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Now that most people are heading back to their office cubicles, it is once again the time for socialising and planning some office get-togethers. One highlight in most offices are the work parties. It gives the employees a breather and allows them to relax after working under hectic schedules and deadlines. Although ordering in has eased out the process of arranging food at parties, potlucks have still not lost their charm. These are a form of community eating arrangements, where everyone gets something and contributes to the meal. What makes office potlucks even more exciting is that you get to witness and taste diverse food.
While juggling office tasks and deadlines, cooking a dish for office potluck can be a hassle. But not when you have plenty of ideas ready at your service. From appetisers to main course and desserts, there’s a lot that you can make and impress your co-workers. Here are some Indian recipes that you can dish out for your upcoming office potluck.
1. Dal Vada
Crispy and delicious bites that can be popped into the mouth easily, dal vadas are a great snack for your potluck party. Made with legumes, the vadas are deep-fried and attain a crispy texture with the addition of some rice flour in the batter. Moong dal is mashed and spruced up with curry leaves and freshly grated coconut. Roasted gram is added to the mix and the dal is rolled into balls. These are then deep-fried in hot oil and can be eaten alone or with tomato ketchup.
2. Chole Chaat
Chatpati and tangy chaat baskets can surely lift up the mood of the party. Chaat is a popular street food in India, made in a variety of ways. This recipe makes use of boiled chickpeas and lots of veggies. Chopped onions and tomatoes are added to the chickpeas and tossed together with spices like chaat masala, amchur powder and pepper powder. Garnished with crunchy sev, the chaat is finally topped with tamarind chutney and some pomegranate seeds.
3. Dry Paneer Chilli
A delectable appetiser made with paneer, this is a popular Indianised Chinese dish. The gravy version works best when served with fried rice or noodles. However, in case of a potluck, dry paneer chilli can be a filling snack. The paneer cubes are diced and tossed in Chinese sauces like soy sauce, schezwan sauce and chilli sauce. Veggies like bell peppers and onions are also roughly chopped and added to it. Garnished with sesame seeds, it is a great party snack.
4. Hara Bhara Kebabs
While kebabs are usually associated with meat, these are pure vegetarian kebabs and no less than the meaty version. The round, flat bites are made with a mixture of blanched spinach, green peas and chana dal. The dal acts as a binding agent in the kebab which is then tossed in bread crumbs before frying. Once the kebabs attain a golden-brown colour, they are taken out and served alongside onion rings and a mint-coriander chutney.
5. Dry Gobhi Manchurian
Another favourite from the desi Chinese fare is this Gobhi Manchurian recipe. The cauliflower florets are given a delicious twist by coating the vegetable in cornflour and frying it in hot oil. Next, finely chopped onions and bell peppers are sautéed in a pan with sauces like soy sauce, red chilli sauce and spices. The fried cauliflower is added to it and mixed well so that it gets covered in the mixture. Since it is dry and non-greasy, it comes in handy for office potlucks.
Now that you recipes in place, you can make your pick and decide what you have to make for your next potluck. It could be desi Chinese dish like Gobhi Manchurian or a Chatpati Chana Chaat. Fill the potluck with these delicious recipes.
