Girls’ night in - menu ideas

[Goostacean]

I’ve foolishly invited 7 friends over on Saturday night, among whom we have 1 vegetarian and 1 gluten intolerant person (they are not the same person). I will have very limited prep time, but happy to prep in front of guests or get them to chip in and help.

Any ideas for exciting / impressive -but-easy type meals?! I was thinking maybe something like fajitas, then everyone can add their own toppings to wraps… Want something a bit fancier than pizza (also; gluten) which was DH’s suggestion.

I’d probably go taco shells over fajitas, and then be a bit more imaginative with the fillings. Smoky pulled chicken, sweet potato with feta, beans and chorizo, garlic and chilli king prawn, some homemade slaw, homemade guacamole is very easy too.

Quiche?
Baked potatoes? Lots of toppings

Loaded skins, prep the night before then bang in oven when guests are there. GF and you can do a veg option.

Burgers

Takeaway? Everyone bring a dish?

Gluten free vegetarian lasagne with salad, coleslaw And garlic bread (gluten free bread)

Veggie Chilli, baked potatoes sour cream, cheese, finely sliced spring onions. Homemade guacamole and tortillas chips. Margaritas.

Check the tortilla chips packet but most are gluten free.

Means one meal for all!

Salmon, hollandaise, asparagus, New potatoes. Strawberries, Cadbury flake and ice cream.

I'd go tapas/mezze and decant shop bought hummus/baba ghanoush/olives/salads/flatbreads/cheeses/prawns etc. onto nice bowls and plates and let people help themselves. A few mins on presentation and it will look lovely and impressive.

Curry.

Gluten free vegetarian here
-Risotto (mushroom, butternut squash or tomato with burrata)
-Curry

• Sushi rice bowls with veggies (+ fish for the non veggie)

I would try to go for things that are naturally gluten free rather than using gluten free bread/ pasta. It's just not as nice as normal bread and pasta and I wouldn't wish it on anyone who could have gluten!

im Gluten free (coeliac)

Id like risotto, roast dinner or anything Middle Eastern (good ideas on the ottelenghi books - you can find the recipes online). I really don’t enjoy fajitas that much!

i often go to hello fresh for ideas at this point as you can filter by type of meal you want/ingredients you don’t want

Me too! And I'd go mad on the cheese counter.

I'd do buffet style. Let everyone help themselves as and when they are hungry.

Meat platter
Veg quiche
Salads
Cheese
Dips
Olives
Lentil crisps
Cous cous
Pasta salad
Devilled eggs
Fruit salad, squirty cream, meringue nests

Id buy most from the supermarket and just put into my own dishes. Everyone is catered for.

Thanks all, some great ideas. Don’t want takeaway as it’s expensive for that many people tbh! And I’m never impressed if I’m invited over for an event (rather than just mates catching up) and someone orders takeaway. Snob 😂

I like the idea of veggie chilli actually, could make a big pot the day before - I have prep time the day before but not on the day… Also buying all the mezze bits and just doing that. We do something similar for nibbles when guests arrive usually.

Maybe that’s the answer, with flatbreads…

For this number it's either fajitas or lasagnes, meat and veggie one or even Thai green chicken curry and a veggie dish.

The last couple of times I've invited friends over I've ordered a box from here: aktarathome.co.uk/order-online/#

Arrives frozen so all I have to do is defrost then warm each dish in the microwave then stick it in an oven proof dish in the oven to keep warm. Portions are very generous so one £70 box would feed 7 (with some added poppadums and rice perhaps - the naan breads are huge and you get 8).

The best veggie chilli is the BBC burnt aubergine one. I’ve made that a few times for friends and it always goes down well! Also tastes better reheated the next day, so perfect for you.

You could get gluten-free wraps, cut them into triangles and bake for GF nachos (do a regular one alongside?).

Then big bowls of toppings. Cheese, guacamole. I love a pineapple or mango salsa with it. Can all be sorted the day before.

You could make a big batch of margaritas too? Virgin ones for the drivers?

Can I come 😁

@AtLeastThreeDrinks
Thank you for that recipe! I love aubergines but never know what to do with them, now I do

veg curry with rice and sides

Charring and peeling them is so satisfying!

Aubergine parmigiana is always good too if you’re after recipes @ThatshallotBaby (excellent name btw!)