A selection of the best Indian cuisine in Barcelona

The cuisine of India is rich, fragrant, spiced, and hot. Its recipe book is the result of a conjunction of the many influences that throughout history it has been apprehending from the peoples who have passed through, invaded, and colonized its lands.

Hindu cuisine, moreover, is strongly influenced by religious beliefs ---and prohibitions---. But if there is something in common among the different gastronomic currents of the Asian country, it is the garama masala,that is, thecurry.

To savor a good curry, luckily, you don't have to travel thousands of kilometers. In Barcelona, there are a good handful of eateries run by Indians who, faithful to their origins, offer this and other dishes from their suggestive recipe book. Restaurants that, far from the image of yesteryear, present themselves as modern, cozy establishments with an aesthetic that also accompanies every bite.

Here, a selection of four of these Barcelona restaurants, places to let yourself be seduced by Indian cuisine, flavors, and aromas.

Tandoor, the most updated tradition

It is one of the restaurants that has made Indian cuisine fashionable in Barcelona. The key: being one of the first to offer authentic Indian cuisine, in a modern, colorful, fresh, and "cool" place. And Tandoor has a secret weapon: its chef and owner, Iván Suriender, who learned from the first Indian chef who "cooked" in Barcelona, his father Nath Suriender Oberoi. He taught him to cook the famous Tikka Masala, one of his star dishes. But Iván also trained at Tickets, under the baton of the Adriàs and the Iglesias. That vision of business and cuisine is what he applied at Tandoor. The result, a "light" Northern Indian cuisine proposal. These are proposals that appeal to the local palate, with touches from other parts of the Asian country, decorated with many flowers and colors.

At Tandoor, there are also as many vegetarian options as meat options. Some of their hits, the samosa ---chickpea flour dumpling filled with potatoes and peas spiced with cumin---, the palak paneer ---fresh cheese with soft spinach puree--- and the sheek kebab ---minced lamb roll spiced with avocado and mango chutney---. But, without a doubt, if there is one dish worth tasting, it is their dessert Klfi, a homemade milk, saffron, and cinnamon ice cream perfect for deliciously ending the experience.

Tandoor. C/ Aragón, 8.

Bembi, in a detailed and warm atmosphere

Another of the Indian restaurateurs behind the boom of Indian cuisine in Barcelona is Sanjay Das Gupta, founder of the Bembi Group. Its flagship is the eponymous restaurant, an establishment with a refined, modern, and warm aesthetic, a perfect setting for a gastronomic offer based on Northern Indian cuisine but with many local touches. "We do not offer fusion cuisine, although the presentation is modern and avant-garde," they emphasize. Thus, on the menu ofBembiauthentic preparations, which come from the different regions of India, coexist with a current and detailed presentation. A selection of suggestions carefully designed by the experienced chef Anand Singh Negi, the group's kitchen manager and trained in classic Indian cuisine, and executed by Lakwinder Singh.

Recipes prepared with the best local ingredients and spices imported from India such as, for example, the Chicken Vindaloo (special for the brave), a typical Goan curry whose name derives from the Portuguese dish Carne de Vinha d'Alhos, meat marinated with wine and garlic. The recipe is maintained but adding spices and chilies. Or also the Kadhai Jhinga, a circular and deep pot, used especially in northern India and neighboring countries. In it, dishes are cooked slowly with crushed seeds of different spices and peppers. In addition, they offer a delicious selection of dishes in Tandoor, such as the Lassoni Jhina, prawns marinated in yogurt, garlic and pepper, roasted in the tandoor; or the Adrak Ke Panje, juicy New Zealand lamb ribs, marinated in yogurt and spices, served with tender shoots.

But, without a doubt, Bembi, in addition to delicious cuisine, offers an ideal atmosphere for couples, for meetings with friends or even business. Warm colors, noble woods and touches that transport us to the most select India.

Bembi. C/Consell de Cent, 377.

Little Andaman, flavors of the coast

Little Andaman is the younger brother of the Bembi restaurant. A spacious and well-located place, with a careful and contemporary interior design, where you can taste dishes from the coast of India. The proposal, quite different from what Indian restaurants in Barcelona usually offer, is paired with a surprising offer of cocktails, perfect to enjoy during lunch or dinner. A meal that they propose in the form of "Indian tapas", that is, dishes to share among several people, so that diners can try as much as possible in an informal and pleasant atmosphere.

For Sanjay Das Gupta and his daughter, who is more involved in the day-to-day running of the place, Little Andaman wants to differentiate itself and offer a cuisine that is not sufficiently represented in the world, such as that of southern India and the coastal islands.

What most differentiates this type of cuisine is its high presence of fish and its mildness. The spice, so present in Indian cuisine, is softened here, as are the rest of the spiced flavors.

Thus, dishes such as the Shrimp Skewers, with mustard and 5 spices, the Peper Crab, shell-less crab in tempura with tomato chutney and salad, the Pulled Lamb Wrap, with yogurt sauce, chutneys and crispy salad, or the Indian version of nachos, crispy rice chips with sauces, stand out. Also delicious is the Kolkata Ghugni Chaat, a Kolkata street snack with peas and tamarind served with buckwheat crisps and pickled onion. And the stuffed naans (kulchas), with chicken, blue cheese, mushrooms or with stracciatella and tomato, are exquisite.

The signature cocktails deserve a special mention, such as the Saffron Little Lady, the Tamarind & Ginger Margarita and the Andaman Fashion.

Little Andaman. C/ Muntaner, 182.

Casa Masala, from 'food truck' to 'trendy' spot

The popular food-truckMasala73 has long been established asCasa Masala, becoming one of the most popular Indian cuisine restaurantstrendy. Jordi Aros and Kuldeep Singh are responsible for this successful renovation. The place, with a touch of design, but without excessive posturing, has a large open bar from which you can see how they prepare the bread naanand other house specialties.

The new venture highlights local products and the most modern culinary techniques, but without losing sight of the foundation: authentic classic Indian cuisine. Thus, in addition to some tapas and appetizers already offered in their well-known food-truck, at Casa Masala you can savor recipes such as the spectacular Iberian Pluma Biryani, made with Iberian pork, marinated with yogurt and tandoori spices, served over basmati rice biryani with spices. Also delicious and recommended is the Sheekh Kebab of organic lamb from Cal Tomàs, cooked in a tandoor oven and served over ghost madras curry, yogurt, and fennel herb.

In the drinks section, the Chai Masala stands out. It is a handcrafted drink made following Kuldeep's grandmother's recipe, based on black tea with fennel seeds, cinnamon, star anise, and ginger.

Casa Masala. C/ Muntaner, 152.