The easiest—and, unless you're a skilled chef, tastiest—cheat: Order takeout from an Indian restaurant. In this case, the hosts opted for mild versions of tandoori chicken, rice and peas, samosas, and naan. If you want to make the main dish yourself, try the recipe below for a nonspicy tandoori-chicken dish even finicky eaters will love:
Tandoori Chicken
Serves approx. 24Many Indian families have their own recipe for this popular dish. While most versions are mild and flavorful, this one pays special attention to the spices, so it won't be too hot for young palettes—and it's a surefire winner with kids. Garam masala and other spices are available by mail order at Kalustyan's.
- 1 pint nonfat plain yogurt
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 garlic cloves, mashed
- 1½ tablespoons ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ cup Hungarian paprika
- 1 2-inch piece ginger, grated
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons black pepper
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 quartered chickens or the equivalent, cut into pieces
- Mix together all the ingredients but the chicken in a large bowl. Divide the mixture between two resealable plastic bags. Make 4 or 5 deep slits in each piece of chicken and place the pieces in the bags. Coat the chicken well and marinate it overnight in the refrigerator.
- 2 Preheat oven to 500° F. Remove the chicken from the bags and blot it with paper towels to remove excess marinade. Place it in a roasting pan and roast for about 20 minutes, then turn the pieces over and roast for another 10 minutes, or until done.
- 3 Serve with white rice, along with naan bread, saag paneer, and samosas (all available frozen at Kalustyan's; frozen samosas are also sold at ethnicfoodsco.com). Fry the samosas according to the package directions on the morning of the party, then reheat them at 350° F for 6 to 8 minutes before serving. They taste best with mango or coriander chutney (available at Kalustyan's).
Next Page: Mango Lassis and Chai Tea
