Deepavali may be over, but the spirit of celebration lives on through food. These recipes carry the warmth and richness that make Indian cooking so special, dishes that bring people together even after the lights go out. Whether you’re opting for a quiet dinner, or a feast with family and friends, here are seven of my favourite Indian dishes to keep that festive feeling alive.
1. Easy Butter Chicken
I’ve always ordered butter chicken at North Indian restaurants and watched the chefs cook it. I never cooked it before until I tried my hand at it with Jon for a Zermatt shoot and it was surprisingly easy! Chicken in a smooth and creamy tomato curry, you’ll get a classic, comforting meal with rice of warm naan at the side.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/easy-butter-chicken/
Preparation Time: 45 minutes. Serves 3-4 pax
2. Rice Cooker Chicken Biryani
Biryani is a staple in every Indian household; My family’s was a traditional one, passed down from my late grandfather (to my eldest uncle, to my dad and eventually to me), which meant it took 2 whole days to make it, and even longer to perfect. That was until we stumbled upon this rice cooker version which is just as satisfying, only simpler and faster. This way, we have more time to actually bond about what Deepavali truly is about.
Recipe:
Preparation Time: 1 hour. Serves 4 pax.
3. Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken
During my early days as a cook, I used to marinade tens of kilos of tandoori chicken. You might think I would’ve gotten sick of it but I was determined to perfect it. I spent hours, days trying out different ways, and I found the way to make it not only tender and juicy on the inside, crispy and charred on the outside, but all in less than an hour with little mess. Serve it with naan or prata and you’ve got a dinner you can indulge yourself on the weeknight, or impress your friends on a weekend!
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/air-fryer-tandoori-chicken/
Preparation Time: 1 hour. Serves 4 pax.
4. One-Pot Mutton Curry
This was the first dish I cooked when I joined The Meatmen Channel (TMC). I remember watching in awe all the work that goes behind a 3 minute video, even being at Arunachala Bhavan itself took some work!
Imagine just a rich pot full of tender mutton slow-simmered with spices, tomatoes, and yogurt. Even better that you can just freeze it and have it whenever the next time!
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/one-pot-mutton-curry/
Preparation Time: 1 hour 40 minutes. Serves 3-4 pax.
5. Palak Chicken
Palak Chicken is a non-vegetarian spin of the infamous North Indian Palak Paneer. Tender, boneless chicken in spiced spinach gravy, this dish was wiped clean with flatbread by the rest of The Meatmen.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/palak-chicken/
Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 3-4 pax.
6. Indian Curry Chicken
During my time at an Italian restaurant, we threw a chicken curry “competition” where everyone would prepare their family’s version of chicken curry. Imagine, Indian, Chinese, Malay, Eurasian curries for staff meals, for an entire week. It was a relief that mine could freeze well and reheat without losing any of the spices’ fragrance, the juiciness of the chicken and most importantly, taste of heritage.
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/indian-chicken-curry/
Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Serves 3-4 pax.
7. Curry Chicken Mac & Cheese
If you came by our booth at Gastrobeats 2025, you would’ve noticed an interesting fusion of Laksa Mac and Cheese, and this variation was born from a surplus of leftover cooked macaroni. It combines your creamy classic with a nostalgic curry-spice chicken that’s hearty, satisfying and maybe, something you can serve at the next Gastrobeats, huh? (Let us know if you do though, we’ll love to celebrate that with you)
Recipe: https://themeatmen.sg/recipes/curry-chicken-mac-cheese/
Preparation Time: 15 minutes. Serves 2-3 pax.
After the Lights Fade, the Flavours and Love Stay
These recipes reflect some of my favourite memories, from heartwarming family meals at home, to staff meals at a corner of a restaurant kitchen, to exciting shoots and events at The Meatmen. They remind me that celebrations aren’t just about the occasion, but about the company that lingers by the door, with wrapped leftovers in their hands.
Whether you’re looking for other easy recipes, or authentic Indian cuisines, or maybe just here to read someone else’s story, let us know and be part of that journey with you!
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More of what you might like:
- Singaporean Dishes We Miss Most Living Abroad
- Hari Raya 2025: Making Begedils for Khalil’s Mum
- In the land of pasta and pizza, all i craved was tofu
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