Going Gluten-Free? Here's how you can still enjoy the Royal Kitchen experience.

Indian cuisine, especially North Indian cuisine, is being popular among the different taste buds. Even the ones who like vibrant flavors develop a liking for the cuisine because it incites the senses of taste and smells of the foodies. But people with less to zero tolerance to gluten often think Indian food is off-limit for them, which is not the case. To clear the clouds, we wish to eradicate the confusion so you don’t miss out on this blissful cuisine.

Indian Food items to try that are Gluten-free:

Tandoori delicacies 

The north Indian restaurants have a Tandoori section in their gourmet Indian fast-food menu. These tandoori delicacies often have meat, vegetables, and paneer (soft cheese) which are almost always gluten-free. These specialties are made with a little or more spice mix and are the right way to start in an Indian restaurant.

Deep-fried items 

Deep-fried items like kofta, pakora, and Aloo Tikki (fritters) usually contain chickpea flour or cornflour. You can avoid full chaat though because it has semolina which has gluten. But it’s always good to ask the cook about the ingredients used in a dish before actually trying it because some of them may contain wheat flour or all-purpose flour in the batter.

Biryanis and Pulaos (veg & non-veg)

Biryanis and pulaos are within your limits as they are made with meat, vegetables, and rice which are naturally gluten-free. Biryanis like Chicken Biryani, Lamb Biryani, Goat meat Biryani or Shrimp Biryani are to die for and give you comfort with rice, meat, and aromatic spices. If you like the combination of rice, meat, and veggies, this is the menu section to scan at first glimpse.

Lentils & Vegetables 

Lentils are naturally gluten-free and dishes like red lentil soup and dal makhani can be a savior for you on a chilly winter evening. In the same way, there is a huge variety of irresistible vegetable dishes on our Indian menu, almost all of which are safe for those who are sensitive to gluten. These are made with spices, vegetables, and milk-based products minimally. Avoid the ones that contain asafoetida.

Yogurt-based drinks and condiments 

Indian condiments are good for digestion and this is why they are eaten in so many varieties. Yogurt-based condiments like raita, lassi, yogurt salad are good for gut health and it’s safe to consume them except the ones containing asafoetida. 

Note: Whenever you visit an Indian restaurant to try all of these delicacies, it’s important to always cross-check with the chef about the ingredients of gluten-free items so they’re extra careful while preparing your food. 

Food Items that are off-limits if you’re gluten-sensitive:

1. Bread (of all types) - Almost every type of bread in Indian restaurants has gluten so avoid bhatura, naan, chapati, and roti, instead head to the rice section.

2. Dishes containing Asafoetida - Dishes that have asafoetida have gluten, as it uses wheat flour during the making.  

3. Some sweets or dishes - Some sweets or dishes contain wheat flour like Jalebi, Gulab Jamun, and the ever delicious Samosas. 

Now that you are aware of what or what not you can eat in an Indian restaurant. Head to Royal Kitchen near Oakland airport and try these amazing delicacies.