Casual dinner party ideas?

[Witchfoot]

What are some of your go-to recipes for when you're hosting and want to make something a little bit special, but not too complex/fancy?

Particularly after ideas that allow for some advance prepping, to avoid too much flapping around on the night...

Thanks!

A good oxtail stew/casserole goes down well and is largely prepped in advance (and there's something about oxtail vs just a bog standard stew that makes it a bit flashier? What is that?)

If it's super casual, I do a lovely sausage and creme fraiche pasta sauce that can be prepped in advance and is actually quite pretty - you add some tomatoes and spinach and it's actually looks lovely in a big serving bowl in the middle of the table.

Roast chicken is a bit go to for me - usually served with new potatoes and salad or roasted veg. Also sometimes do it with a risotto but find that is a bit of a faff so only do that if it's one friend coming over for a catch up and can drink wine with me in the kitchen while I'm stirring!

Kleftiko has always gone down well too although I haven't done one in years.

A friend swears by rack of lamb, but I panic too much about over/under cooking it! I do see her point though - she serves it with potatoes dauphinoise and some greens and says that she can do most things in advance then just wilt the greens and get the lamb in the oven.

Veggie here, and we are very informal when we have friends round (not allowed at the moment though, sadly).

I tend to do:
an extra nice lasagne, with roasted vege and our lentils, plus lots of red wine, a tomato salad, a green salad and nice bread/olives

a veggie chilli with all the trimmings

a tagine with chickpeas, cous cous and various salads

a selection of curries and sides - usually a mixed vege curry, a paneer curry and then various salads and chutneys etc

really nice quiche, with roasted garlic potatoes and a selection of side salads

Middle Eastern/Greek type thing with a couple of hot dishes and then other stuff for picking at

So many excellent suggestions, @SpaceOP and @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie - thanks!

Potatoes dauphinoise is a GREAT shout for a slightly fancier side that can be done ahead and flung in the oven. And so delish!

I really like the idea of a big spread of curries, salads, chutneys etc. too.

I like stuff that's prepped in advance. Pulled pork cooked for four hours Mexican style with lots of herbs and spices served with tortillas, home made guacamole, sour cream, home made pickled onion slices, home made pineapple salsa, marinaded chipotle corn on cob. That sort of thing. It's an effort but still casual and something people can help themselves to.

Thanks, @Titsinknicks - great suggestion. Not sure I've had pineapple salsa before, so I'll have to give it a go at some point!

Me neither! I'm attempting it this weekend!

I also like chilli's and tray bakes.

I'm doing a pavlova for dessert. Again, can make in advance and then just whack the topping on before serving.

I also like making nigellas no churn ice creams - really easy and unusual flavours. easy to make it advance and dish out with grated chocolate on top or alongside a big crumble type pudding. I made a Pina colada ice cream to serve after a chilli. I think I just did it on its own but I think it would be nice with a pineapple cobbler

Truffle mac n cheese - www.gousto.co.uk/cookbook/vegetarian-recipes/easy-truffle-mac-n-cheese or crab mac n cheese www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe_directory/c/crab-mac-n-cheesewithalemonherbsalad.html

For pudding, can be done the day before
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lemonpossetwithlemon_85812
Forget shortbread, I crush ginger nut biscuits and put them in glasses, posset on top until set.
Pop some fresh raspberries on top to serve. Yum

I'll often make a really big steak and ale pie with puff pastry top. Really easy to make in advance and more of a 'crowd pleaser' than individual pies. Serve with buttery mash and some green vegetables.

Or as already mentioned lasagne, chillis, curries go down well. I think some of it is in the side dishes, salads, bread that I wouldn't normally bother with if it was just us.

Haven't made this one yet but saw it on TV at the weekend and thought it might be a good winter pudding when friends come over (although probably not on top of pie!)

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/nadiya-hussains-roasted-fruit-cobbler

Coq au vin is my go to favourite, but you can't beat a good Welsh "Cawl a Caws" night.

Vegan tacos - pomegranate salsa, guacamole, sweetcorn, sour cream (for non vegans) all prepped and in bowls in the fridge. Then all you have to do is put beans and spices in a big pan to heat through and stick it all on the table with warmed taco shells.

Also a fan of cured salmon - can make Nordic pickled cucumber in advance (and beetroot/gin cure the salmon in advance) and then when people arrive make caramelised potatoes (v easy).

Spiced lamb pie

I'm doings dinner party this weekend but 2 of my guests don't eat potatoes! We are having a greekish inspired menu, halloumi starter, moussaka and greek salad with bread for main and then (totally off theme) bannoffe pie. All of which can be prepared before the guests arrive!

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-squash-pesto-lasagne

Just posted this on another thread, but it's such a winner here, I've made this a lot!

FallenMadonna That lamb pie recipe looks good. Will add that to my list!

Leg of lamb
salsa verde
Serve with jewelled couscous
Roasted Mediterranean veggies

Dead easy can all be done in a bit of advance.

Proper home-made Cornish pasties with excellent pastry and my mother's secret ingredient ;-)
No need for a first course, serve with some delicious red wine, very little washing up and not much need for pudding either, but maybe something fruity.

I'd do Nigellas 24 hour pork, simple but so delicious and everyone raves about it. Served with potato dauphinoise, and some simple tenderstem broccoli and carrots.

I've done a beef and mushroom stroganoff with wild rice before too, that went down quite well.

Mostly my guests request currys, pakoras etc though.

Thanks for all the suggestions - my list of recipes to try out has grown rapidly!

@Fivemoreminutes1, those mac and cheese recipes both look glorious. Perfect comfort food!

And I'm desperate to know what your mum's secret ingredient is, @FraughtwithGin! I won't tell...

The dinner I make that is foolproof, easy to pre-prep, and a huge crowd pleaser is Nigella's slow cooked lamb from Nigella Bites. I've been making it for years - since the book came out 😂. I even made it for friends last night. In the oven all afternoon, then just falls off the bone. Buy pomegranate seeds rather than having to slap half a pomegranate. I usually serve with dauphinois potatoes and greens.

www.nigella.com/recipes/warm-shredded-lamb-salad-with-mint-and-pomegranate

www.gimmesomeoven.com/scalloped-potatoes-recipe/

Thank you Remus for the veggie suggestions. I'm hosting veggies in a couple of weeks' time, and it's good to have the reassurance that a posh veggie lasagne or chilli or whatever will go down well 😀

This veggie would be happy with anything that doesn't involve tinned tomatoes, and does have various 'bits' of things to pick at! Oh and pudding, of course.

I think duck is tastier cold than hot. Roast the breasts in advance in the oven. Refrigerate. When you come to use them, slice on the diagonal. Serve with potato and celeriac mash , also made in advance, piped in to dish and re-warmed in oven. Salad of watercress, chicory, maybe some walnuts and orange segments with honey dressing. If you want you can make a sort of cheats version of cumberland sauce to go with it of port, mushroom ketchup, redcurrant jelly etc. Followed by bitter orange ice cream and cardomom biscuits. All prepped in advance.

If you like the idea of a spread then you can't beat a good baked gammon ham with selection of salads and new pots or or dauphinoisse for that matter. Braise in cider then drain , score fat, and add mustard and brown sugar and cloves for glaze and finish in oven. Can be made in advance and served warm.

Other than that you can't beat a good roast chicken and salad.

Or go to Asian store and buy duck pancakes and the sauce to go with it, shred duck breasts and cut up cucumber and spring onions in to fine batons and guests roll their own.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

This veggie would be happy with anything that doesn't involve tinned tomatoes, and does have various 'bits' of things to pick at! Oh and pudding, of course.

Noted 😁