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foodie dinner for 6 - no inspiration and feeling all catered-out

21 replies

puddle · 05/02/2007 12:11

I seem to have had loads of people for dinner lately and have run out of ideas!

Have six people coming on Sat - including two top foodies who are great cooks - so the pressure is on.

I was thinking of a fish main (we don't eat meat) but pref something I can prepare in advance.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
puddle · 05/02/2007 15:24

anyone?

OP posts:
marymillington · 05/02/2007 15:29

I'd keep it simple

Halloumi with chilli and lemon juice to start - dead simple, looks v pretty, and is no effort.

Could you do baked fish - whole seabass or seabream on bed of sliced potatos, red onion rings, garlic, thyme, lemon juice, olives, tomatoes. Can all be chopped up and laid out then put in the oven for 20 minutes.

And then wow them with pudding.

breadgirl · 05/02/2007 15:44

how about delia ?
or rick stein?
I love fish but i'm not a very good cook, sorry

furcoatandnoknickers · 05/02/2007 16:03

puddle - ive just bought a new cook book HIGHLY RECC. by friend Bill Grainger "Every Day" It looks so yummy and looks quite quick - might give some new inspiration. He is an Australian cook.

furcoatandnoknickers · 05/02/2007 16:04

Sorry thats - Bill Granger

HuwEdwards · 05/02/2007 16:09

Tuna steaks - marinated in Soy Sauce, grated ginger and finely chopped garlic.

Stir fry vegetables and wok-ready noodles and chuck in a glass of white wine and a tablespoon of sweet chilli sauce.

Meanwhile fry tuna with the marinade in nut oil. Pile veg and noodles and lay tuna on top.

Takes 10/15 mins to cook. Look great and tastes fabulous

Overrun · 05/02/2007 16:16

I would go with Rick on this one, he really does know his fish
Recipes that I have tried and that have worked out well for me, that might fit the bill are as follows:

Grilled cod on spring onion mash with a soy sauce butter sauce. (Quite simple but very tasty)
Salmon steaks with muscadet, watercress and dill potatoes.
Tuna caraccio with rocket and parmesan cheese (could be a starter?)
Skate with black butter (always a classic)
If you have a deep fat fryer, Whitebait make a great starter.
I can also recommend red mullet en papillote with thyme.
They all come from his Seafood book, I don't know whether you can access it online if you like any of the suggestions.
There is a really good Nigella recipe for lemon ice cream which comes from How to Eat. Its handy as has to be done in advance.

puddle · 06/02/2007 12:19

oooh thanks for these ideas

I have got a Rick Stein book somewhere overrun - I'll dig it out. I find his recipes a bit....faffy.

I am now thinking along the lines of a gorgeous fish stew of some sort...anyone know a recipe?

OP posts:
hoxtonchick · 06/02/2007 12:21

i have just made a delicious pea soup for lunch - would work as a starter for you (though maybe not with a casserole).

Ulysees · 06/02/2007 12:22

delia's seafood linguine sounds nice and is very quick apparently

meowmix · 06/02/2007 12:25

what about a fab fish pie with prawns/mussels/salmon in it with really nice veg? I'd LOVE that.

Or for a starter grilled sardines with a tomato and caper salad?

CountessDracula · 06/02/2007 12:27

dh makes a fantastic sardine or mackeral (depending on which you can get) pasta with breadcrumbs chili and parsley mix to sprinkle on

It is v pretty and delicious

if you want recipe i will dig out

CountessDracula · 06/02/2007 12:28

(you can make it all in advance and cook the lingune at the time)

puddle · 06/02/2007 12:30

That sounds good cd if you could dig out recipe.

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CountessDracula · 06/02/2007 12:42

Here it is
This servers 4 so make double I would say
Also he always makes at least double of the breadcrumb thing as it is so nice! If you are making in advance do the breadcrumb thing as late as poss as it goes soft if you make it for eg in the morning.

Sardine Pasta

This is a traditional Sicilian dish

Ingredients

500g fresh sardines, scaled, gutted and filleted (or mackeral)(ask fishmonger to prepare)

2 heaped tablespoons coarsley ground fresh breadcrumbs
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
half a larg red chili, seeds removed for mildness, finely chopped
2 heaped tablespoons fresh flat leaf parsley, coarsley chopped
zest of 1 lemon

4 tablespoons ext virgin olive oil
1 medium onion quartered and sliced
1 small fennel, stems removed, quartered, tough heart removed and chopped
50g pinenuts
25g currants
Juice of 1 lemon

300g good quality spaghetti or linguine

Rinse and pat dry sardines

In large saucepan pour 1 tablespoon olive oil and add breadcrumbs, garlic and chili. Mix well and cook on med. heat stirring frequently until breadcrumbs golden brown. Set aside and when cool add parsley and any chopped green tops from the fennel.

Using the same pan pour 2 tbsps olive oil and add onion, fennel, pinenuts and currants. Cook on medium/low heat for about 15 mins stirring frequently to prevent burning until the veg are soft and pinenuts light brown.

Remove this vegetable mix and keep on a plate. Add the remianing tablespoon of olive oil and lay enough sardines on base of pan to cover. Cook in batches if need be, for turning over helf way through. Once all sardines are cooked add the onion mix and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Then you can leave it and re-heat later

The fillets will break up as you cook, don't expect them to look whole!

Then cook pasta, add sauce and sprinkle over breadcrumb mix

CountessDracula · 06/02/2007 12:42

my fingers hurt!

puddle · 06/02/2007 14:16

Cd thank you so much that sounds totally delicious.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 06/02/2007 14:42

Good

Hope they like it!

Overrun · 06/02/2007 17:09

Good luck with your meal puddle. Rick Steins recipes are a bit flaffy aren't they? Still thinks the guy knows his fish though

WWWCampbellBlack · 06/02/2007 20:47

Puddle, I made a salsa verde recently on Cod's suggestion and we had it with sea bass, it was delicious. Sea bass is very meaty and quite poncy and you could make the salsa verde in advance. here

PiusIX · 06/02/2007 22:30

Rick Stein totally faffy.

If not already sorted, suggest try Nigella crepes parmentier (potato pancakes) with smoked haddock. Can post (adapted) recipe if helpful. Looks sophisticated (provided you have a decent pan to make crepes in) but is a doss.

Nigella book says ceviche the haddock with lime juice. Ignore her and poach it, then add cream.

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