If you was entertaining family - approx 10 adults what food would you serve for the most convenient and cheap optobo

[KenAdamsRealWife]

Normally would do a Buffet type lunch/dinner but I find it adds up too much. I’m on mat leave and really looking for cheap as chips ideas for around 10 adults over Easter.
Thanks

Make your own preserved lemons

Of course... doesn't everyone?

Obviously weather dependant but how about a bbq?

Jacket spuds
Bowl of rice
Chilli
Chicken in tomato sauce
Salad

Hot dogs or fishfinger butties they always go down well when I'm catering en masse and it's fuel food rather than posh food!

"cheap as chips"

Oven Chips, actually, sound perfect. Cheap supermarket pizzas, fresh veg sticks, dips & quiche. Bread & butter. Fruit juice & lemonade.

Are we talking a tenner, £25, or £40? I cook for 7 usually and 10 fairly regularly, what would you cook if money was no object?

I just find jewelled couscous hilarious

Utter wank

I came on to say what @hidinginthenightgarden said

Lasagne and garlic loaf (use a couple of French sticks, cut slits in, add garlicky butter, wrap in foil and bake through for 15 mins)

Coconut rundown with rice and peas

Sausage batches with baked potatoes

Spaghetti bolognese

Pulled pork in the slow cooker (so you can keep it warm whilst everyone helps themselves), crusty bread, salad.
And a vegetable lasagne and garlic bread as an alternative

Hmmm are you me? I’m doing this this weekend...also on maternity leave.

Lasagne
A delia summer collection recipe which is a baked rice/chicken/chorizo type thing.

If i up the vegetables I reckon both will be fairly cheap but the shopping order is already a bit ouchy (they’re all staying too).

What is coconut rundown? Sounds interesting!

Personally, I'd find cooking rice or mashed potatoes for ten too much like hard work at the last. minute.

This traybake chicken & chorizo is great when you have lots of guests as you can prep earlier and then just bung it in the oven.
You don't need as much chorizo as it says.

www.nigella.com/recipes/spanish-chicken-with-chorizo-and-potatoes

remus coconut rundown is a Caribbean recipe - soften two chopped onions in coconut oil with a tablespoon of all purpose seasoning, a teaspoon of sweet paprika, two cloves of minced garlic and a grated thumb sized piece of ginger. Then add diced chicken and brown, add a sliced red and yellow pepper, a tin of coconut milk and tin of cherry tomatoes, bring to the boil then simmer until thickened.

It is bloody gorgeous

Thanks, Andnone - It sounds lovely but I'm veggie. Could maybe try it with Quorn pieces or chunks of sweet potato.

What is all purpose seasoning?

Coconut rundown sounds delicious 😋

Look at Nigella Lawson's oven baked chicken shawarma. It's gorgeous!
Served with pitta and she makes a few other salad suggestions too.
I'd add sweet potato or potato wedges to it to bulk it out more

sugar I am to please.
That is just what the recipient book calls it!

Bag of couscous- £1
Cucumber 50p
Tomatoes £1
Mint- some might be in your garden otherwise £1
A cheap half jar of black olives 50p
Red onion- 30p

Total £4 maybe £5. And maybe double the quantities for the people. I would say that is pretty cheap. £1/2 a head for the side dish. The lamb tagine. Well obviously more but I still think under £4pp

I think you could do it all for about £10/head. Excluding alcohol.

However I consider myself a competent home cook and have a full spice drawer and larder so feel confident about it.

Of all the recipes I think the pulled pork sounds the nicest.

Anyway I’m off to eat some confit canard for my supper.

I would go to Cook and get a couple of their large pies or lasagnes. Add Coleslaw, potato salads and new potatoes or chips. Large cheesecake, ice cream and fruit salad. A friend of mine does beautiful roast potatoes in goose fat or lard and everyone goes mad for them at her parties. She does trays of them.

I think you could do it all for about £10/head

I think that's quite expensive

Depends what your budget is and whether you're having them mainly for dinner, or if it's just something you're doing at the end of a day out, if you see what I mean.

If dinner is the main event:
For starter I'd do: Pate, or some baked camembert with sliced baguette.
For Mains:
Dependant on oven capacity: Roast chicken, with the basic trimmings. Or a chicken casserole
Or curry with rice and naan...probably with onion Bhajis and samosa to start instead.
Pudding:
Warm brownie - make the day before and put in the oven on low to warm on the day. Mascarpone cream - I made this last weekend, super simple and light with it.
Chocolate moose.

If dinner is a "side dish" to the day.
Lasagne, garlic bread etc.
Baked chicken with nandos sauces, chips / rice

Some kind of cake for pudding, or crumble.

former yes I guess it is expensive if you’re on a budget and I have most definitely been on a tight budget before. And in that situation I would not be hosting 14 people in my home as I simply wouldn’t have the funds to do it at that point in my life!

So I think I’m just working on the assumption that the op probably has a bit of flex in the budget or else they wouldn’t be hosting in the first place?

I absolutely love the name and the recipie of the rundown I’m gonna make that tomorrow. Think the kids would like it too!

All purpose seasoning can be found in the world foods section of a supermarket - it's garlic, pimento, paprika, thyme and other spices. You can definitely make a veggie version of rundown, sweet potato would be perfect!

“I think you could do it all for about £10/head.“
I’m pretty sure the OP was hoping to spend a bit less than 100 quid!

Thanks - will definitely give it a try, although will have to replace the tinned tomatoes too as they are the pus-filled balls of Satan.