xlusively_me

i'm throwing a iftar party for my college friends and some cousins, i wanted to get some feedback on a fun menu with blend of american and desi cuisine. suggestions of dishes and recipes are welcome. don't want too much food as its really hard to eat a lot after a long day of fasting, but i think there should be variety.


ok

for starters

eggrolls, pakoray, somasas
green chutney
alu channay

main meal

pulao
dahi bharay
salad
green masala kabobs
pasta dish
tandoori chicken wraps


dessert

cake + pudding

does the menu sound ok not enough?...overbearing? too many carbs?

the guest people will be around ermm 20 people including some adults

redvelvet

Hmm.....the menu looks good over all. I love the idea of a pasta dish and tandoori chicken wraps.

Here are some suggestions:

1) The starters are all fried foods. You can omit one of the fried foods...and substitute it with a fruit salad (or cut-up fruit)....OR a yogurt based chaat. That way you'll still have 3 dishes for the starters....but they'll be variety in texture.

2) If you want.....you can add a salan/curry-based dish to your main meal section. Such as a korma, maybe. Here's an idea. Dehi baray are often served during iftar. SO........you can use the dehi baray as one of your starter dishes. And then substitue the dehi baray with a curry-based dish for main meal. Know what I mean? That way....people will have a salan to pour over their pulao.

Desert sounds great.

xlusively_me

hmmm thanks i'll do that for the feedback chicken qourma or chicken jalfrezi with naan?

redvelvet

I like the jalfrezi but EITHER one of them sounds awesome! Make the one you feel most comfortable with.

shasz4u

Asak ..everybody
Ramadan Mubarak to you all an d your families..may Allah SWT accept our devotion and prayers i this holy month..Ameen.

I'm hosting an iftaar party coming saturday Insha Allah..
could you guys help me with the menu pleaseeee..
one of my family friend she will make biryani..and one said she will bring something like cheese pakora or bread pakora ..my sis in law is also after my life to bring something..
i feel if they will all bring everything what will i cook then ..i looooove cooking.

so for now...i'm thinking of making:-

Iftar
qeema samosa
Chana daal.kachhi wali...everybody loves it ..last year it was a hit masha allah.
dates stuffed with almonds
pakora(friend is bringing)
Fruit salad

what else should i make...i dont want to do a lot as nobody will have space for dinner after.

Dinner:
biryani (for now)
paneer makhani (i already made the gravy i just have to add paneer in it...i freez it yesterday

Desert

kheer
mango moose


any other suggestions will be appreciated....and if possible recipes too please.

thanx
love n hugs

PSquared

I went to an Iftar party last night and Im going to be honest, the food was overwhelming!!! People dont eat that much when they have two meals back to back within two hours. The girl went all out and did fried peppers, pakoray, stuffed biscuits, chanay, dahi barey, fruit chaat, khajoor. For dinner, she did qorma, biryani, raita, salad, roti, more chanay and dahi baray. For dessert, kulfi................UFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Either simplify your Iftar or Dinner.

First Iftar was at my place and I served:

Khajoor

Chicken salad sandwiches - gotta have those!

Fruit salad with papaya, bananas, kiwi, apples, grapes, cherries, etc.

Cantaloupe

Dinner:

Zeera rice

Palak Qeema

Chicken salan

Dessert: Cake

If you're doing a heavy dinner, no fried foods in Iftar...thats my rule.

RupayHalwa

SOUP - U must have soup! (With some fresh bread or garlic bread). Allow your SIL to bring something like samosa's or chaat, u focus on souop!

Agree with Psquared, don't have too much food, ppl won't b able to eat it.

PSquared

Mrs Halwaaaaaaaaa...............you forgot CHEESE AND CRACKERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

diamond321

you can add dahi baras/chotay for aftari.

and for dinner you can raita as its a must with biryani

I hope your party goes great then u can change your status from being WORRIED to HAPPY

bhenjee

Hmm, personally I have to have pakoras for iftari.. I mean if I"m hosting a party. I would personally rather focus more on iftari.. it's an iftar party, n secondly, u get to eat biryani n stuff all yr around anyway! I'd do various types of pakoras, spring rolls/ or samosas, chanay (black or white) and dahi barray.

If someones already bringin biryani, you should just make enough dahi barray that last beyond the iftari so that ppl can use taht as raita for the rice. As an addition just make one simple salan if you choose.. don't think you need to. Everyone will be stuffed on iftari as is.

Also, how many ppl are invited to this party?

Iggle

Last night I had an Aftari party and I made spinach quiche, roast chicken, mince meat lasange with mixed veggies, white sauce etc and everything was eaten! Food was a hit esp' lasange and quiches, which everyone went for instead of the pokarays and dari barays etc!! Thank goodness I made a lot of lasange. Its so easy to cook as well.

RupayHalwa

Oops! *very embarassed*

Gina~

I'd add a chaat or dahi baray..

Iggle

^ Dahi baray with home-made imli ki chutney! Mmmm! Perfect! Okay me just feeling hungry! Lol!

Rukhsarbibi

I wouldn't do a biryani. I think it's way too heavy. I would probably go with a pulaao esp. since you are making the gravy dish which sounds kind of heavy.

fareedquraishi

Great suggestion

shasz4u

Asak everybody..sorry guys i got busy in my everyday work plus i had a 2 bridals and mehndi parties to do.
anyways so i had my Iftar party today or yesterday..its 3.36 am here haha.m so tired but still not in bed.

i read all the replies and i really really appreciate you all helping me..i took some suggestions from you all i just did have time to comment before...
i really didn't want to do biryani but that family friend brought it so i couldn't say anything.
everybody loved the food. and it was perfect number of dishes...i have some leftover but no complaints..i can use it later.

so for iftar i had...
samose..big hit
chane ki daal big hit again
tuna sandwich
fruit salad
Dates
and a friend brought pakore.

dinner :-
biryani (aunty )
dahi phulki
masala chole ( i was panicking as my husband was late 2 hrs and i had no chicken or lamb in my fridge to cook
chicken rizala (family recipe
paneer
salad..from my SIL
naan

Desert:

kheer
cream puffs

so it was all good at the end..and i'm happy now alhumdolillah.

Thank you all.
xox

Chameli420

I am hosting an iftar party next week and need some ideas for the menu.

Around 20 girls and the food I would like to serve should be healthy, spicy and tasty

I was initially thinking of serving keema biryaani with dahi bhadde and salad but thats so traditional.

share ur ideas plz

Sahinal

I would do a mango milkshake
try being creative with your salad......u can do a ceasar topped with grilled chicken or a nice chick pea salad tossed with red peppers, red onions, herbs, lemon and olive oil. I love mixed greens with red peppers, cucumbers, baby carrots, walnuts, sliced green apples and cubed cheese u can also make mini pies.. buy pastry dough from your local grocery store. if u need a recipe for filling I can send you one. How about a lasagna or pasta instead of biryani. u can serve garlic bread with it.

this will be diffrent and I bet u everyone would enjoy the change from your regular iftaar food.

RupayHalwa

Go different! I had a party with keema pasta, garlic bread and salad, it was received very well.