Indian Feasting - Quite the Party!

Well, the Indian dinner was a huge hit. We were 10 - family and friends. I was worried because, although I love to EAT Indian feasts, I've only ever cooked one before this and that was a million years ago. I've made the odd curry, but it's not the same as doing 10 dishes, most of which I've never attempted before. So I wasn't as natural in the kitchen as I normally am.

First of all, I really followed the recipes to the letter rather than improvising. This because, I wasn't as confident using exotic (at least to me) spices. In my "normal" kitchen, I instinctively know how much of each herb or spice to use and what pairs well. I tend to use a recipe as a general guideline or inspiration point. This time around, I needed serious instructions! So that might be a tip for those of you doing something foreign - BIG hint for Weekend Cookbook Challenge at the end of the month. I can't wait to see what everyone else thinks of as "foreign". The books I used (with really helpful instructions) - The Cooking of India from the Time Life Series that is now out of print. It's the most beautiful photo journey through India with the focus on food; two Madhur Jaffrey cookbooks Quick & Easy Indian Cookery and her Illustrated Indian Cookery; and Creative Cooking - Indian with "how to" photos.

Okay, this is a terrible photo, but it really does reflect what goes on at my house before anyone is allowed to eat. Can you see all the bodies lined up at the top of the photo, waiting for me to give the "okay" to actually sit down and eat? I took shots from every angle and although this is the worst in terms of showing off the food, it's perfect to demonstrate what my poor guests have to endure.

Before I share the meal...if you are planning to do a big feast - think major holiday cooking, check Ask Ruth for some ways to ease the stress factor. I actually had a few hours before everyone came to shower, get pretty and watch a tv movie.

Some of the gang, once I actually let them near the food. And don't you love my tablecloth? It's actually sari fabric I bought in Little India for $10.

But, really....you just want the menu, don't you?

Warning - not all the photos look great - no time to "stage" them before getting the dishes to the table.

Menu

(please forgive the spelling for phonetic translations)

Cucumber Yoghurt Salad (Kheera ka Rayta)

Turmeric Rice (Peelay Chaaval)

Spinach & Cheese (Saag Paneer)

Cauliflower (Sookhi Gobi)

Peas & Mushrooms (Matar Makhani)

Beef Curry (Rogan Josh)

Lamb Biryani (Mughlai Biryani)

The lamb is actually hidden below the mountain of basmati rice sprinkled with crispy fried onions, raisns and almonds and drizzled with saffron milk.

Tandoor Chicken (Tandoor Murghi)

Butter Chicken (Makkhani Murghi) my all time favorite Indian dish!!

Papadoms - Indian chips

(no recipe, just fry in oil for a few seconds, flip and repeat, dry on paper towel and munch away)

Nan bread

Becauseto me, no Indian meal is complete without it. My honey grilled the prepared nan I bought in Little India on the BBQ and it came out perfectly!

Sweets

Top left: Ladu & pedhas, bottom assorted barfi (Indian fudge) that my in-laws humored me and bought at Surati Sweets. Upper right, my cousin Carol made these tasty chocolate chip meringues that I'll have to get the recipe for and share with you.

See you at the Weekend Cookbook Challenge round up, September 5th.

Related links: Food and Drink recipes weekend cookbook challenge