Appetizers
Appetizers are crucial for Christmas day. They are what keep your guests’ hunger at bay while the main course is being prepared. Here are two Indian-inspired appetizers that can easily be made ahead of time and require little effort on the day of the big feast.
Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry Swirls
Caramelized onion puff pastry swirls are reminiscent of Indian puffs and a huge party hit. They have masala caramelized onions that can be made in advance and use store-bought puff pastry for their flaky layers. The best part is that they can be assembled in the freezer weeks ahead of time and popped into the oven right before serving.
Tomato Chutney Bruschetta
To the naïve observer, these look like Italy’s beloved grilled bread appetizer, bruschetta. However, upon closer inspection, this Indian spin on bruschetta uses thakkali thokku, or South Indian tomato chutney, that is spiced with mustard seeds and curry leaves for a delicious holiday dish that will whet your guests’ appetite.
Mini Sweet Potato Samosas
These mini spicy sweet potato samosas are made with spring roll sheets and fried until flaky and crisp. They are near copycats of the Trader Joe’s spicy pumpkin and paneer samosas but use sweet potato, which is easier to cook than pumpkin!
Mains
The holidays are a time for meals that you want to create to impress. Here are my favorite Indian dishes that I love serving during Christmas and don’t require you to spend hours on the big day.
Samosa Pot Pie
Pie is an iconic part of the holiday table. It is usually a centerpiece dessert. However, this oven-baked samosa pot pie encrusted with ajwain (carom) seeds and filled with a spiced potato and pea filling is a great vegetarian showstopper. The best part is that it can easily be made vegan and can be made weeks in advance!
Oven Baked Whole Tandoori Chicken
This whole oven baked tandoori chicken is a juicy, tender, and vibrant show stopper! It has two layers of seasoning, oven baked and broiled, and then smoked with charcoal for a smoky taste!
Pumpkin Sambar
Fall and winter is squash season! I love highlighting squash in sambar, which is an Indian lentil stew. The sweet flesh of the pumpkin or butternut squash soaks up the spices from the sambar and kisses the stew with its sweetness. Ladle this over rice for the perfect hearty, vegan main that will also satisfy the meat-eaters.
Spinach Moong Dal
Spinach dal is that creamy, vibrant, emerald green lentil dish that is a way to sneak in your veggies! I love this rich dish that is like the traditional American creamed spinach but is creamy without being doused in cream.
Sides
Indian Stuffing
This dish is a stovetop Indian stuffing which is I also call Kothu Bread or bread upma. It is inspired by kothu parotta, a chopped bread and masala dish. This version uses ghee-roasted bread croutons that are tossed in an onion and tomato masala and coated in egg for a bright stuffing with Indian flavors.
Crispy Kale Chaat
Everyone is looking for a “green dish” for the holidays that can balance the richness from the other dishes. Well, this crispy kale chaat is that perfect green dish. It won’t be set aside like other salads but cherished for its bright, tangy, and sweet flavors. This dish has kale that is baked until it is a crunchy vehicle to carry fresh veggies and sweet and spicy chutneys.
Indian Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Tamarind Chutney
These are Indian oven-roasted Brussels sprouts that are tossed in chaat masala, tamarind date chutney, and topped with crunchy pistachios! They make for a delicious vegetable side dish for the holidays!
Desserts
Chai Sugar Cookies
These sugar cookies have tea baked into the cookie for a complex flavor. The glaze is a brown sugar and chai masala one that kisses these cookies with some spice.
Khajur Burji (Indian Date and Nut Roll)
These sugar cookies have tea baked into the cookie for a complex flavor. The glaze is a brown sugar and chai masala one that kisses these cookies with some spice.
Payasam (Indian Rice Pudding)
This Indian rice pudding that is scented with cardamom is such a great warm dessert to serve guests. It comes together in minutes with the use of condensed milk and can easily be reheated. You can top it off with traditional toppings like raisins or nuts or jazz it up for fall with spiced apples!
Pineapple Kesari
I don’t know about you, but I love a warm dessert during the winters. This kesari is a warm ghee toasted semolina dessert also known as rava halwa and melts in your mouth upon arrival. It’s a decadent dish that has pops of brightness and acidity for a dessert you can eats cups of.
Masala Chai
The holidays is filled with long days of eating. When the time for dessert hits, I love serving a warm drink to accompany the sweets. Chai is the perfect warm drink to cozy up during the holidays. It is a cozy drink that evokes fall and is perfect even for the folks that don’t have a sweet tooth.
