Cooking for lots of people- what would you prefer?

[OttolenghiSimple]

I'm cooking for 20(!) next month for a birthday dinner. Everyone eats everything apart from one veggie.

Have worked out two possible menus. Which would you prefer?

1- No starter but some canapes, then lamb curry, pilau rice, tarka dhal, chana masala, one another veg dish TBC, served as a buffet but sitting down to eat. Might have a go at some sort of bread but it's hard for so many. Can buy some popadoms and chutneys etc to have on the tables.

2- No starter but canapes, then roast beef fillet, dauphinoise potatoes, petits pois a la francaise, braised leeks. Again would probably be a buffet then seated to eat.

My thoughts- menu one has the benefit of being what the birthday-haver would most like. It's fairly easy to do as most can be made ahead and frozen. But is a curry a bit ordinary? Maybe I can add in some more celebratory elements but what? (Should add that although I love cooking Indian food and I know my friends enjoy eating it, none of us is Indian.)

Menu two feels a bit more celebratory maybe. Also v easy as can largely be done ahead. Beef fillet for 20 will be expensive. I will need to make something different for the veggie, which I know she will be fine with but I always fear a solo dish is a bit depressing and ungemütlich.

Pudding will be a giant cheesecake which I will order from the bakers so that is sorted.

Definitely curry. A selection of Indian dishes is much more celebratory I think. And much easier to make in advance. Most curries you can easily make and freeze also if needed time wise. So you could make meat dishes week before and freeze. And make veggie dishes on day or day before. And everything heats easier without drying out

Simple roti bread can be made in advance. Just cover with cling film so they steam soft, and serve cold or warm in oven or microwave quickly if you want at serving.

Menu 1 or menu 2 sound amazing - and can I come?

You're doing well to have only one dietary restriction.

The first menu is far easier, cheaper and more accessible for everybody, as they can pick and choose from multiple things. I'd do significantly more vegetable dishes, as not everybody will necessarily want to have the lamb or would have less of it (therefore costing less overall) if there were multiple vegetable dishes with slightly different spices/textures on offer.

If you add in fruit, yoghurt and the like, that'll make it feel more special as well.

Menu one; think it’d stay warm easier too as a buffet serving situation compared to beef

Menu 1
If you have the fridge space, you can make the chicken or lamb currys, salad etc the day before and store in fridge.

Lots of vegetarian or vegan currys - aloo gobi, saag aloo, aubergine paneer, red kidney or chicken pea curries to name a few. All fairly easy to make in advance too

Rice make on the day so no risk of making yourself or guests poorly by not storing or heating correctly.

As for dips and chutneys, naan bread or roti/chappati (not frozen but from bakery aisle) go to a south Asian supermarket and get ready made.

For starters get frozen veg and meat samosas. Some frozen seekh rolls too. Takes minutes to cook. Chickpea salad/chana chaat is a good starter. Easy to prepare in advance too: www.redonline.co.uk/food/recipes/a46134660/chana-chaat/

To go with rice make some raita - Plain yoghurt with small diced cucumber, red onion and tomatoes.

Easy fresh chutney to make are mint, chilli and coriander- 500ml of plain yoghurt, 2 chillies (I like it semi hot so use 5), 6 sprigs of fresh coriander and a few mint leaves, a few pinches of salt. Put everything but the yoghurt in a mini chopper. Add just a tablespoon or two of yoghurt and blitz till you can no longer see lumps of chilli, coriander etc. Empty to a small bowl and add remaining yoghurt.

Or tomato, onion and mint chutney - finally dice about 6 tomatoes. Add a teaspoon or two of mint sauce. Add a finally diced red onion and finally a good squeeze of tomato ketchup. Mix and ready to serve.

Get ready made gulab jamun and serve with plain vanilla ice cream for dessert or get some ready made rasmalai.

I'm south asian and use these cheats/tips on Eid celebrations.

Not all curries are spicy and with a few options you can easily offer hot and not. Option 1 definitely!

I agree with PP, go with the curry with sides, chutneys, breads, rice ect. Easier on you as loads can be made in advance and also easy for guests to pick what they like so more accessible.

Well done for doing this but it’s my idea of personal hell.

Curry please!

I'd personally vastly prefer menu 1 and would do a saag paneer as the additional veggie dish for some veggie protein that isn't just based on pulses. I might also do some chicken tikka (just diced chicken breast in a yoghurt and tikka marinade (make it mild for those that don't like spicy food) bunged in the oven so very easy and quick) in case anyone doesn't like lamb, given that 19 of the 20 are meat eaters. Plenty of chutneys and raita and naan etc. Nearly everything can be prepped beforehand and heated up too which means you'll spend more time with your guests and less in the kitchen.

Sounds delicious! I want curry now 😅

I dislike curry but you say that isn't a problem with your guests so I would go with that as it is more of a buffet type meal than a roast, and a veggie option works better with that meal.

Asda have a good world food freezer section for the frozen samosas and seekh rolls😃

I'd love option one myself.

I would be concerned about people not liking curry. But then, I'd also be concerned that the beef would be overcooked/undercooked for some people, which sounds like even more of a hassle.

I loathe curry, so I would choose the beef and dauphinois potatoes option.

@OttolenghiSimple

you lost me at catering for 20!!

i think the beef option will be ruinously expensive, but as a vegetarian I'd be happy with all the 'sides' (as long as you were careful with all ingredients being vegetarian).

the curry option sounds good too!

I think whichever you can do most comfortably is the best option!!

can I plus 1??

As above, curry option and find a bakery that serves freshly made naan. It might look more like a corner shop than a bakery. It won't be expensive.

Check the veggie eats spicy food, if not maje the veggie option the mild option.

Menu 2, as I don’t like curry. Having said that, I often cater for large numbers and do curry as it’s so easy, use a rice cooker and slow cooker, but I do also offer an alternative such as lasagne for non curry eaters.

I'd enjoy either as a guest.

From a cooks point of view, canapés for 20 is a lot more work than a starter. Although with the curry option you could have bhajis and samosas as sort of canapés, with bowls of mini papadums and Bombay mix dotted around to nibble on.

I’d much prefer menu 2, but appreciate that might be expensive.

I really really dislike cheesecake though and would really hope there was another option for pudding!

I'd do beef bourguinon for option 2 and you can make that ahead and freeze it and add lardons/pancetta and mushrooms when reheating. You can easily make a veggie version.

I don't like cheesecake either and would reconsider that if serving gratin dauphinois as that's two rich, creamy dishes in one meal.

Definitely option 1. I'd just make sure that the curry is mild to include those who aren't a big fan of spicy food and maybe include more spicy stuff for others who like spicy to pick at as well as the usual naans, poppadums, onion bhajis etc.

The curry buffet, with a pasta bake or something suitably bland for those who don't like curry.

Well I absolutely loathe Curry - but as you say everyone will eat it, that would be the best option if it was me. Although I can't ever see me making curry etc for 20 people! Good Luck to you on that one!!

Curry for 20 v 4 takes around the same time to make. So much easier on mass. Usually one pot also, so can easily cook 3 curries in an hour

Number 1 will be much easier and you can prep most ahead of time so you can enjoy time with your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen. I did something similar recently for a big gathering and it worked well. I made far too much food though! So now we have a full freezer!