Uru-Swati menu translation
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago
Quick bites
Idli sambhar
Small patties of ground rice and white lentils steamed. Served with a cup of spiced
vegetable soup for dipping.
Vada sambhar
A fried doughnut-shaped fritter of ground lentils. Served with a cup of spiced vegetable
soup for dipping.
Idli vada sambhar
Small patties of ground rice and white lentils steamed. Served with a fried doughnutshaped fritter of ground lentils and a cup of spiced vegetable soup for dipping.
Sada dosa
A thin crepe made of finely ground rice and lentils, served unadorned, i.e. “plain” or
“sada.” Served with a cup of spiced vegetable soup for dipping.
Masala dosa
A thin crepe made of finely ground rice and lentils, filled with potatoes cooked with
onions, mustard seed and turmeric. Served with a cup of spiced vegetable soup for
dipping.
Mysore sada dosa
A thin crepe made of finely ground rice and lentils, smeared with special spiced lentil
chutney and served with coconut chutney alongside. Served with a cup of spiced
vegetable soup for dipping.
Mysore masala dosa
A thin crepe made of finely ground rice and lentils, filled with potatoes cooked with
onions, mustard seed and turmeric, smeared with special spiced lentil chutney and served
with coconut chutney alongside. Served with a cup of spiced vegetable soup for dipping.
Paper dosa
A two-foot long, crispy, paper-thin crepe made of finely ground rice and lentils. Served
with a cup of spiced vegetable soup for dipping.
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago
Paper masala dosa
A two-foot long, crispy, paper-thin crepe made of finely ground rice and lentils filled
with potatoes cooked with onions, mustard seed and turmeric. Served with a cup of
spiced vegetable soup for dipping.
Uttapam
Savory pancake made from batter of urad dal (a lentil-like bean) and rice. Served with
coconut chutney and a cup of spiced vegetable soup for dipping.
Onion or veg uttapam
Savory pancake made from batter of urad dal (a lentil-like bean) and rice. Served thick
with ingredients cooked onto the batter, like tomatoes, onions and chili. Served with
coconut chutney a cup of spiced vegetable soup for dipping.
Samosa
A traditional fried triangular pastry shell stuffed with potatoes, onions, fresh cilantro and
peas.
Batata vada
Potato dumplings deep-fried in a batter made with Bengal gram flour, cumin seeds, red
chili powder and turmeric powder. Served with green serrano-cilantro chutney and red
tamarind chutney.
Vada pav
Potato dumplings deep-fried in a batter made with Bengal gram flour, cumin seeds, red
chili powder and turmeric powder and served on hamburger-like bun. Served with green
serrano-cilantro chutney and red tamarind chutney.
Alu tikki
Potato patties sprinkled with lime or lemon juice, turmeric, salt and garam masala and
fried in oil. Served with red and green chutneys.
Green kachori
A smooth flour dough filled with ginger paste, chili paste, fennel seed paste, green peas,
folded into a pouch and fried. Served with red and green chutneys.
Khasta kachori
A deep-fried flour puff made of ghee, salt and plain flour and stuffed with moong dal,
cumin, green chili, powdered fennel seeds and garam masala. Served with red and green
chutneys.
Khaman dhokla
A steamed savory cake made with chickpea flour and spices. Served garnished with
cilantro, grated coconut and fried serrano chilies. Served with red and green chutneys.
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago
Dahi vada
Lentil-based doughnut dumplings soaked in thick yogurt and sprinkled with spices and
chutney. Served chilled.
Dal vada
Deep-fried green lentil doughnut-shaped patties. Served with raw onion and red and
green chutneys.
Papdi chat
Flour crisps topped with chickpeas, potatoes, yogurt, red and green chutneys, cilantro,
sev (fried chickpea noodles).
Samosa chat
Triangular-shaped deep-fried dumplings stuffed with potatoes, green peas, onions and
spices, and topped with channa masala (chickpeas cooked down with tomato sauce and
spices), potatoes, yogurt, red and green chutneys, cilantro, sev (fried chickpea noodles).
Kachori chat
A deep-fried flour puff made of ghee, salt and plain flour and stuffed with moong dal,
cumin, green chili, powdered fennel seeds and garam masala, Further stuffed with channa
masala (chickpeas cooked down with tomato sauce and spices), potatoes, yogurt, red and
green chutneys, cilantro, sev (fried chickpea noodles).
Bhel
Puffed rice, sev, boiled potatoes, onions and spices mixed in red-green-garlic chutney
paste and garnished with cilantro and sev.
Deluxe bhel
Puffed rice, sev, boiled potatoes, onions and spices mixed in red-green-garlic chutney
paste and garnished with cilantro, sev, cucumbers, tomatoes and raw mangos (in season).
Pani puri
Bite-sized round puffy hollow puri (unleavened bread) fried crisp and served with a
mixture of potatoes, chickpeas, green moong, red tamarind chutney and pani (our own
special spiced water) for dipping.
Sev puri
Bite-sized round, pressed flat puri (unleavened bread) fried crisp and topped with
potatoes, onions, red, green and garlic chutneys, and garnished with spices and sev (deepfried chickpea noodles).
Dahi batata puri
Bite-sized round, puffed and hollowed puri (unleavened bread) fried crisp and filled with
boiled potatoes, onions and sev (deep-fried chickpea noodles) and topped with yogurt,
sev and cilantro. Served with red, green and garlic chutneys.
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Veg bhajia
Mixed vegetable fritters of gram flour batter deep-fried in oil. Served with red and green
chutneys.
Onion pakora
Finely chopped onion fritters of gram flour batter deep-fried in oil. Served with red and
green chutneys.
Mirchi pakora
Hot banana pepper fritters deep-fried in a gram flour batter. Served with red and green
chutneys.
Paneer pakora
Two thin slices of fresh housemade cheese filled with mint chutney then deep-fried in a
gram flour batter and served with red and green chutneys.
Puneri missal
A mixture of sprouted moong bean lentils and chickpeas cooked in spices served with
boiled potatoes, onions, red and green chutneys and “hot mix,” a spicy mixture of crispy
snacks.
Dahi missal
A mixture of sprouted moong bean lentils, chickpeas and yogurt cooked in spices served
with boiled potatoes, onions, red and green chutneys and “hot mix,” a spicy mixture of
crispy snacks.
Mini meals
Vegetable roll
Mixed vegetables (peppers, carrots, onions) rolled into housemade chapati bread (similar
to tortilla) with fresh lettuce. Served with raw onions and green chutney.
Paneer roll
Cooked onions and housemade shredded cheese rolled into housemade chapati bread
(similar to tortilla) with fresh lettuce. Served with raw onions and green chutney.
Falafel sandwich
Spicy deep-fried chickpea balls wrapped in pita bread along with lettuce, cucumbers and
tomatoes. Served with tahini sauce and special spicy red sauce.
Channa bhatura
Channa masala (chickpeas cooked down with tomato sauce and spices) served with
bhatura (fried bread).
Pav bhaji
A spicy blend of cooked potatoes, carrots, green beans, onions and tomatoes served with
mini French bread, raw onions and fresh lemon.
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago
Puri bhaji
A spicy potato curry served with fried puffed bread used for dipping.
Ragda patis
Pan-fried potato patties covered in a stew made of white peas and spices. Garnished with
raw onions, cilantro and green and red chutneys.
Vegetable upma
Semolina oatmeal-like dish cooked with mustard seeds and mixed vegetables (carrots,
corn, lima beans, peas). Served with yogurt-achar (pickle) chutney.
Vegetable omelette
An omelette made without eggs but with chickpea flour, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and
chilies. Served with mini French bread and ketchup.
Mung dal childa
Pancakes made with split mung dal, chopped cilantro and ginger-chili paste. Served with
green chutney.
Parathas (Served with dal, raita & pickle)
Flatbreads (Served with lentils, yogurt and pickled raw mangos or lemon)
Plain paratha
Flatbread made out of whole-wheat flour and lightly pan-fried in oil (or ghee by request).
Onion paratha
Flatbread made out of whole-wheat flour, stuffed with onion and lightly pan-fried in oil.
Alu paratha
Flatbread made out of whole-wheat flour, stuffed with potato and lightly pan-fried in oil.
Muli paratha
Flatbread made out of whole-wheat flour, stuffed with radish and lightly pan-fried in oil.
Methi paratha
Flatbread made out of whole-wheat flour, stuffed with methi (fenugreek) leaves and
lightly pan-fried in oil.
Paneer paratha
Flatbread made out of whole-wheat flour, stuffed with housemade cheese and lightly panfried in oil.
Meals (Served with basmati rice, raita & pickle)
Alu jeera
Stir-fried potatoes mixed with cumin seeds and spices.
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago
Alu gobi
Dry Indian curry made primarily from diced potatoes, cauliflower and spices.
Chana masala
Chickpeas cooked down with tomato sauce and spices, garnished with raw onion and
cilantro.
Bhindi masala
Okra slices and thinly sliced onions and tomatoes, stir-fried in a spicy ginger-garlic paste
with cumin seeds.
Matar paneer
Green peas and housemade cheese in a tomato curry.
Palak paneer
Spinach cooked with tomatoes and onions and added to housemade cheese in curry
gravy.
Baigan bhartha
An eggplant curry made of roasted and mashed eggplant mixed with onions, tomatoes,
peas and spices.
Vegetable jalfrezie
A curry dish made with vegetables (peppers, cauliflower, corn, onions).
Malai kofta
Vegetarian dumpling dish consisting of balls made from housemade cheese, cream and
vegetables, and covered in a spicy tomato-onion-garlic cream curry.
Paneer makhani
Cubes of housemade cheese cooked in a rich creamy tomato gravy.
Vegetable makhani
A variety of vegetables cooked in a rich creamy tomato gravy.
Navratan korma
A spicy onion curry dish made from mixed vegetables and cream.
Paneer bhurji
Finely shredded housemade cheese in a rich tomato cashew curry.
Dal makhani
A creamy black lentil dish comprised of lentils, beans, spices and finely chopped onions
and tomatoes.
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago
Tadka dal
A spicy yellow lentil curry with cumin seeds, tomatoes and spices.
Veg. kesari biryani (w/ raita)
Rice flavored with saffron and cooked mixed vegetables. Served with yogurt sauce.
Shrikhand puri (w/ undhiyu)
Sweetened and saffron-flavored yogurt served with deep-fried unleavened bread.
(Undhiyu- A variety of vegetables such as yams and potatoes, simmered in a spicy green
masala sauce.)
Ras puri (w/ undhiyu)
Mango pulp served with deep-fried unleavened bread. (Undhiyu- A variety of vegetables
such as yams and potatoes, simmered in a spicy green masala sauce.)
Extras
Puri
Fried flatbread that puffs up when fried.
Roti
Thin whole wheat bread.
Naan
Round flat bread made from white flour.
Garlic naan
Round flat bread made from white flour and brushed with butter and fresh garlic.
Onion kulcha
Leavened white flat bread filled with minced onions and spices.
Beverages
Masala tea
Tea spiced with secret blend of spices, including green cardamom.
Fresh lime soda (sweet/salted)
Lime juice mixed with soda water, available sweet or salty.
Salted lassi
A yogurt-based drink blended with salt and cumin seeds.
Sweet lassi
A yogurt-based drink flavored with sugar.
Mango lassi
A yogurt-based drink blended with sugar and mango.
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago
Thandai
Chilled, creamy, almond-flavored milk-based beverage.
Rose falooda
A dessert drink made with rose milk, vanilla ice cream and falooda (vermicelli-like
noodles).
Kesari falooda
A dessert drink made from a combination of saffron milk, vanilla ice cream and falooda
(vermicelli-like noodles).
Royal falooda
A dessert drink made from a combination of saffron milk, vanilla ice cream, mixed nuts
and falooda (vermicelli-like noodles).
Jal jeera
A spiced and salty cumin lemonade.
Desserts
Gulab jamun
Fried milk balls immersed in sugary syrup.
Ras malai
Cheese dumplings immersed in creamy, reduced, sweetened milk.
Gajar halwa
Shredded carrots cooked with milk and butter, sprinkled with cardamom powder and
chopped nuts.
Shrikhand
Strained yogurt mixed with cardamom powder, saffron and chopped nuts.
Kheer
Rice pudding flavored with cardamom and chopped nuts.
Basundi/Rabdi
Reduced milk flavored with cardamom and chopped nuts.
Mango melba
A vanilla ice cream sundae topped with chopped mangoes and fresh cream.
Kulfi
Ice cream with a slightly chewy texture and a sweet, creamy taste. Available in plain,
mango or pistachio.
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago
Kulfi falooda
Ice cream mixed with vermicelli noodles and reduced milk flavored with rose syrup and
topped with nuts.
Courtesy of Time Out Chicago