Popular vegetarian catering options for Delhi events
Veg handi, kathal handi, paneer classics, chaat platters and mithai — a working shortlist for a vegetarian catering menu in Delhi.
Planning a Delhi event with a significant vegetarian contingent is a menu design problem, not a token-dish problem. A single paneer starter and a scoop off the chicken pot is a bad table. Here are the vegetarian dishes that actually earn their place on a Delhi catering menu, starting with the one people underrate.
Awadhi biryani — the vegetarian dish people underrate
A properly cooked veg or kathal handi is not a compromise; it is the same aromatic saffron-and-cardamom biryani, just built around paneer and vegetables (or jackfruit, which takes on the aromatics the way mutton does). At Baab E Biryani we cook both in the same sealed-handi Awadhi dum as the chicken. For most gatherings, the vegetarian pot is what the meat-eaters end up asking for a second helping of.
Paneer dishes that survive a buffet table
Paneer tikka, shahi paneer and paneer butter masala are the three that show up on almost every event menu, for good reason — they hold their texture on a buffet warmer, they pair with both naan and rice, and they read as celebratory rather than everyday. Skip the paneer-in-gravy that goes rubbery in an hour; ask the caterer how long it will hold.
Street-food platters as a live element
A chaat counter — pani puri, aloo tikki, dahi bhalla — turns a static buffet into something people move around. It also solves the “light bite for the guests who arrived early” problem without pre-plating anything. Pair with a lassi station and it is doing more work than any single main course would.
Indian sweets to close the meal
A small mithai selection at the end of a vegetarian menu is non-negotiable in Delhi. Gulab jamun, jalebi, rasgulla — the usual three — plus something regional (kaju katli, motichoor ladoo) reads as more thoughtful than a single dessert. Order slightly more than you think; sweets get taken home.
Frequently asked
- What is sealed-handi dum cooking?
- A traditional method where rice and marinated ingredients are layered in a heavy pot, sealed at the rim with dough, and cooked on low heat so the food finishes in its own trapped steam.
- Is there a minimum order size for vegetarian catering?
- A 1 kg handi comfortably feeds 8–12 guests, so small vegetarian gatherings are very viable. Larger orders combine multiple handis so the split matches the guest count.
- Do you offer free delivery for vegetarian orders?
- Yes — same policy as everything else on the menu. Free delivery within 10 km of Sangam Vihar; beyond that we still deliver at a distance-based fee.
- Can I customise the spice level of vegetarian dishes?
- Awadhi cooking is not chilli-forward to begin with. If you want it even milder for a group with young children, mention it on WhatsApp — we can dial the marinade back on the veg handi.
- What are the most popular vegetarian dishes for events in Delhi?
- Veg handi biryani, kathal (jackfruit) handi biryani, paneer classics like paneer tikka and shahi paneer, and street-food platters — chaat, aloo tikki, dahi bhalla — that hold together on a buffet table.
Veg and kathal handis, cooked in the same Awadhi dum.
Sealed-handi vegetarian biryani in 1 kg, 2 kg and 4 kg sizes. Free delivery within 10 km of Sangam Vihar. Four hours’ notice.
Order on WhatsApp