by Sarah ▪ 14 Jun, 2021
To celebrate the important men in your life, why not take curry night up to 11? Whether you’re making a meal for the extended family or just for two, serving a variety of dishes in traditional Indian tableware is one way to make it super-special, both in style and substance. Luckily there’s no need to toil for hours (or days!) creating several traditional curries from scratch, because Gourmade have done the hard work for you. Simply buy one each (or your favourite combo) of our Chicken Jalfrezi, Vegetable Madras, Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Korma and serve in some beautiful bowls. We love these copper serving dishes, which will bring a glorious warming glow to your table.
With the curries taken care of, all you need to focus on is the sides – an important element to any Indian supper. First up is rice – and we’ve got two simple recipes to share. Our founder, Jo, has the secret to perfect fluffy rice every time, and we’ve also got a flavoured option for a bit of va-va-voom.
Naan bread is a curry night staple – delicious, warming, and perfect for mopping up any leftover sauce. While making your own naan is satisfying (we especially like this recipe for peshwari naan with its wonderful traditional filling), often we just don’t have the time. But it’s super easy to jazz up shop-bought naans. Simply spread the naans with butter, and then top with your choice (or combination) of grated garlic, diced dried fruit, chopped coriander leaves or cumin seeds. Even just adding the butter adds an extra level of delicious decadence! (Cumin seeds, dried fruit and garlic can be added before heating, but for coriander leaves or if you’re using butter alone, add after removing from the oven.) You’ll probably find you have enough food already, but if you fancy some healthy, vegetable-based sides, try making a simple red lentil dal or a sag aloo. (Or, for a slightly less healthy veggie side, simply pop some pre-prepared onion bhajis in the oven!)
To give your meal the professional touch, why not sprinkle your curries and sides with some dressy toppings, which will add a pop of colour and texture? Flaked almonds work beautifully with our creamy Chicken Korma, while chopped coriander creates a wonderful colour contrast on Tikka Masala. Spring onions add bite to the Vegetable Madras, and chopped red chilli gives even more of a kick to the Chicken Jalfrezi. Fried onions are traditional atop a dal, and work equally well on a curry or rice (you can buy excellent pre-cooked ones which add a wonderful crunch!). Other great toppings for Indian dishes include dried fruit, peas, cumin seeds, pineapple or roasted peanuts. You can really go to town and have fun with flavours – or just pick your dad’s favourites!
After a spicy meal, a cool and refreshing dessert is just the ticket. Why not try our Raspberry Cheesecake or perhaps a refreshing Sicilian Lemon Roulade Gourmade has plenty of delicious desserts to choose from, so you can finish your meal in style.
Do get in touch and share pictures of your Father’s Day feasts, along with any tips for your own Indian side dishes. Tag us on Insta, Twitter or Facebook – and share your Father’s Day celebrations.
