Can you cast an eye over this Menu and tell me what you think?

[debka]

It's a vague middle eastern theme for 8 people.

No starter but a picky sort of main course-

Falafel
Lamb kebabs (with peppers and tomatoes)
Imam bayildi
Hummous (maybe with harissa)
Yoghurt/mint/cucumber dip
Flatbreads

Baklava
Orange/pomegranate/lime fruit salad with yoghurt and honey

Do you think this is enough for 8? Interesting and balanced enough?

Thanks!

I might do some fried halloumi a la Nigella in Kitchen (I think) as well...

Olives?

Sounds gorgeous. Can I come?
Only poss suggestion would be to add a salad of some kind- maybe tomato based?

Definitely do the halloumi.

I bought myself Veggiestan for Christmas and love reading the recipes, although I have singularly failed to cook any of them yet.

Maybe something like this salad but without the chickpeas?

Salad Shirazi would be lovely with your menu. Chopped tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, loads of chopped corriander, dressed with one part wine vinegar or lemon juice and three parts v good olive oil, salt & pepper.

Sounds gorgeous.

A Moroccan style carrot salad would be good with that. Is anybody veggie? If so, some red peppers stuffed with rice could be eaten by meat eaters too.

Mint tea?

And yes to the cucumber salad that Couldtryharder mentions, although I'd be inclined to use a mixture of parsley and mint instead of the coriander.

Tahini sauce for the Falafel

I'd add a salad too - maybe Fattoush.

Lentils & rice

Lebanese shortbread with the fruit salad

Thanks everyone. Been shopping and got all the ingredients for a salad like you describe couldtryharder.

No veggies afaik but in fact the only meat is the lamb kebabs.

HOLD ON- (x post with Betty)

I wasn't sure if Imam Bayildi had meat or not - I've only ever seen it in veggie cookbooks but that's because I usually only read veggie cookbooks! Sorry for being dim.

Which baklava recipe are you using? I love baklava but accidentally gave away the book with the recipe I liked for it, and have never found another as good.

Fattoush is gorgeous.

Baklava is just one I found online. Never made it before. Eaten plenty though! I'll let you know how it goes if you'd like.