Every country boasts its own unique cuisine, but Indian culinary tradition is truly distinctive in its feisty flavors and rich tasting dishes. The subcontinent with its wide assortment of soil, climate, culture and long history of trade gave birth to a food environment that is unrivaled the world over. The land provided spices, herbs, fresh vegetables and fruit and the people used them to create warm, spicy and soul-filling meals.
The long history between Kuwait and India via trade routes has meant that Indian cuisine is not new or shocking to our palates, instead it almost feels like a distant cousin or an extension of what we already know and love. Our first go- to destination when we’re having butter chicken dal or biryani is always Asha’s. The restaurant’s namesake is Asha Bhosle. A renowned Indian musician, product of India’s first family of music and turned culinary genius. The restaurant joins traditional North Western Indian homestyle cooking with new age fusion.
After months of COVID-19-caused restrictions we were excited about our visit to the new waterfront Asha’s. Located next to the Kuwait Towers and with a view second to none, we were ready to indulge in a rich lunch. What we weren’t expecting was how beautiful the interiors were going to be. The huge floor to ceiling windows let in the beautiful natural light, giving the space a warm glow while the Arabian Sea glitters in the background.
Rich maroon seats and booths complement white marble tables and welcome you into the space. The attention to detail in the interiors is obvious; from the gold-rimmed white porcelain flatware to the gold wire napkin rings and the beautiful brass chandeliers. Subtlety and understated elegance is the name of the game.
We visited mid-week, just before lunch hour and it was already packed. On our table sat a sign that told us it had just been sanitized and another that showed us a QR code which we scanned to get to the menu. In seconds we were perusing all the wonderful dishes we could order and enjoy.
The complimentary fried papadoms arrived at our table just after we sat down. We had three choices of dipping sauces; Sweet papaya pickles, Tamarind chutney and a Mint chutney. We tried to pace ourselves because we knew what was coming next.
We started with Asha’s sharing platter which includes a selection of most loved appetizers on the menu. We loved the Aloo Matar Kittikki – potato cutlets stuffed with mashed green peas and served with tangy chickpeas. The Jheenga Naar crunchy crispy prawns with honey chilli aioli sauce was the king of tangy kicks. The platter also included Tandoori Chicken Tikka and two types of samosas. It felt like we were warming up for the real race that was right around the corner.
One of our favorite things about Indian cuisine is how colorful it is. The reds are rich, the browns are deep and the greens are so lush. It is like experiencing nature on a table. The aromas and textures just add another layer of complexity and delight.
If you are a fan of chicken then you have to order the Murg Malai Kebab. Delectable boneless chicken breast marinated in a creamy cheese and cashew nut paste and a touch of cardamom that is grilled to perfection in the tandoor oven.
Whether you are vegetarian or just want something warm that reminds you of home, then the Chef’s Special Dal Makhani is just what you need. Classic black lentils are slow-cooked overnight with tomatoes, cream and butter. It doesn’t matter where you are from, but this dish tastes like home, hugs and happiness.
The Butter Chicken at Asha’s doesn’t need an introduction, it is a fan-favorite for good reason. The chef told us that the secret to the flavor is the dried fenugreek leaves.
Even non-lamb fans at the table loved the Pressure Cooker Mutton Curry, a classic home- style lamb curry made extra tender and flavorful in a pressure cooker. This dish was definitely theatrical, with steam escaping from the pot as our waiter opened the lid. Seafood made an appearance too in the form of the Prawn Biryani – prawns, cooked with biryani rice flavored with cumin, cardamom and saffron.
All of our dishes had one thing in common, balance. No flavor overpowers the other, and everything is layered together so delicately that you can taste, recognize and appreciate all the spice.
We wiped our plates clean with a selection of breads, fresh from the oven. The Laccha Paratha – a layered buttery bread, Cheese Garlic Naan and a plain Garlic Naan. And we washed down our meal with a refreshing Strawberry Passion Mash and Lemon Mint.
We were already feeling stuffed with all the good food but you just can’t leave a table without having dessert. Gulab Jamun is a very classic Indian dessert made from milk and cottage cheese dumplings soaked in syrup, served with rabri, a creamy thickened milk.
The texture is chewy but really soft and fluffy at the same time. It is one of those things you need to experience to really appreciate. The Kesar Pista Kulfi ice cream is made in-house from reduced milk, saffron and pistachio topped with fresh berries. It was cold and soothing after a really rich meal.
After a good meal, one usually feels satisfied, but we also felt grateful. Thankful for the return of some normalcy to our lives and our ability to visit and enjoy restaurants again, something we hope to never take for granted again.
Visit the new Asha’s at Arabian Gulf Street, Bneid Al Gar, next to the Kuwait Towers, The Avenues (2228 3503), 360 Mall (2208132/24), Boulevard (2208 1374/5), and Spoons (2225 4097). Visit ashasrestaurants.com or follow @ashasmiddleeast on Instagram for up to date information.
