One of our friends’ parents are visiting from India. They will be leaving soon so we have invited them over for dinner this Saturday. Problem is I have severe back pain due to some “muscle knot” that has formed on the right side of my back.
We can’t take them out anywhere because we only have either fast food or couple of Arab places that serve Halal food. Arab places only serve lamb.
Catering is not an option either. Sigh!
This is what I want to make but my mother & husband both keep on telling me I need to be realistic in choosing what to make. Hubby jee will be helping me but that’ll most probably be outside of kitchen or even if he watches Ibtehal, that’ll be the biggest help.
Mutton Biryani
Chicken 65 (curry style)
Tandoori Chicken
Chapli kabab or Dum ka Qeema depending on how much time & energy I have left
Raita
Salad
Sheermal
Naan
Home made Kulfi for dessert
Hubby jee & mother both are telling me to make only 3 dishes & for dessert buy some Tres Leches
This is what my mother is suggesting
Mutton Pulao
Karahi Chicken
Dum Ka Qeema
Hara Raita
Cabbage salad (I have to make it if I make Pulao)
Regular salad
Sheermal
Naan
& Tres Leches for dessert.
They have been at our place couple of times but this is supposed to be a proper “daawat” for the parents. Does the second menu sound okay? The way I look at it if we are inviting someone over then out of respect & good hospitality for our guests we should serve the best we can manage. My mother & husband say that the guests know our situation & they’ll still be happy.
Also this might sound immature but I have already served Pulao & Dum ka Qeema before so I kind of want to serve something different this time.
If you're in pain and cooking is a challenge - simplify your menu. 2 meats (one of which should be a kebab and therefore can be made in advance and just fried on the date, which your husband can help with and one salan/qorma), one veggie, rice, salad, raita, naan and dessert.
If i were you and couldnt do a lot, then i would do a rice, a meat dish and one veggie dish. Salads and dessert can be bought from the market. essentially your and your mom's menu sounds the same except the biryani/pulao and tandoori chicken difference.
I think you would be okay to simplify the rice dish to something easier than biryani, but if you want to keep biryani then maybe cut one of the chicken dish, like the curry. You can also cut the Sheermaal and pick up a cake or something for dessert. Everything else sounds great! Dont take too much onto yourself, especially if you are having back problems
Can I ask you about Dum ka Keema, do you fry it or bake? I havent never tried making it before and recently got the recipe from an aunty I know. Her recipe calls for baking it in the oven but others I have see online all say to fry like normal salan style? Thanks
right. so judge your back pain/limitations objectively and manage accordingly.
I like your mom’s menu better. personally, I cant eat beyond 3 dishes … no matter how yummy or special or time consuming they were for the host to prepare
do a curry, a kabab, a rice, a bread and a salad. buy a store bought desert that might be new to your guests and hard to come by in India … they might enjoy that more.
I am only thinking of doing sheermal since they go well with Dum ka Qeema
Ira making Pulao would take less half the time compared to making Biryani. I am on high elevation so the tomatoes take forever to get tender here. Also Chicken Karahi can be cooked in 45 minutes max where as Chicken 65 takes more than 2 hours to cook minus the prep time.
I know she is kind of right. By the way after reading the word parathay I would love me some Qeema parathas right about now.
Thanks Chaman. I like your idea of getting something different. Any suggestions on what non desi dessert might go well? They are Hyderabadis.
I think you would be okay to simplify the rice dish to something easier than biryani, but if you want to keep biryani then maybe cut one of the chicken dish, like the curry. You can also cut the Sheermaal and pick up a cake or something for dessert. Everything else sounds great! Dont take too much onto yourself, especially if you are having back problems
Can I ask you about Dum ka Keema, do you fry it or bake? I havent never tried making it before and recently got the recipe from an aunty I know. Her recipe calls for baking it in the oven but others I have see online all say to fry like normal salan style? Thanks
I don't bake or fry it. I just cook it on medium heat with less oil & give it koylay ka dum. By frying do you mean deep fry? Because I have never heard of that. Baking is a first too. I make it all the time. Just marinate the meat over night & it will take just half an hour to cook.
I think even the second menu sounds really tempting. Could you also please give me the recipe for your cabbage salad? THANKS!!!!
Saima I just cut cabbage into thin slices & then add add yogurt, salt, sugar & black pepper in it. Mix well & serve chilled with Pulao & Hara Raita.
Its supposed to be a little on the sweet side. So maybe a pinch of salt but 4 pinches of sugar for 1 cup sliced cabbage.
I am still confused about the dessert. Most of you mentioned veggie item. I have noticed in dawats people barely try the veggie items so the time It'll take me to make a vegetable dish I'll rather make a dry meat dish.
Also sheermal was solely if I make Dum ka Qeema.
This is what I am thinking now.
Mutton Pulao (will take way less time compared to Biryani)
Chicken Karahi (75% less time than making Chicken 65)
Tandoori Chicken (will marinate the meat today, pop it in the freezer, thaw it a night before & cooking time will only be 20 minutes)
Either Tikya Kabab or Chapli Kababs (will try to make the tikkis today & freeze them)Can just fry them early evening that night.
Naan
Aloo ka Raita (this way I don't have to make hara raita & cabbage salad)
Regular salad( I can fix it that same evening)
Dessert still lost or Kulfi (if its Kulfi, then will have to make it one of these days)
What are some good dessert options from outside besides Tres Leches, cheese cakes or ice creams?
These days, because of the holiday season and parties all bakeries are just brimming with a variety of desserts!
honestly best plan would be to go or send someone to one your local (really good) bakries and see what’s fresh and what catches your fancy …
but if u wanna plan ahead … here are some ideas …
Canolis - I find that most older generation desis haven’t had those
Tiramisu - ask the bakery for a non-alcoholic one
Napoleon
fruit crisp or cobbler
pies - pecan pie would be sooo good with your menu, banana or coconut creme, cherry … these you can get all ready to go in the frozen dessert sections.
fruit tart - pear would be delicious with a dollop of ben n jerrys vanilla ice cream
creme brulee - come in cute little individual serving size … so all you do is put it on a plate.
thats all I can think of for now … will add more as it comes to mind.
These are some great ideas & you think old school desis (with all respect to them) will like it? Or will it be too intimidating to them? I’ll look into all & if you have any more please do add them. Thanks a lot
Automne I buy frozen ready made sheermal. There is this particular Pakistani brand. Can’t recall the name right now, which makes awesome sheermals. Maybe next year some time I’ll look around for a good home made sheermal recipe. Will keep you in mind & def share it
Bint, I think both menus are great overall. With the first....(I personally)...think you don't really need the tandoori chicken because you already have the chicken curry. If you go with the chapli kabab....you will have a dry red meat dish, so you won't need the tandoori chicken which is also dry. So, having the chicken curry and then chapli kababs is a nice balance...as you're not repeating the same meat. Or you can replace the tandoori chicken with a veggie dish like chanay or palak....it offers a different texture.
These are some great ideas & you think old school desis (with all respect to them) will like it? Or will it be too intimidating to them? I'll look into all & if you have any more please do add them. Thanks a lot :)
Automne I buy frozen ready made sheermal. There is this particular Pakistani brand. Can't recall the name right now, which makes awesome sheermals. Maybe next year some time I'll look around for a good home made sheermal recipe. Will keep you in mind & def share it :)
i think everything with exception of canolis goes over well with buzurgs :D ... esp the tiramisu.
also ... something not tooo off the charts and probably familiar... baklava, or ready made parfaits!
lemon bars, brownie bites ....
ooo n fresh rugelach/rugala cookies (from a good bakery) are rich, heavenly and not intimidating at all.
thats all I can think of for now … will add more as it comes to mind.