'Boxing day' buffet. Ideas needed

[MerryMarigold]

Party for Dad's 80th. Having a boxing day style cold buffet as Christmas dinner is his fav.

Need some ideas other than ham, turkey and salad. Particularly some veggie ideas. Worried turkey may be bland so any really tasty ideas would be great. Cheese based?

We can heat a few things up but most will be cold.

Thank you!

Ps Feeding around 60

What does he normally like for a Boxing Day buffet?

thinking about my own Boxing Day buffets, I’d add - potato salad, a couple of different coleslaws, a cheese board, a big plate of different crudités, cherry tomatoes, grapes and figs, a few fancy pickles, hummus, little quiches, possibly jacket potatoes, 2 or 3 different breads and cheese twists/breadsticks.

60 people!!!

Actually realised for 60 the ignore anything like jacket potatoes that need to be eaten at a table. Party food is the way to go.

Could you do a big cauliflower cheese to go with it? I feel it needs something warm.

Small balls - turkey, sausagemeat, stuffing - hot if possible.

Turkey and cranberry sausage rolls and these for vegetarians.
Cocktail sized pigs in blankets
Root vegetable crisps
Sage and onion stuffing balls
Brie and cranberry tart/tartlets - fine eaten cold, so can be made ahead to free up oven space

I would get some lovely soft baps and do like a hog roast but with turkey. Stuffing, cranberry sauce, mayo etc. People just add what they want to create their own Christmas sandwich.

Perhaps a cheese fondue with Christmas dinner based things to dip in it.

60! Blooming heck OP.

Checks date. Yep, still September.

If I was doing a buffet for 60 I would be planning by January 😂

Either quiche or fritatas are good for feeding crowds. Butternut squash and Wensleydale or broccoli and Stilton.
Maybe something like a fig and Gorgonzola flat bread or puff pastry tart.
What about smoked salmon and cream cheese pinwheels?

I'd go with a substantial grain based salad, cous cous, with roasted peppers, red onion, harissa chickpeas, sweet potato and pomegranate seeds.

Probably and classic potato salad too.

And all the pickles. It's not Boxing Day without pickles!

Make your own coleslaw. Quick to do and tastes so much fresher and less sloppy.

Do want recipe ideas for a buffet to celebrate your DF's birthday on Boxing Day or are you asking for recipes that feel "Christmassy" because your DF loves Christmas dinner, OP?

Yep. The party is in October. It's Boxing Day style buffet. We are trying to cater it ourselves between my and my sister so planning starts now.

DF's birthday is next month not Boxing Day but wanted to do something Christmassy as he loves Xmas dinner. Ie. A Boxing Day buffet - but in October! So looking for ideas which could be served cold mostly. Can heat bits up as there is a kitchen and I have 2 hot plates but not too much warm stuff.

@SummerHouse , we have about 3 weeks to plan and implement it 😱😂. I'm a deadline merchant.

@AtleastitsnotMonday And all the pickles. It's not Boxing Day without pickles!

Cranberry sauce, bread sauce. What else?

Savoury cheesecake, sounds gross but it’s delicious, something like this x

realfood.tesco.com/recipes/savoury-cheesecake.html

Thank you. So many amazing ideas.

Brie and cranberry tartlets sound delish.

This looks amazing... And could make own toppings. Quite fancy something with butternut squash 🤔.

Pates stuffing balls chipolatas mini toad in the hole

Nigellas gammon cooked in cola served cold with sides

Homemade potato salad, orzo pasta salad spanish omelette/fritatta

OP I've often done Boxing Day buffets for 20. I'd just triple I think.

Cpl turkey (sliced onto platters)
Cold stuffing balls and pigs
Baked gammon(s)
Poached whole salmon (or two)
I usually do hot roasties but for 60 I'd just do lashings of new potatoes with butter and parsley
Coleslaw
Bean or brown rice salad
All the pickles
I do a lovely pate with quails eggs (lots of recipes on-line)
I'd do a cheese board and half a dozen baguettes.
Couple of large bowls.of green salad
Tomato, mozzarella salad with black olives and basil
Olives
(I usually have artichoke hearts, and roasted tomatoes but for 60 that's v expensive)

Puds: traditional trifle, Mince pies, chocolate mousse or a French apple flan or three.

Hope you have a lovely time.

Thank you. That sounds great.

For dessert we have 3 different birthday cakes (chic, fruit, sponge) and prob a fruit salad for the non cake eaters!

Make like Bridget Jones - turkey curry buffet 🤣

Choc not chic. I'm not great at chic food!

I've a Christmassy easy vegetarian dish that can be eaten cold. I had to make it up one Boxing Day when we had unexpected guests.
A packet of puff pastry (ready rolled if short of time) laid out on a baking tray. Top with a generous layer of sliced, fried onions and crumble over Stilton cheese. Then put it in the oven until golden brow. Yummy.