I'm looking for a slow cooker recipe that's posh enough for a sunday lunch dinner party please

[mckenzie]

We have friends coming on sunday for lunch and i'd really like to do something in the slow cooker so that I can prepare it early and also not worry if they are late arriving etc. (One family have explained that they might be delayed).
I don't have any recipes for tried and tested slighter grander dishes, only the usual lamb casserole, chilli etc. Any ideas gratefully received.
TIA

[TrillianAstra]

Bumping for you (not that I have a slow cooker, but a casserole dish might do).

[shoptilidrop]

I had family coming over on new years day.
I made a really really lovely beef casserole. Mash and steamed veg. It went down so well.
Granted it wasnt posh at all... but everyone had seconds and some had thirds!
I brought really top quality beef, browned it off. Sauted onions, carrots, leeks and a little bit of parsnip with some tyme. Deglazed the pan with red wine and homemade beef stock. Chucked in a tin of top quality toms, salt and peper and left it for about 10 hours.

[mckenzie]

that does sound lovely shoptilidrop but not sure about the mash re timings etc. Also, I'm hoping for a very sunny day and your dish sounds perfect but for a colder day.

[TheArmadillo]

you could always do something like a leg of lamb in slow cooker - with red wine/rosemary/garlic/pepper.

Then dauphinoise potatoes (cook in low oven for hours so can be left).

Then serve with a nice mixed salad.

The cooked stuff can be left for whenever they arrive and can be prepared in advance. Salad should make it lighter so not too heavy for hot day.

[mckenzie]

thanks TheArmadillo but now you're going to think I'm being really awkward..... DH doesn't like lamb!

[sleepwhenidie]

I am looking at slow cooker recipe book - how does one of these grab you...

olive & lemon meatballs (beef) with tomato sauce (suggested served with pasta)

spanish chicken pot (includes potatoes, chorizo, tomoatoes - sugg served with crusty bread)

persian chicken (sugg w couscous)

Glazed gammon w split pea puree

Stuffed monkfish w coriander & chilli (sugg w noodles/rice)

pesto baked salmon (w rice/new pots)

saffron & wild rice risotto w cod

I'd like to recommend one of them but haven't tried any yet! I can send you details if you like one...

[BCNS]

ahh I was going to say the lamd with rosemary / red wine thing and butternut squash and sweet potatoes.

[mckenzie]

thanks very much sleepwhenidie!

The meatballs sound nice and so does the monkfish (one of my guests is pregnant - is cooked fish okay?). What's the persian chicken got in it as that sounds interesting too and I like the idea of serving with couscous - nice and easy to make!!

What book have you got as I need to buy a slow cooker one - my book is too american and I can't get half of the ingredients!

[sleepwhenidie]

Hi it is called Ultimate Slow Cooker by Sara Lewis - I picked it up a couple of weeks ago for £4 at a BookEvents sale...

The monkfish does sound good and would be fine for pg lady, but I have just looked and it may be a bit more timing dependent than the meat dishes - says to check the fish is cooked til opaque...

persian chicken has chicken drumsticks and thighs, turmeric, paprika, onions, garlic, ginger, baby spinach - no chilli so sweetly spicy I should think. Sounds very easy, less involved that the fish and the meatballs

Which would you like me to send?!

[mckenzie]

the persian chicken please as I think that will be fine for the children as well. thanks very much - I really appreciate it. Off to Amazon to see if I can find the book!

[sleepwhenidie]

OK - this is supposed to serve 4

4 chick drumsticks + 4 chicken thighs, all skinned
2 tbs plain flour
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp paprika
2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
4 cloves
2.5cm fresh root ginger finely chopped
450ml chicken stock
125g young spinach, washed, large leaves torn
salt & pepper
couscous to serve

Preheat SC if necessary.
Slash each piece of chicken 2/3 times with sharp knife. Mix flour, turmeric and paprika on a plate and use to thinly coat chicken

heat oil in a frying pan and brown chicken on all sides. Transfer to a plate. Add onion and garlic to pan and fry for 5 mins until lightly browned

Stir in any remaining spiced flour. Add cloves, ginger, stock and S&P and bring to boil, stirring.

Pack chicken joints into SC pot and pour in onion mixture. Cover with lid and cook on low for 8-9 hours until chicken is tender. Add spinach and cook for 15 mins more, serve on a bed of couscous.

Hope it is good, let me know how you get on!

[mckenzie]

thanks very much sleep (although I'm now going to have to get up at 6 am to put it in the slow cooker in time for lunch

[sleepwhenidie]

Hi McKenzie, how did your lunch go?