A staple piece of cookware in South Asian cuisines, the kadai is a versatile pan that has been used in various iterations for centuries. Featuring high walls, a flat base, and distinctive looped handles on either side, the kadai makes for easy stirring or tossing—ideal for sauce-based meals like curry or ones that require frequent agitation, like stir-fries.
Our iteration of this classic shape is part of our Amrikan Collection in partnership with acclaimed food writer Khushbu Shah. Here, we’ll be going over everything you need to know about the kadai, including the wide variety of dishes that can be prepared in it.
What Is a Kadai?
Also called a “karahi”, the kadai is a deep, circular, and flat-bottomed pan, typically featuring sloped walls and looped handles on either side. These pans are generally made from materials like copper, stainless steel, or cast iron, and are used to prepare dishes like curry, nihari, or chicken kadai—the word “kadai” can be used to refer to either the utensil or the dish being prepared.
Understanding the Anatomy of a Kadai
To those just seeing a kadai for the first time, the kadai may more closely resemble a bowl than a pan—but it’s those high walls and flat base that make it such a versatile tool. The sloped walls make for easy stirring without fear of ingredients getting stuck in corners, while the large, deep volume allows for the building of flavor in sauce-based dishes, or the ability to deep-fry treats like samosas. A flat base means ingredients have complete contact with the cooking surface, perfect for sears and sautés.
And since our Kadai is constructed from our Award-Winning, 5-Ply Stainless Clad, it promises the same even heating and superior heat control and conduction as the rest of our Stainless Clad Collection.
What Is a Kadai Used for?
The shape of a kadai suits many different cooking techniques, from deep-frying to searing, making it an extremely versatile addition to your cookware lineup. Below, you’ll find just a few of the many varied uses of the kadai.
Deep Frying
Crispy, golden treats like samosas, pakoras, and fried chicken wouldn’t be possible without a deep vessel to simultaneously hold the hot oil and cook the food, and the kadai is perfectly engineered for both those tasks.
Simmering and Braising
Liquid-based dishes, like slow-simmered dal or stew, easily come together in the kadai thanks to its deep volume, which allows you to build and enhance flavor. Since our Kadai is oven-safe up to 800F, you can oven-finish or braise your dishes, or just keep your meal warm until it’s time to eat.
Searing and Frying
While there may be a smaller cooking surface on a kadai than a frying pan, it can still be used to achieve sears on smaller bits of protein (think tofu, shrimp, or cubed chicken vs. a whole steak filet). The same applies for frying—while you may want to reach for a pan with slightly more surface area for a fried egg or bacon, the kadai is well-suited for frying smaller ingredients.
Stir-frying and Sautés
The high sides and flat base of a kadai act similarly to the build of a wok, making it ideal for crispy stir-fries and achieving the perfect wok hei on noodles, rice, and proteins.
The same can be said for sautéeing, which requires high heat and constant attention. Since the heat is evenly distributed around the walls of the kadai—thanks to our superior cladding techniques—you’re able to sweat your aromatics and alliums without worrying about hot or cold spots.
Why Do You Need a Kadai?
The kadai is a must have kitchen tool for a few reasons, the first being the authenticity it brings to traditional Indian dishes. If you frequently cook Indian or South Asian-inspired recipes, you'll find many recipes call to be cooked in classic cookware shapes like the kadai.
Beyond those applications, it’s an endlessly versatile tool that can be used for a wide variety of techniques by home and professional chefs of all experience levels. Our Stainless Clad Kadai features unparalleled heat control and retention, ensuring a seamless cooking experience from start to finish.
Ready to Shop?
We couldn’t be happier to have the Kadai included in our Amrikan Collection, curated and designed with the help of acclaimed food editor and tastemaker Khushbu Shah. Whether you use it for stir fries or sautés, curries or chaat, the Kadai is the versatile pan your kitchen has been needing.
