[jyoti]

Hi, all! I am organizing a dinner to talk about what I've been doing in India. We're hoping for 50 people or so, and I thought a thali plate might be a fun way to serve a meal without being too hard.  What would you all suggest for the curries or sides in a thali?  We want 6 cups or so, although one will be yogurt.  I have some ideas, but I'll wait to hear your suggestions.

Thanks!

[sadhuji]

jyoti, on Feb 23 2009, 09:04 PM, said:

.....  I thought a thali plate might be a fun way to serve a meal without being too hard.  What would you all suggest for the curries or sides in a thali?  ....

i stay in maharashtra and have gone down south as well ... the thali system is quite popular in these places and usually consists of a wide variety of this and that with rice and poorie as the main items ... there has to be some curd stuff and a sweet dish ... and, of course, pickles are a must and papad... the dal and vegetables are the local favourites ... in the south it is sambar and rasam ...  in maharashtra, it is usal which is nothing but sprouts cooked in an assortment of masalas ...

the rates of thalis are within reach of the common man but, there are eating joints that offer high range thalis ...

therefore, dear jyoti - i have given you innmuerable options - and you are at liberty to choose the ones your want...
    

Edited by sadhuji, 24 February 2009 - 08:20 AM.

[iwanttogoback]

a choice, if possible, of a vegetable or a meat curry.

definitely some pickle.

and a pile of papads.

where do i buy my ticket?

[Hyderabadi]

Andhra Thali:

Quote

Here's the Andhra-ite's version of the seven-course meal:

i. Rice with ghee, gunpowder and gongura pacchadi (a pickle made with a leafy vegetable)

ii. Rice with ghee, dal and vegetables

iii. Rice with sambhar

iv. Rice with rasam

v. Rice with curd

vi. The sweet dish (usually payasam but, if you are lucky, they will serve 'double ka meetha,' a Hyderabadi delicacy)

vii. Sweet paan

FROM: http://www.rediff.co...ep/20andhra.htm

Add any Non Veg curry and it's an 8 course meal.

[jyoti]

I'm not sure if we can do papad. May depend on what's available. I was thinking maybe puri, if we can get the local Indian restaurant owner to help out.   

I think I know lots of curry types, until I start listing them. Then they are all beans and Aloo __________ !    Right now we are thinking:

4-5 of the following:
Chicken Curry of some sort, maybe chicken "kabab"?
Aloo Mattar
Ghobi
Dahl
Chole (Chick Peas) or black bean rajma
palak paneer?

with:
rice
pickle
tomato chutney
maybe chapati or puri
yogurt
gulab jamun & tea for dessert

Hyderabadi:  I don't think I could get away with Sambhar, Rasam, AND Dahl.  

[noflylist]

Simple,
Puri, Potato curry, rice, Daal (not dahl please!), mango pickle!

[priya]

You have a great variety, Jyoti, but you forgot the "green" chutney.

Do you mean tea or chai?

You'll have to cater for two extra as well.  (iwtgb and myself )

[cyberhippie]

I'm no expert in this but following Hyderabadi's theme and the thalis I've tried, it all seems to be about a balance of textures and tastes (please correct me if I'm wrong here KABAARY Jyoti Da, Hyderabadi)
2 or 3 Hearty veggie dishes ( this desription will have  to be veggie, as I've just realised I've never had a non veg thali?????Go figure)

2-4 four different dal dishes, of varying  tastes, heat and "thickness"

A bitter rasam

Dahi/curd (with rice crispys)

Pappadams

Puri/Chappati/Parotha (lechu???)

Pickle (hMMMmmm green mango with those little crab apples)

Then the overpowering Indian sweet to purge the scorched tastebuds.

Refills on demand..........................

[jyoti]

Priya--  You, iwtgb, and anyone else who wants to show up are definitely invited!!  I am trying to get a good variety so everyone will find at least one thing they like.   And I, of course, will enjoy all of them!

Cyberhippie -- I'm not sure I've ever had many non-veg thali either, but these are Americans. They will have a hard enough time with no bread, let alone no meat!    I do like the idea of a couple kinds of dahl. That wouldn't be too hard ....  

[Hyderabadi]

cyberhippie, on Feb 25 2009, 03:22 PM, said:

I've just realised I've never had a non veg thali?????Go figure)

jyoti, on Feb 25 2009, 03:48 PM, said:

Cyberhippie -- I'm not sure I've ever had many non-veg thali either

I've never had a  true "Non-Veg thali" either.. meaning 3 - 4 varieties of meat. The meat dish is usually ordered as a side or a small katori of chicken or mutton or fish or egg is included in the price and served. Could also be sold as 'Special Meals'.

There are some exceptions, there were these "Military Bhojana Hotels" especially in rural towns of Andhra which served 'non-veg meals'. The 'Military' meant that meat was served at these establishments, a warning or an invitation - depending on how you look at it.  

There were a couple of 'hotels' in Hyderabad that used to serve unlimited 'Biryani Thalis', one I remember was in Abids / Nampally area. Unlimited chicken/mutton biryani with mutton curry (usually the gravy only) and watery salted lassi, water optional. Last I checked they were demolished to be replaced by a fancy shopping mall.

OTOH, there was a fancy restaurant that advertised "Non Veg Meals Rs. 25/- Only", and all we got was some mutchicken (leftovers most likely) in a seperate saucer. Needless to say, we left without paying.