lot of coriander leaves and served with tandoori roti.
