After a month of fasting in Ramazan we can’t wait to indulge on Eid-ul-Fitr. Just like we get our Eid clothes & accessories ready, we also start worrying about what to serve our guests.



What do I make for the men when they come back from Eid ki namaz in the morning?
What do I put in the Eid trolley for the acquaintances who drop in for an hour?
What do I prepare for Eid lunch when my entire nanehal comes for the yearly family dawaat?
What do I make differently for the 2nd day Eid dinner when my entire dadehal drops by?

We are going to answer all of those questions by giving you some ideas on what to serve your guests at all times of the day.
 

Eid Breakfast

Eid ka naashta is special. This is probably the only time of the year when everyone is up early AND dressed up!
If you prefer the traditional Pakistani breakfast then halwa puri with aalo ki tarkari and chole ka salaan is the preferred option. If you prefer something traditional on the lighter side, anday ka khageena with toasted bread is filling but avoids the copious amounts of oil.
If your family prefers an English style breakfast make pancakes serving butter & syrup on the side.  Make use of seasonal fruits like plums, peaches, mangoes & cherries to create a refreshing fruit salad.
And of course end the breakfast with a steaming hot bowl of sheer khurma with some karak chai.

 

Eid Trolley

Yes, the Eid trolley is a separate category on its own. Your guests will be eating through a number of trollies on all days of Eid so you need to make sure yours stands out. You also need to make sure it’s quick to stock – there’s no point to having people come over when you are spending all the time in the kitchen.
Make sure your Eid trolley is stocked with stuff that can be prepared in advance or in a few minutes’ notice. Make some chicken patties using bazaar ki puff pastry. Freeze chicken cheese balls or chicken wontons and just fry them as soon as the guests come over.
Pasta is a great option for the Eid trolley. It can be prepared in advance and is a favorite among children. Mac & Cheese along with lasagna are good casserole style options otherwise you can also serve a basic tomato sauce pasta with grilled chicken.   
Make sandwiches and keep covered with clingfilm in the fridge so they don’t get dry. In this heat, your guests would love something light & chilled. Why don’t you serve a cold salad like potato salad, Russian salad or a pasta salad.
You also want to keep some dessert. Keep a Desi meetha like Baadam ka Halwa, Shahi Tukray or Kheer. If you want to go the continental route, then the rich & creamy biscuits and cream or chocolate eclair desserts are great options.

Eid Lunch

The Eid lunch is where the entire family gets together – khalas, phoopis, mamoos and chachas all get together. All leftovers from the Eid trolley vanish in seconds and the only question that is on everyone’s mind is ‘Aakhir khana kab lagega? Bhook lagi hay”
One rice, one gravy and one dry item is a good standard for Eid lunch. Mix up the proteins so if you are serving chicken biryani, keep the gravy item mutton (for e.g. mutton nihari) and the dry item beef (for e.g. chapli kebab). These days people are eating more vegetables so keeping a basic sabzi is a good idea. On the sides there can be raita, chutney, salad and naan / taftan. Dessert at the end is necessary of course.
 
Menu 1 (Traditional) – Mutton Pulao, Beef Nihari, Chicken Seekh Kebabs, Palak Paneer and Russian Salad. Desserts can include Sheer Khurma and Shahi Tukray
Menu 2 (Traditional) – Chicken Biryani, Mutton Nihari, Chicken Reshmi Kebab, Aloo ki Tarkari, Chole ka Salan with Paratha / Taftan. Desserts can include Sheer Khurma and Ras Malai.
Menu 3 (Traditional) – Mutton Pulao, Chapli Kebab, Reshmi Kebab, Koftay ka Salan, Ginger Chicken with Bhindi ki Sabzi and Salad. Desserts can include Sheer Khurma, Ras Malai and Doodh Dulari.
Menu 4 (Continental) – Egg Fried Rice, Chicken Manchurian, Beef Chili Dry, Chicken Chowmein and Coleslaw Salad. Desserts can include biscuits & cream or chocolate eclair dessert

 

Eid Dinner  

Now the Eid dinner should generally be lighter than lunch. Pretty much because after eating from trolley after trolley ‘pait mein jagah hi nahi hoti’. It’s a good idea to mix some continental items and avoid too many of the traditional rich salaans. Instead of spicy biryani go for a light matar pulao with chicken karhai or ginger chicken. Another option is to include non-Desi options like Chinese or Italian. We Pakistani’s love our white sauce pasta and our chicken Manchurian with some fried rice. End the meal with a fruit based dessert like mango mousse or apple pie.
Menu 1  – Matar Pulao, Chicken Karhai, Palak Paneer & Pasta with Tomato Sauce followed by Badam ka Halwa and Shahi Tukray
Menu 2 – Paneer Reshmi Handi, Ginger Chicken, Beef Chili Dry, Fried Rice with Taftan / Sheermal.
Menu 3 – Egg Fried Rice, Chicken Manchurian, Beef Chili Dry & Chicken Chowmein. Desserts can include biscuits & cream or chocolate eclair dessert
Menu 4 – Macaroni & Cheese, Khowsuey, Chicken Reshmi Kebab, Ginger Chicken and Matar Pulao.