Topic started by aarthi (@ 206.70.243.251) on Wed Jan 21 13:48:28 EST 2004.
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Responses:
- From: Radhika (@ vancsn01.vcd.hp.com)
on: Wed Jan 21 15:57:10 EST 2004
Hi Aarthi,
How many people are you going to have over?
Well, the good thing is that americans really don't know how the food is supposed to taste, so don't worry about the details. Instead, focus on definitely reducing the spice level to "mild".
Americans generally don't like yoghurt, so don't make any yoghurt based curries.
Also, present the dishes as attractively as possible. Foreign foods look more palatable when presented well.
Sample menu for 6 People
Peas Pulao
Veg Kurma or Any Dhal
Chicken curry OR Dry Chicken with Indian spices
Roasted potatoes with Indian spices
Rotis Or Naan Or Appam (whatever you know)
Salad (cucumber raita for example)
For appetizers, you can make some easy fried bread pakodas.
For dessert, you can make mango pie.
For any recipes, just let me know.
Our food is quite flavorful anyway and so much different from what americans are used to, so don't try to achieve perfection, just make a combo of dishes that are simple to prepare, and lay them out well.
Give evryone forks and napkins as well!
Have a great party!
- From: aarthi (@ 206.70.243.251)
on: Wed Jan 21 16:06:05 EST 2004
Thanks a ton Radhika.
I am having 5 of them over.
I can make of what you suggested....
It would be helpful if you could share the recipes for roasted potatoes and mango pie.
I'll try it once in advance to be sure it'll work on the D-Day!
- From: Raj (@ 206-97-63-26.ip.theriver.com)
on: Wed Jan 21 16:54:26 EST 2004
aarthi:
First find out whether they have been to any Indian restaurants. Our experience has been that they like mildly spiced food. Typically we serve the following:
Chicken pulav
Shrimp curry (South Indian style)
Lamb curry(South Indian style)
Almond halwa (Badham halwa)
They won't get any of these in a typical Indian restaurant. You might find them trying to compare against what they had in those restaurants. Whatever it is,
make sure it is not served in restaurants. They want authentic Indian dishes, not what they can get in restaurants. Don't ask me for recipes! It is all done by my wife. I stay out of the kitchen. Good luck!
- From: aarthi (@ 206.70.243.251)
on: Wed Jan 21 16:57:43 EST 2004
Hi Raj,
They have been to Indian restaurants!
Can I serve readymande naan instead of making chappatis for so many people?
- From: Raj (@ 206-97-63-26.ip.theriver.com)
on: Wed Jan 21 17:02:47 EST 2004
aarthi: Try pooris. They like it. My wife used to cook for an orchestra in which our children participated. She found pooris and masaal dosa to be very popular. I think it is fine to serve ready made naan.
For the orchestra music camp she served only vegetarian food -Poori and potato one day,Massal dosa one day and vegetable pulav one day.
- From: aarthi (@ 206.70.243.251)
on: Wed Jan 21 17:26:55 EST 2004
Cool!
I think they're easier to make than chappatis.
I think I can make mini masala dosais in starters.
Do you think I need to serve a soup?
Also, thye always seem to be having salad. DO I need to make one?
Sorry for the endless questions!
- From: Raj (@ 206-97-63-26.ip.theriver.com)
on: Wed Jan 21 17:37:09 EST 2004
aarthi: No soup! Instead of salad, keep a tray of vegetables -carrots, celery, cauliflower, cucumber and some dip. We don't serve liquor. Instead we serve punch specially prepared and also tomato rasam (south Indian).
No problem about questions. I am doing what my wife usually does in helping the younger generation, except that I don't know anything about cooking.
- From: jen (@ cache-dq08.proxy.aol.com)
on: Wed Jan 21 19:09:34 EST 2004
i am an american.. i feel americans now a days even in small small towns (i live in a town of only 10K) know much more about indian food than people think.... but the problem is they think all indian food is 'curries' which is untrue.
as for what to suggest? i am an american and I have cooked south indian food (also eaten by south indians -born and raised in india-who have thought my cooking is quite authenic).. for americans i have made pongal with sambar.. if they can't eat the sambar, they can at least have pongal! lemon and tomato rice are also quite popular. and mysore pak for sweet....
- From: Tanicker (@ 66.69-41-242.reverse.theplanet.com)
on: Thu Jan 22 02:42:35 EST 2004
what abt mhorru? i'm sure they wld love that!
- From: suekrishna (@ 213.42.2.16)
on: Thu Jan 22 07:05:25 EST 2004
one dish rice like lemon rice coconut rice are appreciated as they are less spicy. Mild curries like bhindi fry , urulai roast potatoes, katirikai fry go well so do mild chutneys and dosas, naan etc
- From: Ivete (@ pr2-ts.telepac.pt)
on: Thu Jan 22 11:11:04 EST 2004
Dear Arthi,
Don't worry about if they have already had Indian food or not. Whatever you do I'm sure it's going to be new for them. Indians are worderful cooks and your cuisine are simply delicious. They are going to have a good time. Just don't be too generous on the chillies!
Happy cooking!
- From: Ivete (@ pr2-ts.telepac.pt)
on: Thu Jan 22 11:14:22 EST 2004
Dear Radhika,
If it's not asking you too much, could you please give us the recipe of mango pie?
Thanks in advance!
- From: aarthi (@ 206.70.243.251)
on: Thu Jan 22 11:58:13 EST 2004
Thanks a lot for the suggestions. I think I forgot to mention I'm vegetarian!
How does this sound.
Welcome Drink - Rasam
Appetisers - Mini Masala Dosas/Papads
I need to think of one more - any help here?
Main Course - Salad as suggested by Raj.
Naan
Coconut Rice
Potato Roast
Bhindi fry or some okra dish
Dhall - Any ideas here?
Cucumber or some Raita
Dessert
Mango Pudding
Gulab Jamuns
Any other suggestions welcome!
- From: maha (@ n219078239145.netvigator.com)
on: Thu Jan 22 12:32:51 EST 2004
aarthi,
what about payasam (moong dhall or semiya) for dessert.think about this.
- From: maha (@ n219078239145.netvigator.com)
on: Thu Jan 22 12:35:36 EST 2004
also masaal vadai or sambhar vadai will be good as a starter.
- From: aarthi (@ 206.70.243.251)
on: Thu Jan 22 13:14:05 EST 2004
Okay Maha. If I make sambar vadai then I will have remove mini masala dosai. It will get too heavy i guess.
- From: R (@ bgp530243bgs.ebrnsw01.nj.comcast.net)
on: Thu Jan 22 19:13:09 EST 2004
hey aarthi, what do u mean mini masala dosa? our usual dosa with potato stuffing or what?
- From: Raj (@ 206-97-63-26.ip.theriver.com)
on: Thu Jan 22 20:33:49 EST 2004
aarthi: Try 'rasa vadai' for starter. That is what we do when the cuisine is purely vegetarian.
- From: Sakshi (@ 150.104.125.221)
on: Fri Jan 23 09:20:27 EST 2004
Hi Aarthi
i have cooked for around 10 Americans.what i know from the experience is they dont like yoghurt and very greasy food.so make items which are not very oily.(looks and to touch).i had made sweet corn soup,masala papad as starter(u can fry this ahead and keep and its not very greasy).Main course vegetable pulao (since they like to see vegetables in their food) cucumber,grated carrot,radish salad(just put in salt and pepper (dry raitha) chapathis 2 numbers for each with peas curry,and for dessert jamoons(u can make this 2 days ahead too)with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
u can also make vermicelli kheer or kulfi for dessert(both can be made a day ahead).so u can save time making the curry also a day ahead.so only pulav and chapathis and soup u can do on the day they are coming.try to keep cooking less on the D-day.its worked out for me.hope it helps you too.
sakshi
- From: kavitha (@ ip68-111-50-101.br.no.cox.net)
on: Fri Jan 23 14:15:27 EST 2004
Hi Aarthi,
I think suggestions from Sakshi is very good and you can have some time to look for other activities like cleaning and decorating the house. Once we had a b'day party and made gulab jamoons which the Americans liked very much and they are asking my husband to give a dinner and wanted to taste indian style biriyani. You can try mushrom biriyani as you said you are vegetarian. And don't forget to garnish each and every dish!! Have a nice day!
- From: Uma (@ )
on: Tue Aug 3 13:34:34
Hey
I have an idea which is like by most Americans. It is roasted Potatoes with roasted colored bell peppers; red, orange, green, yellow; a little of everything. I just put salt and pepper with basic "Thadka". It is colorful and attractive and most people just love it over plain roasted potatoes.
uma
- From: Rathi (@ 216.136.208.210)
on: Tue Aug 3 18:54:48 EDT 2004
i made roasted potatoes -
take white or red small potatoes. Slit in half.
mix together - dhania pd, red chilli pd, haldi, oregano pd, salt, and olive oil (enough to make a paste).
Dip the potatoes with the cut side into the paste and ensure that it is covered.
keep in oven at 350F till nicely brown - around 15-20mins.
this is very tasty..
- From: Rathi (@ 216.136.208.210)
on: Tue Aug 3 18:56:30 EDT 2004
aarathi, can you tell us more about mini masala dosa? That sounds like a great idea.
- From: Muna (@ wc07.wlfdle.rnc.net.cable.rogers.com)
on: Thu Nov 11 19:58:54
Can someone please tell me the recipe of a tamil dish. It is a soup that contains tamrind,shrimp,rice, mango, coconut powder and curry leaves. I think its called Pul-li-kun-ji. need the recipe thanks
- From: Ana (@ as2a-57.chcg3.il.core.com)
on: Fri Nov 12 09:01:36 EST 2004
I think there is a misunderstanding here. It is not that Americans don't like yogurt, the thing is they are not used to having it with food, the way Indians do. But once introduced to it they generally appreciate it.
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