Indian Cuisine for a Layman

[dave_c]

I've been invited for dinner to an Indian/Bangladeshi Restaurant this weekend, although I hardly ever eaten Indian food as I can't really stomach spicy food. So what dishes does anyone here recommend as a starter, main course, and dessert?
I would really like to enjoy something wholesome (something with chicken and rice maybe) yet mild.

Thx

[Jugglering]

Onion bahjees are usually quite mild and normally get served up with a little side salad so they might be a good starter.

If they have a chicken biryani on the menu, ask for a mild sauce to go with it (a biryani is a rice based dish, so you don't need separate rice). Or you could have a vegetable biryani - I've never yet had a spicy one of those ! Korma dishes are also mild (they are also creamy if you like that sort of thing).

Side dishes that should be quite mild include tarka dal, cauliflower bahjee and mushroom bahjee but you can always check with the waiting staff.

Desserts are unlikely to be spicy and you'll probably find you can't fit one in anyway !

[whiffey]

Try a dopiaza or a rogan josh main course, king prawn if you can run to it, not hot, but very rich and satisfying. Avoid Tikka Masala and Korma like the plague, they are all sugar and colourings and about as Indian as Ken Dodd. If you're feeling a bit brave, have a jalfrezi, they are quite hot, but only in pockets surrounding the green chillies which you can always dig out and give to a friend.

For side dishes, okra (bindi) is lovely, as are lentils (tarka dall), and both pleasantly laxative.

Biryani is a very good suggestion ^^^ as well, they all come with a mild vegetable curry, and if you get a good vegetable biryani, with cold fresh cucumber, tomato, and coriander on top, it is hard to beat. Biryani means 'jewel'.

Have a good meal.

[chinois]

Jalfrezi and rogan josh are both hot so avoid.
As for whiffey's comment on korma, i'd say ignore it. Either he lives in a pikey area, he's talking about pub food or sauces in jars. It's an old argument without an answer. If you learn how to cook them you'll realize they employ indian techniques and ingredients.

I'd recommend:
Korma (coconut & almonds. Creamy)
Passanda (creamy with almonds and cardomom i think)
Himalayan/northern indian/nepalese dishes tend to be mild with nuts and fruit sometimes.
Dupiaza maybe (ask them to cut down on the chillies though)
Naan bread

Starter:
Tarka daal, others daals with less chillies, bhajis, poppodums with dips. Chicken tikka (although sometimes a bit hot)