ladies pl help with a dinner menu

HI Friends.
I have my husbands friend with his wife for dinner on this sunday.As he is an indian but born n bought up here in US so almost an american, his wife is an mexican or american(not sure)will meet them for the first time..

I wanted some menu suggestion frm u guys..(specially on the bread part as what can i serve hot but at the same time i dont get fix in the kitchen when they come.....want to be free to spend time with them....pl suggest some good salad recipe and veggeis and ect ect.... pl let me know.

Thanks
shweta

u can make the parathas, or rotis and keep before they arrive , heat them in the microwave once they arrive. What r u planning for the main course??

Hi Shweta,

I am a vegetarian..and i am giving my options below.

Mexicans have similar taste buds like us...meaning they do like things spicy & hot..or just spicy ! As for your husband's friend, better to prepare all things balanced..right?

You can make salads using Avacadoes,tomatoes,cucumber,baby spinach, olives(black or green), lettuce etc...of course with any salad veggies you like. For this salad, you can make you own dressing at home using ranch ,lime juice, olive oil, ginger,salt,pepper and cumin powder. We can also get salad dressing in stores. Also you can add rice wine vinegar and sesame oil (a few drops).

Mango salsa can be made with cubed mangoes, fresh lime juice, fresh cilantro, ginger, roasted red pepper (you can buy them in bottle/jars from stores and chop them fine), garlic, sugar and ground cumin seeds. Of course jalapeno pepper is optional, but you can add them after removing the seeds and finely chopping them.

You can make veggie dosas (i've seen many americans simply love this dish). If you make idli/dosa batter..then you can keep the veggie/potato filling inside and serve the dosa.

One more suggestion is veggie puffs. For this I've given the recipe and pictures in the thread Tiffins

Here is the link for the recipe

Tiffins

and here are the links in the same thread for pics..where I've shown step by step...

Tiffins

Tiffins

We can prepare these with the stuffing inside the previous day..store in freezer and bake them just on the day you've invited them. This makes your job easier too !

Also you can prepare one rice dish ( depends on whether you are veggie/non-veg).

Will post more ideas when I think of them. :)

Cheers
Krithika

Hi Shweta,

You can also make Burritos and Tacos at home..let me know if you need the recipe for these.

But if she is a mexican/american, she may also come to your place expecting Indian food for a change...right?

Let us know what you've decided finally.
Good luck !

Cheers
Krithika

Hi Kads..here is my suggestion -

Please don't go overboard and make too many items etc. Just keep it simple..

How about starting with a simple Tomato and Olive Bruschetta (Toasted Garlic bread topped with a mix of chunks of Fresh Tomato and Olives in little olive oil & salt and pepper)
and for drinks if you drink wine, that goes perfectly with Bruschetta. If not go for any virgin Margaritas.

For Main Course, just go for Store Bought Naans (Garlic/Onion or any Masala Naan) and heat them in the oven before serving. You will have at least one Gravy curry (medium spice) to go along with the Naans.
If you can make - Any mild Biryani with Veggies and Raitha is all that you need to finish the Main Course.

For Dessert, you can either serve ice-cream with fruits or you can get a small cheesecake or any pastry and serve along with some fruits.

I think it is simple and can satisfy anyone..

If you want to go Totally Desi style (I know American born desis and Mexicans love Desi food), you can go one simple Samosas and Maaza (in elegant looking glasses).

And for main course - Same as above
For Main Course, just go for Store Bought Naans (Garlic/Onion or any Masala Naan) and heat them in the oven before serving. You will have atleast one Gravy curry (medium spice) to go along with the Naans.
If you can make - Any mild Biryani with Veggies and Raitha is all that you need to finish the Main Course.

For Dessert - Any Payasam or Kheer will be simple and sweet. My Favorite is Warm Gulab Jamun with a dollop of Ice creme..can't beat that!!

If Naans/Biryani seems messy, why not go for simple vegetable Pasta or just go-eazy-Pizza and drinks...

Good Luck and Enjoy the evening.

Hi Why not u try 70% Indian dishes and 30 whatever they normally eat in bread items...
Psychologically all people luv spice items like Indian and Pakistan items in the world...They might expect sum Indian foods from you..........

Thanks priyauc a lot.I myself was thinking of making some parathas or masala puri,lets see what works.

The main course is yet to decide.Will let u know for sure once i decide.
Thanks again

Originally Posted by priyauc

u can make the parathas, or rotis and keep before they arrive , heat them in the microwave once they arrive. What r u planning for the main course??

Hi jithiks
I am too vegetarian and ur avacadoes salad is an awsome idea to use n have added in my menu for sunday.

Hey ur veggie puffu idea rocks man...but i am thinking as will be calling them for dinner so will serve them complete food(butt the very next day that is on monday will try ur puffs)just cant wait to try them...simply awsome and very simple i have ..tyg spring roll pastry stripes is it similar of the one u told or i have to buy the puff pastry one.

PL let me know anything more u strike with...
Thanks a lot once again..

Originally Posted by Jithiks

Hi Shweta,

I am a vegetarian..and i am giving my options below.

Mexicans have similar taste buds like us...meaning they do like things spicy & hot..or just spicy ! As for your husband's friend, better to prepare all things balanced..right?

You can make salads using Avacadoes,tomatoes,cucumber,baby spinach, olives(black or green), lettuce etc...of course with any salad veggies you like. For this salad, you can make you own dressing at home using ranch ,lime juice, olive oil, ginger,salt,pepper and cumin powder. We can also get salad dressing in stores. Also you can add rice wine vinegar and sesame oil (a few drops).

Mango salsa can be made with cubed mangoes, fresh lime juice, fresh cilantro, ginger, roasted red pepper (you can buy them in bottle/jars from stores and chop them fine), garlic, sugar and ground cumin seeds. Of course jalapeno pepper is optional, but you can add them after removing the seeds and finely chopping them.

You can make veggie dosas (i've seen many americans simply love this dish). If you make idli/dosa batter..then you can keep the veggie/potato filling inside and serve the dosa.

One more suggestion is veggie puffs. For this I've given the recipe and pictures in the thread Tiffins

Here is the link for the recipe

Tiffins

and here are the links in the same thread for pics..where I've shown step by step...

Tiffins

Tiffins

We can prepare these with the stuffing inside the previous day..store in freezer and bake them just on the day you've invited them. This makes your job easier too !

Also you can prepare one rice dish ( depends on whether you are veggie/non-veg).

Will post more ideas when I think of them. :)

Cheers
Krithika

Yes jithiks u right as she must be expecting some indian food in indian family and i too on the very first day thought of preparing everything indian.

NOT for sunday will i need ur burritos and tacos but for my personal use i need it badlyyyyyyy (u know something frm last so many days i was thinking to try these as when ever i eat in chipotle(hope u know this mexican food corner)i go mad and wanted to make myself....

Originally Posted by Jithiks

Hi Shweta,

You can also make Burritos and Tacos at home..let me know if you need the recipe for these.

But if she is a mexican/american, she may also come to your place expecting Indian food for a change...right?

Let us know what you've decided finally.
Good luck !

Cheers
Krithika

Thanks venonimiss
Ur ideas r great.I like one with gulab jamun n icecream..Also thinking to go with store naan but will see what works...Thanks for all ur ideas

Originally Posted by Venonimiss

Hi Kads..here is my suggestion -

Please don't go overboard and make too many items etc. Just keep it simple..

How about starting with a simple Tomato and Olive Bruschetta (Toasted Garlic bread topped with a mix of chunks of Fresh Tomato and Olives in little olive oil & salt and pepper)
and for drinks if you drink wine, that goes perfectly with Bruschetta. If not go for any virgin Margaritas.

For Main Course, just go for Store Bought Naans (Garlic/Onion or any Masala Naan) and heat them in the oven before serving. You will have at least one Gravy curry (medium spice) to go along with the Naans.
If you can make - Any mild Biryani with Veggies and Raitha is all that you need to finish the Main Course.

For Dessert, you can either serve ice-cream with fruits or you can get a small cheesecake or any pastry and serve along with some fruits.

I think it is simple and can satisfy anyone..

If you want to go Totally Desi style (I know American born desis and Mexicans love Desi food), you can go one simple Samosas and Maaza (in elegant looking glasses).

And for main course - Same as above
For Main Course, just go for Store Bought Naans (Garlic/Onion or any Masala Naan) and heat them in the oven before serving. You will have atleast one Gravy curry (medium spice) to go along with the Naans.
If you can make - Any mild Biryani with Veggies and Raitha is all that you need to finish the Main Course.

For Dessert - Any Payasam or Kheer will be simple and sweet. My Favorite is Warm Gulab Jamun with a dollop of Ice creme..can't beat that!!

If Naans/Biryani seems messy, why not go for simple vegetable Pasta or just go-eazy-Pizza and drinks...

Good Luck and Enjoy the evening.