India Paradise in Windsor, Ontario, has begun serving Thali and it has been quite the hit with customers, but, what exactly is it? Let us dive into the offering.
Thali means “plate” and is literally the round platter used to serve food in the South Asia and Southeast Asia. In this instance, Thali is also used to refer to an Indian-style meal made up of a selection of various dishes which are served on a platter. Think of it as a smorgasbord of deliciousness.
Once they reopened following a brief pause at the beginning of the pandemic, the Ottawa Street restaurant started offering Thali on their menu. The reason they implemented it was because it was a great way for customers to try a little bit of everything. The Thali offering immediately became the most popular item on the menu. Part of the reason is that the restaurant is now offering “Thali Tuesdays” for takeout where it’s buy-one-get-one.
So what is all part of a Thali at India Paradise? What types of dishes do you get as part of it? Well, let us break it all down for you.
WHITE RICE
The rice is the glue that binds everything on the plate together.
CURRY OF CHOICE
India Paradise allows you to choose any curry of choice. I was in the mood for their butter chicken.
DHAL MAKANI & RAITA
Raiti is an Indian condiment made from salted yoghurt (dahi), mixed together with a variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs, and is usually served as a side dish to help cool the heat of spicy dishes. Dhal Makani is made with lentils,beans, butter and cream.
VEGGIE PAKORA
Veggie Pakoras are deep fried fritters are filled with tender slices of potatoes, onions, spinach, cilantro and more.
ALOO GOBI MASALA
Aloo Gobi Masala is a popular Indian dish in which potatoes and cauliflower are cooked with onions, tomatoes and spices. Absolutely delicious.
NAAN
When there are so many great saucy items, you need some naan to scoop it all up. Naan is an oven-baked flatbread. See how it’s made here.
SALAD
A little salad never hurt anyone and you’ll be able to say you ate your greens.
DESSERT
The dessert India Paradise offers as part of their Thali always changes. I receive the Gulab Jamun, a spongy milky ball soaked in syrup.