Veggie or fish ideas needed for entertaining outside

[fortyfifty]

First post-lockdown entertaining this coming weekend. The other family don't eat meat. They do eat fish. Usually we'd end up cooking and serving lots of little dishes on the table for sharing but I wish to avoid that as it won't work so well with social distancing. There will be 8 of us. 4 adults, 4 teens.

All ideas welcome. I can't seem to engage my brain today.

A mackerel each? You could do a couple of different marinades (chilli, lime and ginger/ honey and soy sauce).

Roasted cauliflower is great. We serve it with a version of pilaf rice. We usually do it as a main course for just us but I've done it warm, rather than hot, as a side dish at bbqs if I have veggie guests and want something a bit more substantial on the side.

Vegetable curry is a good one pot dish (with rice) that is easily prepared for large numbers.

Vegetarian pasta dishes are also good. Roasted tomatoes with garlic topped with avocado and feta is good and looks quite festive in a big bowl.

On a bbq, vegetable skewers are great. BBC Good Food carrot, tahini and sesame burgers are great - a bit of a faff but for a big group worth the effort.

Vegetable lasagna - your preferred recipe - also good for entertaining (although again, a faff. But can be done in advance then just stuck in oven on the day).

Salmon tart. Roll out a rectangle of puff pastry, score a thin border around the outside, prick the middle all over and part bake. Mix together 2 tubs of ricotta cheese, I egg, zest of 2 lemons, salt and pepper. Cover pastry base with the ricotta mix. Put on top cubed pieces of salmon and option asparagus. Bake until the tart is set. Cut into portions. Lovely!

Individual salmon en croute

I forgot to say - we will be sitting and eating outside. Not entertaining inside.

falafels bhajis samosas

Do they eat Quorn? If so... large veggie chilli with lots of beans and corn etc. Have it with rice and guacamole.

If not, try Jamie Oliver's aubergine lasagne.

I like some of these ideas. I'd usually do a curry if we were indoors and it was more wintery. I am hoping for warmth and sunshine. I'm trying to make it fuss free. If I were cooking meat I'd do one thing on the BBQ and serve it with two sides. I'm having problems putting 3 things together that everyone will eat. Mackerel and salmon are good options.

@mumonthehill I do one a bit like that with (pre-roasted) Mediterranean veg i.e. peppers, courgettes, onions etc. My base is puff pastry (bought!!) and then some cream cheese, ricotta or whatever you have mixed with something tasty - usually tomato puree or harissa or pesto. Then the veg on top. In the oven. For that many people I'd probably do 2 or 3 plus salads. E.g. potato or pasta salad to fill the teens plus leafy.

I make pouches from tin foil and steam fish right on the bbq. A bit of butter, lemon, and whatever herbs you like. It's so easy and delicious. I grill or steam veg to go along with it.

What about doing tuna steaks for nicois? Certainly feels quite summery.
Or halloumi and roasted veg skewers with a homemade slaw and jacket sweet potatoes with sour cream.
Spinach and feta filo pie

Thank you. All good ideas and reminding me of things I typically cook. I think fish parcels sound good for a summery day (fingers crossed) and I also like the sound of halloumi and veg skewers with homemade slaw. I hadn't thought of tuna steaks. That's a good one to check out also.

I will look up those veggies burgers posted because they sound different from others I have seen.

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/piripiriprawnsandhar_86697

This is lovely I made it with small prawns/shrimps. Very summery.

Thanks for starting this thread OP. I’ve been pescatarian for nearly two years now and have been on the lookout for better veggie/fish BBQ/outdoor recipes as opposed to relying on meatless burgers. Some of these sound great!

Ooh, I've saved the piripiri prawn recipe to cook for my family to eat. That looks like something we'd love.