February 17, 2026

The essence of any authentic Indian cuisine relies heavily on its gravy: the aromatic, rich base that brings flavour, mouthfeel, and character to various dishes. Whether for everyday family meals or large festive spreads, the quality of a gravy determines the success of any dish. However, the traditional preparation process is quite technique-driven and time-consuming. That’s why many modern consumers are inclining toward ready-to-cook (RTC) base gravies to enjoy the same authentic cooking process but without the lengthy preparation time. The RTC base gravies minimise the time and effort required to prepare several Indian dishes. Food companies, like ShimlaRed, have reimagined meals gravy to help home cooks and seasoned chefs achieve consistency. That too, without spending hours over the stove. So, Indian Cuisine development has become more efficient, accessible, and scalable than ever before. Meals Gravy Made Easy: What Is Ready to Cook Food & How It Simplifies Indian Cooking? The term Ready-to-Cook Food refers to processed food items that need minimal cooking steps before it’s ready for consumption. Unlike Ready-to-Eat food (that’s fully cooked), RTC solutions provide greater flexibility options. They enable users to prepare rich, flavourful gravy dishes with shorter cooking time. Most ready-to-cook products are the result of advanced processing techniques, which help preserve their taste and flavour integrity. RTC Food serves as a middle ground between scratch cooking and instant meals because it provides ready-to-cook formats. This helps food services with both speed and authenticity required in professional environments. The Rise of Ready-to-Cook (RTC) Meals In recent years, consumers have dramatically inclined towards RTC meals (or Ready-to-Cook meals. Consumers in urban areas want more options that combine traditional taste with modern-day convenience. The continuing rise of convenience meals and innovative snacks in easy-to-use meal kits reflects this ongoing change. Moreover, the demand for authentic Indian meals is increasing across the globe. Due to this, large-scale food manufacturing and rising food exporter networks are collectively expanding into new markets. Compared to fully ready to eat categories, RTC products offers better customisation, enabling users to prepare meals as they like.   Benefits of Ready-to-Cook Meals Firstly, RTC meals simplify meal preparation without compromising on flavour. Secondly, they offer a consistent portion size, which is critical for both domestic home kitchens and commercial kitchens. Thirdly, retort food processing technology extends shelf life while adhering to stringent food safety standards. As demand for ready-to-eat food products increases, so does the consumers’ desire to find alternatives that feel homemade. Therefore, RTC solutions provide them a striking balance between traditional cooking and modern technology. Popular RTC Meal Formats Powering Modern Indian Kitchens RTC formats provide remarkable versatility, whether in the form of base gravies or spice blends. An example would be the ready-to-use bases offered for Biryani or traditional curries that eliminate a long prep time. Unlike a straight sauce that is bottled, these foundational items are complete flavour systems on their own. Furthermore, commercial kitchens can make the most of our ready-to-cook and heat-and-eat solutions for quick service. Retail stores are also featuring our best-selling products across both RTC and RTE categories, delivering reliable convenience meals to modern consumers. ShimlaRed – Modern RTC Food Innovation Being a leading food manufacturing company in India, ShimlaRed is transforming how meal gravy supports modern cooking. Besides base gravies, our RTC range also offers tomato paste, tomato puree, and ginger garlic paste. Some of our popular RTC base gravies include Bhuna Masala Gravy, Shahi White Base Gravy, Rozana Yellow Base Gravy, Tomato Makhani Base Gravy, Rogan Josh Gravy, and Butter Chicken Gravy. Importantly, all of our RTC and RTE products are retort processed, contain no preservatives, and meet the highest standards for premium quality offerings.  Even our base gravies crafted for Rogan Josh and Butter Chicken reipes contain all vegetarian ingredients. So, chefs can use even them for creating diverse recipes in minutes. Since all our gravies undergo stringent quality assurance checks, they comply with the global certified food standards, including Halal compliance. In addition to being a great domestic food supplier and fast-growing food exporter, ShimlaRed also provides advanced industrial packaging solutions to both the domestic and export markets through a specialised packaging company. These packaging solutions are specifically designed for bulk orders, HoReCa segments, and large-scale food services. Through continued food innovation, ShimlaRed provides consistent flavour and exceptional value. Why Ready-to-Cook Meals Are the Future Certainly, RTC meals gravy solutions represent the next evolution in culinary innovation. As lifestyle continues to shift toward being more dynamic, the demand for smarter RTC products will continue to grow. Compared to food ready-to-eat segments, RTC provides flexibility to personalise dishes as per individual liking. Ultimately, with reliable food safety systems, advanced packaging supplies, and scalable food solutions, ShimlaRed is helping shape the future of modern dining experiences that combine traditional elements with modern efficiency. FAQ’s 1. What makes RTC base gravies different from regular sauces? Our RTC base gravies cater as a complete base for cooking rather than just enhancing flavour. 2. Are ShimlaRed gravies vegetarian? Yes, all base gravies are vegetarian and adaptable to several different recipes. 3. Are these products suitable for export markets? Yes, they comply with all international standards regarding quality, food safety, as well as being Halal certified. 4. Who benefits most from Ready-to-Cook gravies? Cloud kitchens, home cooks, restaurants, and bulk buyers can benefit from our RTC gravies, as these are a time-saving solution to their varying cooking needs.