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What shall I cook for dinner party?

29 replies

MagicHatching · 13/11/2016 20:22

I'm a decent cook. Cannot think what to make for six coming up this week. My requirements are:
DH is fussy and annoying and won't eat anything with cheese or that is creamy
Preferably nothing 'plated'. Generally prefer to do a slow cooked something or other as opposed to something that requires lots of last minute stuff and plating careful elements etc.

Stuff I usually do:
Proper chilli (ie not tomatoes, sauce made from all diff chillis) with all the usual sides
Makhani curry with naan, Dahl, saag aloo etc
Ragu with crusty bread and salad
Roast Chicken with braised celery
Roast chicken with interesting salads
Slow cooked lamb shoulder with grilled aubergine, garlic yoghurt, flatbreads that sort of thing

Any brill suggestions? And an interesting pudding?

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soupmaker · 13/11/2016 20:38

How about boeuf bourguignon? I'd serve with mustard or garlic mash and veg - eg, buttered carrots, green beans and Savoy cabbage. All brought to table and guests serve up themselves.

For pudding I'd do a pavlova or a tiramisu, but that might not suit your DH. How about chocolate mousse, or a chocolate or lemon tart? Pudding wine with pudding is the trick to a good pudding in our house!

midsomermurderess · 13/11/2016 20:55

What about a biryani?

Highlove · 13/11/2016 21:27

Slow roasted pork shoulder? I sometimes do a 24 hour roast shoulder which is fab but you've got to be a leftovers fan! I do it either as a full roast with rosties and stuff, or with boulengere (sp? Non-sleeping baby has zapped my ability to spell!) potatoes or maybe dauphinoise.

Highlove · 13/11/2016 21:28

Roasties. Not rosti, although I'm sure that'd be nice Smile

foodiemama26 · 13/11/2016 21:29

pulled pork with spiced jacket wedges and fresh coleslaw, tagine or there's a great lamb and orzo dish on the bbc site

Highlove · 13/11/2016 21:29

Oooh - a really fancy fish pie? That might not tick fussy DH's box.

Bluntness100 · 13/11/2016 21:31

Chicken and chorizo is my go to, served with garlic bread and salad. Dead easy and always a crowd pleaser.

MagicHatching · 13/11/2016 21:32

I'm thinking of maybe Feijoda. Anyone ever made?

Slow/pulled pork great suggestions but Another I always do espesh with slaw

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coxsorangepippin · 13/11/2016 21:32

Chicken Marbella? The ottolenghi one with dates, just to move with the times a bit Wink

Pallisers · 13/11/2016 21:36

I watched this on foodnetwork this morning and it look fab. He served it with gnocci and peas/proscuitto.

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/balsamic-braised-leg-of-lamb.html

Barefoot contessa also does a lovely recipe where she does shop-bought mezes for starters (hummous with added olive oil/pine nuts, roasted peppers, stuffed vine leaves, olives, pita bread) and then grilled lamb chops, cous cous and roasted tomatoes.

The only last minute thing you would have to do is grilling the lamb chops - you could probably roast them too.

missyB1 · 13/11/2016 21:38

We are hosting dinner party for 6 weekend coming. I'm doing jamie oliver chicken cacciatore for the mains.

OhTheRoses · 13/11/2016 21:38

Well, you are saying dinner party. I'd do a Beef Wellington or Salmon en route. New potatoes roasted and tossed in olive oil and rosemary, kale or samphire with the beef, mange tout with salmon.

To start, fried halloumi with parsley, lime and caper dressing on rocket with toasted sour dough bread.

Pudding: A winter fruit jelly with cinnamon and nutmeg - apricots, prunes, cranberries, served with vnilla ice cream.

mumobsessedwithdamp · 13/11/2016 21:39

Anything with hassleback potatoes - my new obsession!

I cooked a really tasty recipe recently - roast chicken with anchovy butter, wine and rosemary. Simple but very delicious. www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/recipes/11365636/Anchovy-and-rosemary-roast-chicken-with-garlicky-broccoli-recipe.html

Or posh kebabs - ottolenghi lamb sharwma with flatbreads, chillis, garlic sauce and various other bits.

mumobsessedwithdamp · 13/11/2016 21:40

Pudding - Black Forest gateaux pav
Pear and chocolate pudding (BBC good food has a nice recipe)

soupmaker · 13/11/2016 22:51

I've never made feijoada but I've had it and it was delicious, I'd be very happy with that.

One of my go to puddings is affogato. Use really good ice cream and I serve with amaretto biscuits and pudding wine!

AtleastitsnotMonday · 13/11/2016 23:37

Morrocan chicken, chickpea and apricot tagine with jewelled couscous. Salted caramel brownies with vanilla Hagen daz for pud.

ephemeralfairy · 13/11/2016 23:52

Ratatouille, baked sweet potato with feta and spring onions, sausages/lamb chops/pork chops or loin steaks/minute steaks/roast chicken etc etc, green vegetables (my current faves are chard, samphire and kale) or a big green salad, nice bread. Done.

Asteria36 · 13/11/2016 23:54

Feijoada done well is amazing, I would absolutely do that. Don't cut corners on the ingredients and make it the day before, if you have time, so the favours have time to really develop.
I'm obsessed with liquorice parfait, which goes incredibly well with the red wine that would accompany the feijoada. You could just go a bit Jamie Oliver with frozen grapes, chocolate and good coffee after such a rich main course though.

IrregularCommentary · 14/11/2016 00:00

Cajun chicken gumbo. Delicious, bit different and can be cooked ahead of time.

FurryDogMother · 14/11/2016 00:07

Consider a kedgeree, using undyed smoked cod (Tesco do it) - it's bloody lovely.

Tartyflette · 14/11/2016 00:21

Braised short ribs of beef in a rich red wine and porcini ragoût (with onions, carrots, lardons, and beef stock as well. ) Ideal for this time of year.

Serve it with potato and celeriac mash, put into an oven proof dish and finished off in the oven with a crunchy topping of breadcrumbs dotted with flakes of butter (and parmesan cheese if you like).
No other veg needed but you could serve a green salad after.
For pudding either some sorbets served with crisp almond tuiles (quite easy to make and they look impressive). Or a sharp lemon tart, all of which can be made well ahead of time. The ragoût too!

KickAssAngel · 14/11/2016 00:30

DJ does a fab. venison casserole. Really great if the weather's cold. Feels very posh because it's venison, but super easy to make ahead.

MagicHatching · 14/11/2016 09:11

Amazing suggestions thanks am writing them all down!

If I did Feijoda what should I do t with?

Gumbo also a great suggestion what as good sides irregular

DH is also a pudding nightmare. Doesn't like sweet things apart from chocolate and plain sponge cake. Means no dried fruit, dates etc type things in main.

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Asteria36 · 14/11/2016 09:37

Serve a feijoada with a really fresh citrussy salsa, rice and farofa (lots of recipes online) for an authentic Brazilian meal.
You could do a Pundim de Leite, which is a bit like our Creme Caramel pudding, if you wanted to keep in the Brazilian theme

soupmaker · 14/11/2016 10:55

I have the perfect pudding for your DH, chocolate puddle pudding. Fits his brief. But it'd be too heavy after your main. If my DH was that fussy I'd take him out the equation for pudding and just serve him some chocolate.