Occasion & Party  >  


Kitty Party

Kitty Party Recipes

There is nothing that can equal the joy of having your friends over for a fun-filled afternoon. Kitty parties are a common practice amongst ladies all over the world. Friends decide on a convenient date and get together at one person’s place, to enjoy delicious food and play games. It is a great opportunity for women to swap recipes and learn new skills like crochet or embroidery together with friends they are comfortable with.

Usually kitty parties are organized once a month or once in 15 days. While friends have now begun to meet each other at restaurants and party halls, in proper kitty party culture, the parties are usually held at somebody’s home because that comfortable home atmosphere is what makes it so much fun. While some people prefer to order food from a caterer, most women still prefer home-cooked treats for kitty parties because that is part of the fun! It is a time to show off your cooking skills and share easy kitty party recipes and quick kitty party recipes with friends. Sometimes, the host prepares all the required food with one or two friends popping in earlier to help. At other times, the party might be organized as a pot-luck, where each friend cooks and brings some sweets, sandwiches, snacks and drinks from their home.

If you are organizing a kitty party, then it is preferable to select dishes that are easy, tasty and filling so you can cook them fast and then focus on other preparations and spending time with friends. Sometimes, you can also use this opportunity to team up with close friends and try out some challenging recipe!

We have put together a range of recipes that you can prepare when you invite your friends over for a Indian kitty party. We have chosen stuff that is out of the ordinary, such as the Moong Sprouts and Potato Salli Chaat and Paan ki Chaat to Kalmi Vada. We have also picked some international exotics like the Queso Dip, Ricotta and Cherry Tomato Crostini and the Banoffee Pie, so that your friends can relish something out of the ordinary, and will have something great to talk about till the next party!

 

Enjoy our collection of Veg Kitty Party recipes from Kitty Party Sweets to Sandwiches.

Kitty Party Chaat (20 recipes)
Kitty Party Drinks, Mocktails (34 recipes)
Kitty Party Easy (20 recipes)
Kitty Party Quick (21 recipes)
Kitty Party Sandwiches (27 recipes)
Kitty Party Snacks (234 recipes)
Kitty Party Sweets (58 recipes)

Kitty Party Chaat,   Kitty Party Sweets,   Kitty Party Quick,   Kitty Party Easy,   Kitty Party Snacks,   Kitty Party Sandwiches,  

Indian Independence Day



Indian Independence Recipes

We all feel a surge of patriotism on Independence  Day, and feel like doing everything the Indian way! For many, the day begins with a flag hoisting ceremony in their school, office, apartment complex or local park, followed by relaxing banter with friends and family, lots of nice television programs, our favourite melodies streaming on the radio, and of course, awesome desi food!
Independence, freedom, these concepts are all innately linked to choice. When you are independent, you have the freedom to make the right choices, not just about who will rule your country but also about what you eat.  We help you pick  healthy recipes and tasty recipes, which will help you live a happy and healthy life.

Independence Day recipes from all over India

You can come up with a really enticing spread on Independence Day, as each region of India has several fabulous dishes. Every cuisine has its signature dishes, with classic masalas and characteristic ingredients that are abundant in that region. Some foods are very famous while others are lesser known, valuable treasures handed down from generation to generation. What better way to celebrate Independence Day than by cooking foods from different regions highlighting our cultural diversity. From Gujrat there is the Sprouts Dhokla, to Bengals Orange Chennar Payesh. Punjab is famous for its Palak Paneer, while South Indians love their Idli and Sambar, Maharashtrians love their Thalipeeth. At the same time, the caption ‘Unity in Diversity’ applies to Indian food too. However varied the cuisine of India is, you can always find a common note running through them all – when someone tastes a dish, they can instantly identify that it’s Indian!

We have come up with a special collection of recipes for Independence Day. Most of the recipes are Indian, but we have also picked a few fusion or International dishes to show the porous and evolutionary nature of our culture. 

Your family will be in for a pleasant surprise too, when they find the patriotic hues of the Indian flag on their dining table! All these dishes have some element of the tri-colour in them – either saffron, white or green. So, mix and match the dishes such that you find a splash of all three colours on the table!

Healthy Indian Independence Day Recipes

You are free to decide what you want to eat – so why opt for junk. Take pride in choosing healthy dishes, from Indian or International cuisines. Traditional Indian dishes are ‘made for India’ – we are born with a taste for such dishes and enjoy them instinctively. So, we present you with lovely recipes, handpicked from different parts of India - right from North Indian subzis and parathas to South Indian Idli and Rasam, and East India's famous Spicy Spinach Dumplings to West India's Dal Pandoli and Sprouts Dhokla. That said, we also have a choice to relish foods from across the world, as a sign of our solidarity and adaptability. So, we have also included dishes like the Vegetable Oats Pancake for you to enjoy.

As a way of celebrating this special day, we have chosen recipes that bring the colours of independence to your table. Vibrant oranges and greens are achieved using ingredients that are naturally of this hue, and without using any artificial colours or flavours whatsoever. These recipes are also low-fat, so you can achieve both nutritional and weight-loss goals at one shot. We have made super-tasty subzis using very little oil, and once you try these recipes, you will get into the practice of reducing oil usage in your regular cooking. Another step towards good health!

Apart from being nutritious, low-fat and healthy, these recipes are also awesomely tasty and very visually-attractive with vibrant hues of green and orange. Your family will rejoice at the sight of all these yummy dishes on the dining table, to celebrate a special holiday!

Spinach and Mint Juice,   Neem Juice,   Tricolour Sandwich,   Bourbon Milkshake ( Tiffin Treats),   Cream Of Spinach Soup, Palak Soup,   Palak Chola Dal Idli, Breakfast Recipe,  

Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth Recipes, Vrat, Sweets

Recipes for Karwa Chauth

Karwa Chauth (Karva Chauth) is a popular festival from Northern India predominantly celebrated in the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. On this day, married women observe fast for long life of their husbands.

Karwa Chauth Vidhi, Karva Chauth Procedure

The word Karwa Chauth has been derived from Hindi word “Karwa” meaning “a small earthen pot” and “Chauth” means “fourth”, referring to the time in which the festival falls. Before the sunrise, women eat fruits and sweets. The fruits and sweets are sent by their mother-in-law and this ritual is known as 'sargi'. All the women observing fast, come together and sing songs and perform puja. They do not consume anything during the day except for water. The fast is broken only after seeing the moon.

Once the moon rises, the women see its reflection in a thali of water through a sieve or dupatta. The husband then offers her wife with a sip of water and thus breaks her fast. They offer water to the moon and seek blessings for prosperity and safety.

Karwa Chauth Food Recipes

Just like other Indian festivals were food is a part of the celebration, even on Karwa Chauth food is an important aspect. After the puja, the fast is broken and the feast begins. Varieties of Indian sweets like halwa, malpua, rasgulla, laddoos are made and consumed by one and all.

A thali generally consists of a dry subzi, subzi with gravy, flatbreads (puri, paratha, naan, etc), sweets, snack and side-dishes like raita, chutney, pickles and papad. Paneer butter masala with naan, boondi raita, dahi vada and malpua are some of my favorite delicacies. Here we have listed down an assortment of dishes which you can prepare and enjoy on this auspicious occasion. Create your own thali with the food suggested below.

Chana Dal Puri,   Fruit Raita, Healthy Mix Fruit Raita,   Moong Dal Halwa,   Kadai Paneer Subzi,   Malpua Recipe ( Quick Shallow Fried ),   Sweet Banana Dumplings, Banana Gulgule,  

Top Recipes

homemade pav bhaji | how to make pav bhaji at home | mumbai pav bhaji made at home | with 25 amazing images. There is nothing healthier than making your homemade pav bhaji versus opting for pav bhaji from the street. While i do love mumbai roadside pav bhaji, i still think you should make your pav bhaji at home. In this homemade pav bhaji recipe, we have first pressure cooked the vegetables (cauliflower, green peas and carrots), that go into the pav bhaji. Then in a separate deep non stick pan cooked the chilli garlic paste, sauted the onions, capsicum and tomatoes. Added the kashmiri red chillies, pav bhaji masala and cooked with some water. Finally we add the potatoes and pressure cooked vegetables and cooked the mumbai pav bhaji made at home. Why make mumbai pav bhaji made at home? 1. Street vendors tend to use inferior quality vegetables which are not even cleaned properly. At home, we have the option to use the best quality of everything. 2. Water used to clean vegetables is not filtered by street vendors. 3. Everything is cooked in the open which leads to all kinds of infestation of the food despite it being hot. 4. The butter used is believed to be half margarine and half butter to cut costs and will lead to heart issues. We make homemade pav bhaji as a one meal dinner. Traditionally pav bhaji is served with yummy ladi pav which is made of plain flour. We suggest you try and use homemade multigrain bread to have with your homemade pav bhaji. homemade pav bhaji is truly an innovation that arose out of the necessity of providing a nice hot meal in a hurry and one that tickles the taste buds. When I am lazy to cook on an entire meal for my family, pav bhaji in one of the first few dishes which comes to mind. It is easy to cook and also filling. Aside from pav bhaji, we have other variations like jain pav bhaji, khada pav bhaji, pressure cooker pav bhaji and pav bhaji made with doodhi. Enjoy homemade pav bhaji | how to make pav bhaji at home | mumbai pav bhaji made at home with detailed step by step photos below.

vegetarian sponge cake | eggless sponge cake | Indian vanilla sponge cake no eggs | with 22 amazing images. This vegetarian sponge cake is just what it should be – perfectly spongy! With the right level of sweetness, a pleasing flavour and melt-in-the-mouth softness, this versatile Indian vanilla sponge cake is the ultimate go-to dessert for vegetarians. The proper mix of baking soda and baking powder gives this eggless sponge cake a nice sponginess and rise despite not using eggs. Fondly called the vegetarian sponge cake, this eggless sponge cake can be enjoyed plain or with decorative icings like Mocha Glaze Icing or Orange Butter Icing. The same recipe also lends itself to making other cakes like Pineapple Cake. Note that for this vegetarian sponge cake we do not have to add any extra sugar because we are using condensed milk, which gives a rich flavour and texture. A few tips and points to make the perfect eggless vegetarian sponge cake. 1. Flouring the tin is necessary because it prevents the butter from melting and getting mixed into the cake batter. 2. If you don't preheat the oven before you put the cake tin inside the oven, it will be difficult for you to estimate the baking time. Also the cake will not rise well. 3. Sieving these dry ingredients, baking powder and baking soda together will make the flour lighter and will also remove lumps or impurities from the flour if present. 4. If you bake your eggless vegetarian sponge cake at a very high temperature, it might rise well initially but will deflate eventually. You can store this yummy vegetarian sponge cake in an airtight container at room temperature for a day, or in the fridge for 4-5 days. However, it is best enjoyed fresh and warm when the aroma is at the peak. Enjoy how to make vegetarian sponge cake | eggless sponge cake | Indian vanilla sponge cake no eggs | with detailed step by step photos below.

chole bhature | Punjabi chole bhature | with 29 amazing images My earliest memories of Chole Bhature is of the one I ate at a popular eatery in Mumbai Known as "Cream Centre". On enquiring, I was told that the chick peas and spices were simmered together for hours resulting in a dish that a large number of Mumbaites relish even today! My version of chole is however, ready in minutes and is as delicious. I have also added powder, which impart a dark brown colour to the chick peas which usually comes from simmering chick peas in an iron pot. I enjoy eating hot chole with tikkis, bhaturas, kulcha or simply topped on a slice of bread. Crisp, yet spongy bhaturas are used to mop up the chole. Traditionally bhatura dough was made using leavening agents like soda, curds and leaving it for hours to ferment before they could be rolled out and deep fried. This recipe of bhature is one that uses mashed potatoes to soften up the bhaturas. Moreover, also these bhaturas do not turn rubbery and chewy when they are eaten cold. Enjoy other Punjabi Subzis like Shalgam ki Subzi, Aloo Mutter Korma, Sarson ka Saag, Kathal ki Subzi. Enjoy how to make chole bhature | Punjabi chole bhature with detailed step by step photos below.

vegetable manchurian recipe | Chinese vegetable manchurian | Indo Chinese veg manchurian | with 29 amazing images. vegetable manchurian recipe is an Indo Chinese veg manchurian dish that has become so famous that it is available everywhere these days, from roadside eateries and local restaurants to Indian wedding menus and specialty diners too! The succulent vegetable manchurian features deep-fried vegetable balls in a thick gravy that is flavoured with typical Chinese ingredients like ginger, garlic and soy sauce. This desi interpretation of the Chinese dish has no MSG or Ajinomoto in vegetable Manchurian. Chinese vegetable manchurian is quite easy to make but you just need to take care of one thing – the vegetable balls should be of the right consistency, if the mix is too loose it will break while frying. Notes on vegetable Manchurian recipe. 1. When you start mixing a little bit more, the vegetables will start releasing water and the wet mixture will start coming together. It will look like this. Do not squeeze the mixture too much as it might become very loose. 2. Deep fry a few vegetable balls at a time, on a medium flame, until golden brown from all sides. It is very important to have the oil at the right temperature while deep frying. If the oil is too hot, the balls will burn from outside and remain undercooked and doughy from insde. We have fried the vegetable balls in batches of 5, each batch taking 4-5 minutes to cook. 3. Now add the cornflour-water mixture and cook for 3-4 minutes, while stirring occasionally. As cornflour does not dissolve in water, always stir the mixture well before adding it to any sauce or gravy. The reason for adding this is for the gravy to get thicker as it cooks. If the gravy is too thin after 3 to 4 minutes, you can add more of the cornflour-water mixture. But if the gravy is too thick, you can add more water or stock to it to adjust the consistency Serve the Chinese vegetable manchurian piping hot with Burnt Garlic Rice or Hakka Noodles. For more options, do check out our section of Recipes for Chinese Vegetables. Learn how to make vegetable manchurian recipe | Chinese vegetable manchurian | Indo Chinese veg manchurian | with detailed step by step photos and video below.

low calorie dal makhani recipe | low fat dal makhani | healthy low cal dal makhani | with 20 amazing images. low calorie dal makhani without cream and butter. We have made this a healthy dal makhani where the fat levels are reduced. So if you are diabetic or on weight loss then you can enjoy the low fat dal makhani recipe. low calorie dal makhani, a flavourful robust lentil preparation, is a celebrated delicacy from Punjab. Best had with the healthy makki ki roti. See why this is called a healthy low cal dal makhani recipe. Rajma and whole urad provide protein and calcium which are extremely important for maintenance of your body cells and healthy bones. Cooking the dal in tomato purée adds a little sharpness to this dish and also enriches it with folic acid and folic acid . We have done away with full fat cream and butter to make this recipe healthier. Some tips to make the perfect low calorie dal makhani recipe. 1. Cover and keep the whole urad bowl aside for overnight. It is important to soak them overnight so that they take lesser time to cook the next day. 2. Pressure cook for 6 to 7 whistles or till the dals are overcooked. Both the urad dal and rajma should melt in the mouth and should not have a bite on eating, so ensure they are very well cooked. Enjoy low calorie dal makhani recipe | low fat dal makhani | healthy low cal dal makhani with detailed step by step photos and video below.

kadai paneer subzi recipe | restaurant style kadai paneer sabzi | homemade kadai paneer sabzi | with amazing images. Treat yourself to this fine sabzi, made in traditional restaurant style kadai paneer, spiced up with an assortment of spices and pastes. Kadai paneer is the most commonly ordered dish in every restaurant. It is a spicy and delicious sabzi. It is on the menu of almost every Indian restaurant. Making kadai paneer subzi is no rocket science you can easily make it by following our delicious recipe. To make kadai paneer subzi recipe, How to make Kadai Paneer Subzi. Combine coriander seeds and the red chillies in a mixer and blend to a coarse powder. Keep aside. Heat the ghee in a deep non-stick kadhai, add the ginger paste, garlic paste. Then rub the dry fenugreek leaves between your palm and add, sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds. Add the capsicum and the coarse powder and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, salt and ¼ cup of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 5 to 6 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Add the paneer and coriander, toss it lightly and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute. Serve kadai paneer subzi hot with naan, chapati or kulcha. The addition of dried fenugreek leaves gives the Kadai Paneer Subzi its characteristic taste, while capsicum and tomatoes complement the paneer well in texture, flavour and volume too. The tinges of ginger and garlic add a pungent dimension to this flavourful homemade kadai paneer sabzi, which goes very well with puris and rotis. For a complete meal combo serve homemade kadai paneer sabzi along with Dal Amritsari and Jeera Rice. Check out our collection of best paneer recipes to learn various other Paneer recipes. Enjoy kadai paneer subzi recipe | restaurant style kadai paneer sabzi | homemade kadai paneer sabzi | with detailed step by step photos and video below.

Extremely soft koftas that melt in your mouth, dipped in a creamy tomato-flavoured gravy that soothes and cradles your taste buds, that is what the Malai Kofta Curry is! The mouth-melting koftas are made of fresh coconut and potatoes rather than the more common paneer-based koftas, and the gravy too is a class apart as it is neither bland nor too spicy, combining cream and tomato in a well-balanced proportion. Malai Kofta Curry tastes best when served with Butter Garlic Naan or Tandoori Roti and Jeera Rice .

palak paneer recipe | Punjabi palak paneer | homemade palak paneer | spinach with cottage cheese | with 24 amazing images. palak paneer recipe is one of the many of the best loved vegetarian Punjabi dishes are the ones where paneer is combined with a vegetable. Paneer is widely used and very popular in Punjab due to the abundance of milk and milk products in the area. To make homemade palak paneer you need to make a spinach puree first. Then heat the oil in a kadhai , add the onions and sauté on a medium flame till they turn translucent. Add the garlic, ginger, green chillies and turmeric powder and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomato pulp and sauté till the mixture leaves oil, while stirring continuously. Add the spinach purée and 2 tbsp of water, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes. Add the salt, garam masala and fresh cream and mix well. Add the paneer, mix gently and cook on a medium flame for another 1 to 2 minutes. Serve spinach with cottage cheese hot. Some tips to make the perfect palak paneer recipe. 1. Blanch the spinach for 2 to 3 minutes. If you boil the spinach for long, the spinach will lose its colour and the Palak Paneer gravy will come out dark. 2. Run the strainer below cold water to refresh the spinach. This stops the cooking process of the spinach. It is a very important step in the Palak Paneer Recipe as you do not want to overcook the spinach. 3. We do not add the garam masala in the beginning because adding it earlier would make it bitter. This combination of spinach and paneer is not only highly nutritious, but is a splendid blend of taste, texture and flavour. The paneer in this homemade palak paneer recipe has been fried to add some extra flavour. You can however add the paneer pieces without frying if required. Serve homemade palak paneer with rotis or parathas. Enjoy palak paneer recipe | Punjabi palak paneer | homemade palak paneer | spinach with cottage cheesee | with detailed step by step photos below.

Who can resist the temptation of sinking their teeth into a soft, rich and gooey chocolate cake? An all-time favourite, the Chocolate Cake fits perfectly into any occasion , and is a must-add to everybody’s cooking folders. This intensely-flavoured eggless chocolate cake is surprisingly easy to make and hardly requires any complex preparations. Made with an ideal combination of flour, butter and condensed milk, this cake has a wonderfully rich texture – not to forget the memorable flavour derived from cocoa and vanilla. A recipe that is definitely worth trying! You can also try other delightful Cakes like Black Forest Cake or Cheesy Chocolate and Fruit Cake

dal fry | Punjabi dal fry | dhaba style dal fry | Indian dal curry soup | with amazing 26 images. dal fry recipe is a popular Punjabi dal fry. A mixture of moong and masoor dal cooked to perfection in dhaba style dal fry and perked up with an aromatic tempering along with fried onions and tomatoes. This dal fry has a very pleasing texture and irresistible flavour too. From roadside dhabhas to global Indian restaurants, almost all diners serve this all-time favourite dhaba style dal fry. A thoughtful combination of everyday ingredients come together in the form of a tadka to give this dal frydal fry a thoroughly enjoyable flavour that lingers on the palate for a long time. dal fry with masoor dal is made with the most basic ingredients yet the outcome is beautiful. Generally, authentic dal fry is made with made with toor dal and chana dal but here we have slightly twisted the recipe by making dal fry with masoor dal and toor dal. This is our version of it. The aroma tingles your nostrils, while the flavour teases your taste buds – so enticing is this dal frydal fry that it is hard to believe that it is simple, everyday fare made with the commonest ingredients! The addition of nigella seeds to the tempering is a special touch, which leaves a lingering flavour of dal fry on your taste buds even after you finish your meal. You can serve the dal fry with rotis, parathas, naans, plain steamed rice or jeera rice. It is simple and easy to cook, but gives irresistible results, so do give it a try! Learn to make dal fry | Punjabi dal fry | dhaba style dal fry | Indian dal curry soup | with detailed step by step recipe photos and video below.
Outbrain