Cooking an Indian meal from scratch can be daunting, even for people who grew up eating Indian food. And while it’s complicated at first to understand all the various spices, flavors and techniques, with a bit of practice and know-how, you’ll soon catch on that most of the recipes require the same stash of spices and ingredients — just used in different ways for different dishes. If your local grocery store doesn’t have the right ingredients, you’ll want to make a trip to the Indian grocery store or order items online before cooking your way through these Indian recipes. If you stock up on a handful of essential ingredients and pantry staples, they can be used time and time again for each dish you want to make. From butter chicken to lentil curry to chocolate barfi, these aromatic Indian recipes are easier than they may seem and will help you explore a vibrant food culture while having a blast in the kitchen.