I love entertaining and having parties, like most of you. And when I talk to fellow-hosts, I find that they are almost always worried about what snacks to serve – the main course and desserts are easier to finalise! It so happens that after much thought they usually settle for common, tried-and-tested dishes such as Paneer Tikkas. Hmmm, there will be a time when your guests would have had enough of it!
Some of the kebabs in this book have been deep-fried or cooked in ghee. You could shallow-fry these or use oil instead of ghee. And well, there is something for everybody, from the live-for-the-day eater to the more discerning health-conscious ones.
A major part of the planning involves combining these snacks appropriately into what is today popular-known as a “platter”. Platters are a dominant phenomenon today – they ensure guests a well-chosen selection of snacks replete with rotis, a salad or two and suitable chutneys and sauces. A well-planned platter is wholesome and nutritious and capable of serving as a meal in itself for the snack-lover (while serving as a starter for the rest).
This book comes replete with 10 platter suggestions that guide you on how to serve your tikkis, tikkas and kebabs, and the accompaniments that we feel they would ideally combine with. These platters are based on specific themes. Plus, there is a second index included in this book which categorises the recipes according to type – this enables you to exercise your imagination to come up with your own platter options too… and I’m sure those will be a success too. Innovation is the key!
The next time you plan a party or are attacked by a sudden hunger pang, fret not, and just pull out this book. Prepare some of these easy-to-follow recipes and watch the platters empty while the diners’ faces light up!