Informal party food - big pan stuff for a crowd

[LowLevelWhinging]

What would you want to see at a gathering of 20 odd friends?

We always do curries for our parties - easy but predictable!

Chilli is a bit dull, no?

so, maybe a stew with dauphinoise potatoes? easy to cook in advance.

or pies perhaps? then easy to have a meat version and a veggie.

or pasta bake type things?

any thoughts?

[JonSnowKnowsNothing]

At my last birthday party we had about 20 guests and my mum, who's a better cook than me, served 2 massive lasagnes and a huge pot of coq au vin. Ample servings for all and plenty left. Delicious!

[nkf]

I like chilli. Is it dull? I don't see it. Curry too. Yum. And stew with dauphinoise potatoes. I'm not being very helpful am I? Not the pasta bake so much. That does seem a bit dull.

[LaundryLegoLunch]

I've done fajitas before. Veggie, chicken and beef. Loads of dippy/tortilla chips type snacks to go with.

[nkf]

I once went to a party where they served goulash. That was good. Really good in fact. Would that be a bit different?

[BikeRunSki]

I was also going to say lasagna. Meat and veg options
Salmon/beef/mushroom Wellington
Beef /mushroom stroganoff

[BikeRunSki]

Fondue

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I'm always satisfied with veggie chilli, soured cream, cheese, homemade guac etc. Or a curry tbh!

Couple of tagines, cous cous, Moroccan-esque salads, olives etc?

Or a load of meat and veggie sausages, loads of fried onions, baguettes, salad?

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

When I have a party I always do a slow roast meat and sides. I've done leg of lamb slow cooked in harissa then shredded and served with bowls of cous cous, salad and wraps . Others I've done include chipotle brisket with soft rolls and bbq pulled pork with subs. It always does down well and can be put in the oven in the morning then forgotten about while you do everything else.

[Primadonnagirl]

Big jambalaya ..you can do meat and veggie versions

[JonSnowKnowsNothing]

Oooh, if you're feeling exceptionally wealthy, hire a PIG ROAST!! [drooling]

[diddlediddledumpling]

I like a big pot of chicken/chorizo/potato/tomato stew. Can add in butter beans/peppers too. Serve with lots of crusty bread.

Please EnglishGirl, tell me about the chipotle brisket, it sounds divine!

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

[[http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2010/01/southwestern-pulled-brisket/ brisket recipe]]
diddle I use this one but use dried chipotle and put loads in as we like it hot!

[Snowdown]

Slow roast of pork, shred and serve with BBQ sauce and good quality bread and maybe a few salad. Chilli is fine, but it's hard to get the heat right for a big group - serve a good chipotle sauce to cat for the chilli heads and good side to lift the flavours. Homemade guacamole is always surprisingly good if you can get hold of perfectly rip avocados. A big pot of soup with bread is a welcome starter if needed. Love the tagine and couscous idea too with a few salads to lift it.
Big no to pasta - you can't keep it from going soft and frankly unpleasant unless you scream at people to eat and stop talking. Baked potatoes are easy to do in massive quantities and always go down well if they are served along side plenty of salt and butter! Rice will not be as forgiving but it will make the grade....bread will wait on anyone.

[LowLevelWhinging]

ooh good ideas her peeps!

I wonder how joints of meat would work out financially compared to meat for stew/curry?

[Snowdown]

So sorry for all my typos - too much wine and a lack of proof reading - when will I learn?

[diddlediddledumpling]

Supermarkets often have one type of meat joint on offer, I usually buy and freeze. I've got pork shoulder joints that say on the front they serve 15, for about £10-12.

[diddlediddledumpling]

Thank you, EnglishGirl! Have saved that.

[earlyriser]

In Scotland it would be a massive pan of stovies (can do a veggie version) served with oatcakes and beetroot. So easy to prepare in advance, soaks up the booze nicely and is super easy to eat with only a fork.

[nkf]

Ooh. Stovies. Recipe please. And do you mean those little round oatcakes. And beetroot. Sounds interesting.

[LowLevelWhinging]

yes please to stovies recipe earlyriser!

and how on earth would you do a veggie version?

[earlyriser]

I'm veggie, but the meaty one contains fried onions, sliced potatoes and leftover meat, cooked down to a stodge with gravy salt, And served with either round oatcakes or more traditionally triangular shaped ones (stockens or homemade). Picked beetroot to give it a bit of colour and bite!
Everyone has their own recipe so other scots may disagree with the above

[earlyriser]

Veggie one is as above but minus the meat (and maybe a few carrots or leeks for added flavour)

[earlyriser]

stovies

[nkf]

I like the look of that. It's basically a hash right? I am not a fan of beetroot. What about some red cabbage?

[LowLevelWhinging]

aha, you mean mince and tatties!