Quick

Plating Hacks

To Make Bhai Dooj Feasts Instagram-Ready

Play With Colour

Festive food is inherently filled with colours; for example, golden laddoos, green chutneys, ruby-red pomegranate seeds, among others. These foods add vibrant colours to the festive thali and can be used effectively to create contrasts. White-coloured and creamy kheer can be served in a white bowl and topped with saffron and pistachio for a vibrant contrast. Place a golden-coloured samosa beside green chutney for an instant pop. If your mithai does not have any vibrant colour, use a deep coloured plate to put these mithais in, and they will suddenly stand out. To make the thali look Instagram-ready, all you have to do is balance dark with light colours and dull with bright colours to make it look visually appealing. 

Garnishes That Do the Talking

A little garnish adds magic to any dish, whether festive or regular. In festive dishes, they play an essential role. Fresh herbs like mint and coriander bring brightness, while saffron or edible silves, also known as vark, add a royal touch to it. For sweets, rose petals, chopped nuts, and a simple dusting of cardamom powder make a dish look royal. The trick here is to keep it delicate; garnishes should highlight the dish, and not overwhelm or overshadow it. They are similar to what jewellery does to you; they elevate the look but do not overpower you. 

Layering Textures For A Restaurant Touch

The texture of a food decides if the food will reach people’s hearts or not. To match the texture, always contrast them; keep crispy samosas with smooth chutneys, creamy curries with a side of crunchy papads, and soft mithais with nut brittle on the side. These contrasts balance the texture and do not make it boring to keep on savouring the same texture and taste in the mouth. A classic example of this is cheesecake; the different textures of the base, cheese and toppings create a balance that makes you love the dessert. Similarly, if you serve gulab jamuns with crispy tuile biscuits or a plate full of mathris, the texture will be very well balanced. Remember, the goal here is to keep the eye as well as the tongue feel the depth of the sweets and the snacks. 

Creative Serving Ideas: Beyond Bowls And Plates

Sometimes, presentation is all about what you serve it in. To make the spread look more appealing, swap regular bowls and plates with some antique vessels to add more depth to it. For example, serve kheer in clay kulhads rather than in regular bowls, serve laddoos in tiny brass thalis rather than in simple steel ones. You can use banana leaves to serve appetisers, and mini glass jars for savoury jars to give it a unique look. You can also use cutting boards and marble trays to give your spread a stylish look. All these little things will give your bhaidooj spread an Instagrammable look! 

Hosting With Style Made Simple

Plating and styling the bhaidooj spread in a creative way will not only add more depth to it, but also make sure your siblings and cousins are not shying away from posting the spread on Instagram. By just using a few hacks, plating, and garnishing hacks, your bhaidooj spread will look like a fancy restaurant and fine-dining spread. These tips and hacks will add more colours, style, and of course, likes to your festivities this season.