When expanding your culinary skills, it can be a good idea to try a whole new cuisine as this opens up a different variety of recipes, flavours and aromas. Putting together a three course Indian meal, for example, could be a great challenge and one that’ll help you to explore dishes from another part of the world. It might seem overwhelming at first, but here are some planning tips to get you started.
Begin with a Light and Inviting Starter
One of the best things you can do when planning your starter is to Google the ‘best Indian near me’ and take a look at their starter menu. This will enable you to see what kind of dishes are served and make a choice. As a newbie to the world of Indian cuisine, it’s best to choose dishes that are simple to prepare and yet full of character. Options like chicken kebabs, paneer tikka or vegetable pakoras are a good place to start as they require minimal cooking time and rely on straightforward spice blends.
Of course, if you don’t like playing it safe and want to really test your capabilities, you could try your hand at vegetable or chicken samosas. Find an easy-to-follow recipe and give yourself extra time to make them. Always make a couple of extra samosas in case anything goes wrong – or your guests find them so delicious they ask for more.
Craft a Tasty Main Course
There are ways to impress your dinner guests while keeping your main course simple. The best thing to do is to choose a main dish that you feel you’ll be able to cook well. Find a good recipe and source all the ingredients in advance so you’re well prepared. Indian dishes might contain spices and herbs that you might not normally have in the cupboards, or you need to buy from a more specialised store.
Once you’re confident with your main course, you can then build around it. Think about adding steamed basmati rice, pillowy naan bread or even a simple side such as a cucumber raita or kachumber salad. You could even learn how to make crispy poppadoms – your meal will begin to look impressive in no time.
Finish with a Comforting Dessert
Indian desserts are renowned for their comforting and indulgent sweetness, but they don’t have to be complicated. One of the easiest options to serve that’s guaranteed to leave a lasting impression is Kheer – a creamy, lightly sweetened rice pudding simmered with milk, sugar and aromatic spices. It’s one of those dishes that tastes luxurious despite using very basic ingredients. Indeed, all good Indian food is based around beautiful spice blends, so this could be a great dish to perfect for guests.
Get Inspired
If you want inspiration for your very own Indian three-course meal, check out the ‘best Indian places near me’ for guidance. Little India in the heart of Kensington, for example, serves up delightfully authentic and aromatic dishes that might stir your imagination. Book your table today or order a delivery and sample some of London’s best Indian food.
