Lamb Rogan Josh

What was Sacramento’s loss has become Roseville’s gain—Monsoon Cuisine of India recently relocated to its new home on Douglas Boulevard, bringing along all of their panache and luscious Indian fare.

On my visit, they had only been open a couple of weeks and were eager to show off. The lavish orange walls—graced with colorful abstract canvases and several other sparing black and silver touches—give the eatery a contemporary feel while still nodding to its exotic roots.

As my husband and I settled in and checked out the extensive menu, I realized just how gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly Indian food is. In fact, the majority of the offerings had either a “GF” or “V” designation next to them.

Mango Lassi

Before long, the Mixed Grill Sampler arrived with an array of chicken and lamb cooked with a variety of spice blends, each creating a whirlwind of delicious flavors in my mouth. I’m a sucker for biryani, so I opted for the chicken variety, which featured basmati rice with hearty chunks of chicken and aromatic spices like cardamom and cinnamon. I loved that they used whole spices—not only helping to infuse an incredible amount of flavor but lending the dish a traditional homemade flair, too. 

My husband ordered the Lamb Rogan Josh (a famous dish from Kashmir), which boasted supple bites of tender lamb in an incredibly complex sauce spiced with cardamom, anise seed and paprika. We’re not normally big lamb eaters, but my husband went so far as to say: “This is the only acceptable way to eat lamb.” Suffice to say, he really liked it.

We couldn’t help but order garlic naan, and I wasn’t disappointed when a big basket of the chewy-crispy bread came by. At this point we were running out of room on the table, thanks to all of the flavor-packed foods occupying it. Despite the tight space, I was happy I ordered the mango lassi, a thick dessert-like drink made with the sweet fruit and creamy yogurt. It’s basically an excuse to have dessert before dinner, and it’s an excuse I’m likely to make again. •

—by Jennifer Resnicke

Monsoon Cuisine of India, 1813 Douglas Boulevard, Roseville, 916-771-5999.