Indian/Caucasian PotLuck at work: menu planning problem! Can you help? (healthier, bread)

[gelofogo]

I'm a senior member of a team that's half Indian, half Caucasian. We're a mix of Muslim, Christian, and Unknown backgrounds. After solving a difficult problem, the team asked for a potluck as a treat.

I know goat would be appreciated. I know where to shop for it so it's halal.

What I want to do is somehow blend a theme of people's favorite foods with a theme that brings it together. Here's what I've got to work with:

an entree featuring goat (my personal responsibility)
zucchini bread
a dessert with no sugar (almond-stuffed figs, maybe)

Spices could unify things, and here the standouts are cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, and probably one other one I can't think of just now.

I have the meat, a "bread" that feels more like a cake/dessert, to me, even though it's labeled a vegetable, and a dessert.

1. What am I missing that would help pull this together?
2. Can I use goat in a recipe designed for lamb, or do any of you have some recipes that are specific to goat?
3. Where online can I go to find a reliable-yet-modern understanding of Muslim cooking restrictions or better yet, cool menu design ideas?

Any help appreciated. I hate making this up as I go...which is what I'm doing right now.

[mainebrokerman]

yes,,,you can use goat for lamb recipes..


how about some fruit kabobs on a stick,,,,colorful,,,,and fruit doesn't offend anyone!

as far as I know,,,muslims don't like pork,,,their meat has to be halal processed..
so you are covered..

[Mikala43]

Naan? A vegetable curry or spices from the Middle East?

[toosie]

Rice! Either plain or a rice pilaf or other rice dish

Also maybe lentils or chick peas would go great with all of that

I agree with the naan or even just pita or papadum - mmmmm hummus too

Green salad or crudités could work too. Some pickles or olives maybe

Raita or tzatziki - a nice cool yogurt sauce/dip

Dates are a sweet dessert without processed sugar but lots of natural sugars. Medjul dates are especially good.

I'm used to work pot lucks not having such a rigid theme but it sounds delicious to me.

[Almrausch]

Vegetable samosas are always great with tamarind sauce and always served at my parties
A chick peas salad
Vegetarian Biryani
Saag with paneer with naan or chapatis
Lauki kofta curry
definitely yogurt or mint cucumber raita,or boondi raita

for dessert my favorites to serve when my inlaws come or I have a party
Semolina halva
Carrot halva
Ras malai
How about brownies

[gelofogo]

Rice, d'oh, of course!
I looooove ras malai, will probably get it from restaurant. I'm not patient enough to boil all that milk down.
Fruit kabobs, never thought of that, gonna do it.

These are great, thank you, keep 'em coming.

The group's had a rough ride, it's been "reforming" for months. We need to affirm our joint identity and we decided to do it over food. The last potluck was an ice cream social and people loved it, but not the sugar crash afterwards. So I'm presenting some healthier, more "unified yet diverse" ideas. One way to simplify this is take all the suggestions here and see what if any flavors or motifs repeat. Two are emerging: tropical fruit-nut combos, and geographies.

Chocolate is Universal.

I'm excited about all your suggestions! :-)