There’s Convenience and Dependability at the Hot Bar
Sometimes our plans don’t always come to fruition. We aspire to cook a homemade Indian meal, but then our plans get derailed, life gets in the way, and that ambition turns into a run to the store for a prepared meal from the hot bar.
The good news is that you don’t have to abandon your desire to have Indian food! The prepared food section offers many essential ingredients that have already been infused with flavor so that you can combine them, along with customary Indian spices that you may already have in the pantry, to make Indian-inspired dishes in less time. The key is what to look for. Building an Indian meal from the hot bar is an adventure in culinary creativity. Not all grocery stores, convenience stores, or dining halls offer an extensive hot bar, if at all. Additionally, truly authentic Indian meals require preparation, which includes making sauces, marinating, blending of spices to produce genuine flavors, and more. If you’re looking for creative ways to build a satisfying, customized Indian-style meal by strategically selecting and combining items from the hot bar and other prepared food sections, we have a few hacks.
How to find components to build an Indian-inspired meal
If you’re lucky enough to visit a place that contains a hot bar, especially one that already has Indian entrees, start by perusing the array of curries, stews, and saucy dishes. The vibrant colors hint at the complex spices and flavors just waiting to be discovered. Tender pieces of chicken tikka masala, marinated in curry sauce, and hearty chana masala, with its slowly cooked chickpeas submerged in an aromatic onion sauce, are both tempting. For an option of greens, treat yourself to some saag paneer, which has creamy spinach studded with cubes of fresh cheese. A scoop of basmati rice serves as the perfect base for your selections. Don’t forget some naan on the side – the fluffy flatbread is ideal for sopping up every last bit of sauce. When you want a burst of acidity to balance the rich flavors, consider garnishing it with lemon. The result is a personalized platter celebrating the diversity and deliciousness of Indian cuisine, customized to your tastes from the abundant selection of the hot bar.
Of course, we recognize that not all hot bars offer international cuisines. It’s still possible to create a tasty Indian-inspired meal from the ingredients available, if you’re looking to reimagine prepared food with minimal cooking. Look for ingredients like potatoes, cauliflower, and tomato. If rice is available, scoop that up as well! Staples you may already have at home, like onions and garlic will be necessary. Start by sautéing this. Add some ginger, turmeric powder, red chili powder, cumin seeds, and salt to the pan, with the ingredients you brought home, to make an easy Aloo Gobi, otherwise known as Potato and Cauliflower Curry, over rice.
Speaking of rice, a super-easy one-pot Indian dish you can put together at home, with the rice, mixed vegetables, tomatoes, and chopped onions from the hot bar and salad bar, is Masala Rice. With the addition of key spices, like coriander, mustard seeds, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and a few other ingredients, you can be eating this satisfying dish within minutes.
That rotisserie chicken on every bar can be used in many Indian-inspired dishes. Just sauté some onions and garlic, then add ginger, and some classic Indian spices. Debone the chicken and toss it into the pan. Salt to taste, and this is ready to be added between pieces of naan bread.
For guidance, there are so many recipes available online, for inspiration, with complete instructions.
There’s Also an Even Easier Option for Indian Meals
We’re not all gifted in the kitchen. If the microwave is your appliance of choice, Cafe Spice produces several ready-to-eat meals sold at grocers nationwide that only require you to push some buttons and wait a few minutes. Certainly, if you prefer to use the stovetop to reheat these meals, that is also an option. Make sure to follow @cafespice for more ideas. They will be adding new recipes to spark creativity soon.
