Enjoying Indian Curries Abroad Without Onion or Garlic
A guide for no onion/no garlic diners to enjoy authentic Indian curries while traveling. Discover safe dishes like Dal Tadka and Aloo Gobi, plus how MM Food app translates menus and checks ingredients abroad.
MM Food Team

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Enjoying Indian Curries Abroad Without Onion or Garlic
Craving authentic Indian flavors while traveling, but avoiding onion and garlic? You’re not alone. Many travelers follow religious, Ayurvedic, or personal dietary preferences that exclude these ingredients. Yet abroad, communication barriers and menu confusion often make finding safe dishes challenging. Here's how to savor Indian curries confidently on your next trip.
Why It's Tricky Abroad
Onion and garlic form the base of most Indian restaurant curries worldwide. Language gaps can make explaining "no allium" requests difficult. Waitstaff might misunderstand, or kitchens may use pre-made pastes containing hidden ingredients. Traditional Jain or satvik dishes are perfect alternatives—if you can find them on foreign menus!
5 Onion/Garlic-Free Indian Curries to Seek Out
When dining abroad, look for these typically safe choices:
- Dal Tadka (Lentil stew) - Tempered with cumin, hing (asafoetida), and ghee
- Kadhi Pakora - Yogurt-based curry with chickpea flour dumplings
- Aloo Gobi - Potato and cauliflower cooked with ginger and turmeric
- Lauki Kofta - Bottle gourd dumplings in tomato gravy
- Jeera Aloo - Cumin-spiced potatoes without alliums
Pro Tip: Regional variations exist—always reconfirm with staff.
How MM Food App Makes Dining Safer
Stop playing ingredient roulette! Our app transforms dining:
- Set Your Profile → Choose "No Onion/No Garlic" from dietary presets
- Scan Any Menu → Instantly translate foreign-language menus
- Get AI-Powered Alerts → See which dishes match your restrictions
- Custom Notes → Add specific requests like "check for hidden garlic paste"
Next time a menu baffles you, let MM Food translate ingredients and flag safe options instantly. Travel tastes better when you eat confidently!
Smart Dining Strategies
- Ask for "Jain-style" preparations—many kitchens abroad recognize this
- Carry printed allergy cards in local languages explaining restrictions
- Focus on South Indian restaurants (more likely to offer sambar/dosa without alliums)
Final Thought: With preparation and MM Food's tech, you can relish authentic curry adventures without compromise. Safe travels and happy eating!

Dine Confidently Anywhere
Get the MM Food app for instant menu translation and allergy detection.