As the week starts, we’re all looking forward to that one day which gives us rest, recreation and enough time to relish our favourite food. And nothing works better than starting a Sunday with a laid-back brunch consisting of sumptuous entrées, irresistible desserts and just the right spirits! “Sunday brunch is a worldwide concept offering an array of culinary treats to suit your palate. Usually it is a weekend activity where we can come together with our friends and family and spend quality time with each other,” says Sushil Sharma, hotel manager, The Westin Mumbai Garden City.
Not breakfast, not lunch
The word breakfast means the first meal taken after a long period of fasting, as in ‘breaking the fast’, while brunch is a late, light breakfast that combines foods from both breakfast and lunch, in which any combination of foods may be served. Brunch is often eaten sometime between traditional breakfast and lunch time, from late morning to early afternoon, and is supposed to provide enough sustenance to amply substitute two meals. Because brunch combines two very different meals, the food options that can be included on brunch menus are abundant and widely variant.
Though casual, brunch is apt for a sit-down meal in the dining room as well as a picnic in the back yard, and everything in between. So here you go...
Not breakfast, not lunch
The word breakfast means the first meal taken after a long period of fasting, as in ‘breaking the fast’, while brunch is a late, light breakfast that combines foods from both breakfast and lunch, in which any combination of foods may be served. Brunch is often eaten sometime between traditional breakfast and lunch time, from late morning to early afternoon, and is supposed to provide enough sustenance to amply substitute two meals. Because brunch combines two very different meals, the food options that can be included on brunch menus are abundant and widely variant.
Though casual, brunch is apt for a sit-down meal in the dining room as well as a picnic in the back yard, and everything in between. So here you go...
Essentials of a good Sunday brunch
1. Make sure the brunch is hearty enough to sustain you through the day. Remember that brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch. So it should be satisfying not only for the taste buds, but also for the body’s dietary needs.
2. A brunch should be a well-balanced meal with items from all the below-mentioned groups:
> Dairy: Sliced cheese, cream cheese and yoghurt are suitable brunch options.
> Meat & proteins: Brunch menus may include a variety of foods from the protein group, including sausage, steak, eggs, nuts, smoked salmon and ham.
> Fresh fruits: Watermelon, strawberries, apples, oranges, bananas and grapes are common brunch options, but you may serve any type of fruit, or combine different fruits to make a fruit salad.
> Vegetables: Potatoes are common brunch additions. They can be made into hash browns, fries or potato pancakes. Additionally, you can incorporate different kinds of vegetables like onions, peppers and tomatoes into a brunch menu.
> Grains: This may include bread or toast, muffins, oatmeal, bagels, English muffins, biscuits etc
3. If you aren’t planning a sit-down meal, limit your brunch menu to items that are easy to eat from a plate on the lap, otherwise it will be quite uncomfortable to do things like cutting a steak.
4. Include a variety of drinks on your brunch menu. Caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee are common components of a well-rounded brunch. Healthy beverages like milk and fruit juices are choice brunch staples. If you relish alcoholic beverages, nothing works better than Mimosas, Screwdrivers and Bloody Marys, as they combine alcohol with healthy fruit or vegetable juices.
2. A brunch should be a well-balanced meal with items from all the below-mentioned groups:
> Dairy: Sliced cheese, cream cheese and yoghurt are suitable brunch options.
> Meat & proteins: Brunch menus may include a variety of foods from the protein group, including sausage, steak, eggs, nuts, smoked salmon and ham.
> Fresh fruits: Watermelon, strawberries, apples, oranges, bananas and grapes are common brunch options, but you may serve any type of fruit, or combine different fruits to make a fruit salad.
> Vegetables: Potatoes are common brunch additions. They can be made into hash browns, fries or potato pancakes. Additionally, you can incorporate different kinds of vegetables like onions, peppers and tomatoes into a brunch menu.
> Grains: This may include bread or toast, muffins, oatmeal, bagels, English muffins, biscuits etc
3. If you aren’t planning a sit-down meal, limit your brunch menu to items that are easy to eat from a plate on the lap, otherwise it will be quite uncomfortable to do things like cutting a steak.
4. Include a variety of drinks on your brunch menu. Caffeinated beverages like tea and coffee are common components of a well-rounded brunch. Healthy beverages like milk and fruit juices are choice brunch staples. If you relish alcoholic beverages, nothing works better than Mimosas, Screwdrivers and Bloody Marys, as they combine alcohol with healthy fruit or vegetable juices.
BRUNCH STAPLES
Opt for traditional recipes if you wish to create a simple yet filling brunch:
Egg-based dishes: Omelets, eggs benedict, quiche, strada and casseroles are brunch meals that incorporate several food groups into one dish. Omelets and casseroles can be custom prepared and can please a wide variety of tastes.
Waffles, crepes or pancakes: These are versatile options, as they serve as the base for a number of different toppings, including fruits, syrups, nuts, meat spreads, cream cheese and whipped cream.
French toast: French toast is a combination of the grain, meat and dairy groups, and can be finished off with a number of toppings, including syrup, peanut butter and powdered sugar.
TOP 5 BRUNCH COMBOS YOU CAN TRY
COMBO#1
Appetizers: Chickpea and Feta Salad, assorted veggies (mixed lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, olives, jalapenos, gherkins, sun-dried tomatoes, buttered corn, bread croutons, cheese and crackers)
for a ‘Make your own salad’ plate
Mediterranean: Baked Pita Triangles and Hummus
Hot selection: Crêpe Caprese with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. Serve with sour cream and breakfast potatoes
Entrée: Rainbow Pizza Flatbread (seven vegetables, mozzarella and basil with Alfredo and garlic spread)
Mains: Creamy Gnocchi (potato dumplings in tomato basil cream sauce)
Sweet treat: Freshly baked cupcakes
To drink: Sangria
COMBO#2
Appetizers: Roasted Beetroot and Walnut Salad with orange Dressing, fresh fruit sticks with yoghurt
Hot selection: Grilled Panini (mozzarella, roasted vegetables, tomatoes, fresh basil in sandwich) or Couscous Upma ( a dish of semolina traditionally served with a meat or vegetable stew spooned
over it)
Entrée: Cottage Cheese Shawarma (chilli sauce marinated cottage cheese grilled and rolled in pita with fried potatoes, pickles and garlic sauce)
Mains: Veg sizzling Lunch (cottage cheese steak and grilled veggies with paprika sauce; served with parsley rice, fried potatoes and sautéed vegetables
Sweet treat: Chocolate Walnut Bownie
To drink: Beer or Mimosa (a cocktail-like drink composed of one part champagne or other sparkling wine and one part thoroughly chilled citrus fruit juice)
COMBO#3
Appetizers: Chicken Caesar Salad, Shrimp Salsa Nachos
Mediterranean: Cabbage Rolls filled with rice, lamb mince, mint with tzatziki (Greek dip made of yoghurt) on the side
Hot selection: 3 eggs with a choice of scrambled, poached, sunny side up or omelette served with sausage, bacon or ham and breakfast potatoes.
Entrée: Fish Shawarma (spiced fish kebabs rolled in pita with fried potatoes, pickles and garlic sauce)
Mains: Steak Alfredo (grilled beaf steak drizzled with balsamic glaze, served over penne tossed with spinach and Alfredo sauce)
Sweet treat: Blueberry Cheesecake
To drink: Bloody Mary (cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and spices or flavourings)
COMBO#4
Appetizers: Cocktail Pork Sausages in maple mustard dressing with grilled onions and parsley , crab sticks
Hot selection: Mediterranean Eggs Benedict (toasted rustic style bread, garlic spinach, feta bread, chicken bacon and poached eggs drizzled with buttery Hollandaise sauce)
Entrée: Chicken or Seafood Pizza Flatbread (grilled chicken or mixed seafood, mozzarella, roasted red peppers and basil with Alfredo and garlic spread)
Mains: Chicken Sizzling Lunch (grilled chicken breast served with peppered sauce; served with parsley rice, fried potatoes and sautéed vegetables) or Seafood sizzling lunch (grilled fish with saffron sauce; served with parsley rice, fried potatoes and sautéed vegetables)
Sweet treat: Banana Choco Chip Muffin
To drink: Screwdriver (a highball drink made with fresh orange juice and vodka)
COMBO#5
Appetizers: Antipasto Kebabs (skewers of flavoured chicken salami, olives and pasta), cold cuts
Hot selection: Liquored Up French Toast with maple syrup and caramelised bananas
Entrée: Chicken Shawarma (grilled chicken breast marinated with herbs and spices and rolled in pita with fried potatoes, pickles and garlic sauce)
Mains: Fried Bombay Duck served with vodka penne
Sweet treat: Tiramisu
To drink: Kiwi Mango Mint (a mix of mango nectar and kiwi-infused vodka) or Virgin Mary ( a non-alcoholic version of Bloody Mary)
Appetizers: Chickpea and Feta Salad, assorted veggies (mixed lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, broccoli, olives, jalapenos, gherkins, sun-dried tomatoes, buttered corn, bread croutons, cheese and crackers)
for a ‘Make your own salad’ plate
Mediterranean: Baked Pita Triangles and Hummus
Hot selection: Crêpe Caprese with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and basil. Serve with sour cream and breakfast potatoes
Entrée: Rainbow Pizza Flatbread (seven vegetables, mozzarella and basil with Alfredo and garlic spread)
Mains: Creamy Gnocchi (potato dumplings in tomato basil cream sauce)
Sweet treat: Freshly baked cupcakes
To drink: Sangria
COMBO#2
Appetizers: Roasted Beetroot and Walnut Salad with orange Dressing, fresh fruit sticks with yoghurt
Hot selection: Grilled Panini (mozzarella, roasted vegetables, tomatoes, fresh basil in sandwich) or Couscous Upma ( a dish of semolina traditionally served with a meat or vegetable stew spooned
over it)
Entrée: Cottage Cheese Shawarma (chilli sauce marinated cottage cheese grilled and rolled in pita with fried potatoes, pickles and garlic sauce)
Mains: Veg sizzling Lunch (cottage cheese steak and grilled veggies with paprika sauce; served with parsley rice, fried potatoes and sautéed vegetables
Sweet treat: Chocolate Walnut Bownie
To drink: Beer or Mimosa (a cocktail-like drink composed of one part champagne or other sparkling wine and one part thoroughly chilled citrus fruit juice)
COMBO#3
Appetizers: Chicken Caesar Salad, Shrimp Salsa Nachos
Mediterranean: Cabbage Rolls filled with rice, lamb mince, mint with tzatziki (Greek dip made of yoghurt) on the side
Hot selection: 3 eggs with a choice of scrambled, poached, sunny side up or omelette served with sausage, bacon or ham and breakfast potatoes.
Entrée: Fish Shawarma (spiced fish kebabs rolled in pita with fried potatoes, pickles and garlic sauce)
Mains: Steak Alfredo (grilled beaf steak drizzled with balsamic glaze, served over penne tossed with spinach and Alfredo sauce)
Sweet treat: Blueberry Cheesecake
To drink: Bloody Mary (cocktail containing vodka, tomato juice, and spices or flavourings)
COMBO#4
Appetizers: Cocktail Pork Sausages in maple mustard dressing with grilled onions and parsley , crab sticks
Hot selection: Mediterranean Eggs Benedict (toasted rustic style bread, garlic spinach, feta bread, chicken bacon and poached eggs drizzled with buttery Hollandaise sauce)
Entrée: Chicken or Seafood Pizza Flatbread (grilled chicken or mixed seafood, mozzarella, roasted red peppers and basil with Alfredo and garlic spread)
Mains: Chicken Sizzling Lunch (grilled chicken breast served with peppered sauce; served with parsley rice, fried potatoes and sautéed vegetables) or Seafood sizzling lunch (grilled fish with saffron sauce; served with parsley rice, fried potatoes and sautéed vegetables)
Sweet treat: Banana Choco Chip Muffin
To drink: Screwdriver (a highball drink made with fresh orange juice and vodka)
COMBO#5
Appetizers: Antipasto Kebabs (skewers of flavoured chicken salami, olives and pasta), cold cuts
Hot selection: Liquored Up French Toast with maple syrup and caramelised bananas
Entrée: Chicken Shawarma (grilled chicken breast marinated with herbs and spices and rolled in pita with fried potatoes, pickles and garlic sauce)
Mains: Fried Bombay Duck served with vodka penne
Sweet treat: Tiramisu
To drink: Kiwi Mango Mint (a mix of mango nectar and kiwi-infused vodka) or Virgin Mary ( a non-alcoholic version of Bloody Mary)
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