Guest post by Big Apple Curry member Yasmina who lives in London, is the mother of 3 beautiful kids, and a professional nutritionist

My husband Conrad and I live in London. We love Indian food and have a wonderful Indian take-away that we order from called “Holy Cow.”  The name in itself is fantastic and always puts a smile on my face.  In case you don’t know this trivial fact, Britain has the largest number of Indian restaurants compared to any country outside of India, so we know our Indian food (even without ever having set foot in India!).

While Conrad and I indulge in a take-away once or twice a month, I had never thought of including our children in this little treat — I had tried giving our son Tristan a piece of samosa at one point but it didn’t go over well, it was too strong and spicy for him. Just so you know, our kids are very young (Tristan is 6, Celeste is almost 4 and Roman is 16 months). So I spoke to Ina and she recommended that we try a chicken dish very low on the spice scale that is sweet and creamy in texture, along with plain steamed basmati rice and plain naan. So in other words: chicken + rice + bread. Our choice was made: ‘Murgh Korma’ (the menu states, “juicy chicken with dry nuts in a mild and creamy sauce”). In English it translates to ‘Creamy Chicken.’

The kids lit up when we suggested they join in for our special Indian dinner. Anything new and remotely different to their routine is always an adventure. Bless them. We looked at the menu together and explained that we would try a new chicken dish, which was “especially tasty for children and one that Auntie Ina really recommended.”  We ordered our usual favorites as well: Muttar Paneer (cubes of Indian cottage cheese cooked with fresh peas in onions and tomato sauce), Tarka Daal (mixed lentils cooked with ginger, cumin and garlic) and Machli Malekhu (boneless cod in a traditional sauce with tamarind, curry leaves, ground mustard seeds, fresh herbs and a hint of garlic).  Yum!

Tristan eating murgh korma (creamy Indian chicken) and steamed basmati rice…and cleaning his plate

Whenever we order from Holy Cow, we get pappadums and mango chutney on the house.  What a great way to start – a plate-sized crispy chip with a sweet dip on the side.  Glory days!  The children ceremoniously dipped each inch of the chip and relished in the mango chutney.  Then came the “plat de resistance,” the Murgh Korma.  The tender chicken breasts coated in a creamy, slightly sweet, and corn-colored sauce immediately appealed to them. Our cutting skills were barely required as the chicken pieces easily broke off into pieces (always a bonus = less work for the parents).

Mixing the sauce with basmati rice was another new experience for them.  Needless to say, our first Indian dinner with the kids was a success and they really enjoyed the “togetherness” that came with eating this special meal.  Now, every time the “Holy Cow” menu comes out of the drawer, the kids cheer and they cannot get to the table fast enough. I hope this gets you in the mood for expanding your children’s food horizons. In our household, the rule is always, “Try it once before you shoot it down.” In this instance, this rule served us very well!

Celeste eating it too! Indian food is fun to eat with your hands…no matter how old you are, really

My tips for any parents looking to introduce their children to Indian food are as follows:

• Make it playful. Indian food is ideal for using your fingers… pappadum and naan lend themselves to finger-licking goodness. And what child does not love to use his/her fingers (and get away with it)?

• Ask the restaurant to make it mild. Too much heat or too many spices will make your cherubs stick out their tongues with a resounding, “Yuck.” And they certainly will not be receptive to a second attempt any time soon. Spices take time to get used to, so be patient.

• Go for texture. Crispy, crunchy or tender textures will win the day over mush. As my almost 4-year old daughter says, “Mummy, this is baby food,” when whatever is put in front of her resembles a plate of non-descript goop.

• Stay simple. You cannot go wrong with chicken and basmati rice or fish with basmati rice. Most children love those staple foods. In Indian cuisine, they simply come with a twist:  flavour.

If you’re interested in a terrific Indian recipe for toddlers and kids, check out this post:

My Favorite Indian Recipe for Toddlers & Kids: Soft Lentil & Rice Balls