WHEN it comes to currying favour with Ipswich’s vegetarian diners, Indian Mehfil has plenty working in its favour, with a generous selection that gives vegetables, lentils and paneer their rightful place at the centre of the meal.
This week’s Best of Ipswich winner offers seven vegetarian curries and another seven vegan options, creating the kind of menu that encourages a shared order and a little friendly debate over which dishes make the cut.
Situated right in the centre of Ipswich, this local Indian institution also picks up points for convenience, making it an easy meeting place for friends or a dinner stop during an evening in the city.
Having that much meat-free choice in the city’s heart adds to its appeal, particularly when a table wants enough variety to keep everyone interested.
Among the most tempting options is Shabnam Methi Malai, which combines button mushrooms and green peas in a thick, mildly spiced cashew gravy finished with fenugreek. Alongside it, Malai Kofta offers paneer cheese balls in a buttery cashew gravy with Indian spices, while Vegetables Korma brings fresh vegetables together with yoghurt, cream, nuts and fragrant spices.
These dishes give diners who enjoy a richer curry several combinations to consider, each built around a different central ingredient.
Paneer receives particularly generous attention, with three dishes exploring the cheese through different sauces and seasonings. Palak Paneer combines homemade cheese with spinach and fresh masala, Karahi Paneer brings ginger, onion and capsicum into a tomato gravy, and Butter Paneer takes the indulgent route with a thick butter gravy enriched with nuts and fragrant spices.
The menu also marks all seven vegan curries and six of the seven vegetarian curries as gluten-free, giving diners another useful consideration when deciding their order.
