From curating the right Indian feast menu to making a warm and welcoming atmosphere, this post with sample menus and fail-proof recipes for appetizers, fundamental courses, and desserts will provide help to plan a memorable party for you and your guests.
You’ll also find a great deal of suggestions/tricks so that you could plan ahead and make your next Diwali/ holiday party an enormous success!
With so many mouth-watering dishes to select from, it could possibly be difficult to provide you with the right Indian party menu that may leave a long-lasting impression in your guests.
It’s also easy to get overwhelmed with the entire process, especially if you happen to’re cooking for a big group.
But don’t worry; I’m here to provide help to every step of the way in which!
On this post, I share all of the deets on methods to plan the party, from menu planning to prepping ahead, so that you could throw an elaborate Indian feast with ease. You’ll even have access to sample menus, tried-and-tested Indian recipes, and loads of suggestions to make your next party an enormous success!
Whether you’re an experienced host or a newbie at hosting parties, I’m sure you’ll find this post helpful.
How one can host an Indian feast at home
Organizing a feast with Indian food may be an enchanting option to showcase the wealthy and diverse flavors of Indian cuisine. To make certain your guests have a memorable experience, I actually have compiled an in depth step-by-step plan on methods to host an authentic Indian feast.
From choosing the right menu to making a warm and welcoming atmosphere, this detailed guide will offer you all the data it’s good to plan a successful and enjoyable event.
Able to start?
Step 1 – Finalize the party theme
Throwing a celebration starts with finalizing the guest list. Before you send out the invites, determine if it’s going to be a potluck or not. If it’s going to be a potluck, you certainly need a theme to make certain the dishes that your guests bring pair well with one another.
Even when it just isn’t a potluck, having a theme will provide help to create a cohesive menu.
Examples of themed parties include:
- Indian street food
- Backyard Barbeque
- Vegetarian Only
- North Indian
- South Indian
- Brunch
- Festival-themed – Holi, Diwali, etc.
- Holiday parties – Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.
Seeking to try something recent to make this Thanksgiving? Try this Thanksgiving menu: it’s an interesting mixture of South – Asian Inspired dishes in addition to some classics in your dinner this 12 months.
Before you start on the menu, it is necessary to assemble details around:
- Headcount – What number of adults and children?
- Dietary preferences – Learn how many guests are vegetarian, pescatarians, etc. Do they eat every kind of meat or only chicken?
- Dietary restrictions and allergies – Does anyone have allergies (nut-free, seafood, etc.) or follow a dairy/gluten-free eating regimen?
When hosting an Indian feast, it’s customary to serve three courses. The first course normally consists of appetizers and drinks. The second course, or fundamental course, includes a wide range of dishes akin to rice or biryani, curries, sides, flatbreads, and a cooling yogurt dish (raita). And the last course is, in fact, dessert.
To provide you with a menu, it’s good to determine the variety of items to incorporate by course.
Listed below are the rules I follow when planning a menu for an Indian feast:
- Drinks – 1 to 2. You may do one homemade beverage and the opposite store-bought juice/soda/alcohol. Don’t forget a pitcher of water or bottled water.
- Appetizers – 2 to three. I normally serve two vegetarian appetizers and one non-vegetarian.
- Accompaniments – Chutneys are a must if you happen to are serving Indian appetizers. Make the green chutney at home, and you’ll be able to get store-bought tamarind chutney. Also, while serving your fundamental course, don’t forget to include either raita or simply plain yogurt.
- Rice dishes – You possibly can reduce the amount of plain rice if making biryani, but don’t skip it. You may substitute plain rice with jeera rice.
- Flatbreads – Store-bought garlic naans are at all times an enormous hit. Though homemade rotis are a healthier option, making them for a crowd may be labor-intensive.
- Curries + Side dish (3-5)
- Desserts (2 to three) – One homemade Indian dessert and one store-bought dessert (brownies, cakes, ice cream, etc.) for the children.
Planning a potluck menu
In the event you are going the potluck route, I actually have a number of tricks to share:
- Plan a theme and share it together with your guests.
- Create a bunch chat via text or WhatsApp for simple coordination so that everybody knows what every person is bringing.
- Give suggestions but let people pick what they need to bring :). Here’s where having a theme helps.
- As a number, plan on preparing (or buying from the shop) one item from each course. In case a guest bails out on account of sickness or every other reason, you’ll still have enough dishes to make an entire meal. Dishes that other guests can bring:
- Appetizers
- Side dish
- Rice dish – biryani or jeera rice
- Dessert
- Don’t forget to thank the guests for coming and getting a dish!
Popular dishes at an Indian feast
In case your guests are having homemade Indian food for the primary time, including popular Indian restaurant dishes in your menu shall be an excellent idea. Listed below are a number of that I might recommend:
Ensure that you serve the fundamental course with Basmati rice.
These are only a number of examples; you’ll find more ideas within the recipe ideas by course section below.
Step 3 – Determine the amount to cook
Once you might have finalized the headcount and menu, the following step is to determine the amount of food you will want. That is a very important step that it’s good to complete before you head to the food market.
For a crowd of over 20 adults, it is less complicated to do a potluck or depend on catering. No matter what you select, listed below are the rules to recollect when ordering or serving using aluminum foil trays:
- Large tray (approx 30 cups) serves about 40-50 people
- Half tray (about 15 cups) serves about 20-25 people
- Quarter tray (about 7.5 cups) serves about 10-15 people
Note:
- Catering – When ordering appetizers, ask the restaurant for the variety of pieces of the appetizer in each tray. Plan for not less than 1-2 samosas or cutlets per person (and include the children). In the event that they are small cocktail samosas, chances are you’ll need 3-4 per person.
- Reduce the quantity of the fundamental course if you happen to are serving appetizers, otherwise you’ll have loads of leftovers. For instance, if you might have 10 adults + 10 kids, cook just for 10 adults.
Step 4 – Plan and prep ahead
Planning ahead is crucial to avoid last-minute scrambling, and can be certain that every thing is organized and prepared before the guests arrive. Here’s how you’ll be able to plan ahead.
2 weeks before the party
- If using disposable tableware, then you definately’ll must refill on silverware, plates, and serving dishes. In the event you plan to maintain your food warm, you’ll also need aluminum trays, chafing dishes, etc. In the event you live within the North Americas, Costco is an amazing place to purchase them from.
- For a themed party, think concerning the decor you ought to use. Amazon and Etsy are great places to buy Indian decor items.
Planning the decor
When hosting an Indian feast, it’s essential to keep in mind that it’s not only about food but in addition about making a warm and alluring environment in your guests. This is particularly essential during holidays akin to Diwali, Holi, Eid, etc.
One option to try this is by decorating your home with shiny and cheery colours which might be traditional for the vacation you’re celebrating. For Holi, you need to use a mixture of vibrant colours, whereas for Diwali, red and gold are my go-to colours.
To really set the tone and create a festive ambiance, consider incorporating Indian-inspired centerpieces, colourful napkins, tablecloths or table runners, candles, and colourful lights or diyas.
In the event you are looking for ethnic decor items and concepts to embellish your private home this Diwali, take a look at this post – Diwali Decoration Ideas.
1 week before the party
- Make a shopping list. Don’t forget to examine the refrigerator/pantry for ingredients chances are you’ll have already got.
- Make room in your refrigerator to store store-bought frozen food and produce.
- Buy your basic produce (onion, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, spices, pulses, rice, paneer) and frozen appetizers/naan.
- Prep ahead by making masalas. Make ginger-garlic paste, onion-tomato masala, and/or tikka masala. Store it within the freezer.
1-2 days before the party
- Review your menu and create a shopping list. Shop for chicken, seafood, vegetables, bakery items, and drinks. Buy ice (if needed) in your drinks.
- Buy fresh flowers (optional).
- Chop all of the veggies and store them within the refrigerator.
- Soak chickpeas/beans in water.
- Marinate the meat and refrigerate it.
- Thaw pre-made masalas within the fridge.
- Make raitas, chutneys, drinks, and desserts and put them within the refrigerator.
- Make protein-based (chickpeas/kidney beans/ chicken curries) dishes a day prematurely and refrigerate them. The longer the meat or legumes stay within the sauce, the more flavor and richness they acquire.
- Refrigerate the store-bought drinks and bottled water.
- Clean and decorate the home.
- Set the table – get the plates, glasses, serving spoons, and silverware ready.
The day of the party
- Within the morning
- Cook the remaining food apart from rice.
- Transfer the food to an oven-proof serving dish.
- Put the frozen appetizers (including naan) within the refrigerator to thaw.
- Maintain any dishes within the sink.
- Two hours before the party
- Add the tempering to all of the dishes that require it.
- Chop the herbs for the garnish.
- Cook the frozen appetizers – bake/air-fry/microwave.
- Pan-fry or bake the naan.
- Put the finished dishes /appetizers within the oven with the ‘Keep warm’ function on, or set it at the bottom temperature your oven allows.
- Keep rice in your Easy Pot and set a timer for half-hour before you might be planning to serve dinner.
- Clean up the kitchen and get the dishes done.
- Empty the trash.
- One hour before the party
- Loosen up and alter into party wear 🙂
- Right before the guests arrive
- Set the appetizers and welcome drinks within the designated area.
- Before serving
- Use a microwave to heat as needed.
- Don’t forget to garnish your dishes with herbs.
Step 5 – Serve and luxuriate in
If you might have followed all of the steps above, then you definately are all set for the party. All it’s good to do is:
- Serve the guests a welcome drink a number of minutes after they arrive. Set the appetizers out for them to munch on as they quiet down.
- Lay out the fundamental course an hour or so after serving the appetizers.
- Set out the desserts because the guests finally end up the fundamental course.
Indian feast suggestions
- Planning ahead is crucial to avoid any last-minute scrambling.
- Use tried and tested recipes – Never cook a dish that you might have never made before. Attempting to salvage failed recipes on the last minute may be stressful and time-consuming.
- Arrange designated areas for food and drinks and serve them buffet-style. This fashion, the guests can assist themselves, and you might be free to benefit from the party. Also, it makes managing and replenishing food much easier.
- Take help – Enlist your members of the family (including your kids) to assist decorate, chop veggies, and handle the dishes/trash. In case your guests are offering to assist, allow them to help in warming the dishes, cleansing up afterward, etc.
- Hire a server – For larger gatherings, hire help to serve, replenish drinks, and clean up empty bottles/drink cups lying around.
- Reduce food waste – Keep a stack of to-go containers or zip-lock bags ready in order that your guests can take the leftovers home.
Enjoy your party! Do you might have some suggestions or tricks to share? Please leave them within the comment section below, and I’ll update my post to incorporate those.
Recipe ideas to craft your personal menu
Are you able to start on creating your menu? I’ve organized the recipes by course for you to choose from. In the event you would moderately take a look at the sample menus that I’ve put together for you, click here – sample menus for Indian parties.
Drinks recipes (Pick 1 or 2)
The best alternative is alcohol, soda, or sparkling water for adults and juice for youths. But if you happen to wish to make it interesting, listed below are a number of options:
Advice: I often go along with Mango lassi or Mango milkshake. They’re super easy to make with store-bought pulp. You possibly can’t go flawed – most individuals I do know adore it!
Appetizers (Pick 2 or 3)
In the event you are calling folks over for brunch or lunch, skip the appetizers unless it’s a late lunch. I often depend on store-bought appetizers that I purchase from either Costco or Indian stores.
Vegetarian
Non-vegetarian
Store-bought appetizers
These are best bought in-store moderately than online. The links are provided in order that you realize which one to get.
Indian store appetizers
Costco appetizers
The appetizers from Costco will not be Indian, but they’re convenient, and sometimes it’s fun to combine it up.
- Spanakopita
- White meat chicken Taquitos
- Mini quiche
- Chicken potstickers
- Mozzarella sticks
- Spring rolls
- Hummus with pita chips
- Spinach and Artichoke dip with chips
- Chips and Salsa (their Mango salsa is actually good!)
- Rojo’s 6-layer dips
Accompaniments
Chutneys are a must with most Indian appetizers. Coriander and tamarind chutney are popular selections. And in your fundamental course, you should definitely have some raita readily available to assist soothe your guests’ taste buds after having fun with a flavorful and spicy Indian meal.
Chutneys for appetizers (Pick 1 or 2)
Chutneys to serve with a South Indian meal
Click for more: Here’s an inventory of 10+ Indian chutney recipes so that you can select from.
Raitas (pick 1)
For more ideas: Here’s an inventory of 10+ raita recipes so that you can select from.
Rice dishes (Pick 1-2)
Even if you happen to are serving biryani, it’s an excellent idea to make a small batch of plain rice for many who prefer to enjoy their curries with rice. Kids often prefer plain rice over seasoned rice as well.
For more rice dish ideas, take a look at this collection of exciting Indian rice recipes that you could make in your Easy Pot.
Flatbreads (Pick 1)
Having flatbreads is a must if you happen to are serving any North-Indian curries, akin to paneer butter masala, dal makhani, or any chicken curry. Though rotis and parathas are mostly served during on a regular basis meals, buying store-bought naans is perhaps a greater bet when feeding a crowd.
For more varieties of Indian flatbreads, take a look at this post – 10+ Indian flatbread recipes.
Curries (Pick 3-5)
Lentils-based curries (Pick 1)
Pulses (Pick 1)
Vegetarian side dishes/curries (Pick 1-2)
Chicken & Seafood curries/side dish (Pick 1)
Dessert (Pick 2)
Typically, two desserts are enough for an Indian feast unless it’s a Diwali celebration. On this occasion, many individuals greet their guests with a tray of sweets and snacks, including barfis, laddoos, and other savory treats. In the event you need ideas, take a take a look at this post with over 15 easy Diwali sweets and snacks.
Homemade
Storebought
- Brownies
- Cookies
- Cheesecake from Costco
- Cake
- Ice cream
In search of more dessert ideas? Try this post on 45+ Indian sweets and desserts.
Listed below are some sample menus for the preferred themes – North Indian, Indian Street Food, South Indian, vegetarian dinner, lunch, and brunch. In the event you need more ideas, drop a comment below, and I shall be completely happy to assist.
In the event you are serving dry Paneer tikka as an appetizer, don’t make Paneer tikka masala for the fundamental course. The identical rule applies to chicken tikka and chicken tikka masala.
Brunch ideas
Skip the appetizers and keep it easy.
Simpler Indian dinner recipes
This post was originally published on 10/24/2019 and was completely updated with pictures and recent text on 5/31/2023.
