What would you like to eat at a BBQ?

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

Hi, I'm after some ideas to make a BBQ a bit more interesting than usual.
We are having about 25 friends over for a housewarming type BBQ/drinks party next weekend (if the weather behaves - if not we have an indoor food back up plan!)
So far the plan is:
Homemade (beef) burgers
Sausages (nice ones from the butchers in variety of flavours)
Chicken pieces which we will marinade in a couple of different flavours the night before
pork chops
Vegetable kebabs (peppers, mushrooms, onion, pineapple)
a few corn on the cobs
grilled pineapple rings
Crisps & dips
big bowl of salad
potato salad

We have one veggie which I am a bit worried about what she can have. Any other veggie BBQ ideas?

We will have cupcakes and a small choc fountain too just because I have lots of boxes of cupcake mix that me & DH wont eat and I want to use them up!
Choc fountain is a small household one that we never get the chance to use, so thought we might as well use it as it always goes down well!
It is a double sided one so we will have milk & white choc with marshmallows, bananas & strawberries to dip.

Is there anything else I should add to this list, food wise? Maybe a pasta or rice salad?
Does anyone have any good recipes for something like that?

Drinks will be BYOB but we will have beers, cider, wine and a few spirits. I am tempted to make a big jug of pimms as that seems to go down well at summery occasions (I wouldn't know as I don't drink!)
thoughts on Pimms?
I will also do a fruit punch for those that are driving.

Thanks so much in advance!

Good list. I like jacket spuds and pasta salad too.

You could include some haloumi on the veggie kebabs?
Sounds great though.

Will you have bread?

Great list. Tbh though, as long as there are lots of sausages and fuck off big juicy burgers then anything else is secondary

Depending on the veggie, she might be concerned about the food being on the same BBQ and handled by the same tools as the meats, so you might need to think about how to keep the veg stuff separate. You could ask if she likes veggie burgers/sausages/whatever and do a few of those.

We had marinated flat iron steak and prawns on ours at the weekend. Have you thought of a couscous salad rather than rice or pasta? Coleslaw?

Also I am a complete cheapskate so wouldn't be offering spirits, as I think they are too expensive and just tempt people to drink more than necessary. I have also find ALDI's version of PIMMs is much cheaper and just as nice. I gave it to my DH who 'has to have the real thing' but he couldn't tell!!

A couple of my friends are vegetarian so we always cook all their stuff first so there is no meat contamination. Might be something to think about?

Halloumi works well on a BBQ for veggies, maybe some veggie sausages?

There was a fab bbq thread here with loads of brilliant ideas.

Your plan sounds yummy. I would cook veggie stuff on a disposable bbq.

I have two bbqs and always cook veg and meat separately - they cook at different rates anyway.

Tandoori potatoes using tinned or jersey - yoghurt, lemon, grated onion, garlic and curry tandoori spice. I use the same marinade on chicken strips.
Garlic/pesto mushrooms/potatoes.
Halloumi
Mixed veg kebabs
Salad, potato salad, onion rings, rolls, french bread, wraps, pita.
I'm not keen on meat substitutes but do really like Tesco mushroom burgers

I cook some (most) of the meat beforehand and flavour it on the bbq. 25 is loads and you might want to consider doing this? The only thing I actually cook from raw is burgers and I start these off asap. I bring out the more expensive stuff later so that gannets don't eat it all before the more restrained get a chance. I For meat/fish eaters I make: naice sausages, teryaki salmon, chicken, steak - not for 25 though.

An MNer recommended Homemade Lamb Kebabs and they are lovely - our new favourite dinner I make two and freeze one for bbq. I defrost, slice and heat on the bbq/griddle and serve with mint yoghurt and pita.

I think I know a lot of awkward people and salad can be a bit of a minefield with our group. I know a few people that will not eat mixed salad. People seem to have very strong feelings about dressing, onion and/or tomato so I keep salad ingredients in separate lidded bowls.

If I feel organised I go for individual kebabs for appetizers; Greek salad and mozzarella, basil, mini tomatoes.

For DS I make hotdogs, veggie sticks and fruit kebabs because he loves them. He is happy to eat more meat and food as it is ready.

Please come back and tell us how you get on. At the moment, our bbq is for 10 adults and 8 DC. I was toying with the idea of saving the lamb kebabs for a late supper hmmm.

Ooh OneOfMyTurns Yes maybe a few jacket spuds done in foil- good idea
JockSprock Yes! Haloumi - fantastic (I love Haloumi - why didn't I think of that) and bread - well there will be hot dog buns/burger buns but might get some french stick too.
Re the veggie - I say veggie for ease but I know she is not bothered by meat contamination etc, its more she doesn't like the taste. eg. she will cook bacon for her DH in the same pan as mushrooms or tomatoes for herself. I know she eats veggie burgers though so will get some of those.

UglyMush (great name BTW!)
Fantastic - cous cous and coleslaw! How could I forget coleslaw! I think a cous cous salad will be a good idea. Also good point re spirits. We will put out the 1/2 bottles we already have at home just to use them up and I think I will get one bottle of the Aldi Pimms - (I have heard good things about it!) but then just leave people to it. Theres a corner shop over the road if anyone wants something stronger!

Thanks for that link SilverSixpence I knew there was a recent BBQ thread - I'm sure I even posted a reply on that myself but I searched and couldn't find it!
Thanks for all the replies, some good ideas!

Halloumi

Potato salad

Chicken on sticks (not on bones)

In general, things on sticks

Wine

Thanks silver.

From the other thread I am pinching:
Sausages which have been marinated in hoi sin sauce and soy sauce -
Ribs
easypeasy teriyaki sauce: 1table spoon honey and sesame, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, hint of lemon.
Waterfelon: get a melon, inject vodka. Constantly. For two days. Serve very cold.
bananas with mars bars in them on the barbie for a dessert with vanilla ice cream.
toasty feta kebabs

As a veggie I agree with halloumi, and you can't beat quorn peppered steaks - most other veggie burgers dry out and go really tough