What sides for a fancy-ish roast?

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My son is being baptised on Sunday. It’s only going to be a small event, with 6 adults and 3 children (3 and under). I was originally going to do a buffet but there’s some logistica issues about making and storing the food and two of the guests don’t really eat much.

We were meant to have a big family celebration at Easter that didn’t happen so I was thinking of possibly using the meat that we still have and are unlikely to have another occasion to use and doing a roast style meal.

We’ve got a leg of lamb and shoulder of pork. It’s meant to be hot here on Sunday so I was thinking that we might be best to lighten it up a bit. My menu for Easter was:

Rosemary and anchovy lamb
Roast pork with crackling
Potato gratin
Spiced red cabbage
Petit pois la Francaise
Lemony green beans
Gravy
Apple sauce
Mint sauce

I’m not sure if it feels special enough. What do you think? I could easily do some extras (roast potatoes too?).

I’ll be making a christening cake and some decorated cookies too.

I'd do roasted hasselback potatoes and yorkshire puds.

In this weather im afraid i wouldnt do it all hot! By all means roast the meat but serve with salads. You could still do roast potatoes as everyone loves those.

If it's due to be hot, rather than do a full roast, why not make the whole thing a bit more Mediterranean style. You could do the lamb with feta, roasted pots with garlic, roasted med veg (extra juices can go over the meat) with a salad on the side.
If you still want a full roast, I think your menu sounds lovey.

Sounds absolutely gorgeous.
I would say though that you have 2 green vegetables out of 3. I would personally serve carrots to add a bit of colour?

Cauliflower cheese 😋

Too many different flavours clashing.
Spiced red cabbage and lemony green beans for example.
Shoulder isn't nice roasted .. it's better slow cooked and used like pulled pork..
If you take away some of the flavours .. like lemon .. add another veg too.. it sounds ideal.

I think it sounds delicious but maybe a bit heavy if it's going to be hot.
How about new potatoes? Lighter & you don't have to do 2 types then.
Maybe some roasted Mediterranean vegetables in stead of the cabbage?
Personally I might do the roast meats, roasted Mediterranean veg on a bed of couscous with maybe a home made tomato sauce to pour over if people want to (I find couscous a bit dry otherwise), or a balsamic dressing? Green salad.

It depends how hot it's going to o be really! Your menu does sound lovely.

I’d swap the spiced red cabbage for a crunchy salad (something with fennel and orange or something like that?)

And go for roast new potatoes rather than normal roast or gratin. Rosemary and lemon and garlic or something.

Roast with a salad and roast new pots is lovely and summery. You could also cheat and buy pre prepared nice fancy nubbly salads with edamame beans and stuff in them, flatbreads and dips too?

My favourite thing to have with lamb is potato dauphinois but use half parsnips. Absolutely delicious!

Thanks for all the views. I’m liking the idea of making it more Mediterranean and mixing up the veg.

I’m not quite sure that I can get on board with roast potatoes and salad though.

I love cous cous but we have it a lot as a quick midweek go to and I don’t think two of the guests will eat it (and potatoes are easier to clean up off the floor 😂).

Yes, I'd do this.

Maybe with flatbread instead of potatoes (or as well as!) and some Greek style dips, hummus, tzatziki. Lots of fresh salad.

Anchovy for the lamb,
Garlic oregano and lemon for the pork.

It shouldn't be too much work, you can buy most of it ready made if you don't want to make it.

I get what you’re saying about the different flavours.

Shoulder can be lovely roasted though. 1/2 hr in a hot oven and then 4hrs or so in a very low oven and you get crispy cracking with meltingly tender meat underneath.

I'd definitely go Mediterranean or middle eastern. I love Persians for side recipe inspiration - could you do a lovely tomato and pomegranate salad, or pomegranate anything really to go with the lamb! I find the pomegranate "jewels" make things look so special.

• cous cous salad with feta, pom, pickled cucumber, preserved lemon?
• houmous - could make your own or just buy some and mix rose harissa through (or red pepper paste if you want to be more Med)
• really nice olives?
• jewelled rice? Or saffron rice! That would be very special feeling

Just some ideas

I'd do the roasties more like big chips and basically do it more meditteranean, so salads/roasted veg etc. I really wouldn't want a roast if it's going to be a hot day. Or do the meat and do it with pitta bread and posh salad sides.

I would slow cook the lamb (with salt, pepper, onion, carrot, celery, garlic and a cup of water, covered) and then serve it warm, shredded, with pomegranate and mint; roast peppers with feta, lemony green beans, maybe some roasted aubergine or mouttabal or baba ghanoush type thing. None of it got, all can be warm to cool (lamb must be warm because of the fat though). Hummous. Pitta bread. Green salad. Maybe halloumi if I could be bothered. Save the pork for another time, that would be loads of food for 9 people.
I'm hungry now...

I recently did a marinated leg of lamb. Deboned it, marinated overnight with olive oil, lemon juice and lots of chopped garlic.

Cooked on the day till just pink (or however you like it) and sliced. We served it with these type of wraps: https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-riyas-original-recipe-garlic-coriander-naan-bread-2x200g/5060415520826
Then people helped themselves to houmous, cous cous, salads and garlic/chilli sauce to put inside the wrap. It tasted like the best kebab I've ever had!

Another idea instead of roast veg is new, boiled potatoes with mint/butter, a mix of green veg like runner beans, peas/broad beans etc because they are all in season now.

Roast potatoes or boil new pots in their skins until nearly done then squash gently with a glass and brush both sides with garlic butter and roast on a high heat until crispy
Jamie Oliver's French Bean Salad www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/good-old-french-bean-salad/
Lentils with mint, Greek yoghurt and beetroot
Asparagus and broccolini with feta

Good you butterfly the lamb and bbq it, serve with flatbreads, tzatziki and Greek salad?

I feel that roast potatoes and salad doesn’t work well if it’s traditional crispy white chunky half potatoes roasted up (that needs gravy etc) but it’s good with roast new potatoes or more chips / cubes style roast potatoes.

I wouldn't bother with the spiced red cabbage. So many places serve it with a roast these days but I don't know anyone that actually likes it.

Leeks in white wine sauce, roast new potatoes, garlic roasted green beans and chantenay carrots for a traditional roast.

Agree with other about going for a Mediterranean vibe. The two joints with mezze and flatbreads would be ideal in hot weather.

Oh I love lamb with pomegranate molasses.

I serve Greek garlic and lemon roasted potatoes with it and this amazing pomegranate, pistachio and olive relish with labneh and flatbreads.

www.thekitchn.com/appetizer-recipe-pomegranate-olive-relish-recipes-from-the-kitchn-181181

www.recipetineats.com/greek-lemon-potatoes/

I'd serve roast meats with new potatoes and some nice salads at this time of year.

And then add some chopped rosemary to the crushed new potatoes, and a sprinkle of sea salt crystals...

I don't even like potatoes, but will eat them like this.

Thanks everyone. After reading all of your messages and chatting to people who are coming we have a compromise of sorts between a traditional roast and something more summery. I think we’re missing an extra veg- what do you think? (There’s tonnes of meat but different people are fussy 🙄, none will be wasted).

The plan is to have the starters/ canapes out as we get back from church to be picked at, then the main meal around 4 which will hopefully be eaten in the garden and then people can have a cupcake or cookie whenever they fancy later on.

Menu:

Mini prawn cocktails
Sticky sausages
Feta, olive, chorizo skewers

Rosemary and garlic roast lamb
Pork with cracking
Lemon roast chicken
Potato gratin
Roast potatoes
Ratatouille/ vegetable tian (basically layered courgettes, peppers and aubergines in a tomato basil sauce)
Anchovy mayonnaise

Christening cupcakes and cookies