Let us help you prep for your elegant afternoon tea party

The tradition of afternoon tea, a classy social gathering, originated in Britain in the 1840s. The Duchess of Bedford, Anna, is reported to have sought to occupy the lengthy interval between lunch and supper with little snacks and sips of tea, which is why it is connected with her. Over time, the tea party evolved into a pageantry parade when hosts flaunted their fine taste by serving extravagant teas and delicate finger delicacies.

However, you don't have to be a duchess to enjoy afternoon tea. Grand hotels offer it, as do some eateries and cafés, but we believe it is best eaten at home. It is necessary to serve a choice of little snacks, both savory and sweet, in addition to a selection of teas. From paneer corn toasties to caprese salads to white chocolate rasmalai mousse, you can get some inspiration for what to serve at your next tea party from the recipes in our collection.

  1. Paneer Corn Toasties

Here is the perfect toast recipe. Why is it the best? Because it contains both cheese and paneer. In order to make this paneer corn toast, bread pieces are spread with a spicy paneer mixture, which is then generously topped with cheese and roasted to perfection. The fact that you can prepare it on a skillet, frying pan, or tawa is another selling point. The most delicious quick remedy to satisfy your craving for a snack.

Ingredients:

½ block of Nanak paneer, grated
1 cup of grated mozzarella⁠
2 jalapeno, minced (deseeded to reduce the spice)⁠
½ cup corn kernels
Handful Basil, chopped
Handful cilantro, chopped
2 stalks of spring onion, finely chopped (both green and the white parts)⁠
½ teaspoon oregano or italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic salt
Salt⁠
Pepper⁠

10 slices of bread
2-4 tablespoons butter⁠

Directions:

In a bowl, add all the ingredients except bread and butter. Mix till it is well combined and thick. ⁠
Spread it on a slice of bread, top with another slice of bread.⁠
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a pat of butter and grill the sandwich on both sides. I recommend placing a weight on top this allows the surface to allow for uniform grilling. ⁠
Cut on a diagonal and serve hot.

2. Paneer Caprese Salad

A fancy item for lunch for sure, caprese salad is one of my favorite Italian salads. I learned that eating paneer rather than cheese has advantages, particularly if you're trying to lose weight and want to prevent eating too much sodium in the event that you have hypertension. Caprese Salad with Paneer Cottage Cheese is extremely easy!! Indulge in our Herby Paneer Caprese Salad, a delightful treat made with love using Nanak Paneer. Savor the freshness of juicy cherry tomatoes, fragrant basil leaves, and perfectly marinated paneer cubes, all skewered and drizzled with balsamic glaze.

Ingredients:

Herb oil ingredients⁠-
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ - ½ cup basil chopped
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and pepper

½ block nanak paneer cubed
15 - 20 cherry tomatoes
15 - 20 whole basil leaves
15 skewers

Directions:

In a bowl, toss together the herb oil ingredients. Mix till everything is well combined.⁠
Add paneer cubes to this herb oil. Using your hands toss it till the paneer is well coated. ⁠
Skewer it with basil and cherry tomatoes. ⁠
Arrange it on a platter and drizzle with balsamic glaze.⁠

3. White Chocolate Rasmalai Mousse

Whip up this delightful treat in just 20 minutes and surprise everyone with a fusion of traditional and modern flavors. Creamy rasmalai chunks, velvety white chocolate, and a touch of rose water create a truly heavenly dessert.

Ingredients-

½ cup whipping cream
½ cup white chocolate⁠
5-7 Nanak Rasmalai (any flavor)⁠

Additional flavorings (optional)⁠
1 teaspoon rose water
½ teaspoon cardamom powder⁠
A pinch of saffron soaked in 2 tablespoons warm milk

Directions:

Add whipping cream and any one of the flavorings to a large bowl. I have used rose water. Whip till you get stiff peaks. ⁠
Melt white chocolate over a double boiler, then add it to a whipped cream. ⁠
Add in the rasmalai chunks.⁠
Whip everything till it is all mixed in. Rsamalai will be crumbly but that is wonderful in the mousse. ⁠
Divide the whipped mousse into 4 jars. ⁠
Let it set overnight or for a minimum of two hours in the refrigerator. ⁠
Top with chopped up strawberries, whipped cream and chopped up pistachio.⁠

You are all set to host an elegant afternoon tea party!

Rabani Singh