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.
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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 themain door.
- Guest as well as the host should dress conservatively, especially women. Revealing clothes and exposed skin is cosidered rude.
- Offer water to your guests first. This cusom haas exteded from native villages where people had to travel long distances to get to one anothers homes.
- Indian is a conserviative culture. Unlike most American southerners, creating with a kiss and hugs is not approriate.
- Do not serve alchohol at the dinner table as well as no smoking.
- Have guests wash their hands before and after the meal. Indian's tend to eat many foods with their hands so it's important they are washed first.
- Serve small portions, then ask your guest if they would like seconds.
- Serve tea or coffee with dessert
❓FAQ
Most Indian homes have a meal that comprises rice, flatbread, meat, vegetable with creamy sauce, lentil dishes, salad, yogurt, and pickles. It is also customary to serve water as a drink with the meal.
In India, people tend to eat late, especially North India is known for its late diners. The meals in restaurants don't start until 7.30 pm, and the last order is usually taken at 11.30 pm.
There are many dishes that Indian cuisine is known for; however, tandoori chicken is at the top of the list. The chicken is prepared by marinating it in yogurt and spices like turmeric, cardamom, coriander, fresh ginger, garlic, red chili, and lime juice. Then it's grilled in a tandoor clay oven.
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 Spicebox Kit Gold With 9 Organic Spice Tins
Party Planner
If you want to make it easy for yourself to host an Indian dinner party, download my free printable party planner. All the pages will help you easily get organized so you can throw a great party. There is even a free printable banner you can use for your birthday party. Here are all the great pages you will get.
- Brainstorming and party details sheet
- Guest list
- Menu
- Decorations
- Entertainment
- Day of the party schedule
- Count down to-do checklist
- Party space grid planner sheet
- Free printable banner with letters
After you download my free party planner, print the pages. Look through these Indian dinners ideas and choose one or two recipes from each category to make a complete meal. Print the recipes and then fill out my grocery list page.
Decorations
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.
Colorful Paper Lantern and Mandala Cut-Outs
Mint with Gold Rim Plastic Plates Set
Serving an Indian meal
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.
Fun fact
In American culture, it is considered rude to burp at the table. Not in Indian culture, though, it is expected. As a matter of fact, in some Indian states, not burping is actually frowned upon. Burping is a sign you really enjoyed your meal.
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.
Salad
One of my most favorite go-to salad …
Indian bread
Main dish
Quick curries
Rice recipes
Side dish
Indian pressure cooker recipes
Dessert
Most Indian desserts are served with tea and coffee.
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