10 Indian Dishes to Try First in Estepona

An Indian menu can look overwhelming the first time — dozens of curries, breads and rice dishes with unfamiliar names. Here are ten dishes we would put in front of anyone eating Indian food in Estepona for the first time, with an honest note on flavour and heat. 1. ONION BHAJEE — Sliced onion in spiced chickpea batter, fried crisp. No heat, all crunch. The safest, most satisfying starter on any Indian menu. 2. VEGETABLE OR MEAT SAMOSA — Crisp pastry triangles with a spiced filling, served with chutney. Mild. 3. CHICKEN TIKKA — Yoghurt and spice marinated chicken cooked in the clay tandoor. Smoky rather than spicy, and the best introduction to tandoori cooking. 4. SHEEK KEBAB — Minced lamb with herbs, grilled on a skewer. Medium warmth, deep flavour, excellent with mint chutney. 5. BUTTER CHICKEN — Tandoori chicken in a silky tomato, butter and cream sauce. Mild and slightly sweet: the dish that converts everyone at the table. 6. MALAI TIKKA MASALA — Creamy, fragrant, gently spiced. If you like butter chicken you will like this even more. 7. IRANI KOFTA CURRY — Spiced meatballs in a rich gravy. More character than a korma, still comfortable at medium heat. 8. PASSANDA — Almond and cream based, nutty and mild, traditionally the most luxurious curry on the menu. 9. GARLIC CHILLI — For those who want heat with purpose: garlic, fresh chilli and a bold, direct sauce. Order it medium first. 10. LAMB OR PRAWN BIRYANI — Basmati rice layered and cooked with meat or prawns and whole spices, served with a curry sauce on the side. A complete meal in one dish. WHAT TO ADD ALONGSIDE Two curries for two people is plenty if you add basmati rice, one naan and a raita. Garlic naan and cheese naan are the two most ordered breads for a reason. A raita — yoghurt with onion, cucumber or pineapple — cools spice faster than a cold drink. HOW SPICY IS SPICY? Every curry here is cooked to your level: mild, medium or hot. Medium in an Indian kitchen is warmer than medium in most Spanish restaurants, so if you are unsure start mild and tell us next time. Heat is a setting, not a measure of quality — a mild butter chicken is exactly as it should be. WHAT TO DRINK Mango lassi is the classic pairing: sweet, thick and cooling. Cobra beer works with tandoori starters, and mint tea is the right way to finish a long meal. ORDER OR RESERVE Browse the full menu online and order for takeaway or delivery in Estepona centre, or reserve a table for the evening. We are open daily from 14:00 to 00:00 at Calle Miguel de María Luque 7.