meal for large group - fish and meat option

[WhyOhWine]

I have an annual gathering with my cousins and their familes over the Chrsitmas period. This year it is at ours the Saturday before Christmas. Kids are mostly fairly close in age - tween to mid teens. i think it is about 12 adults and 14 kids (one or two still to confirm).
Food needs to include a meat option and either a fish or vegetarian option as there are 3 pescatarians (minded to do fish) and i want them to be "similar". Some meat eaters might choose the fish so ideally the type of food that is not individual portions. I am an ok cook and DD1 will help. To illustrate, previous years we have had (at ours or others houses) meat or veg lasagne, mexican (with some meat and some vege options), curry (chicken or prawn).
Trying to think of something a bit different. Any ideas?

[TisapityshesaGeordie]

If you have a slow cooker I love this brisket recipe. Stick it in first thing or even overnight and people can just help themselves. I normally serve it with a green veg and jacket potatoes but hunks of crusty bread work well too. www.thekitchn.com/recipe-slow-cooker-brisket-and-onions-recipes-from-the-kitchn-45437

[mussie]

Risottos with garlic bread on the side? Easy to batch cook, and not too dear. Could have a sausage and red pepper one, and then a fish and asparagus one 😋

[kateandme]

pie.fish and meat one.use mash for both.or a pie crust.(ready roll jus roll sheet ideal for this)
another option for ready roll pastry is big tray bakes. just put whatever topping you wish.pesto and chicken.roasted veggies.cheese and tomato.
chicken stew and dumpling.veggie stew and dumplings.
big jambalaya rice
peaulla with fish
make a different version of lasagne instead of sheets of pasta use fusilli or pen into a big pasta bake.then do veggie version with some peppers tomatos sweetcorn peas etc etc.
currys
big sharing pizzas
two big serving bowls of linguin pasta.one with a carbanara type sauce with bacon and cheese.and the other a white wine crème fraiche and stock based sauce with prawns and salmon.

[viques]

For the pescatarians I would do a macaroni cheese with lobster( or crayfish tails or big prawns, which ever you have access to) . It's my go to Christmas Eve supper and is wonderful! If you served it with a green salad and garlic bread you could serve meatballs and tagliatelle for the meat eaters. I used to make lamb meatballs, with mint and parsley, mix in some dry semolina and brown the meatballs in a pan before baking in a tomato sauce. You can do this ahead of time!

I would also cook and serve everything in disposable tinfoil containers!

[WhyOhWine]

Thanks for the ideas. Trying to avoid something thathas been done before. Pies are on the shortlist. I was also wondering about a beef wellington and salmon en croute. Paella could work. I could do one big paella and then maybe separately cook some chicken and chorizo for meateaters to add to theirs if they so wish.

[kateandme]

the paella sounds like a great idea hun,when they are gotten riht they are delicious...you could have a smaller practice run first too?top tip and cheaper too is to use chicken thighs.much nicer and juiceier.and cooking these on the side with chorizo is a lovely plan.

[suepowell]

How about a fish curry this time? Then you could make a minced meat and serve with vegetarian lasagne.

[Chewbecca]

I was going to suggest pies!

Specifically Delia's salmon coulibiac for the fish and Jamie's chicken pie from 30 minute meals. I do love beef wellington but you'd need about £100 worth of beef fillet to feed 1/2 that many people.

[yawning801]

Mary Berry's Fish Pie is divine! Also salmon en croute - my version used Philadelphia (Garlic and Herbs).

[Taffeta]

We often have gatherings like this and I always do a buffet - mix of hot and cold food.

I usually do a whole fish, a few vege options eg tart, dahl, a meat option eg whole cooked ham, a roast chicken or two, or perhaps a stew or chicken curry. Then lots of salads, potatoes, bread (rice if curry).

Then three or four puddings and cheese.

[Hiphopopotamus]

Can you not just do a big fish thing? Does there have to be meat?

[TheOriginalNNB]

I copied this from Saturday Morning Kitchen last week (might be on iPlayer or catch up somewhere)

Shoulder of lamb on a rack over sliced potatoes and onions that have had a bit of stock poured over. It was simple but absolutely delicious as it was slow roasted over 3-4 hrs. All the fat from the lamb drips into the pots - gorge!