The hustle and bustle of the holiday season will soon be here. With the excitement of gathering with friends and family, cooking, baking, shopping, and sending cards, the to-do list seems to grow bigger every year!
This season, add the bright flavors of Indian cuisine to your celebrations. From a Christmas work party to ringing in the New Year, catering or ordering Indian food is a delicious way to make any party festive and cross a chore off your list.
Here are some incredibly tasty options for you to choose from in the upcoming months.
🎃 October 🎃
With the falling leaves and a chill in the air, October is a perfect month for some spicy Indian food.
This Sweetest Day, treat your sweetheart to a meal made for sharing. We recommend starting with a Kachumber Salad – a blend of fresh onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes, with lemon, Chat Masala, and cilantro. A spellbinding main course of Rogan Josh is up next. Beautifully aromatic curry with tender lamb, garlic, ginger, and onion is sure to delight your senses. A Double Ka Meetha is an incredible way to finish a romantic dinner. Sweet sugary syrup with bread cubes fried in butter topped with almonds and pistachios.
Before the witches and ghosts come out for their yearly search for tricks and treats on Halloween night, be ready with a spicy dinner of Indian cuisine. Begin with a bowl of India’s national soup, Mulligatawny, and a side of fresh baked Naan. Heat up the night with an entrée of Vindaloo, the notoriously fiery hot Indian cuisine. The curry is a spicy combo of protein, potatoes, and flavorful seasonings.
🍁November 🍁
When the calendar reads November, plans for the holiday season really go into gear. The countdown to Thanksgiving and possibly preparing to travel out of town to visit relatives is on. Of course, the traditional meal of Turkey with all the trimmings is what is most commonly served on the fourth Thursday of this month. But, with all the prep to create this iconic meal and the promise of leftovers after the main event, a savory bite of Indian food is a fantastic way to feed the family and guests in the days leading up to this holiday.
Consider take-out or ordering online while the pumpkin pies bake in the oven or the bread rises on the counter. This might be an excellent time for a lighter vegetarian lunch or dinner. A veg-based appetizer of Samosa Chat, a tasty blend of chickpeas, seasoned yogurt, onions, tomatoes, tamarind, and mint topped off with vegetable Samosas, is a superb choice. Crispy deep-fried Pakoras are another.
The yummy duo of cauliflower and potato is the base of the comfort food Aloo Gobi. It will make for a fantastic entrée leading up to Thanksgiving. A refreshing Mango Lassi will tempt the tastebuds and is a wonderful treat to add to the meal.
Are you having a Friendsgiving party this year? Take the gang to a local Indian restaurant, or add some Indian cuisine to your menu!
🎄December🎄
Christmas Eve and Christmas day are usually a whirlwind of events. The month of December is a flurry of activities, trimming the tree, shopping, wrapping presents, baking cookies, and more holiday excitement. Whether you travel to grandma’s house or she stops by yours, everyone needs a little bit of help this time of year.
Catering with Indian food can be the solution to keep you out of the kitchen and with friends and loved ones enjoying your holiday. Whether you are entertaining a group of ten or twenty-five, a meal packed with authentic Indian cuisine is a tasty option.
Visit your favorite Indian restaurant in person or possibly even their website and look at the party platters and catering menu.
Party platters may have the following Indian food to choose from:
- Tandoori Chicken
- Butter Chicken
- Vegetarian and Chicken Biryani
- Malai Kofta
- Paneer Tikka
- Garden Salads
- Butter Naan
- Extra Servings of Rice
Talk with the manager to plan a holiday menu for a company party or one at home. As with the party platters, vegetarian options will more than likely be available. For entrees selections, Biryani with chicken, vegetables, or goat will be a super way to feed a crowd. Paneer or chicken Tikka Masala is always a crowd pleaser. And it is hard to go wrong with the famous Indian dish that is Chicken 65.
When deciding on appetizers, don’t forget everyone’s favorite Samosas. These crispy triangles filled with spices, peas, and potatoes can quite possibly become a holiday tradition. Peas Pulao, with its Basmati rice, herbs, spices, and fresh peas, makes a tasty side dish to almost any curry. The same goes for butter or garlic Naan fresh from the oven.
The holidays are a time of gift giving. Give yourself a present of an Indian food dessert or two. Add a tray of Gulab Jamun for a sweet ending to the meal.
New Year’s Eve is a day to remember all the good times that were had in the previous twelve months. It is also the last day for many to indulge in holiday treats before resolutions kick in the next morning—ring in the new year with Indian food starters of Bhel Puri or Papri Chat. Order some Chili Chicken Wraps, Chicken 65 Wraps, Paneer, and Chicken Tikka Wraps. Finally, add some cheer with a dessert of Kheer!
🎆January 🎆
New Year’s Day signals the end of the holidays. It is the day many spend taking down the decorations, trying to break a bad habit, and finding other ways to be healthier. So why not spice up your January first with some Indian cuisine?
A Butter Chicken Bowl is a flavorful way to begin the year. Ingredients include Chana Masala, fresh vegetables of onions, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers, all topped off with a slice of lemon, a fried chili, and sprinkled with cilantro.
Start planning your holiday meals with incredible Indian food and make your season a tasty one!
Dine in or order online from Indian Delight for any of the authentic Indian cuisine mentioned above. Visit our website www.idcleveland.com to view our menu and to inquire about quick or large catering services.
