i just finished cooking my first batch of basmati rice, it looks good, but what sauce should i put with it to make it taste like my favorite indian restraunt 
If you’re thinking in terms of “carbohydrate/sauce” (like Italian pasta is usually served, for instance), most of what’s found at Indian restaurants in America is the sauce. Look for things like curries to prepare and dish out over the rice.
Cooking threads tend to do best in Cafe Society. Moved.
samclem.
That lentil-based stuff you always see on the Indian buffet: Daal.
Basmati and Daal: made for each other.
Indian food is tricky. Their sauces tend to have some meat drippings, plain yogurt, a TON of oil. They start the sauce with “frying” the spices in the oil, and then adding a paste usually made from pureed onions, garlic and a little water. If you’re really interested in Indian cooking, I’d recommend a Madhur Jaffrey book.
However, for Trunk’s E-Z Indian/Thai/Generic Asian Approximation Sauce, just heat up a can of coconut milk and a small can of curry paste. (more useful for cooking than curry powder)
Using that as a base, you can add chicken, shrimp, pineapple, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, anything. I cook the chicken or shrimp in a pan before adding to the sauce.
I think a lot of grocery stores are carrying that now. If not, then try your local Indian or Asian grocery. If you don’t have one of those, you can find it online. I’ve ordered stuff from templeofthai.com before.
That kind of curry goes well with Basmati rice.