My Trip to India - Bukhara in Delhi | I just want 2 eat

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

My Trip to India - Bukhara in Delhi

image of Bukhara in Delhi, India

What you are going to witness is one of the best Indian dinners I ever had. It was at Bukhara, a restaurant located at the Luxury Collection ITC Maurya Hotel in Delhi that, for more than 30 years, served the same menu made of dishes from the North Western part of India. 

The restaurant itself is bursting with a mix of tourists, expats, business men and Indian clientele in a decor made of stone walls, dark wood beams and red rugs.
image of kitchen at Bukhara in Delhi, India

In the back is the kitchen, visible from the dining room, where you can see the Chef and cooks prepare the dishes in their tandoori ovens (clay ovens).
image of tandoori oven at Bukhara in Delhi, India

We got the privilege to visit the kitchen, where many skewers were ready to be put in the ovens.
image of tandoor master at Bukhara in Delhi, Indiaimage of meat skewers at Bukhara in Delhi, Indiaimage of cottage cheese skewers at Bukhara in Delhi, India

So I was ready for my meal, bib on, wine in one hand and menu in the other.
image of dining at Bukhara in Delhi, India

The wine was an Indian wine called Sula from the Nashik region, 180 km Northeast from Mumbai.
image of Sula wine at Bukhara in Delhi, India

After we sat, they brought us some papadam:
image of papadam at Bukhara in Delhi, India

And red onions:
image of red onions at Bukhara in Delhi, India

But was I was waiting for was the family naan, a giant naan perfect to share with the entire table that was the attraction of the restaurant.
image of family naan at Bukhara in Delhi, India

Then, the food came...First was this incredible dal.

image of slow cooked dal at Bukhara in Delhi, India

Made with a blend of dark lentils, tomatoes, ginger and garlic, it is slow cooked for 24 hours on a charcoal fire, finished with cream and some unsalted butter, giving it a creamy texture and an amazing taste.
image of slow cooked dal at Bukhara in Delhi, India

Then was the tandoori salad:
image of tandoori salad at Bukhara in Delhi, India

It was composed of onions, capsicum, tomatoes, fresh cottage cheese and pineapple seasoned with yellow chilies, garam masala, black cumin and malt vinegar.

We also tried the paneer tikka, that is cottage cheese marinated in fresh cream, gram flour, ajwain (caraway) and yellow chillies.
image of paneer tikka at Bukhara in Delhi, India

We also ordered a fish called pomfret that was cooked in the tandoor with yellow chillies, garam masala, turmeric and caraway.
image of tandoor pomfret at Bukhara in Delhi, India

Then, we got the slow cooked leg of lamb - Sikandari Raan:
image of slow cooked leg of lamb at Bukhara in Delhi, India

It is a whole leg of lamb that is braised in a marinade of malt vinegar, cinnamon, black cumin and red chili paste. It is then finished in the tandoor, giving a nice char on the outside. The meat was very tender and moist: divine! If you love lamb like me, this is definitely a dish to order. In fact it is close in concept to the gigot d'agneau de 7 heures, a French dish that is also slow cooked lamb.

Chicken:
image of chicken at Bukhara in Delhi, India

ok, I admit that at some point lost track of the dishes as they all came at the same time and I was trying to take my photos...This was a good chicken, served in a creamy sauce that was not spicy at all.

After this feast, we still had some space for dessert...First was the gulab jamun that were quite big!
image of gulab jamun at Bukhara in Delhi, India

Phirni, a dessert made with milk, basmati rice and cardamon, quite close to rice pudding (besides the texture).
image of Phirni at Bukhara in Delhi, India

And Rasmalai, poached dumplings of cottage cheese in a saffron flavored reduced milk sauce.
image of Rasmalai at Bukhara in Delhi, India

I admit that I was full after this, but thrilled that I got the opportunity to dine at Bukhara. If you are in Delhi, this is definitely not to be missed.

Enjoy (I did)!

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And Remember: I Just Want To Eat!

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