Right, I need help - 20 people I don't know coming for a BBQ tomorrow, help me with the menu.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Dh's work colleagues. I've already got all the drinks in (lager,beer,3 types of wine, lots of soft drinks - no spirits though, should I? We don't drink them)

Food thoughts so far:

potato salad,
coleslaw,
leafy salad,
posh breads (cheese, olive)
chopped veg and houmous,
giant frittata,
cheeses,
tortilla chips.

On the barbecue : veggie burgers (bleurgh, but half the people who are coming are veggie - as is dh and he reckons the Quorn ones are the nices), veggie skewers (mushroom,pepper,tomato)

Meat eaters - the best burgers and sausages I can find.

What's that like - what have I missed?

For dessert I'm making a giant trifle and chocolate brownies today.

I don't want to overcomplicate it as I am actually working til ten minutes before people arrive tomorrow but at the same time it has to be nice.

bump

Pretty please, with sugar on top

I don't know these people

That sounds like loads! And absolutely fine can I come too??

I wouldn't worry about spirits- beer/wine/soft drinks is fine.

Good luck

I'd be tempted to drop the frittata if you're pushed for time!

Looks mostly good.

I'd add a couple of other dips to the houmous - tapenade maybe? Are you putting salad dressings, mayo, ketchup, mustard etc out?

Rolls/baps for burgers? A premade pan of onions kept warm on the BBQ?

I'd also do a large marinaded cucumber salad or tomato salad just in case there are any picky people like me who don't like creamy stuff. Cucumber salad can be made in advance, best made in advance in fact, just take 3 or 4 large cucumber, slice lengthways, deceded, halve length ways again and chop into cubes. Gently heat vinegar and sugar in a pan, cool, pour over cucumber, chill and mix occasionally.

Don't do carrot salad, the grating takes forever and you may end up with blood everywhere.

For the veggies you could do portabello mushrooms and/or halloumi- both of these bbq well.

Never had frittata at a bbq before.

I would do some chicken for non red-meat eaters- marinade drumsticks in honey, soy sauce, tomato puree and drop worcester sauce and then either bake in oven or bbq.

Def no need for spirits.

Some veggies don't like that fake meat stuff. I love grilled flat mushrooms with halloumi. Nandos do them with their peri peri sauce in a ciabatta roll. Gorgeous!

Ooh and couscous salad always goes down well at bbqs and its dead easy. Roast mediterranean veg in olive oil and dash balsamic. Make up couscous with boiling water. Add roasted veg and red pesto to taste.

Yep, got lots of dressings (including peri-peri). I love the cucumber salad idea and the large flat mushrooms with halloumi - yes, I've got rolls for the burgers and sausages.

I haven't got time to make dips and I haven't really found any shop-bought ones that are nice - I will make my dressing for the leaves as that's dead easy.

Can anyone recommend a dip from Sainsburys that's not awful?

I wasn't sure about the frittata but I've got loads of eggs and there's very little home-made stuff there. I want it to look like I made some effort.

YES to cous-cous - had forgotten that - thanks!

I'm not doing chicken, just the best burgers and sausages I can get as I only buy free range and it's too expensive.

The menu you've got looks really good. Love the frittata idea. Have you got a separate BBQ for the vegetarian food or are they all ok with it being cooked on the same grill? I have some veggie friends who are ok with it and some who definitely aren't.

Grilled halloumi cheese for the veggies.

Got 3 separate barbecues - one allergic to nuts as well so food needs to be cooked separately.

I always do veggie stuff on a seperate barbecue as both dh and dd are veggie (and dh is strict veggie)

Do potato wedges.

Big potatoes cut into, err, wedges. I don't parboil at all. Cover with lots of olive oil, then sprinkle with crushed coriander seeds, a generous amount of turmeric (they look all orangey and yum), a bit of paprika, pepper, and most importantly salt - but it has to be big nice crystals.

Ground cumin too if you want.

These are SO easy to prep, then you pop them in the oven just as guests arrive, then an hour or so later they are ready. Great to be able to bring out something hot and cooked that doesn't depend on the bbq and that you are in control of iyswim. Do lots.

I'd also probably have gin and tonic available for any non-beer or wine people, not too pricey!

I've now added large portobellos and halloumi.

I've got to go to the allotment this morning and get the courgettes for the frittata too.

PS you can chuck any very large chunks of veg in too. Am also veggie, your DH is right about the sausages. Linda's are like dog willies unfortunately

Looks great! Totally agree on the couscous salad but I'd use giant couscous or orzo, solely because I always find it hard to eat regular couscous with just a fork - it goes all over the place.

The only dip from sainsbury's I like is the onion & garlic dip, but really I prefer jarred salsa with tortilla chips or hummus.

Frittata sounds great - the last bbq we had I made a spanish tortilla which went down well as you can cut it into wedges and eat it with your hands, so I can say with authority that it will work well at a bbq (esp for veggies).

10min tapenade here - it's great!

Easy tazaiki.

Speedy salsa

Quick guacamole here

I love dips for speedy yet impressive variety.

sainsburys basics houmous is nicer than the more expensive ones as its not too Tahini-y.

Just to add to the above, we buy sainsbury's basics and just add a bit more lemon juice and olive oil. Decant into your own bowl and add a sprinkling of chickpeas and paprika too the top to give it a more homemade look if you like!

I would go for quorn sausages over the burgers personally. Grilled halloumi is fab and you could add that to the kebabs if you want. I def think you need to give veggies some protein, so not just mushrooms with a tiny bit of cheese.

Looks fab menu.

I"ve given up burgers and sausages and anything individual on the bbq. I get butterflied lamb legs which marinade in mint and rosemary before going on the bbq or a big rump of beef which doesn't get pre marinaded but gets sprinkled with lemon juice and salt after its cooked.

I find a lot of a little is preferable to a little of a lot.

I realise that doesn't really help you very much at this stage but an idea for the future.

Recently I bought pork ribs on the meat counter at sainsbury, they gave me a free bottle of sweet chile marinade. Effort low result fab!