FLAVOURFUL AND FAMILIAR

Chingari at Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha has been deeply embedded in the history of the hotel for over two decades now. FACT’s Asad Khan headed there for some comfort food as the chilly weather called for it.

Let’s be honest some like it hot, some are born to be mild, but everyone loves a decent curry. If it’s comfort food you’re looking for, then there’s nothing finer than Indian. Whether it’s the pappad, street-food-style chaats, grilled tandoori chicken or just aromatic and creamy butter chicken — Chingari has been a top pick for culinary connoisseurs and people who love Indian flavours for years now. And so, to broaden my culinary palate a notch — the winter breeze called for some Indian comfort food.

Chingari does look a lot like an Indian restaurant — the exterior at the entrance is decked with red draping, ornate elephants (a symbol of importance in Indian culture), gorgeous handwoven rugs on the walls and beautiful painted elements — everything takes you right to the streets of India in a second. There’s a sense of the Mughal era, ghazals (traditional music) play throughout the space and the walls are adorned with historic paintings and antique swords.

We were served with some crunchy pappad paired with an assortment of chutneys whilst we browsed through the elaborate menu of Indian delicacies. The crispiness of the pappad cracking with the sweet and spicy flavours of the chutneys — there couldn’t have been a better way to begin our journey.

Delving into the mains, we bit into Chef Jograj’s Selection platter of kebabs featuring chicken, lamb, fish tikka and prawns as well as Murgh Makhanwala, Lamb Biryani and Madras Fish Curry. The tender kebabs were slathered in spices and exuded richness in every bite. With a slight squeeze of lemon and mint chutney on the side — they were resoundingly delectable and juicy.

 

The Murgh Makhanwala was basically the butter chicken gravy, chicken marinated and cooked in a tandoor and simmered in a rich tomato gravy. It was succulent and mild — great if you love the textures and flavours but don’t prefer any ad-libbing masalas. Think creamy but not so heavy that you go home hating yourself for eating too much. Well, one thing I can say for sure — there’s no way possible you won’t mop the last bit of it with the fluffy butter naan. For those of you with big appetites, this is your safe space!

Another main course that had our mouths salivating was the Lamb Biryani. The spicy aroma of the rice with lamb added a hint of distinct flavour and took the warm, spiced cuddle of the rice and made it a bolder experience. To sum up our Madras Fish Curry, fresh hammour, cooked with coconut gravy and tempered with mustard and curry leaves, was remarkable. Possibly the best ever fish curry around in that it impressed us beyond words. The floating coconut curry made for a delectable, creamy dish with rich and flavourful chunks of fish. The drinks served to us throughout the experience were very exotic as well. Punches of raspberry, pineapple, cucumber and orange giving a kick to our palates.

We ended our Indian affair with Gulab Jamuns and Ras Malai. The warm Gulab Jamuns had to be our favourite, the round milk dumplings in rose water syrup were sweet enough to take you on a journey of their own.

Chingari offers its guests a unique and authentic Indian dining experience that is nothing but flavourful and rich. ✤

GO: CALL 4428 1555 FOR RESERVATIONS AND MORE INFORMATION.