Out of ideas for what to serve with chicken curry? Here's a collection of the best side dishes to choose from when chicken curry is on the menu for dinner.
A good chicken curry is quite a delight, but it can quickly get boring if you don't have the right side dishes to go with it. If you are having your fix of curry with the same old store-bought naan every single time, it's time to bring switch things up! Add some excitement to your meals with these delicious sides. Some are very simple, some a little elaborate, but all of them taste great with chicken.
In this post, I'm sharing the best side dishes for chicken curry. Most are tried and tested recipes from my blog, but I've also included a few from some blogger friends of mine. From Indian breads and rice dishes to lentils and salads, I've got you covered!
Bread
📋Whole Wheat Naan
This whole wheat naan recipe makes soft and pillowy naan to go with all kinds of curries and stews. You'll never want to buy the pre-packaged naan from the supermarket once you try this authentic and healthy naan!
Check out this recipe
Puri Recipe
Puri or poori is a puffy Indian bread made of wheat flour dough, oil, salt and water. The dough is rolled into discs and deep fried for golden, slightly crispy puri bread that tastes amazing with curry, chana masala, and even halwa!
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Plain Paratha
Paratha is a soft and flaky flatbread. Wheat flour or atta is kneaded with water, salt and oil to make soft dough balls. Each ball is then rolled out and cooked on a hot griddle with some ghee or oil. Tastes heavenly with pickles, dals and of course, chicken curry!
Check out this recipe
Roti or Chapati
Roti is a whole wheat flatbread that's a staple in most Indian homes. Also known as chapati or phulka, this popular Indian bread is best enjoyed with lentils, curries and stir-fries. Learn how to make soft, puffy rotis every single time!
Check out this recipe
Rice
Jeera Rice
Jeera rice or zeera rice is steamed, aromatic Basmati rice flavored with cumin and other whole spices. It is a simple gluten-free side dish ready in 20 minutes in your instant pot or stovetop. Serve with a simple dal or as an accompaniment to the curry of your choice.
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Brown Rice
Instant pot brown rice is a dump-and-go recipe to cook perfectly soft and fluffy grains of rice...every time. Top this brown rice with your favorite dal or curry rice for a complete meal.
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Basmati Rice
Learn how to make perfect Basmati rice to go with that chicken curry. Warm, fluffy Basmati rice is easy to achieve with this recipe!
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Saffron Rice
Saffron Rice makes a great side dish for chicken curries. The warmth and color of saffron is unbeatable and when this spice is added to rice, it makes for a beautiful and tasty pulao that is a perfect match for most curries.
Check out this recipe
Lentils and Vegetables
Maash ki dal
Maash ki daal or white urad dal has a slightly thick texture unlike other lentils. It has a nutty, warm and savory taste that goes very well with Indian breads like naan or tandoori roti. A tempering of ginger, red or green chillies, and mint adds a kick to this vegan dal!
Check out this recipe
Whole Masoor Dal (Brown Lentil Curry)
Whole masoor dal (brown lentils) tastes great with bread, white or brown rice, or even as a side for your main dish. A tempering of ghee, onions, garlic, and cumin takes it to the next level. These curry style brown lentils have a savory, earthy taste you won't forget in a hurry!
Check out this recipe
Instant Pot Chana Dal
This easy chana dal recipe made in the instant pot is tasty and nutritious. It tastes amazing with both Indian bread like roti or plain rice. Serve it with a fresh salad on the side for a simple and wholesome meal.
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Dal Makhani (Buttery, Curried Lentils)
Dal makhani is a gem of Punjabi cuisine. Curried Indian black lentils and kidney beans are cooked in tomatoes, spices, butter and cream. The result is a smooth, rich and intensely flavorful dal that's worthy to be served with some warm naan/rice as a complete meal, or as a side with your main dish.
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Dal Fry (Spiced Lentils)
A simple dal fry with Indian bread or rice and a curry of your choice is the ultimate comfort food and an easy, no-fuss meal. Pigeon pea lentils or toor dal is first tempered with onions, tomatoes and spices in the instant pot, then pressure-cooked to perfection.
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Bombay Potatoes (Masala Aloo)
Bombay potatoes are crispy and slightly spicy with soft insides. Baby potatoes are steamed in the instant pot or stovetop, tossed in a few spices and dressed with lemon juice, green chillies and cilantro. This vegan recipe is delicious as a side dish with your favorite curry, but it can also work as the main dish when paired with roti (Indian flatbread).
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Dry Moong Dal Recipe
This dry moong dal recipe is nutritious, full of flavor and easy on the stomach. It is made with a few, readily available ingredients and comes together very quickly. A simple dal recipe that works as a side dish in an elaborate Indian meal or as a complete meal on its own with roti (Indian bread) and onion raita (spiced yogurt).
Check out this recipe
Yogurt and Raita
Onion Raita (Pyaz ka Raita)
Onion raita is a cooling yogurt side dish or dip that's almost essential with spicy Indian food like curries, biryani and kebabs. This is an easy no-cook recipe that you can make in ten minutes flat with ingredients that you will probably already have in your fridge and pantry.
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Dahi Bhalla (Fried Lentil Balls in Yogurt)
Dahi bhalla or dahi bara are fried lentil balls dipped in cold, sweetened yogurt. Topped with a variety of chutneys and spices, these balls are so soft, they will melt in your mouth! Works as a snack or a side dish with all kinds of curries and pulaos.
Check out this recipe
Dahi Baingan (Fried Eggplant in Yogurt)
Dahi baingan is an Indian yogurt side dish that's made with lightly fried eggplant, onions, garlic and cilantro mixed with yogurt. It goes very well with all kinds of rice dishes like pulao and biryani as well as curries. Simple and soothing!
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Beetroot Raita
Beetroot raita is a fresh and fun side with yogurt as the starring ingredient and beets prepped in the instant pot. It pairs perfectly with all kinds of Indian entrees including rice-based recipes like biryani and pulao. A 20-minute, 5-ingredient recipe!
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Salads
Kachumber
This is a fresh, easy chopped salad traditionally served with curries and dals. The vegetables are dressed with lemon juice, salt, and a little cumin and chili. If you want to add some fresh herbs, cilantro or mint would be great options. A crisp and colorful salad that everyone will love!
Check out this recipe
Cucumber Salad
This hydrating cucumber salad has an earthy, rustic tempering of cumin seeds in ghee and is perfectly spiced with green chilies. Topped with roasted ground peanuts and cilantro, this salad is ready in under 10 minutes and so fun to eat with your favourite curry!
Check out this recipe
Indian Street Corn Salad
Indian style corn salad made with fresh corn, chaat masala and coriander. Makes for a tasty and refreshing side to accompany your main meal.
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Indian Chickpea Salad
Indian chickpea salad is a super easy recipe that’s bursting with some great flavors. A mix of chickpeas with pomegranate, onion, tomato, cucumber, cheese, lemon, and chat masala makes for a healthy side to pair with chicken curry.
Check out this recipe
Chicken Curry Recipes
Want some great chicken curry recipes to go with these sides? Check out these recipes.
- Chicken Korma - This is an authentic chicken korma recipe straight from my mother and grandmother's kitchen! Tender cuts of bone-in chicken are cooked in a rich and sumptuous sauce made with fried onions, yogurt, whole spices and ground almonds.
- Karahi Chicken - A pleasing curry from the subcontinent that you will love. Made with a few readily available ingredients like tomatoes, ginger, and green chillies, it is simple enough to make on a weekday.
- Palak Chicken - Tender pieces of boneless chicken breast and spinach leaves simmered in an onion-tomato gravy made creamy with cashews. This is the best of North Indian chicken recipes and a foodie's dream come true!
- Achari Chicken - Achari chicken or achari murgh is a bold and spicy chicken curry made in Indian pickling spices.
- Madras Chicken - Chicken Madras is a hot and vibrant but easy chicken curry recipe. It's got sweet and sour flavors happening in the background, thanks to all the tomatoes and a sprinkling of lemon juice and sugar. Deeply flavoured with spices, this is an Indian curry you can't miss!
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