The Indian wedding is a grand affair and is nowhere to be described under the term regular. As they say, “a big fat Indian Wedding” the celebrations begin well before the wedding and carry on for more than a week. Since it is a time of great happiness, families believe in splurging on decorations, invitations, costumes and most importantly FOOD!!!! ‘A big fat Indian wedding’ has ‘a big fat indian wedding food menu’ too!
Yes… Indian weddings are a feast for the eyes as well as the appetite. Indian families not only want their weddings to be authentic and perfectly organized but also an impressive menu with hundreds of recipes from all parts of the sub-continent that cater to the taste and food needs of the guests so that guests leave happy. No matter how fancy your wedding is, all the guests would be concerned about is the food menu at your wedding! ”Shadi ka khana” is the main focus of the evening, probably much more than the bride and groom. It is one of the most judged factors that can make or break an Indian wedding. One, who can impress the taste buds, surely comes in their good books forever. If the food is not delicious, then trust us, your guests would make complaints all their lives.
The motive of the host of an Indian wedding is that the food to be the most talked about. Everything from starter to the main course and dessert should flaunt. So, it is essential to see that you entail the latest Indian wedding food menu list into your wedding. Do you want your wedding food menu to be the talking piece of your wedding? Planning the Indian wedding menu is one of the trickiest parts of the wedding planning process, perhaps you’re stuck for the best way to arrange things and you need some help. Read on.
INDIAN WEDDING FOOD MENU: PLANNING TIPS
It’s really a daunting task to make a decision on your Indian wedding food menu, but if you plan, and take the right steps, you can create the perfect menu for your Indian wedding. When choosing the best Indian wedding food menu, consider certain things. Here’s what you should focus on:
Type of food
The first and foremost thing is whether the menu should be vegetarian food, Jain food, non-vegetarian, or a combination. What all cuisines would you be including? Which regional food menu will you be focusing on? Depending on this decision, look for an experienced caterer who specializes in the kind of menu you want. Experienced cooks who have been trained in preparing specialized cuisines of India like Mughlai, Rajasthani, South Indian, Gujarati, Punjabi and Kashmiri. Experts have the blueprints made beforehand that would probably suit your preferences.
Budget
You should be clear about the budget you will be spending on the wedding and the wedding food menu. Once you have decided on the budget it will be easier for you to plan further. So, first make sure you have decided your budget for other wedding preparations then proceed with the planning to spend on food. This will help you get the Best Indian wedding food menu ideas.
Number of Guests
Make a list of all the guests. Make sure you count 20-25 extra people. This is because Indian weddings are all about grandness and food should never be less. You should always be ready to welcome extra guests. The caterers will estimate the amount of food as per the number of guests. And the number of plates served and the budget is directly proportional to each other.
Taste Testing
When you decide on a list of caterers make sure you try out each of their dishes and what they specialize in. This will help you evaluate their competency. You should taste each and every dish you’re narrowed down. Also, consider the tastes of your guests. For example, if it’s a Rajasthani marriage, you would want an expert serving some best Rajasthani food items.
Season
Deciding on the menu highly depends on the season in which the wedding is taking place. For winters you can easily pick heavy, gastronomical dishes with rich flavours. You have to choose things like halwa and other hot dishes that are famous winter foods. If it’s summer, there should be a lot of fluids and food that is served cold. And if it is monsoon, make sure the food compliments the season. You can add special monsoon foods. There are a few seasonal dishes, you can also go for such dishes when planning.
TYPE OF THE EVENT
An Indian wedding is the epitome of the rich culture and heritage of the country. There are many events and ceremonies organised at different timings of the day. You will also have to decide on the type of the event, which event would be simple or which will be a traditional or a contemporary event.
Remember, an Indian palate is usually well acquainted with various spices and sweets and a wedding is the only occasion where guests enjoy many cuisines, to the fullest. So, make sure each function has a different food menu to satisfy an Indian’s taste bud. Every event of your grand wedding must be lavish with delightful mouth-watering cuisines.
Usually, the events will be starting from breakfast timing to late till night. Here’s how you can decide the distribution of the menu.
Breakfast
Haldi ceremonies or traditional pooja are usually held during breakfast timing and are a simple affair. You can keep Gujarati and south Indian dishes in breakfast like thepla, khaman, Idlis, vadas and upma. Punjabi paratha, Aloo bade, sandwiches, Maharashtrian poha, Rajasthani snacks like pyaz kachori and Mirchi vada are also some of the foods commonly served. For desserts, you can serve light sweets like a jalebi. Tea and coffee are the highlights of breakfast and are a must keep.
Lunch
Lunch is an elaborate affair. It consists of a heavy gastronomical Indian food menu. You can either go for a simple Indian menu for lunch like Puri, daal, curries, pulao with a variety of sweets like rasgullas, ras malai, gulab jamuns or you can stick with regional cuisine, making it the highlight of the event. In Rajasthan weddings, people usually keep an event booked especially to serve a complete Rajasthani meal with Rajasthani dessert items. The spicy and flavorful Rajasthani food with a dash of royalty is definitely going to dazzle your guests.
High Tea
High tea has now become a popular part of the event. This is a 4-5 pm tradition. This concept has gained popularity since one needs to munch on something to get going till the dinner post 8. So, you can keep pastries, cupcakes, cookies, beverages with different snack items at this time. The snacks may be from different International cuisines or Indian street food items. While the Kababs are still popular and chaats hold their forte, Thai, Chinese, Italian and American food and exotic desserts have also made in-roads into this time of the event.
Dinner
The dinner served at an Indian wedding is a complete mix of all cuisine. It has almost every cuisine to every possible dessert keeping the choices of the host as well as different guests. You can find an array of items including Indian, Continental, Starters, Soup, Appetisers, Desserts and what not! No person will be left unsatisfied at this time of the event in the Indian wedding.
TYPES OF CUISINE
The flashiness of traditional Indian weddings is easily evident in its menu. Traditional wedding spread could easily include more than two dozen food items in its platter, including sweets, snacks and the main course. Earlier, the menu consisted of the same 10 to 12 dishes at every wedding and they were still very popular. However, the modern palate demands a selection of dishes including regional speciality as well as exotic world cuisines not only in the main course but also in the form of starters and desserts.
This is the reason earlier the entire menu was handled by only a Halwai along with his team. But recently because of the diversified Indian wedding food menu, the scenario has changed a lot and shifted to professional wedding caterers. A typical Indian wedding used to serve Naan, Pulav, Curries for the receptions. Now, several Indian weddings have taken to serving different types of cuisine coming from national as well international regions. A perfect wedding food menu keeps people spiced up throughout the event so choose the best. There are endless cuisines options. Here’s the list.
North Indian
North Indian food is the soul of any Indian wedding food menu. It has a rich creamy texture that simply takes away everyone’s heart. You might also be a fan of Dal makhani, Paneer, Sarso da Saag and Makke ki roti. Make North Indian food your top most choice when deciding on the type of cuisine that would be served in your wedding menu.
South Indian
Everyone’s favourite, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner, no one can ever say no to south Indian cuisine. It has always been in the top items of the wedding food menu, Dosa, Idli, Vada and uttapam with Sambar or coconut chutney. Fried idli, cheese dosa are also some fusion dishes that are a hot choice.
Rajasthani
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion that has to be enjoyed in a royal manner, and when it comes to royalty, Rajasthan is the first option. Not only popular for destination wedding venues, this state is also known worldwide for its delightful cuisine.
The land brimming with princely elegance is rich in customs and food that tickles your senses and gives you the gastronomic rush. The olden-style feast with traditional varieties still dominates the menu in Rajasthan.
Most of the Rajasthani food is dominated by pure ghee. And what rules the Rajasthani cuisine is – Dal Baati Churma. Another such dish is jaggery Lapsi. The menu consists of a whole Rajasthani plate that has several other items as well.
Mughlai
Mughlai cuisine is a blend of Indian and Persian cuisine. From the very popular Nihari gosht, biryani, pulao, kebabs, koftas and chicken korma to mouth-watering desserts like shahi tukda, Mughlai cuisine is fascinating enough.
Italian
From the last few years, the Italian menu has become a must in the Indian wedding food menu. There is Red Pasta, White Pasta, Pizza, Lasagna, Risotto that is loved by all.
Mexican
New in trend, Mexican is mostly the favourite of youngsters. Mexican dishes usually have Rajma in them. Some of the popular items are Nachos, Tacos, Burrito, Bruschetta etc.
Chinese
For a long time, Chinese cuisine has been winning hearts and is a preferred item in Indian wedding food menus. It has a myriad of dishes which are kept in the wedding menu like Chow Mein, Manchurian, Fried rice, Hakka noodles, Cauliflower 65, Szechuan Noodles, Spring roll, Manchou soup, Chilli paneer.
Lebanese
Lebanese cuisine is not so popular at weddings yet but is slowly making its place. These are however not a top choice but are preferred by many. It includes Kebabs, Shwarnama, Pita bread, falafel hummus and in desserts it has a unique new item named Baklava.
HOW TO CREATE A PERFECT WEDDING MENU
A perfect wedding menu consists of diverse varieties from starters to dessert and beverages. Choose from the latest Indian Wedding Food Menu List and make a perfect mix of wedding food menus that people boast of.
Beverages
You can serve mocktails, juices, shakes, sharbat, soft drinks, cold coffee, hot coffee, smoothies, Lassi, Thandai, Iced tea, Gola, and other beverages. Your guests will enjoy choices in their drinks. If you wish to keep liquor on your menu, make sure there’s a separate counter for it as not everyone is comfortable with its consumption.
- Iced Tea
- Ice Gola
- Aam Panna
- Cold Coffee
- Hot Coffee
- Badam Shake
- Thandai Shake
- Strawberry Shake
- Rose Gulab Shake
- Pan Shake
- Orange Juice
- Pineapple Guava Juice
- Watermelon Juice
- Nimbu Pani
- Falsa Juice
- Mix Fruit Juice
- Shots 3-4 Types
- Virgin Mojito
- Coca Cola
- Coconut Delight
Starters
These are the items that are served to the guests to keep them engaged before the main food starts. Take special care of what you will be serving as what you offer will perform as the first impression on your guests and you would inevitably want this first impression to be the best one. Depending on your budget, you can keep two or three types of starters.
- Kebabs
- Veg pops
- Paneer tikka
- Mushroom Tikka
- Spring rolls
- Bhajiye
- Paneer 65
- Cheese Sigar
- Dahi Kabab
- Corn Basket
- Kaju Fry
- Badam Fry
- Stick Barfi
- Pizza
- Garlic bread
- Sizzlers
- Kache Kele ke kebab
- Bhutte Ke Cutlet
- Hara bhara Kebab
- Spinach Roll
Indian chaat Counters
- Dahi Puri
- Pani Poori
- Sev Puri
- Bhel Puri
- Dahi Papdi
- Samosa Chaat
- Aloo Tikki
- Dahi Bhalla
- Mini Samosa
- Dhokla (Gujrat)
- Raj Kachori
- Ragda patties (Mumbai)
- Besan Chilla
- Sprouts Chaat
- Sweet Potato Chaat
- Veg Sandwich
- Fruit Chaat
- Tokri Chaat
- Kadi Kachori (Rajasthan)
- Pav Bhaji
- Aloo bade
- Chole Bhatutre
- Khakra roll
- Kuzhi Paniyaram (South)
- Masala Vadai
- Veg Sandwich
- French Fries
- Aloo Chaat
- Litti Chokha (Bihar)
- Lachcha Paneer Tikiya
- Pasta (Red+White+Green)
- Hyderabadi Toast
- Bombay Vada Pav
- American Corn
- English Dry Fruit
Accompaniments
- Mint Chutney
- Coriander Chutney
- Imli Chutney
- Tomato sauce
- Mustard sauce
- Green chilli sauce
- Schezwan sauce
Dessert Counters
‘Mithe me kya hai’ is the most common phrase you will hear when heading to food menu. Desserts help relax the taste buds after the spicy main course. You can add traditional, western, or both types of dessert.
- Fruit cream
- Ice creams (Vanilla, Kesar Pista, Tutti Frooti, Fig, Mango, Chocolate, Strawberry, Pistachio)
- Faluda
- Pastries (Chocolate, Pineapple)
- Mousse (Chocolate, Mango, Strawberry)
- Kulfi (Pot Kulfi, Roller Kulfi)
- Cotton Candy
- Pudding (Chocolate, Mix Fruit)
Main Course
Indian food with endless options makes for the best wedding foods in the world. There are a variety of foods that suit different types of taste buds. You can keep different cuisines Indian as well as international to please your guests. Your guests will remember most about your menu is the main course. It should include four or five types of vegetables, curries, two types of rice including plain and veg rice, several types of bread and two or three kinds of dals. Don’t forget the naan and chapati to serve alongside the main dish. Make sure your major menu is in accordance with your culture and region. The main course should leave your guests feeling full, so make sure it is the heaviest meal.
Sweet Dish
- Lassi
- Malai ki kheer
- Dry Fruits Kheer
- Kesar Kheer
- Sewaiyan Kheer
- Gajar ka halwa
- Moong Halwa
- Badam Halwa
- Doodhi Halwa
- Akhrot Halwa
- Apple Halwa
- Gond ka Halwa
- Kadai Doodh (Mathura)
- Kesar Jalebi
- Kesar Pista Lachcha Rabdi
- Gulab Jamun
- Jalebi
- Basundi
- Balushahi
- Boondi Ladoo
- Doodh Ke Ladoo
- Rasgulla
- Shrikhand (Kesari, Mango, Fruit)
- Rasmalai
- Baked Malpua
- Ghevar
- Pineapple Sheera
- Litchi Badam Freshco
- Gulab Jamun Pantua
- Mishri Mawa,
- Doodh Moti-Pak
- Malai Gori,
- Gur Backed Rasmalai
- Malai Ghevar
- Badam Pista Lauch
- Kanta Sweet Special
- Kaju Katli (Strawberry, Chocolate),
- Pazha Pradhanam
- Cadbury Roll
- Anarkali Roll
- Mysore Pak
- Pistachio Praline Parfait
- Payasam
- Mango Payasam
- Badam Cassata
- Khubani ka Meetha
- Bebinca
- Patishapta with Strawberry Couli
Salads
Basic Salad:
Kachumber Salad
Sirka Pyaz,
Beans Salad,
Sprouted Chana Salad,
Green Chilli Masala,
Chilli Pickle,
Mango Pickle,
Mixed Pickle,
Lime Pickle, and Papad.
A complete Salad Bar:
- Green Salad
- Sprouted Moong Salad
- Russian Salad
- Vegetable Salad with Lemony Dressing
- Fruit Salad
- Apple Cucumber Salad
- Beetroot and Garlic Salad
- Cheese & Pineapple Salad
- Sprouts Salad with Veggies
- Aloo Salad
Soup
- Cream of Tomato Soup
- Mixed Vegetable Clear Soup
- Drumstick Soup
- Pepper Mushroom Soup
- Herbal Soup
- Makai Shorba or Sweet Corn Soup
- Lemon and Coriander Soup
- Tomato Rasam
- Bottle Gourd and Onion Soup
- Mulligatawny Soup
- Palak Shorba or Spinach Soup
- Hot n Sour Soup
- Tomato Dhaniya Shorba
- Manchurian Soup
Raita
- Dahi Mehfil ( include two or three dahi varieties)
- Pineapple Raita
- Boondi Raita
- Spinach Raita
- Beetroot Raita
- Mixed Vegetable Raita
- Cucumber Raita
- Mint Raita
- Onion Mint Raita
- Ginger Mint Raita
- Cabbage Raita
- Green Chilli Raita
- Burani Raita
- Fruit Raita
- Pomegranate Raita
- Masala Raita
- Pahari Raita
- Gujarati Raita
- Plain Curd
Dry Vegetable
- Paneer Capsicum Masala
- Baby Corn Capsicum
- Navratan Korma
- Methi Malai Matar
- Paneer methi malai
- Mixed Veg
- Veg Jalfrezi
- Vegetable Tawa
- Bhindi Masala
- Bhindi Do Pyaza
- Stuffed Bhindi
- Kurkuri Bhindi
- Tawa Bhindi
- Stuffed Baingan
- Jeera Aloo
- Methi Aloo
- Aloo Baingan
- Baigan Bharta
- Gobhi Aloo Matar
- Aloo Palak
- Tandoori Stuffed Sesame Aloo
- Gobhi Musallam
- Veg Makhanwala
- Paneer Hungama
- Methi Malai Corn
- French Palak
- Jodhpuri Atta Chakki
- Tanatan Mogri
- Stuff Karela
- Chatpati Gwarfali
- Bharwa Mirch
Gravy Vegetable
- Cashew curry
- Malai Kofta
- Makai Khumb Masala
- Sarson Ka Saag
- Mushroom Matar
- Kashmiri Dum Aloo
- Dum Aloo Masala
- Pahadi Aloo
- Spinach Kofta in Makhani Sauce
- Mixed Vegetables Makhani
- Kadai Panchmel
- Bagara Baingan
- Dahiwale Aloo
- Navrattan Curry
- Goan Vegetable Curry
- Khumb Do Pyaza
Paneer
- Paneer Makhani
- Amritsari Paneer Tikka
- Paneer Korma
- Palak Paneer
- Matar Paneer
- Palak Paneer
- Shahi Paneer
- Paneer Khurchan
- Kadai Paneer
- Paneer Jalfrezi
- Paneer Korma
- Butter Paneer Masala
- Kadai Paneer
- Paneer Achari
Daal
- Dal Makhani
- Chana Rawalpindi
- Dal Fry
- Panchmel Dal
- Dal Tadka
- Choley
- Dal Saag ( Dal with Spinach or Methi)
- Kadi Pakoda
- Dal Bukhara
- Rajma
Rice
- Vegetable pulao
- Matar pulao
- Veg Biryani
- Corn Capsicum Pulao
- Jodhpuri Kabuli Pulao
- Jeera Pulao
- Zafrani Pulao
Breads
- Butter Naan
- Garlic Naan
- Stuff Naan
- Jungli Roti
- Tandoori roti
- Missi Roti
- Rumali Roti
- Tawa Chapati
- Paratha
- Kulcha
- Lachha paratha
- Puri
- Palak Puri
- Methi Puri
- Jodhpuri Puri
Paan
- Maghai Paan
- Saada Paan
- Meetha Paan
- Misti Paan
- Banarasi Paan
- Silver Paan
- Gold Paan
- Chocolate Paan
- Bangla Paan
- Rasmalai Paan
- Tambaku Paan
- Kalkatti Paan
- Jagannath Paan
Special Rajasthani Counter
No matter what other dishes are, every wedding in Rajasthan has to have Rajasthani cuisine on its menu. Every host wants to have one and every guest’s eyes are searching for one!
- Mirchi Bada
- Pyaz Kachori
- Dal Bati Bafla
- Ker Sangari
- Kadi Pakoda
- Shahi Gatte
- Matar mangodi
- Jodhpuri Kadhi
- Makki Ka Dhokle
- Lehsun ki Chatni
- Papad ki Sabzi
- Gatta Pulao
- Hara Patta Pyaz
- Dana Methi
- Haldi Matar
- Bor Mogri
- Amrood ka Saag
- Bajra Rotla
- Bajra Khichdi
- Gur
- Makhan
- Bura
- Bejad Roti
- Chach Bilona
- Live Kachri Chutney
- Live Hara Dhaniya Chutney
- Lahsun Chutney
- Churma Ladoo
- Gond ka Churma
- Gulab ka Churma
- Gond ke ladoo
- Lapsi
- Malpua
- Ghevar
- Rabdi Jalebi
- Jodhpuri Chari Tea
South Indian Counter
- Pizza Dosa
- Mysore Dosa
- Masala Dosa
- Palak Paneer Dosa
- Davangere Butter Dosa
- Rava Dosa
- Tart Idli
- Idli Manchurian
- Rasam Vada
- Kanchipuram Idli
- Coconut Idli
- Variety of Malka Puri
- Sambar
- Curd Chili
- Appam
- Paniyaram
- Coconut Chutney + Red Chutney
Pro Tip: When you plan a buffet for your major day of the wedding, don’t miss out on a live buffet counter. They are fun, engaging, and a great way to make your guests salivate for sure! Different hot and fresh dishes are prepared at the live counter. Some of the popular options are Popcorn, chocolate fountain, cotton candy, Paan mukhwas, and barbecue. These are crowd pullers at any wedding. Let these unique counters be the Shaan of your menu.
15 Must-haves in your Indian Wedding Food Menu
These are the top 15 must-have items that were and still are in the Latest Indian Wedding Food Menu List because of the love they receive from the guests.
- Starters: Is there anyone who doesn’t like Paneer tikka or Kebabs, we bet there’s no one! These starters certainly make us drool.
- Chinese: You will find the guests queuing up for Chinese dishes for sure. Chow Mein, Manchurian and paneer chilly are the items everyone first looks for. Therefore, Chinese is among the must-have wedding dishes.
- South Indian: It is an amazing option that can be fitted into any event. Serve Idli and dosa with sambar or coconut chutney and it’s the perfect meal.
- Italian: Italian menu is for those who like to have western cuisine. It gives a distinct taste to your menu as well as a flavourful option. Pizza, White sauce pasta and red sauce pasta are popular choices.
- Indian chaat: Ah! Did it just make your mouth watery? Indian street food is what makes everyone throng over it. Pani puri, Dahi Bhalla, Aloo Tikki, paneer chilla, pav bhaji are some of the best Indian chaat dishes.
- Dal Makhani: We love it, it’s great during cold weather. No wedding is complete without Dal Makhani. It a great for vegetarians as well as people who like creamy buttery dishes.
- Dal tadka: it goes with rice and roti and any guest above 35 will be looking for it. It’s also not as heavy so guests can keep drinking/dancing and a safe option always for vegetarians.
- Bharwa Bhindi: A dry stir veggie with lots of spices and taste is a should be option for your Indian wedding food menu list.
- Peas Pulao: Simple yet delightful, peas pulao is the aromatic treat for rice lovers. This fragrant dish is the perfect companion for curries and daal. It is the most loved dish for decades.
- Paneer Butter masala: One paneer dish is a must-have wedding dish on the Indian wedding food menu.
- Veg makhanwala: This mesmerizing north Indian dish has veggies, aromatic spices, butter and cream. This buttery textured dish is one such dish you will definitely find in every Indian wedding food menu.
- Naan: Wedding food is incomplete without naan. It goes well with vegetables, dals, and curries and is a popular dish on the Indian wedding vegetarian food menu list.
- Halwa: Gajar ka halwa or Moong ka halwa or any dry fruit halwa is the best option for sweet dishes in winter weddings.
- Jalebi: Jalebi with dudh or Rabdi combination is absolutely divine when you take a bite. Piping hot, crunchy, juicy jalebis dipped in milk or rabri give you a heavenly feeling when it comes to sweet dishes.
- Coffee: Coffee is forever a favourite of every age when it comes to must-Have Wedding Dishes. Consumption of coffee after a meal is a traditional affair.
With this article as your guide to the Indian wedding food menu, we hope you are out of all your dilemmas. Following this guide will make sure the menu you plan is perfect and appropriately served so that your guests can have a wonderful time during the reception and will cherish the food for years to come. All the best for your wedding planning!
