Ideas for Boxing Day buffet

[lustforlife]

We are thinking of hosting both sides of the family for a buffet on Boxing Day. However, DP and I are very inexperienced hosts what kind of food would you like at a buffet for Boxing Day? All I can think of is nice cheese, sausage rolls and left over pigs in blankets

We have leftover cold ham, turkey, stuffing, veggies and roasties, freshly baked bread, cheese and charcuterie and a range of chutneys and condiments.

Some people will make sandwiches, some have a plate of cold cuts and cheese, and others will have a second Christmas dinner that they pop in the microwave with hot gravy.

That’s based on having cooked fresh the day before. But if you haven’t, I’d probably serve a range of party nibbles from m&s or Aldi. Just check that the cooking temperatures correspond.

If you're new to hosting I'd say keep it simple. Get the party stuff from Aldi. Tempura prawns with sweet chilli sauce, antipasti, mozzarella bites, pigs in blankets (these are compulsory), ssusage rolls, quiche and lots of crisps. Obviously depends on how many people you're catering for!

Popular things from our family buffets:
Cook a roast chicken or ham in the morning and serve cold/room temp

French bread - if your local shops won't be open on boxing day, you can get those part baked ones

Poached salmon side

Quiche

Crisps, cheese straws, crudites and dips

Olives / antipasti

Crackers and pate

Mini pizzas

I’d not be doing roast chicken the day after I do a Turkey to be honest.

Does it need to be a buffet? Personally I’d be doing a big Turkey and potato curry or something.

Do you need it to be a full meal or just picky bits? If picky I’d order canapés from markies. If a full meal, then crusty bread, get it on Xmas eve, cold meats, salmon, salad, potato salad etc.

A large bowl of shelled prawns in marie rose sauce is nice.
A bowl of salad
Plenty of pigs in blankets
Pate
Cheese board
garlic bread or frenchstick
crackers

Not helpful I know, but why are you worrying about this in September?

If it was me, I'd be doing baked potatoes with cold cuts and cheese.

Things to consider:

How many people? Have you got enough cutlery, crockery, glasses etc?

Any children or fussy eaters or people with medical/ethical problems with certain foods? If so, you need to make sure they are catered for.

Would you and your guests like a change from the traditional Christmas dinner food if you all had it the day before, or would you all like to eat turkey etc again with salad or in sandwiches, curry, soup and so on? Or a mixture of both approaches?

I'm very fond of fruit so I'd be delighted if you had a lovely fruit bowl and/or a platter of prepared fruit. Would go well with a good cheeseboard, crackers, nice bread, butter, chutney etc.

We usually have:
Cold turkey, pigs in blankets & roast potatoes from the day before
A cooked ham
Potato salad (both Mayo version & oil/vinegar version)
Sausage rolls
Various chutney's etc
Salad leaves
Guacamole, salsa & chips
Crisps
Hummus
Coleslaw

We do ‘easy’ Boxing Day lunches, and try to be different to Christmas Day food too - so Indian curries one year, slow cooker stews, pulled pork etc. Something easy to prep / cook that people can help themselves to

And trifle !

cold pie.

A pork one might just about do, but look for (don't make) one with layers of ham and turkey with stuffing on top.

And a tureen of hot soup for self-service.

Cold turkey, ham, pork pie, cheeses, pickles, crusty bread, salad, coleslaw. Jacket potatoes or wedges if it needs to be a more substantial meal.

Chop all the leftover roast potatoes & veg. Mix up, heat up in oven (slightly burn) then you will have bubble & squeak heaven. Cold meat on the side plus gravy.

I love boxing day more than anything.

Your op has it really, left overs, cheese and a good welcome.

I base ours on a cheeseboard as we never have room for cheese on Christmas day!

So nice cheese, crackers, grapes, apples, pears, chutney, pickles. Also sausage rolls and salad. Then all the sweet stuff - mince pies, stollen, lebkuchen and Yule log.

A big game pie
Red cabbage
Pickled walnuts
Salads
Bubble and squeak made from leftovers
Chipolatas

Thank you everyone for the lovely suggestions (been a busy week so only just came back to check on this thread). Would be for around 10-15 people. Need to set aside an hour to jot down my favourites