How to Do Indian Party Food
An Indian-themed party is ideal for a Bollywood film night or to celebrate your love of Indian culture. To do Indian party food, first figure out the guest list. Choose different types of dishes that everyone can enjoy, including vegetarian and nonspicy foods. Also, feature Indian finger foods that pair well with chosen party beverages. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 3 cups cilantro
- 1½ cups mint
- 1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 lemon zest
- 1 tbsp. toasted and ground cumin seeds
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. fresh ground pepper
- Mixing bowl
- 3 lb. butterflied, boneless leg of lamb
- Baking dish
- Spiced cashews and pistachios
- Small dishes
- Naan flatbreads
- Mango chutney
- Vegetable samosas
- 3 cups white basmati rice
- Nonstick pot
- 2 tbsp. salt
- Fine sieve
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil, butter or ghee
- 2 tbsp. plain yogurt
- 1/2 tsp. ground saffron threads, dissolved in 4 tbsp. hot water
- 1/4 cup chopped mint and cilantro
- Large serving platter
- 1 3/4 lb. fresh spinach
- Large pot
- Skillet
- 2 to 3 tbsp. vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup onion, diced
- 2 tbsp. grated fresh ginger root
- 1 cup chopped tomato
- Blender
- 1 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. ground roasted cumin seeds
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- 4 to 6 oz. panir, cubes
- 1 hot green chili pepper
Instructions
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1
Add 3 cups of cilantro, 1½ cups of mint, 1 cup of plain whole-milk yogurt, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 lemon zest, 1 tbsp. of cumin seeds, 1 tsp. of salt and 1/2 tsp. of fresh ground pepper into a mixing bowl. Mix to incorporate. This is the marinade for your Indian lamb, which is the main course at the party. Pour it over your 3 lb. lamb in a baking dish, and cover with plastic to marinade overnight.
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2
Place spiced cashews and pistachios into small dishes for your party guests to nibble on as appetizers. Purchase these at Indian grocery stores or specialty gourmet shops.
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3
Bake different flavors of naan flatbread, which are available pre-made at most supermarkets in the frozen foods sections. Choose different styles, such as plain, garlic and sweet with raisins and coconut. This accompanies the main course but can be eaten alone. Place mango chutney near the naan bread for guests to use with the bread and other food.
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4
Bake frozen vegetable samosas, which are also found in the frozen section of your grocery store. These serve as finger foods and appetizers for the party, and guests can eat these with the mango chutney.
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5
Place 3 cups of basmati rice in a nonstick pot with 8 cups of water and 2 tbsp. of salt to make saffron rice. Turn on medium-high heat to bring it to a boil for about six to eight minutes. Drain with a fine sieve, and rinse with lukewarm water.
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6
Mix together 3/4 cup of oil, 1/2 cup of the partially cooked rice, 2 tbsp. of yogurt, 1/2 cup of lukewarm water and 1 tbsp. of saffron water. Add this mixture over the bottom of the nonstick pot. You will create a golden crust, or tah dig. Carefully add the rest of the rice into a pyramid shape.
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Cover the pot, and cook for another 10 minutes over medium heat. Mix together 1 cup of cold water with 4 tbsp. of oil, and then pour over the cooked rice in the pot. Sprinkle on the remaining saffron water. Reduce to simmer, and cook for 50 minutes. Serve right before the party starts.
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Remove your marinated lamb from the refrigerator, and start your grill. Once the grill is hot, cook the meat approximately seven minutes per side for medium-rare. Slice thinly, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of chopped mint and cilantro on a large serving platter.
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9
Boil 1 cup of water with 1 3/4 lb. of spinach, and cook for 25 minutes in a large pot to make sag paneer, a classic Indian dish. In a separate skillet, heat 2 to 3 tbsp. of oil and 1/4 cup of diced onions at medium heat until they are golden brown. Add 2 tbsp. of ginger and 1 cup of chopped tomato, and turn down the heat. Cook for 10 minutes.
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10
Blend the spinach in a blender until it is just pureed. Add the spinach and 1 1/4 tsp. of salt, 2 tsp. of ground roasted cumin seeds, 1/4 tsp. of cayenne, 1/4 tsp. of cinnamon, 4 to 6 oz. panir cubes and 1 chili pepper to the tomatoes. Simmer for five minutes, and serve at the party.
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Tips & Warnings
Serve mango lassi, which is an Indian smoothie type drink, at the party. It is suitable for guests of all ages.
Gin and tonics work well as a cocktail for the Indian party.
Most of the food, except the lamb, can be prepared ahead of time and reheated the day of the party.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images
