Please critique my first ever bbq menu

[Liud]

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

White chocolate magnums? That's overly specific 😂 I'd go for mix minis! White chocolate is a sin to sweet IMHO! A mix caters for more tastes I suppose.

Sounds bloody great. Just add some green salad.

I think it sounds gorgeous.
and also not really carb heavy, if you did me potato’s two ways you would be heavily praised

And a burger?
😂

I'd just be happy with some dirty wedges and sour cream. 😂

Nice.

Where's the actual bbq food though?

It sounds lovely but I would definitely do more meat. Doesn’t have to be burgers and sausages (although I bloody love a sausage on the bbq!) but I’d up the ratio of meat to sides a bit, or add some prawns or something? I like to eat mainly meat with some salad, not much in the way of carbs, at a barbecue, and there’s not much choice of meat. I’d personally add some sausages or burgers as they always get eaten but if avoiding those I’d do some different flavour skewers, a couple more different meats and maybe some prawns.

But I would happily eat what’s on offer and be grateful for it, so I don’t think you need to do anything. But if I were organising a barbecue, I would have more meat (my husband and pals’ husbands are big carnivores though!).

My two suggestions that are tasty and veggie friendly:

Long red peppers - half and remove seeds, put a layer of boursain inside and cook. You can add breadcrumps & parmeasan on the top if you want.

Cowboy cavier: www.dinneratthezoo.com/cowboy-caviar/

I'm amazed at all the insistence on sausages and burgers, I've been barbecuing for decades and very rarely do them.

Seems like enough meat too, as long as there's enough for everyone to have more than one of each.

A barbecue doesn't have to mean multiple meat options.

But yes op, I'd try and make your menu a bit more harmonious regarding different styles of cuisine, there's a lot going on there.

It's having a bit of an identity crisis. Other posters are saying it's Indian with a bit of greek, but actually I think it'd be easier to go middle eastern.

Make your own life easier - do couscous instead of one of those potato options. It's easier and quicker to cook.

Change your tandoori chicken to harissa chicken.

Keep the mint chutney but ditch the mango.

Add hummus.

You’ve catered well for the few veggies you’ve got attending but the only meat options are Tandoori style chicken skewers and Mint lamb kofte. That I would be disappointed with, I eat lots of veggie dishes so I’m not an always have to eat meat kind of person.
I don’t think you need to cut the carbs down like others have said. Not everyone will have everything or if they do just a bit plus if there’s beer and wine it will do the drinkers good to have a few carbs

OOH, this is a good idea
Have a theme

I think that the meat op has on offer has quite strong flavours. If you know the taste of those attending, that is fine, if you don't I feel you need not as many specific dishes, and a couple of none specific.
Maybe a plainer meat to suit more palettes? Pulled chicken or something?

Yes, I was thinking this as well further up. An Asian theme, with maybe the option to bring a dish as well? It seems a bit of a mish mash otherwise. I'd lose the Italian and the greek. I'd have a mix of chicken skewer flavours, including plain. I'd do less dishes overall.

I've actually found that as long as you have a good decent amount of meat really well done and you go to town on the salads (don't just do a bog standard one) people actually really like and appreciate the salads and stuff more. Especially if you have a good number of veggies.

BBC good food has some amazing salad recipes.

I've tried this one and it's amazing
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/herb-salad-pomegranate-pistachios

I also consider doing an aubergine dish in the oven / microwave because that works really well and makes your life easier when it comes to the practicality of veggies and non veggies.

Salads etc done well should be as popular as the main attraction and should appeal to veggies as well as none veggies.

I don't like burgers and sausages on a BBQ particularly but I would be disappointed with the meat options available

You can roast/bbq a bunch of peppers / courgettes etc put into a big tray.

BBQ a load of chicken - keep it plain / simple. Lemon roast or harissa are good options.

Ftw Greece / Balkans / Middle Eastern food covers a very wide base - and although it is definitely lots of different countries they do compliment each other so you can pick a bunch of things that do go together even though they might be from different places.

Also consider using flatbread wraps. That way people can make up their own using dips/yogurts/ salads etc.

Again wraps are easy and time saving from your point of view.

Sounds lovely but I'd expect burgers & sausages too. Red meat that is.

I think it sounds completely delicious and would happily eat all of it (the dishoom potatoes are fantastic).

I don’t think you need to make any changes, but if you want suggestions:

• I’d skip the pasta salad and do a couple of lighter salads that go with the other flavours better. The Indian coleslaw someone suggested above sounds delicious or a chickpea salad could be nice if you want something more filling. I also agree with someone else above that a kachcumber salad might work better with the other flavours than a Greek salad (dishoom has a great recipe). I’d add a plain green salad too with a zingy dressing too.
• I’d include a yoghurt sauce and some flat breads to have with the kofte.
• I’d have a plainer meat option for any guests who are less adventurous. Probably just grilled burgers or steak.
• Personally I love fish/prawns on the barbecue (these are great and don’t make too much mess: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/273012/grilled-lemon-pepper-salmon-in-foil/) Tandoori prawn skewers would also be nice if you wanted to use the same marinade. You definitely don’t need this though!

I think it all sounds lovely though and you’ll have a great time (I don’t necessarily think all the BBQ food needs to go together if you just want to serve an assortment of nice food).
The only thing I would definitely change is adding one plainer meat option (unless you know that you definitely don’t have any picky eaters).

Sounds great, just my sort of food.
I hate sausages and burgers and tend to avoid BBQs as a result.

Looks great!

Two quick thoughts on the meat options:

• how experienced are you with making kofte? I find getting the meat on the skewers a big faff and it also always takes longer than I think, so make sure you know what you are getting into!
• How much temperature control do you have on the BBQ? It's easy to accidentally carbonize the outside of chicken skewers that are still raw in the middle of the BBQ is a bit too hot. I would be tempted to switch that for something a bit more forgiving!

Depending on how many people you are cooking for, don't be afraid to use your oven.

BBQs take ages and it slows the food down. As long as people have food they are happy. They aren't happy if they don't have food and are waiting around.

I was given the name the BBQ Queen by a friend as I used to cook all her BBQs for her. I've done a few over the years.

Sausages and burgers are great but you have to do them right. Personally I stick sausages and burgers in the oven and part cook them and then finish them off on the BBQ if I'm cooking for a lot. This way you a) make sure they are cooked through b) are less likely to burnt them to cinders c) still have the BBQ flavours. Don't buy cheap burgers. They are shite.

Chicken should always be marinated, preferably overnight. It transforms chicken from meh to amazing if done right.

I am a big fan of steak on the BBQ or fish in foil on the BBQ if you want to do some show stoppers. Not cheap but it depends on your occasion.

I am reminded of my SIL who is a wonderful host, but insists on making incredibly fancy and complicated recipes she's seen on Pinterest rather than meeting guests where they are- then gets annoyed when nan doesn't want anything spicy and asks for a cheese sandwich instead.

Only you know your guests OP, and if they're likely to appreciate a nice marinated kebab and a greek salad or be more of a sausage and burger crowd.

(For the record I think it sounds delicious!)

Also. A bag of frozen sausage rolls at a BBQ NEVER are unappreciated!

This sounds lovely, far more substantial.