So, the other week, my kid asked for a party, and somehow, the idea of doing Indian food came up. Maybe I mentioned it, maybe they saw something, who knows. Anyway, the thought stuck. At first, I was like, “Indian food for a bunch of five-year-olds? Are you kidding?” Most stuff I cook is way too spicy for them.
But then I got thinking. It doesn’t have to be spicy, right? I could totally make kid-friendly versions. I wanted to give it a shot, make something a bit different from the usual pizza and nuggets. Plus, it felt like a nice way to share a bit of my own background, you know?
Getting Started – The Plan
Okay, planning was key. I sat down and really thought about what kids actually eat. Finger foods were a must. Nothing too messy, nothing they’d need help with. And definitely mild, mild, mild. I wasn’t trying to blow their little taste buds away, just introduce some gentle flavours.
Here’s what I landed on:
- Mini Vegetable Pakoras (fritters)
- Tiny Chicken Tikka Skewers (super mild marinade)
- Cheese and Corn Samosas (used puff pastry, easier!)
- Mango Lassi (always a winner)
- Some basic Naan bread cut into strips
- Cucumber Raita (cooling yogurt dip)
Seemed manageable. Nothing too complicated, mostly stuff I could prep ahead.
Into the Kitchen – Making it Happen
Right, the cooking part. I started the day before with the chicken tikka. Chopped up some chicken breast into tiny pieces. The marinade was just plain yogurt, a pinch of turmeric for colour, a tiny bit of garlic paste, touch of lemon juice, and literally zero chilli. Let that sit overnight.
Next morning, I tackled the pakoras. Chopped onions, potatoes, a bit of spinach really fine. Mixed it up with gram flour (besan), water, salt, and again, just a tiny hint of cumin for flavour, no heat. Fried them in small batches. They came out pretty good, nice and crispy. Made sure they were bite-sized.
The samosas were a cheat, honestly. I bought ready-made puff pastry sheets. Way easier than making dough. For the filling, boiled potatoes mashed with some frozen corn, cheese, salt, and a tiny bit of coriander powder. Cut the pastry into squares, put a blob of filling, folded them into triangles, brushed with milk, and baked them. Less greasy than frying, too.
The naan bread was store-bought. Let’s be real, I wasn’t about to start slapping dough in a tandoor oven. Just warmed it up and cut it into strips for dipping.
The raita was simple: grated cucumber, plain yogurt, a pinch of salt, maybe a tiny bit of roasted cumin powder. Mixed it up. Done.
The mango lassi took two minutes. Tinned mango pulp, yogurt, a splash of milk, tiny bit of sugar whizzed up in the blender. Poured it into small cups.
Just before the party, I threaded the marinated chicken onto small wooden skewers and grilled them quickly. Didn’t want them dry.
The Party Verdict
Setting it all out, it actually looked pretty colourful and fun. The kids arrived, chaos ensued, as expected. How did the food go down? Well, it was mixed!
The mango lassi vanished instantly. No surprise there. Sweet and drinkable.
The cheese and corn samosas were a huge hit. Probably because they had cheese and looked familiar enough, like little pasties.
The chicken tikka skewers went down okay. Some kids loved them, others picked at them. I think the mild flavour worked.
The pakoras got eaten, mostly by the adults hovering, haha. Some kids tried them, especially dipped in the raita.
The naan strips and raita were popular too. Kids love dipping things.
Overall? It was definitely more effort than ordering pizza. There was chopping, mixing, frying, baking… But seeing the kids actually try something new, and some genuinely enjoying it, felt good. It wasn’t a total clean sweep, some things were more popular than others, but nobody starved, and it made the party feel a bit special. Would I do it again? Yeah, maybe. But I’d definitely stick to the super mild, easy-to-eat stuff. It’s all about managing expectations… and having backup snacks just in case!