Entertaining Indian Style – my top ten tips

Monday, October 3rd, 2016

So, you think it’s a great idea to throw an Indian dinner party?

If I can, anybody can, I didn’t discover my cooking skills until we moved away from our favourite Halwai, the Indian treat shop, where you buy all those lovely somosas, pakoras, dips and lets not mention the gulab jhamuns or jalebis so as I didn’t want to be stuck in traffic, I learnt to cook and what a magical, truly rewarding journey it became.

I would try different dishes and offer them to friends/family/neighbours/work colleagues, I started to cook all our family meals from scratch and the hobby got me, like nothing else before, always using local produce, with the freshest ingredients and my home-roasted spices, what could go wrong?

Drawing from this experience, please accept my top tips when entertaining.

• Check your guests don’t have allergies or dietry requirements
• Always choose dishes you are confident cooking and practice, taste them
• Consider the occasion, if it’s a celebration feast?  Simple dishes can have maximum wow factor
• If serving starters, don’t forget a dip, choose a curry, vege side, rice and bread for a traditional feast
• A spread of starters and salads can be perfect for some gatherings
• Prepare as much as you can in advance, curries taste great the next day
• Allow time to chat to your guests, clear up, serve…..
• Prep as much as you can in advance, I start my onions cooking, whilst prepping vegetables
• Lay the table, cool your drinks, prepare as much in advance
• Or, simply contact me to book a bespoke package for you

Hosting dinner parties is great, you just need to plan, enjoy and relax!  It’s all about having a fun time.

With Love from, Lajina Masala and plenty of Magic!

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