An Ideal Vegetarian Meal

[dev]

I thought u are in India. Do they eat pizzas and burgers in india like here in USA? I am very much confused.

Y this doubt, Kavitha?... Haven't you been to India in the recent few yrs?...Pizza,burger culture is fast spreading(infact, already well spread in some parts) in India... it's expensive than the other Indian snacks but since ppl now have become more affluent, they can afford to spend on it... even when I was in college, we used to have pizza often... it was a long time back(5-6 yrs) & that too, it wasn't in a metro either... So U know how things will be in metropolitan cities like New Delhi(which is where Alan lives)...

[Shoba]

Ok- I have a question to ask the amazing chefs & cooks here,

Is this an Ideal Vegetarian Meal?

STARTERS
Spring Rolls & Cream of Tomato

MAIN COURSE

Veg Pulao
Bagera Baingan
Cucumber/Onion Raita
Lime Pickle
Roasted Pepper Pappad
Paneer Fingers/Cutlets
Drinking Water

DESSERT

Ice-Cream/Gulab Jamun

I'm planning to invite some friends for dinner next weekend - planning to make everything myself- Is there something I should add or delete or change? Thankyou!

Sorry Alan, I havent been on line and missed this post. Hope I'm not too late replying.

Alan, I would personally add a stir fried item, not heavy on the kari powder and gravy.

Is the Baingan a semi solid dish or more like a gravy?

Spring rolls-are you making them or buying frozen? If former, then you might have to invest a bit more time for cooking...and then looking fresh & pretty :P for your friends.

How about some lemonade? You can make the juice & the sugar syrup the previous day itself and allow it to chill in the fridge. Should be getting warmer in Delhi, no? A nice cool drink when your friends arrive..

As standby, just have plain white rice and plain yoghurt in small quantity.

That's about it for my input. Good luck and let us know how it all went. Not a pre wedding gathering, by any chance... ?

Regards,
Shoba

[Alan]

I thought u are in India. Do they eat pizzas and burgers in india like here in USA? I am very much confused.

Y this doubt, Kavitha?... Haven't you been to India in the recent few yrs?...Pizza,burger culture is fast spreading(infact, already well spread in some parts) in India... it's expensive than the other Indian snacks but since ppl now have become more affluent, they can afford to spend on it... even when I was in college, we used to have pizza often... it was a long time back(5-6 yrs) & that too, it wasn't in a metro either... So U know how things will be in metropolitan cities like New Delhi(which is where Alan lives)...

As smart dev rightly said, there are many pizza /burger oulets here like McDonalds, Asian Fried Chicken(for chiken burgers) & Pizza Huts all over the place.

Personally, I'm not into this kind of food on a daily routine- once in a month is ok for me- but none of my friends can cook to save themselves so they buy these stuff or eat from hotels.

So, during the weekends, I call them all & give them some decent Khana even simple plain rice & sambhar or chappathi & dal is like ambrosia for them!!!!!!!!!

I always give them simple meals so I thought I'll just elaborate the affair this time, just before the wedding- lol!

[Alan]

Ok- I have a question to ask the amazing chefs & cooks here,

Is this an Ideal Vegetarian Meal?

STARTERS
Spring Rolls & Cream of Tomato
Springs rolls could be tedious and time consuming. Onion pakodas or veggie fritters would be much easier.


MAIN COURSE

Veg Pulao
Bagera Baingan
Cucumber/Onion Raita
Lime Pickle
Roasted Pepper Pappad
Paneer Fingers/Cutlets
Drinking Water !!!!!!!!!! You think of everything don't you

DESSERT

Ice-Cream/Gulab Jamun

Gulab Jamun is a good choice, and can be made the previous evening and chilled in the refrigerator.


I'm planning to invite some friends for dinner next weekend - planning to make everything myself- Is there something I should add or delete or change? Thankyou!

Over all a good menu.
Since you are making only one rice item ( and no chapathi or plain rice) be sure to make enough to feed all your friends.
Happy cooking and have a great time with your friends.

Thanks tomato!
Yes, I have 5 friends coming over- have to make ample quantity!

But won't the gulab jamun become soggy& break off if put in the fridge?

[Alan]

Ok- I have a question to ask the amazing chefs & cooks here,

Is this an Ideal Vegetarian Meal?

STARTERS
Spring Rolls & Cream of Tomato

MAIN COURSE

Veg Pulao
Bagera Baingan
Cucumber/Onion Raita
Lime Pickle
Roasted Pepper Pappad
Paneer Fingers/Cutlets
Drinking Water

DESSERT

Ice-Cream/Gulab Jamun

I'm planning to invite some friends for dinner next weekend - planning to make everything myself- Is there something I should add or delete or change? Thankyou!

Sorry Alan, I havent been on line and missed this post. Hope I'm not too late replying.

Alan, I would personally add a stir fried item, not heavy on the kari powder and gravy.

Is the Baingan a semi solid dish or more like a gravy?

Spring rolls-are you making them or buying frozen? If former, then you might have to invest a bit more time for cooking...and then looking fresh & pretty :P for your friends.

How about some lemonade? You can make the juice & the sugar syrup the previous day itself and allow it to chill in the fridge. Should be getting warmer in Delhi, no? A nice cool drink when your friends arrive..

As standby, just have plain white rice and plain yoghurt in small quantity.

That's about it for my input. Good luck and let us know how it all went. Not a pre wedding gathering, by any chance... ?

Regards,
Shoba

Thanks for the feedback, Shoba Mam.

Stir fried item, as a starter or main course?
In the case of a starter, I'll do crispy fried veggies then- it's so much more easier than Spring Rolls!

Baingan is a semi solid gravy dish with the fried baingans intact (without the shape change) in it.

Lemonade is a great idea! I think its better than Tomato Soup, no?

May be, I'll keep some white rice(previous day) aside. Thankyou once again for ur valuable input!

[dev]

But won't the gulab jamun become soggy& break off if put in the fridge?

Gulab Jamun keeps good for a few weeks in the fridge... Soggy???... I like jamuns well soaked and very soft so that it just melts in mouth... I like it better than the chewy,hard ones that we get in hotels(I guess made from khova insted of milk powder)... But I believe even that'll keep well in the fridge...Shouldn't be a problem as they are already ind of hard/chewy...

[dev]

Lemonade is a great idea! I think its better than Tomato Soup, no?

Yeah... better for a hot summer day...

[Alan]

But won't the gulab jamun become soggy& break off if put in the fridge?

Gulab Jamun keeps good for a few weeks in the fridge... Soggy???... I like jamuns well soaked and very soft so that it just melts in mouth... I like it better than the chewy,hard ones that we get in hotels(I guess made from khova insted of milk powder)... But I believe even that'll keep well in the fridge...Shouldn't be a problem as they are already ind of hard/chewy...

Even I don't like the ones in hotels.............may I'll buy it from Rami Reddy's Sweetshop!

[kavithasenthil]

Hi dev and alan,

I didn't know abt all these. I thought ppl have pizzas may be once in a while. Frankly i didn't tasted any pizza or burger in India since i spend most of time at home rather than roming during my vacations.

Anyway i just prepared MRS.Mano's microwave carrot halwa. It came out so good why don't u try that easy sweet for ur party alan?

[rain]

wow alan,

this is one heck of a menu planning here! if ur friends r still hungry at the end of the feast,jus show them this thread.

ur menu looks great.jus a small input---if ur main course is a pulao-gravy combo ,it might be more ideal to have a somewhat "shahi" side dish like paneer butter masala or capsicum-paneer---u know something rich.takes lesser time too.u cannot afford to look harried.so decide wat u want to be----a dazzling cook or a perfect host.

jus my two cents. have a blast and give ur friends a taste of what to expect for the BIG DAY !!!

good luck
rain