Anonymous wrote:Host invited us and after we confirmed dates, told us it was going to be an indian-themed potluck. Host is making rice and naan and asked all the guests to bring a subji. I don’t make Indian food. What the hell am I supposed to do in this situation?

Google?

Anonymous wrote:The host is incredibly rude by providing rice and naan only. Regardless of the cuisine "theme," the host should be providing the main course and expect guests to bring sides, drinks, desserts, etc. to complement the main dishes. Can you imagine an Italian pot luck with the host providing only garlic bread??

I agree. What the heck? Rice and bread - please. It's the same as offering nothing.

Incredibly rude and uncultured. The idea of potluck is to get a chance to sample everyone else's cooking and provide a variety in the menu. The host should still provide a complete (if simple) meal.

When I throw an Indian potluck dinner, I will first make a menu and will take on the easiest (rice, salad, yogurt, chutney, pickle), the more labor intensive and expensive dishes (paneer based vegetarian, non-veg curries, koftas etc). I also provide the daal (unless some friend will ask me the menu and suggest that they bring the daal). This way I can feed both vegetarian and non-veg friends - even if someone does not bring a dish. In fact a good rule of thumb is to check that you have a complete meal even if no one brings anything.

My friends will usually bring appetizers, veggi dishes, and desserts. Even for those I have store bought fall backs.

Weird request from host but there are a so so many websites with easy Indian subzis. (Remember, A BILLION people eat this food. Google and recreate one of a myriad of options - just like you would with an “American” dessert for Thanksgiving.)

Anonymous wrote:The host is incredibly rude by providing rice and naan only. Regardless of the cuisine "theme," the host should be providing the main course and expect guests to bring sides, drinks, desserts, etc. to complement the main dishes. Can you imagine an Italian pot luck with the host providing only garlic bread??

It’s like a Mexican themed party where the host only provides rice and tortillas. Everybody else is expected to fill in with the hearty food. It is strange to me that that’s what they decided to provide.

To the person who suggested Italian theme potluck with pasta and everybody bringing their own sauce, that’s brilliant.

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps a distraction, but: are people who say this is silly reacting to the potluck or the Indian? I would be surprised to find a dinner party was unexpectedly potluck (though I enjoy potlucks), but if I were doing a theme potluck, Indian would be one of the first things I considered. Am I weird? I assume most of my friends who cook, cook Indian sometimes! (I’m ethnically Ashkenazi, as are most of my cookingest friends.) Doesn’t everyone have cumin, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne on hand? Or do I exist in a weird foodie bubble?

weird foodie bubble (I say that with love - I want to eat your food haha).

Anonymous wrote:The host is incredibly rude by providing rice and naan only. Regardless of the cuisine "theme," the host should be providing the main course and expect guests to bring sides, drinks, desserts, etc. to complement the main dishes. Can you imagine an Italian pot luck with the host providing only garlic bread??

+ 1
It is horrific for me as an Indian. Who even does that? This is not hospitable at all. You are only providing rice/naan? SMH. Are you living in a cardboard box?

Anonymous wrote:Butter chicken or paneer is pretty easy - you could use the Instant Pot recipe from the "butter chicken lady" .
I like the recipes on the Ministry of Curry website.

Subji specifically refers to vegetarian food.

Lol! I hope the host is not Indian. Because what he is offering (rice and naan) is shameful. It is in the category of providing water.

We do a lot of potluck and usually the host will at least provide an appetizer, a subji, 1 dessert and rice/naan. The idea is that even if a guest does not bring a dish, others will have enough to eat.

I would skip. Or do what the others have suggested - daal, kachumber salad, raita.

I can give you an easy Indian mashed potato recipe (called bharta or chokha) https://www.archanaskitchen.com/bihari-style-aloo-ka-chokha-recipe-spiced-mashed-potatoes-with-mustard-oil

If you do not have mustard oil (which gives a great sharp taste), you can just shallow fry the onions in ghee, oil or butter till it is nicely browned and add to the mashed potatoes.

Or a simple daal. It is fairly easy. No need to put in any effort for a host that provides rice and naan. WTH.

Anonymous wrote:The host is incredibly rude by providing rice and naan only. Regardless of the cuisine "theme," the host should be providing the main course and expect guests to bring sides, drinks, desserts, etc. to complement the main dishes. Can you imagine an Italian pot luck with the host providing only garlic bread??

An Italian potluck where the host made a ton of pasta and everyone brought their favorite sauce would actually be pretty fun.

Anonymous wrote:I would 100% buy something from Trader Joe's and put it in my own dish and bring that

The chana masala is delicious.

+1 just buy several boxes of their frozen chana masala, heat, and voila.

Anonymous wrote:WHO HOSTS POTLUCKS IN A PANDEMIC?

A group of vaccinated adults? I wouldn't hesitate to host a potluck right now. Even with kids involved, if the parents are vaccinated, I still think the risk is low enough that I feel comfortable. We mask, we avoid indoor gatherings with strangers, etc. But with friends and family I trust? No problems.

The host is incredibly rude by providing rice and naan only. Regardless of the cuisine "theme," the host should be providing the main course and expect guests to bring sides, drinks, desserts, etc. to complement the main dishes. Can you imagine an Italian pot luck with the host providing only garlic bread??

I would 100% buy something from Trader Joe's and put it in my own dish and bring that

The chana masala is delicious.

Gene Weingarten, is that you, OP?