Indian Highway Cuisine!
from Petrina Verma Sarkar, About.com Indian Food Guide

Dhabas (pronounced dhaa-baaz) have always been the favored stops for tired Indian truck drivers. At these northern India highway-side restaurants, truckies can not only get a hot, freshly prepared meal, they can also wash up and have a quick nap (out in the open!). Traditional Dhabas use charpoys or string cots as seating (which conveniently turn into beds when required) and serve filling, unpretentious and wholesome food like Anda Curry (egg curry) and Tadka Daal (yellow lentils) .

Dhaba food though simple, has gained fame all over India as being tasty. Even city folk drive out and down the highway to have a meal at one of them! Reproduce Dhaba flavors in your kitchen with these recipes for the Top 10 Indian Dhaba Foods.

1. Tandoori Chicken: Among the most famous Indian foods, Tandoori Chicken is loved by people the world over.

2. Butter Chicken: Butter Chicken tastes great with Kaali Daal (black lentils), naans and a green salad.

3. Tadka Daal (Yellow Lentils): One of my personal favorite meals is Tadka Daal served with plain boiled rice! Try it, you'll see why.

4. Kaali Daal (Black Lentils): Kaali Daal is also known as Ma Ki Daal (mom's lentils) since it is wholesome and delicious!

5. Chicken Curry: This most basic of chicken recipes is also one of the tastiest! Serve Chicken Curry with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) or plain boiled rice.

6. Anda Curry (Egg Curry): There are several different styles for making Egg Curry and this recipe is North Indian in origin. Made with hard-boiled eggs.

7. Aaloo Mutter (Potatoes and Peas): If you're in a rush but want something tasty and wholesome to eat, this is the dish for you. You can cook it quickly in a pan and even quicker in a pressure cooker.

8. Aaloo Paratha (Potato Flatbread): Extremely popular with North Indians, these unleavened flat-breads are best eaten with chilled yoghurt and your favourite pickle or chutney.

9. Naan (Leavened Flatbread): Naans are traditionally cooked in a Tandoor or earthern oven but can also be made in your oven at home.

10. Lassi (Yoghurt Drink): Lassi is the perfect cooler on a hot day. You can add extra sweetness to it (if you like) with sugar or honey. Try this recipe for Mango Lassi.