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Original poster

Please critique my first ever bbq menu

283 replies

Liud · 14/04/2025 11:58

Hosting my first bbq this weekend in my first home.
Sadly the weather looks a little iffy but we’ll have a laugh regardless.

This is my menu. We have a few vegetarians. I think it’s a very easy menu as I can give dh the skewers I’ve premarinated. And the rest can be prepared in advance.

The only thing that really requires effort is the focaccia (I don’t love making bread but I love the recipe).

Its probably a bit carb heavy but I’ve done it that way with the vegetarians in mind.

Pasta salad
Homemade focaccia
Greek salad
Bombay new potatoes (dishoom recipe)
Butter herb new potatoes (for ppl who don’t like coriander)
Halloumi skewers
Veg skewers
Tandoori style chicken skewers (tastes better than takeaways imo)
Mint lamb kofte
Corn on the cob

Homemade mint chutney
tamarind sauce
Mango chutney

Crisps and shop bought dips
Nuts

Key lime pie
Profiteroles

Wine
Beer

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 14/04/2025 13:37

Thefunnel · 14/04/2025 12:14

I love a watermelon, feta and olive salad with a BBQ - though that's maybe a bit close to your Greek salad.

Have fun!

There’s watermelon, avocado, cucumber, feta and mint salad? Usually goes down well. I’d also chuck some pineapple on the bbq.

ATuinTheGreat · 14/04/2025 13:37

CuriousKangaroo · 14/04/2025 12:28

I like everything on your menu, it sounds delicious. But I do think that it’s better to have one cuisine, not a mish mash, if possible as some of those flavours/combinations clash (tandoori chicken next to a feta filled Greek salad? No thanks!)

A lot of your menu is Indian, so why not cut out the Greek salad and make a kachumber salad instead? Swap halloumi for tandoori paneer (same marinade as chicken so really easy). Cut pasta salad altogether. Same for the butter potatoes. Swap focaccia for naan or parathas. There is a fantastic recipe for Indian coleslaw that someone posted once on here that I make often. Can post it if you are interested.

I am interested in an Indian coleslaw recipe please!!

RampantIvy · 14/04/2025 13:31

@Liud Re the coriander - I always make the dish without and have a bowl of chopped fresh coriander on the side for people to add themselves.

More importantly - are you cooking for the vegetarians on a separate barbecue? If not please cook the veggie items first. No vegetarian I know will eat anything that has been cooked on a barbecue that has just had meat cooked on it.

PinkyFlamingo · 14/04/2025 13:31

Any particular reason not to have burgers and sausages?

Snackpocket · 14/04/2025 13:28

Sounds amazing! No such thing as too many carbs.

GivingUpFinally · 14/04/2025 13:28

Oh and some great ideas, I'll be stealing from pp's. Thank you

MissBridgetJones · 14/04/2025 13:27

Sack off the pasta salad. Get in some decent sausages...

What time should I head over??

user1492757084 · 14/04/2025 13:27

Your plan looks tasty.

I would add lots of red and yellow peppers, beans and celery to the pasta salad. (Make it vege rich.)
I would add leaves to your Greek Salad, or make a Garden Salad.

If making the Lamb Kofti is too labour intensive - have chops, or lamb sausages.

Your chutneys look delicious.
Offer also plain tomato sauce.

Swap the profiteroles for fruit and cheese.

I would include two mocktails, or a colourful iced non alcoholic punch and water with ice and mint..

GivingUpFinally · 14/04/2025 13:26

Sounds great. I don't understand the British obsession with burgers and sausages at a bbq.

I would do similar, but one ess potato dish, and things like mozzarella, tomato and basil salad, brushetta, cold cuts, selection of bread/ Buns, I usually do either a slow smoked brisket or steaks for a beef option and would also offer a fish/shellfish option. Definitely more green stuff. Garlic butter steam green beans always go down super well. I char the beans on the bbq post steam for a few seconds add garlic and butter, heat through and serve, same with Steamed and charred Broccoli with chilli and evoo. Steam veg is great as you can steam and blanched the day before and then reheat in a couple of mins.

I always over cater and make sure that everyone goes home with the bits they fancy.

Oh and I always do a slaw of some kind and hard boiked eggs with paprika and chives always, always, always disappear very quickly.

Sounds fun and if you're happy with your menu. Run with it. Over time you'll adapt, add and cancel certain items as you host more

KoiTetra · 14/04/2025 13:25

It sounds fantastic and there is definitely an element of personal taste to the options.

For me I would definitely want more meat options at a BBQ but then I can happily just pile a plate with meat options and nothing else. I am a bit of a BBQ geek and would happily have the BBQ on 12 hours early to slow cook some pork or beef brisket.

BarneyRonson · 14/04/2025 13:25

It sounds absolutely gorgeous, very thoughtful and varied. If I were your guest I’d be delighted.

roseymoira · 14/04/2025 13:24

I’ve never been to a BBQ without sausages and burgers

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 14/04/2025 13:23

Lose the pasta salad, lose one potato dish.

And a green salad will be much better than the Greek one.

Original poster
Liud · 14/04/2025 13:21

Thanks for the input. I think I will try to figure out how to do less carbs

OP posts:
Honon · 14/04/2025 13:18

It's a bit of a mishmash cuisine-wise, not saying it has to be 100% Indian but wouldn't naan or chapati make more sense than focaccia? I'd also lose the pasta salad and replace it with a chickpea one.

Original poster
Liud · 14/04/2025 13:17

I have had the tandoori chicken with the Greek salad many times (tomatoes, cucumber, olives, onion, feta and olive oil) and it’s lovely. “Indian flavours” clashing with a Greek salad which is just a salty salad imo is just a mental thing in my eyes. It’s not exactly like mixing french onion soup with sweet and sour sauce.

It’s not too dissimilar to an Indian salad - just has a bit of feta and olives on top.

Focccia with sea salt and olive oil goes with anything

I see the point/issue but I think it’s a bit overstated

OP posts:
harriethoyle · 14/04/2025 13:13

It’s not very cohesive - mix of Indian and Italian and, like PP, I’d be disappointed there wasn’t burgers or sausages. They make a bbq for me 🤣

theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 14/04/2025 13:11

Burgers, sausages, kebabs, few chops, jacket potatos and a salad

Crazybaby123 · 14/04/2025 13:05

Liud · 14/04/2025 13:04

No kids. 18 people

What about king prawns in lime and coriander, lovely on a bbq.

Original poster
Liud · 14/04/2025 13:04

No kids. 18 people

OP posts:
Crazybaby123 · 14/04/2025 13:04

Sounds fab, more fancy than my bbqs. I usually shop buy things like ready made potato salad and bread, so you've already outdone me there.
Have you got kids coming, if so have something plain like a burger or sausages in bun with ketchup is always good for fussy kids.

TickTockPolly · 14/04/2025 12:53

How many people are coming?

MaltipooMama · 14/04/2025 12:51

It really does sounds delicious, I love a bbq and always have several in the summer but I always go more meat heavy, I’m actually hosting one in a couple of weeks and this is what’s on my online order for mine (in case there’s anything on there that takes your fancy!):

Burgers and rolls
Hotdogs and buns
Chinese pork chops
BBQ chicken drumsticks
Cajun chicken fillets
Chicken/pork/pepper skewers

Mixed leaf salad with feta and tomatoes/cucumbers on the side
Jacket potatoes and grated cheese
Halloumi fries
Corn on the cob
Crusty cobs

Variety of dips
Crisps and nuts

Coke zeros, lemonade, Kopparberg, Budweisers, Pimm’s and Nozecco (for me!)

Hope it all goes well, oh I do love a BBQ!

Hoppinggreen · 14/04/2025 12:50

Magnastorm · 14/04/2025 12:13

Surely most people when going to a bbq expect nothing more than burgers and sausages, and a bit of half-arsed salad on the side which nobody will touch?

And THATS why many people say they hate BBQ's
Your menu sounds lovely OP and the kind of BBQ wee have but you probably don't need so many salads. I usually do 1 green, 1 potato, 1 tomato and 1 bean or couscous
I cannot understand why people who normally eat well serve or expect to be served crap just because its being cooked on a BBQ

NeilDiamondsBlowDry · 14/04/2025 12:48

how about a rice salad

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