Critique my NYE dinner party menu + veggie ideas?

[DollyWilde]

Because I am an idiot I agreed to host our group NYE dinner party this year. My lovely friend smashed it last year so obviously I need to be better than her 12 adults, one of whom is vegetarian (though is very sadly gravely ill so his appetite might not be up to much).

I was thinking...

Puff pastry tomato and pesto tartlets to start
Coq au vin (made day before) with green beans, sprouts and saute potatoes for main
No bake chocolate cake for pud

Plus guests are bringing cheese, crackers etc for late night nibbles.

I have no idea what to do for the veggie main with those accompaniments. Any ideas?

Your menu works well - classic and tasty.

I wouldn't go for saute as they would be hard to produce last minute for so many guests. I would do Delia's oven roasted potatoes from Summer collection instead, minus the rosemary.
I would probably also do carrots instead of sprouts - another colour and easier to prep in large quantities.

I can't think of a natural swap for the veggie. It needs to be saucy. You could do the same red wine sauce with no chicken but pack it with additional veg (including chunkier items like squash) or even a meat substitute?

Veggie here. I'd be fine with veggie substitute in sauce for the main, or a "crisp bake" of which there's loads to choose from. Nut cutlet with a sauce or a little veggie gravy (dead easy to make in a cup) if needed or some kind of chutney or even cranberry sauce works well with nut cutlets.

I'm not veggie but I do love a nut roast. I second carrots instead of sprouts.

James Martin did a veg dauphinoise last Saturday that looked delicious (instead of saute pots) - you can do it in the oven and I think it's a bit posher
1 litre double cream
1 head of garlic
1 sprig thyme
Salt and pepper
2 sweet potatoes
3 parsnips
3 large carrots
1 head celeriac

How about a mushroom bourguinon, use a selection of different mushrooms, would be fine with the same sides.
I might sub the pastry starter for a fig and blue cheese salad to make the meal a little lighter but sounds delicious.

Thank you all for the feedback!! Excellent point about the sauté pots, @chewbacca that delia recipe looks perfect. Love dauphinois but worried with the coq au vin it might be a bit over-rich?

monday you’re a genius - just dug out a mushroom bourguinon recipe and that would fit perfectly so think that’s the new plan for our veggie pal! Agree it might be a tad on the heavy side but the starter tartlets are going to be little and served with some salad so hopefully it should work. I figured we’d need to line a few stomachs (we’re in our 30s but not sure we’ll ever learn...)

I love the words 'starter tartlets'

Sorry, as you were. Menu sounds divine

I'd serve mash with coq au vin tbh. You can even make it ahead and freeze. I have my own NYE menu to figure out.

Press send too soon - I am not feeling at all inspired yet.

wow - I’m catering just before NYE and I’m thinking of doing the tropical stuff in the latest Sainsbury’s magazine.

Coconut baked chicken
Rainbow slaw
Pulled pork with pineapple salsa

That sounds lovely Taffeta, however I need some more traditional choices for a couple of more conservative guests. I'll have to get the recipe books out and get some inspiration. I've got nibbles/canapés sorted and think we'll have an easy salad starter - roasted peppers with feta kind of thing.

I'm veggie and would be enormously grateful to you for troubling to make mushroom bourguinon for me - it sounds fab.

Hassleback potatoes are delicious and would be easier than saute or dauph.

www.greenkitchenstories.com/beet-bourguignon/

This beetroot bourguinon recipe is brilliant. Mushrooms always seem to be the veggie option so it would be nice to have a change!

If you’re using shop bought pesto, be aware that lots isn’t vegetarian because of the parmesan.

Re potatoes, I’d vote for really good mash with a stew.

Lovely buttery creamy mash with coq au vin... yum!

12 puff pastry tarts might take up a lot of room in your oven if you are also going to do roast potatoes? Mash would be better. Or just some lovely crusty bread?

Personally don't like mash with anything stew-ish.