Everyone is excited about the food at a wedding, bride and groom included. As you plan your wedding, you’ll want to consider what you want to serve. There are some traditional Hindu wedding dishes, such as samosas, sabzis and the ever-popular butter chicken. If you’re looking for more, you can find a unique menu in each region of India.

Northern Indian Cuisine

Northern Indian cuisine contains a mix of Indian, Asian and Islamic influences. It’s also the style of cooking found most commonly worldwide. Their dishes are often characterized by a heavy emphasis on creaminess, using milk, ghee, paneer, yogurt, etc. They are frequently prepared using clay ovens, giving dishes such as naan and tandoori chicken a taste of charcoal cooking.

Appetizers

Samosas

A savory pastry filled with meat, potatoes, lentils, onions and a blend of spices.

Aloo Tikiya

Patties made from boiled potatoes, peas and curry spices.

Chana Masala

Tart chickpea curry served with rice or flatbread. It’s one of the most popular snacks in India.

Meals

Dal or Paneer Makhani

Rich vegetable dishes served with creamy tomato sauce, onions, mango powder and garam masala.

Biryani

A mixed rice dish consisting of rice, meat, vegetables and spices.

Saag Paneer and Palak Paneer

Similar to the makhani, the paneer is cooked with cream, spinach and a mix of spices.

Korma

Thick coconut curry made with coconut milk or yogurt, coriander, cumin and almonds or cashews.

Western Indian Cuisine

Western Indian cuisine is an interesting fusion between its three largest regions: Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa. Maharashtra’s dishes rely heavily on coconut milk and fish due to its location near the coast.

Gujarat's dry climate mainly produces vegetables, so its meals are primarily vegetarian. The region’s abundant vegetable growth also contributed to its reputation for flavorful chutneys.

Finally, because Goa was a central trading station for Portugal for hundreds of years, the region’s cuisine maintains a significant Portuguese influence. Goa’s dishes are made with Portuguese spices, vinegar and have more pork and beef than in other areas. 

Appetizers

Chutney

Dipping sauce made from vegetables, herbs or fruit.

Bhakri

A healthier flatbread typically made from ragi, sorghum, jowar, rice flour or wheat.

Ukadiche Modak

Sweet dumplings made from rice flour, grated coconut and jaggery.

Meals

Vindaloo

A saporous and popular Portuguese-inspired curry typically made with pork.

Cafreal

A spicy chicken dish with a Portuguese influence that’s marinated in multiple spices, including chili peppers, cardamom and ginger.

Ambot Tik

Goan’s sour-and-spicy fish curry consists of saltwater fish, kokum petals, masala paste and various spices.

Desserts

Basundi

A sweetened condensed milk dessert made with cardamom, saffron and chopped nuts.

Kansar

A dessert cooked from cracked or whole wheat, milk, ghee and sugar that’s given to the bride and groom to eat as an auspicious tradition.

Southern Indian Cuisine

Southern Indian cuisine tends to stand out from its regional counterparts. Its curry is drier and has more of a soup or stew-type texture than other, thicker Indian curries. They also sometimes use different ingredients. While Kootus is prepared as a creamy curry in the north, it’s thinner in the southern region because it’s made with boiled lentils instead of dairy.

Aside from the stark differences in its curries, Southern Indian cuisine is also known for its well-liked fried and griddle-cooked appetizers, including:

Dosas

Thin crepe-like pancakes made from a fermented batter consisting of ground black lentils and rice.

Utthapams

A thicker type of dosa with toppings.

Idlis

Salty and somewhat sour rice cakes cooked from fermented black lentils and rice.

Vadas

Savory fried snack akin to a fritter or dumpling, sometimes stuffed with vegetables and served with chutney and sambar.

Eastern Indian Cuisine

Eastern Indian cuisine has Chinese and Mongolian influence, as evidenced by its location. Many of the dishes in this region are simple to prepare and don’t possess a lot of spices. However, its affinity for sweets sets the eastern region apart, as it’s where India’s most famous desserts come from.

Appetizers

Momos

Dumplings made with either meat or vegetables.

Jhaal-Muri

Puffed rice snack cooked in spices, mustard oil and chanachur and served with vegetables. 

Litti Chokha

Little dough balls stuffed with Chokha.

Meals

Bihari kebab

Thin strips of beef marinated in masala and coal smoke.

Jalfrezi

Spicy stir-fry curry served with meat, vegetables, paneer and fish.

Desserts

Sandesh

Moist and sweet Bengali dessert made from milk or paneer and sugar.

Kheer

Decadent rice pudding.

Rasgolla

Dumplings cooked in syrup.

Have Access to World-Class Vendors and Best-In-Class Caterers in Fairfax When You Book With CrystalView

When you book one of our opulent ballrooms, you’re not just getting a gorgeous venue but a dedicated catering team. Our staff and event planners work closely with highly qualified vendors and caterers to provide tasty and satisfying food all night long.

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