Idiot-proof dinner party main course

[AidezMoi1]

I always get so stressed having guests for dinner as I'm just not the best cook. We are hosting family in a few weeks so am already worrying about what to make. They are French family , who have cooked dinner for us countless times, and produced Michelin starred meals at a moment's notice. I honestly don't know how they do it.

Can you recommend any fail safe recipes? I have a few weeks to try them out beforehand! They're family and there will be children so it doesn't need to be that fancy (I can make it more of an occasion with drinks, appetisers and desserts) but the main course definitely needs to be edible, and dare I say enjoyable!

I'm thinking something like Cook's Dijon chicken, where meat is in a sauce, so it shouldn't be possible to burn/overcook/dry out maybe?

Open to anything though, and even better if not remotely French, so the novelty aspect will be exciting and hide any faults in the dish.

Thank you!!

Can you make a mousakka? Do a trial run first. They are usually quite easy to make and obviously you can prep it all beforehand and then just pop it in the oven to cook.

Good idea to jazz it up with appetizers, pudding etc. I usually serve it with pita bread and a greek salad.

How about a tagine? You can make them in advance so you will know it is good before you serve it. Just need to make a nice couscous with fresh herbs and stock in the water which is very easy and quick. The couscous can also be done in advance and warmed on the day.

If you wanted to make more of an event if it you could start with warm pitta and hummus served on a platter with cherry tomatos, olives, feta cheese, diced cucumber etc.

Lamb mechoui (slow cooked lamb) This recipe says lamb leg, but it's much much better with lamb shoulder:

www.thespruceeats.com/moroccan-leg-of-lamb-2394349

Incredibly forgiving, can be in the oven for anything from 6 to 9 hours. Serve with a couscous salad like this one which can be made in advance: www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/herby-couscous-citrus-pomegranate-dressing

All really easy but tastes amazing

I wouldn't cook at all!! I'd go to Waitrose and buy:

A couple of roast chickens from the hot counter - I would get one between 3-4 adults depending on appetites
A couple of baguettes
Punnet of cherry tomatoes
A couple of bags of rocket and lambs lettuce, mix these together in a big salad bowl with some olive oil, sprinkle of salt, pine nuts and flakes of Parmesan and squeeze a lemon over
A jar of aioli (fancy garlic mayo)
Wine!

Spread it all out on the table and let people mix and match! That's always the most fun.

Big bowl of strawberries and double cream for dessert.

Ah I think lamb may be the only meat that's out as I think 3 out of 4 uests wouldn't have it. Such a shame as those recipes look amazing!

Can't believe I've never made moussaka, that's one my list for next week for DH and I.

I am liking the tagine idea, could do with chicken. I also like that I could add pitta olives, houmous etc. All stuff we eat all the time but they don't so would make it a nice occasion.

The only down side is I'm not sure the kids would like couscous but I guess they could just have it with just pitta?

@Xiaoxiong I feel like I should cook or it may seem like I can't be bothered. They have genuinely cooked for us 100s of times so I feel like it's the least I can do. I like the idea of something mix and match so it's fun and takes the pressure off. I was vaguely considering fajitas. (Thought last time I made them I managed to burn the chicken, but DH could handle that bit). Making salsa, guacamole and all different sides plays more to my strengths!

I would make lasagne, they're a crowd pleaser and work well with kids too, plus you can make ahead and pop it in the oven at the right time.
Bechamel sauce and Bolognese sauce are both easy to make components, but you can buy a good quality ready made jar as a back up plan in case anything goes wrong (you can taste them before you build your layers). You can also buy fresh lasagne sheets from any supermarket, much better than the dry kind and gives that extra "homemade" feeling without actually having to make the pasta yourself.
Appetizers and desserts can easily follow the Italian theme too, think cured meats, olives and tiramisu

Get a packet of chicken breasts, slice a pocket in them, shove some Boursin cheese in them, wrap some Parma ham round them, stick them in the oven for 25 mins on 200. Serve with some boiled new potatoes with butter, and some veg.

Anything slow cooked is your friend here probably... pork belly, lamb shoulder etc or some kind of.slow.cooked.cassrrole.

My other suggestion is throw money at it.. I do rib of beef in these situations. A big one is easy to cook (look online but basically something like 20 mins then additional time per kilo). Serve with whatever sides you are most comfortable with... simple.salads and new potatoes or you could go bigger with potatoes dauphinoise ans fancy sides.

The hairy bikers beef bourguignon is absolutely fool proof and delicious.

I know!

Google Thomasina Miers Chicken and apricot Moroccan traybake

follow instructions to the letter (I use a coffee grinder for the spices immediately)

Serve with giant couscous and flatbreads

bask in compliments

Admittedly not immediately!

Blt traybake has always been one of my go to recipes. Wrap chicken thigh fillets in bacon and roast with a torn up ciabatta loaf tossed in a wee bit of oil and salt at 180ºc for 30 mins. After 10 minutes add quartered little gem lettuces and halved baby plum tomatoes. Give dressing at the table.

www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/chicken_marbella/
this
chicken Marbella
its fab , marinate , leave cook and serve with some mash and green veg

or if you don’t mind all the little packets order multiples of the same meal from Gousto and make double/ triple quantities. Just check the reviews.

As they are from the continent I would opt for a typically British menu with food that can be prepared ahead of time so no need to stress while they are there. Start with a nice home made soup and rolls (something puréed - you can't go wrong! Bread should be shop bought but fresh... maybe served with some 'melon ball' butter knobs to make it fancy) Followed by a cottage pie and maybe (mixed?) steamed veg (carrot, courgette and broccoli) then trifle for pudding...!?

Starter- slice of goats cheese , spread little bit of honey over goats cheese slice, top with pine nuts grill briefly , serve with balsamic vinegar dressing on a bed of rocket v low effort

Main - roast a chicken and serve with salad and potatoes

Desert- shop bought sorbet- blackcurrant most impressive, fresh fruit and cream/yogurt/from age frais

I second chicken marbella! I use a kilo of skinned chicken thighs and serve with rice pilaf or spicy cubed potatoes with lots of crusty bread..... delish!

French people are convinced all we eat is roast beef, so I’d go with that and do a pepper roast beef dinner with roast potatoes and Yorkshire puddings cauliflower cheese veg and gravy. As per previous poster a homemade trifle for pudding (without the jelly layer) or a steamed pudding or crumble with custard. That would be a very traditional British meal.

For pudding, lemon posset.

You only need 3 ingredients: lemons, sugar and cream.

Incredibly easy to make, but very delicious.

I tend to leave out the rind, and make it smooth.

Duck with cheery sauce - stolen from Delia

! or two ducks, defrost if frozen.

Make sure the skin is really dry and prick all over.

Either put in a meat wrack or on the oven shelf with a big roasting tray underneath - a lot of fat is going to come out.

Use the timings from the packet but 1.5 hours should be ok.

For the sauce 1/2 a bottle of red wine nd 1/2 a jar of Morello cherry jam - put in a pan, heat and reduce - serve hot or cold.

You can put potatoes under the duck, or keep the fat for another day.

I'd do barbacoa beef.
It's simple and better in the slow cooker.
Can adjust spice level.
I leave it on overnight

It's more impressive than fajitas.
You can go to town on the extras.
Homemade guacamole, salsa, there's a jalapeno salsa that's delicious too but I name.
Serve with a simple salad, tortilla wraps, rice.
Starter nachos but again more indulgent with the homemade salsa, chopped red onion and I'd use the blue tortilla chips.

And dessert I'm useless at but I'd probably go for something like key lime pie.

Moussaka is lovely but it's best made with lamb mince in my view.

What about fish pie made with a mix of salmon, smoked haddock, ordinary haddock and prawns? Put the raw fish (cut into chunks, no skin), sliced or quartered hard-boiled eggs and (if you like them) some capers on the base of a baking dish. Pour over bechamel or cheese sauce and mix in plenty of chopped fresh parsley. Top with mashed potato mixed with sliced leeks sauted in butter and well seasoned. You could mix grated cheese into the potato and/or put on top of the mash. Make a nice pattern on the top with a fork. (Another possibility is to put slices of tomato on the mash, with the cheese on top.)

I like it with chopped, barely wilted, well-drained spinach as well, which could go on the base under the fish, but that's optional, as not everybody likes it.

Put in hottish oven for just long enough for the whole thing to heat through, fish to cook and top to get golden brown. You don't want to overcook it but you can assemble in advance and then just put it in the oven while you're having a starter. Serve with peas or green beans or broccoli.

Thank you! I actually made the lamb moussaka for DH and I tonight it was lovely! I wish our guests liked lamb!

I'm going to try one of the chicken recipes suggested this weekend and hairy biker's boeuf bourguignon next week. I've bookmarked plenty of the other suggestions if all these fail, or just for DH and I.

I still like the idea of a chicken tagine to have with couscous, but does anyone have a tried and tested recipe for chicken tagine? (Similar to the Moroccan traybake from @SwayingInTime , it looks pretty perfect but fennel will be non starter for them unfortunately)

Thanks so much!

Actually perhaps I can just replace the fennel with something else? Would peppers and courgettes work? Does it make enough sauce/juice for a side couscous?

I second the vote for lasagna. My favourite recipe is the Sarah Cook one on BBC good food.
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/lasagne

It does take ages, but it is mostly doing it's own thing and you can do it in advance and heat on the day. It freezes really well, I often make several small ones as there are only 3 of us and it is so great to just lift one out of the freezer for an easy and tasty dinner the next day.

You could have a lovely starter with olives, bread, salami, maybe a wee caprese salad.

That is a rich meal, so I would keep a sweet simple, like raspberries and ice cream.