Create a delicious dinner party with these Indian dinner ideas, cultural tips, and decoration ideas. Your friends will be talking about the party the next day and even weeks later.
Do you have a favorite Indian restaurant you always crave? Would you like to host a dinner party with the same Indian dishes you can make at home? I have gathered for you food blogger’s favorite easy Indian dinner recipes that you can make at home that are as good as the popular dish at your local restaurant.
Indian hospitality
Families in India are naturally hospitable and enjoy entertaining. It is a sign of honor and respect when they ask someone to enjoy a meal with them for their culture. The meal can be planned, or just a spur of moment drop-in, either way, it is fine.
Ideas for an authentic Indian dinner party
Have guest remove their shoes when they enter your home. In India, footwear and feet are considered dirty. Shoes should be taken off outside the main door.
Guest, as well as the host, should dress conservatively, especially women. Revealing clothes and exposed skin is considered rude.
Offer water to your guests first. This custom has extended from native villages where people had to travel long distances to get to one another’s homes.
Indian is a conservative culture. Unlike most American Southerners, creating with a kiss and hugs is not appropriate.
Have guests wash their hands before and after the meal. Indians tend to eat many foods with their hands, so it’s important they wash them first.
Serve small portions, then ask your guests if they would like seconds.
Serve tea or coffee with dessert
Common Indian ingredents
coconut milk
Coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil
Chickpeas, kidney beans, mung beans, lentils
Chapati flour, chickpea flour, rice flour
White rice, Basmati rice
Lots of veggies such as beans, peppers, cabbage, carrots, sweet potato, yams, turnips
Fruite such as limes, mango, Pomegranate seeds,
cottage cheese, yogurt, ghee, paneer cheese
Jaggery as a sweetner
Basic Indian spices
It is the use of spices that make such a delicious recipe in Indian cuisine. The use of heating whole seeds instead for ground also enhances the flavor of their foods.
Curry
Mint leaves
Dried red chilis
Cinnamon sticks
Fenugreek seeds
Cayenne pepper
Coriander seeds
Cumin seeds
Cardamom
Turmeric
Brown Mustard Seeds
Asafetida
Many Indian homes have a masala ( masaladabbi) spice box to keep their favorite spices in. A typical masaladabbi has some small cups, often seven, placed inside a round or square box. The modern boxes have transparent lids and display the contents inside.
Indian parties focus on serving good food and honoring friends. The traditional decor is bright, vibrant colors of purple, orange, blues, and pinks. There are accents of gold on the edges of dishes and decor.
You can easily create this look with these simple party decorations and dishes.
Once the food is ready, the guest will be asked to join together at the host’s table. Before they are seated, however, it is customary for everyone to wash their hands before being seated at the table.
Food will be served in large bowls instead of individual plates. The bowls will be passed around the table to serve yourself, but it is customary to wait until everyone has finished fixing their plate before eating. In most Indian homes, it is not customary to say a toast or pray before you start eating.
Most homes use silverware to eat their meal; however, fingers are often used when the food is appropriate. The host will encourage seconds. It’s important you enjoy your meal and have had plenty.
What is the best Indian food for dinner?
The best Indian food for dinner varies according to your taste. There are so many wonderful flavor profiles with Indian spices that the typical American has not tried. I have gathered some of the top food bloggers’ favorite Indian recipes for you to try. Most are easy recipes to make at home to serve at your dinner table.
Appetizers
It is customary not to eat as soon as you arrive at the dinner party. Water and some appetizers are usually served. This gives guests time to talk and enjoy each other’s company.
How To Make Paneer Fry Tikka | TheBellyRulesTheMind
This is the best Tandoori Paneer Tikka you’ll ever make at home! Same restaurant style taste, but making them our Air Fryer !
Paneer Butter Masala – Paneer Recipe Two Ways – Cubes N Juliennes
The BEST restaurant style paneer butter masala recipe ever! One of the most loved paneer recipes on the blog. It’s buttery, creamy and mildly spiced paneer dish cooked in tomato cashewnut gravy.
A bhuna is a style of curry that originally comes from Bengal. Bhuna in Urdu actually means ‘fried’ and is made by frying spices and then adding meat or vegetables so that they simmer nicely in the spices, this makes the most of the wonderful flavors that the spices have.
Chicken dum biryani is goodness of rice and meat that comes in layers! The process of cooking in it’s own steam until rice is fluffy and meat cooked just to perfection is called ‘dum cooking’.
Tandoori Chicken Legs – Indian-Inspired Baked or Grilled Drumsticks!
Bring Indian-inspired flavors to your picnic with these Baked or Grilled Tandoori Chicken Legs. Make this easy marinade for juicy and delicious drumsticks!
Flavorful & Authentic Indian Lamb Curry Recipe – Cuisine And Travel
Being from Morocco, lamb is one of my favorite ingredients and my authentic Indian Lamb Curry recipe is amazing. I make this often and freeze batches to eat
A one pot curry dish that’s packed with big, bold flavour! This chickpea and mushroom curry is fresh and tasty, rich and filling, and completely and utterly delicious.
This recipe for navratan curry is a sweet version of the classic vegetable korma, and is filled with fruit and sweet vegetables. This curry is vegan-friendly and includes step-by-step directions.
Super Soft Dahi Vada (Dahi Bhalla Chaat) – Piping Pot Curry
This favorite Dahi Vada (Dahi Bhalla Chaat) recipe has the softest lentil fritters drenched in creamy yogurt, and topped with sweet and spicy chutney’s.
Toor Dal Instant Pot Recip is an easy Indian recipe made with yellow split pigeon peas, aromatic spices all cooked in an Instant Pot pressure cooker. This Instant Pot method makes a quick and creamy dinner your whole family will enjoy, and you won't have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.
Easy Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani – Piping Pot Curry
Easy One-pot Vegetable Biryani in instant pot, with the same authentic flavors! Fragrant basmati rice cooked with vegetables, aromatic whole spices & herbs.
Most Indian desserts are served with tea and coffee.
How To Make Rice Kheer Recipe (Chawal Ki Kheer) – Cubes N Juliennes
Best Rice Kheer Recipe with step by step photos. How to make Kheer. Chawal ki Kheer is a traditional Indian rice pudding made with basmati rice, milk, sugar and nuts. A great Indian dessert usually served as a kheer puri on auspicious ocassions and festivals.
