The Secret to Effortless Entertaining

Ever wished you could host a fabulous Indian dinner party without spending days in the kitchen? We've all been there—wanting to share the rich flavours of authentic Indian cuisine with friends and family, but dreading the hours of preparation. At Express Indian Delivered, we understand this challenge perfectly. That's why we're sharing our insider knowledge on how to create a memorable multi-course Indian feast using high-quality frozen meals.

Traditional Indian dinner parties often involve complex recipes, numerous spices, and lengthy cooking times. But what if you could achieve the same impressive results with significantly less effort? Our approach allows you to focus on being a gracious host rather than being trapped in the kitchen.

Planning Your Menu: The Foundation of Success

When hosting an Indian dinner party, variety is essential. A well-balanced menu should include a mix of starters, mains, sides, and accompaniments that complement each other.

Start with exciting appetisers

Begin your evening with finger foods that will tantalize your guests' taste buds. Popular choices include:

• Samosas
• Onion bhajis
• Chicken tikka pieces
• Paneer tikka for vegetarian guests

These starters can be arranged beautifully on platters with mint and tamarind chutneys for dipping. Using quality frozen starters means you simply need to heat them according to package instructions—no complex preparation required.

Plan your main event

For the main course, consider offering 2-3 different curry options to accommodate various preferences:

• A chicken dish (perhaps a creamy butter chicken or a spicy jalfrezi)
• A lamb option (such as a fragrant rogan josh)
• A vegetarian choice (maybe a paneer makhani or chana masala)

When selecting your frozen mains, look for products made with authentic recipes and fresh ingredients. At Express Indian Delivered, our meals are created with traditional methods and blast-frozen to preserve their authentic flavours and textures.

Don't forget the supporting cast

No Indian meal is complete without:

• Basmati rice (plain or pilau)
• Naan bread or chapatis
• Raita (yoghurt with cucumber)
• Poppadoms with chutney

Many of these accompaniments can also be found in frozen form, requiring minimal preparation.

Creating the Perfect Atmosphere

The ambiance plays a crucial role in any dinner party. For an authentic Indian dining experience:

Set the table with flair

Consider using:

• Colourful tablecloths or runners
• Tea lights or candles
• Small bowls for chutneys and raitas
• Serving dishes that allow for family-style dining

Background music matters

Gentle Indian classical music or modern Bollywood tunes (depending on your gathering) can create a lovely atmosphere without overpowering conversation.

Thoughtful touches

Place small bowls of mixed spices, such as cumin seeds, cardamom pods, and cinnamon sticks, around your table. These add colour, provide talking points, and fill your home with wonderful aromas.

Timing Is Everything: Your Party Schedule

One of the biggest advantages of using quality frozen Indian meals is the ability to time everything perfectly. Here's a sample schedule for a 7:30 pm dinner party:

Earlier in the day:

• Remove selected dishes from freezer and transfer to refrigerator
• Prepare any simple fresh accompaniments like raita
• Set your table and organise serving dishes

5:30 pm:

• Arrange appetiser platters
• Prepare any fresh garnishes
• Set up drinks station

6:30 pm:

• Begin heating main courses according to package instructions
• Warm plates in a low oven
• Prepare rice (or heat frozen rice)

7:00 pm:

• Heat appetisers
• Check that main courses are progressing well
• Warm naan breads if using

7:30 pm – guests arrive:

• Serve drinks and appetisers
• Main courses should be perfectly ready when you need them

This schedule allows you to be relaxed and ready when guests arrive, rather than frantically cooking multiple dishes from scratch.

Handling Dietary Requirements with Confidence

Indian cuisine naturally accommodates many dietary preferences, which makes it perfect for entertaining diverse groups.

For vegetarians and vegans:
Many traditional Indian dishes are plant-based. Look for frozen paneer curries, daal, and vegetable options.

For gluten-free guests:
Rice-based dishes and many curries are naturally gluten-free. Just be careful with accompaniments like naan bread.

For those who avoid spice:
Not all Indian food is spicy! Options like korma, pasanda, or butter chicken provide milder alternatives without sacrificing flavour.

At Express Indian Delivered, we clearly label all our meals with allergen information and spice levels, making it easy to cater to everyone's needs.

The Final Flourish

End your evening with a simple but perfect dessert. Traditional options include:

• Kulfi (Indian ice cream)
• Gulab jamun (sweet dumplings)
• Mango sorbet with cardamom

Again, many of these can be purchased frozen, allowing you to focus on enjoying your evening rather than complicated dessert preparation.

Why Our Approach Works So Well

We've built our business on understanding what makes Indian cuisine special. By using blast-freezing techniques, we lock in the freshness and flavours of our meals immediately after cooking. This means when you heat our dishes in your home, you're experiencing something very close to freshly made food—without the hours of preparation.

Our customers repeatedly tell us that their friends can't believe the meals came from the freezer. The quality, authenticity and convenience make entertaining with Express Indian Delivered a joy rather than a chore.

Ready to host your own impressive Indian dinner party? Browse our range of authentic frozen meals and have them delivered directly to your freezer. Your guests will never know you didn't spend days in the kitchen—unless you choose to share your brilliant secret!