If you were coming for dinner would you want...

[TrillianAstra]

We have a couple of friends coming round for dinner. I am making curry. I have made a lamb rogan josh (Jamie MOF) and will be making a chicken passanda (creamy/nutty). There will be rice and naan bread. We're having Poppadoms with stuff to start off, and icecream with meringues at the end. (most of this is prepared in advance)

Should I also do a vegetable side dish thing?

Sounds absolutely delicious. But yes, I would like a veggie dish too.... (which seems ungrateful because it all sounds so yummy!)

I would. Paneer sag, maybe? Your friends are very lucky

mmmm, veg would be lovely with that. How about okra? Just done very simply with some sesame seed perhaps?

I think you want something fairly plain as the curry sauces will be lovely and rich.

A couple of veggie dishes would be nice imo. How about a dhal and a tomatoey auberginey one?

mmm, could i come? sounds fantastic.

if you have time, i also like potato and pea curries. yum!

Yeh, a veggie dish or two would be nice. I'd go for something quite light and fresh - spinach or cauliflower, rather than potato/paneer. Or Molesworth's suggestions are good.

I am veggie, so I would say 'yes' but I think you are doing loads already. Maybe a nice simple dahl though (I love this)?

I do have time - as long as I can get myelf off MN!

Jamie Oliver has one with cauliflower and turmeric and stuff, so might do that, or something like it.

Thanks!

I'd like lovely spinach and cauliflower, maybe just buttered with some cumin

yes, okra for me too please.

yum, might look up some jamie recipes for the weekend. I really like the MOF book actually, more than i thought i would when dh brought it home.

I'm doing the curries properly from scratch y'know, with spices and things.

Must get off MN and go prepare food.

can i just ask u summat? does your friends like curry? as you havent said. As some people are fussy over curries.

if yes, then the dish that youre making sounds lovely as im a curry lover!

Yes, they do like curry!

I did check, I promise.

phew!

I wish I was coming, I've got fuck all food in the house

[slaver]

TA - yum!

I make a veggie one that is cauliflower and chickpeas. Just a normal tomato, onion garlic base, then your spice mix and sling in the veg. I cook it for about an hour very slowly to let the cauliflower soften.

You can add yoghurt/cream although perhaps if you are having a passanda then just leave it without?

The Jamie one is cauliflower and potato, but was thinking that sweet potato might be a bit more veg-y rather than carb-y.

Here is the shop where I get my spice mixes (and a million other herbs and spices). The curry mixes are gooooooood.

www.thespiceshop.co.uk/

Sweet potato sounds lovely, although it cooks v.quickly and goes a bit mushy I find so maybe reduce the cooking time a bit?

ooh wah, i love that spice shop in notting hill. only wish i lived closer. but that's fantastic that you can buy online - i didn't know it.

It is my fave shop of all time. My cupboard is jammed with little yellow tins.

must do an excursion over there soon!