Critique by Ottolenghi menu

[OrangeSunset]

Weekend night dinner for 6. Would like as many elements to be made ahead as poss. Mains all Ottolenghi Simple.

Bulgar with aubergine, tomato and lemon yoghurt
Chicken Marbella
Baked rice with confit tomatoes and garlic
—
Lemon posset or Anna Jones dairy-free Choc pots with salted date caramel

I always do a choice of puds.

Too much or not enough? Could I do twice the bulgar as a side, ditch the rice and add something green or a roast carrot dish for colour?

Oh dear. ‘My’ menu obvs

Ooooh, can I come?
Sounds glorious to me, I'd keep the rice and add the carrot dish.

I’d do either the rice or the bulgar and add a veg or maybe a salad

The bulgar is intrinsic to the aubergine dish, so would be easiest to double that.

I could just add the carrot dish, as leftovers for all of this will keep. I find it really tricky to get quantities right and not go overboard or feel like I’m trying too hard!

There’s a lot of sauce in the chicken dish , the rice might be a better accompaniment.
Also it’s quite rice so maybe a green salady thing might be better

The chicken Marbella should stand out rather than competing with the accompaniments I think so I'd consider something as a starter and plain rice or bulghur with some green veg with the chicken. I wouldn't make work for myself making two desserts.

Id like some more greens with that, something fresh. Maybe a tabouleh with lots of parsley and mint instead of the bulgar with aubergine?

Definitely wouldn't do the bulgar wheat with that combination of dishes. I'd be inclined more to:

Harissa carrots
Brussels and black garlic
Bean and lime salad
Broccoli and kale

All from Simple

Need to cater for veggies (ie me) so need a veggie main hence the aubergine.

Yes that something fresh was what I thought was missing.

@lovablequalities I will check those out although sounds a lot of work! What’s the objection to the bulgar?

Should I scrap the aubo and find a veggie main that works with rice, plus add harissa carrots and one of the green dishes?

I love desserts and both of those are super quick. Plus I always feel Choc desserts can be divisive so like to have an alternative

Really amazing Ottolenghi veg dish is the butternut squash with tomatoes and lime yoghurt from Nopi.

ottolenghi.co.uk/recipes/butternut-squash-with-ginger-tomatoes-and-lime-yoghurt

Sounds perfect. What about a Tunisian carrot salad?

Roasted carrots, cumin, lemon juice, olive oil, mint, coriander, raisins.

@OrangeSunset

I don't mean all of them! Just one (or two...) is fine with the rice.

I think bulgar and rice is a clash for me and the tomatoes in both is also a clash. The bulgar dish is really stodgy, one bowl, comfort food. Personally it doesn't work with the other things for me.

If you need a veggie main do the whole bang shoot veggie. Stuffed aubergines from Flavour, plain rice/lemon rice from Plenty More and the lime and bean salad from Simple. Sod the chicken!

Bulgar and rice seems excessive. I’d keep the bulgar and do something instead of the rice

I did think of doing whole thing veggie but would worry about just offering aubergine as lots of people funny about that too. Although whenever I’ve done it as part of a spread it goes but that’s not to say everyone has had some.

The squash dish sounds lush. Would that work with the rice? So instead of the aubo?

@OrangeSunset

Ok. Veggie mid week ottolenghi:

Rice - plain
Squash- tahini and red onion from Jerusalem
Broccoli and kale from Simple
Carrot and harissa from Simple

Tahini and halva brownies from Sweet; ice cream

And just chuck in the chicken for good measure yes ?

@OrangeSunset

Sack off the chicken. The veggies are delicious. They won't miss meat.

If you’re veggie I wouldn’t expect meat when you’re hosting.

Check your guests eat aubergine and do the bulgar, a side or two (veg/salad) and the two puds. Plenty of lovely food there.

I agree with Tyrannosaurus that I wouldn't expect meat, although I really dislike aubergine tbh!

I think I'd be inclined to do 2 veggie mains, either rice or bulgar and a side dish or two.

This is really lovely if you want to include something green

ottolenghi.co.uk/recipes/french-beans-and-mangetout-with-hazelnut-and-orange-full

I think it needs a green veg, I love aubergine but not everyone does.