Iconic desi foods from Kaiser & Colonel Kababz to try this month

We all know that feeling of longing for food from home when we are far away. On one hand, we are curious to explore new tastes and textures, but on the other, we feel nostalgic and long for the familiar flavor of home. 

The popularity of desi foods around the world is not only due to growing overseas populations from India and Pakistan with nostalgic cravings for traditional flavors. This is just one side of the story. The global popularity of desi foods is part of a growing trend of more and more people who want to try new foods, discover other cultures through their cuisine, and embrace fusion. 

The Kaiser & Colonel Kababz desi menu is available to you if you are missing the flavor of home or want to explore new culinary frontiers! 

Desi foods—recipes that hit the spot

The region comprising today’s India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh is often referred to as the Indian subcontinent. While this rather old-fashioned term might not reflect today’s geographical realities, it does provide a sense of something common. This shared element is the overall sensibility that underlies the region’s cuisine. “Desi” is often used as a synonym for Indian cuisine, but the term refers to a much wider culinary landscape. 

Within Desi cuisine, there is a wonderful diversity of culinary traditions that mingle and incorporate influences from other cultures while each also preserves its own distinct identity and characteristics. 

Desi food abroad is like an umbrella term. It includes dishes and foods from various parts of the region. While one dish might be strongly related to Delhi, another comes from Lahore. Some popular recipes originated in Kolkata in today’s West Bengal, India, and others in Dhaka in today’s East Bengal, Bangladesh. 

Kaiser Foodline brings you a menu of the most loved and best-known desi foods—crafted from traditional recipes and authentic spices that hit the spot, whether you are craving a crispy and spicy Punjabi samosa with a veggie filling or a luscious, creamy butter chicken dinner with tandoori naan. 

Indian curries—home and abroad

People from the Indian subcontinent often find it hard to explain when a person unfamiliar with desi foods asks, “What is curry?” The reason is that natives of the region do not use this word to describe what they routinely eat. The word “curry” was invented by the British when they ruled over India. The Tamil word “kari,” which means “sauce,” was adopted by the British to describe almost all Indian foods that had their own distinct identity and names. 

The variety of spice and herb blends used in the region also became summed up in ‘curry powder’. It is believed that spice merchants inspired the blend that the British used most often and took back to England and other foreign lands. They called it curry powder. It made it easier and more precise for them to prepare Indian food. 

This blend was similar to the garam masala but not the same. Its core ingredients were turmeric, cumin, and coriander; however, its variations also included fenugreek, black or chili pepper, and ginger. Some of its ingredients overlapped with the garam masala, but the curry powder was not intended for the same purpose. Here, it is worth adding that garam masala also has many variations, but its core ingredients remain cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, and cloves. 

So, when you eat a desi dish with gravy or sauce, it might contain curry powder, but it is also possible that an entirely different set of spices has been used. Of course, with changing times, people have become more familiar with desi foods and don’t call all of them ‘curry’.

Kaiser offers a variety of popular desi dishes, aka curries, including chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, and chicken kabab curry. While you will not find the word curry in every recipe, these are precisely the type of desi dishes that the British once referred to as curry. 

Try entrees from Kaiser for an authentic taste of these iconic desi foods. And for those of you who are missing home food and want to be sure that you are eating the best quality Zabiha halal meat in the dishes you love and miss, rest assured that Kaiser Foodline makes no compromises. 

All lamb, beef, and poultry food products are USDA-certified Zabiha halal. Meat is sourced ethically from free-roaming and humanely treated, 100% vegetarian-fed animals, free of antibiotics and added hormones. If you’re particular about hand-slaughtered Zabiha Halal, look for the ‘Certified Hand-cut’ label on the product you’re considering. We believe in transparency, and while our poultry products are a mix of both types of Zabiha Halal, each product is labeled to say what it exactly is. 

Eat desi foods in desi style—eating with your hands improves digestion 

Some people may consider using hands instead of cutlery as an impolite or unclean way to eat. However, in South Asian culture (and many others), this is common. Today, we are finding that eating with our hands actually improves digestion. Research shows touching our food sends signals to the brain, triggering the cephalic phase of digestion, and releasing digestive enzymes in anticipation of food intake. Furthermore, this sensory contact with food encourages mindful eating, allowing us to enjoy the texture, taste, and aroma of our food, leading to a more complete experience and healthier habits. Mindful eating, in turn, helps us maintain a healthy weight. 

While thoroughly washing hands is a natural part of our hygiene routine, some harmless bacteria indeed remain after a hand wash. Research suggests that these bacteria add to the diversity of microorganisms in our gut, aid digestion, and boost immunity. 

So, have no reservations and use your hands to eat for a complete desi food experience. Have your favorite Kaiser entree with Indian flatbread, such as the plain or garlic naan, light and soft romali roti, or the rich paratha.

Kaiser offers a wide choice of parathas, such as the plain paratha, the iconic South Indian Malabar paratha with a super-crispy exterior and a fluffy interior, and the unique flaky and buttery layered North Indian lacccha (ring) paratha. All are perfect for scooping up spicy gravies and sauces.  

Biryani—the star of Indian rice dishes

As the world has opened up to new flavors and textures, and the availability of desi foods has steadily increased, basmati rice and the most elite of Indian rice dishes, biryani, have also gained global popularity. Today, biryani is a symbol of South Asian cuisine. 

With roots in the Persian pilaf, biryani was refined in the royal kitchens of Mughal rulers. This irresistible blend of Persian and Indian culinary traditions led to a wide variety of rice dishes featuring different meats, cooked with long-grain, fragrant basmati rice, and seasoned with spices and herbs. Today, in almost any major city in the world, you can try biryani with chicken, other types of meat, or vegetarian biryani.

If you haven’t tried this dish before, or you are a biryani fan, or you are missing authentic biryani from home, try Kaiser’s Bombay chicken biryani or chicken kabab biryani. 

Unique desi kebabs—for kebab lovers 

For kebab lovers around the world, discovering desi kebabs is always a revelation. Lamb, beef, and chicken kebabs, seasoned with desi spices and/or marinated in Indian yogurt (curd), grilled or baked in a tandoor oven, or fried over an open flame, create unique flavors and textures. 

Try the Colonel Kababz shami kabab to taste the tender meat patty developed in the royal Mughal kitchens. A mixture of meat (typically beef but often substituted with goat or chicken), lentils, spices, and fresh green herbs is formed into patties and pan-fried to prepare this kebab. It is very popular both as a street food, served with hot sauce and naan, and as a snack at home, served together with samosas at tea time. 

Treat yourself to a desi ‘high tea’, with a pot of tea, Kaiser’s samosa with a filling of your choice, ranging from chicken, lamb, and beef to mixed vegetables, a plate of shami kababs, and some Gulab jamun (popular desi sweet dish) for dessert. 

For a desi kebab dinner, go for the Colonel Kababz beef chapli kabab. Nothing could be more authentic than this shallow-fried, thin, flattened, ground raw beef kabab, crispy, moist, and rich in flavor. Serve it with a hot tandoori naan and a fresh salad for the ultimate satisfying desi kabab bite! 

Enjoy snacking with desi foods  

Hungry in between meals? 

Why not try Kaiser’s popular desi street foods for snacking? The chole bhature wrap with Delhi-style chickpea curry rolled in traditional flatbread. Or the North Indian paneer tikka masala wrap with cottage cheese and tomato curry rolled in a paratha.

And if you want something more substantial than the veggie options, go for Kaiser’s tandoori chicken roll, spicy bites of chicken and vegetables packed in paratha. 

Concluding words… 

Kaiser Foodline’s selection of entrees, snacks, wraps and rolls, kebabs and flatbreads helps you prepare authentic desi meals effortlessly, and invites you to experiment and make your own fusion meals. Take a garlic naan and have it with an omelet with cheese and avocado! Or make a paratha roll with baked beans, fresh salad, and pickles! Inspire yourself with the best of desi foods to make your own fusion meals, to love tradition, and to embrace innovation!