Help me plan this BBQ.

[OperationMalena]

I am hosting 15 people in the summer for a BBQ. It is for extended family who are coming here from overseas.

I want to do a very nice BBQ with a British twist. I don't want to cook things like sausages and burgers and I am happy to spend on this occasion as this is the only time in my life I have ever hosted like this, and I doubt they'll be back.

Can anyone recommend some dishes such as salads or side dishes for such a BBQ? What meat would you cook for everyone? Desserts?

I am officially NOT allowed in my family to leave these out of any BBQ we have !

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2022/may/30/chicken-shish-confit-garlic-marinade-sarit-packer-itamar-srulovich

But what if do to make it easier ( and to make sure we can have it anytime) is roast heads of garlic in the oven when ever I am making something else and store them in a jar of olive oil in the fridge .. .. Its also good with coriander instead of parsley and I add the lemon juice to the marinade as well as the pard rind

I love a good BBQ and am 100% in agreement re burgers and sausages being a bit boring (although always always do a couple of packets of sausages for the kids - leftovers keep well).

Meat options I like:

Chicken thighs/drumsticks in marinade. Pre cook in the oven and then sear on the BBQ for the smokey/crispy exterior. Choose your marinade according to preference. Kids prefer tomato based ones but I personally like something a bit more lemony/herb/spicey.

Lamb is gorgeous on the BBQ. I have a new grill bbq so will be trying out butterflied leg of lamb this year. But that's quite ambitious. My go-to lamb options are either lamb chops marinaded in oil, lemon, thyme and garlic - simple and delicious (be generous so they can be piled on a platter) - or same marinade but skewers made with lamb neck (cut into chunks), peppers, aubergine, onion and tomatoes. If you do the skewers, you can serve them like that OR turn them into a meaty/veggie couscous salad by preparing couscous (flavoured to your preference) and then removing the meat and veg from skewers after they've been cooked and stir through.

Sides and salads:

One massive green salad is necessary. I usually make it quite elaborate - mixed types of lettuce, spring onions, chargrilled courgette slices or asparagus, cucumber. Top with feta cheese and toasted pine nuts. Dressing of choice but a vinaigrette of some sort is best I think.

A tomato salad is a good choice. I do mine with a chopped red onion, parsley and then sherry vinegar, olive oil and salt.

watermelon, feta, cucumber and chilli salad with a lime dressing is always a bit fun and colourful (cancel the chilli if lots of children around).

Baba ganoush works brilliantly as a side at a bbq, especially if you've done lamb. OR, bbq rounds of aubergine and mushrooms and create short stacks (two slices aubergine and two mushroom) using goats cheese and a sprinkle of fresh thyme between the layers then drizzle with some honey over the top. (good veggie option but make extra as meat eaters will have it as a side).

Still vaguely greek - tzatziki is great at a bbq and sits well with other meats. Make your own to get it really nice and don't forget to add a teaspoon of vinegar.

I like to do a big pot of baby potatoes as well as a selection of bread and rolls for people to choose their own carbohydrates. A nice pile of bread and rolls also looks nice on the table.

Oh, also, prawns on skewers on the bbq can be a nice little nibble. Or wrap asparagus in parma ham slices and cook them on the bbq or in the oven and serve on platters. I like to offer a bit of cream cheese for dipping, or, even better, also roast whole garlic cloves and then whip that into the cream cheese.

Coronation chicken skewers or chicken thighs with mango rice salad

Corn on the cob - absolute must at my family barbecues.

Marinaded chicken - I would choose Indian style, but go with your families preference. Downside is not the most forgiving meat for a larger group as the risk of drying out means I would avoid, but you might be more confident.

Steak - Lovely, but perhaps a bit of an undertaking for a larger group.

Halloumi - crowd pleaser for veggie guests

Tabouleh - delicious and vibrant carb side

Sausages - I wouldn't dismiss these, they might be 'basic' but are forgiving due to fat content and can be super tasty. Maybe look into more interesting ones such as boerewors.

Cheesecake - brilliant as can be made ahead

Pavlova - I go HEAVY at a barbecue so often don't have loads of room for pud, so this sort of option feels lighter

I think sausages are quite a good choice, with a home made bbq sauce and a homemade coleslaw and a home made potato salad. Many countries don’t have British-style sausages.

I like to do salad of fresh peas and baby broad beans in a minty dressing and serve with lamb

We have had good success with lamb or beef on a rotisserie.

Definitely try Nigellas butterfly lamb leg. So easy and absolutely delicious.
Otherwise steaks, salad, cooked new potatoes on skewers brushed with oil and barbecued until crispy : hard to beat.

If I went to a bbq and there wasn’t a burger I would be a bit miffed.

DH and I love burgers so we always go all out when we do them on the bbq - the best ones we can get from the butchers and then different kind of cheeses and sauces so it’s not boring. Now I’m craving a blue cheese beef burger!

Seafood eg salmon, prawns, scallops etc.

A Moroccan style couscous with roasted veg like peppers, onion, courgette etc and some raisins and flaked almonds.

For pudding I usually just have magnums and fruit on hand because I’m crap at puddings and we are usually full anyway!

Can I come OP? 😁

Our go to for entertaining is pork loin or a couple of trussed chicken on the rotisserie (or both, if you have a big enough BBQ).

We'd serve with bread, apple sauce, and a variety of veg, hot and cold. Plus potatoes roasted on the bbq (parboil and gently bash, season then put them in a disposable aluminium dish underneath the cooking meat, so they roast in the meat fat dripping from the joint - open the BBQ and give them a shake occasionally). Perhaps also some boiled new pots with butter and mint.

Sweetcorn in some form or other - either BBQ'd (if you have space) or make creamed corn to serve with. And maybe sausages made into pigs in blankets.

Basically a bbq version of a roast dinner, but with a few cold/salady elements.

I've recommended these on so many Mumsnet thread but the Sticky Pomegranate and Pistachio Pigs in Blankets in this article are so so tasty, in my experience proper crowd pleasers. I can only imagine cooking the sausages on the barbecue would further improve things.

I still do burgers and sausages. I get them from the butchers. Basically, not cheap ones. I also do chicken and steak and ribs.

I do some salads, crusty bread, dips, crisps, coleslaw, potato salad, baby potatoes that I do with pesto and Parmesan, corn on the cob.

Pudding is magnum ice creams. Sometimes, strawberries and cream with meringues. I often find puddings aren’t eaten. People tend to pick away all afternoon and have a few drinks here so sweet stuff can go to waste. Hence why magnums are good as they can stay in the freezer.

(presuming your family drink alcohol) I hope you are planning on serving the food along side a big jug of pimms

I can confirm that a butterflied leg of lamb is an easy winner on the bbq. My butcher will marinate it in a mint sauce but it's quite nice with out. I would buy a digital meat thermometer for piece of mind

I love bbq-ing and would do something like one of these:

Greek lamb shoulder wraps
beef skirt tacos
Beer can chickens
Smoked brisket
Pulled pork
Char Sui pork
Chicken doner

Much rather that with relevant sides than the sausage / burger / chicken combo. Generally less effort too although the brisket is a commitment.

Posting to save this thread - some amazing bbq ideas! Roll on warmer weather!

Brilliant thread but now I am really starving and a piece of toast isn't really going to cut it.

I like to do chicken souvlaki

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-gyros

I do Greek salad plus flatbreads (I just buy the Greek ones from tesco and warm in the oven or wrapped in foil on bbq) and tzatziki with it, and it goes down very well!

I'd be tempted to include some sausages, maybe some posh pigs in blankets or venison sausages, Cumberland ring
It's the salads and sides that often elevate it.

https://www.delish.com/uk/cooking/recipes/g36910936/salads-for-bbq/

Oh and desserts

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/articles/the-best-alternatives-to-strawberries-and-cream/

These responses are unreal!!!! Thanks so much.

I will include some sausages. These family members have been so hospitable to us when we visited, and they are all excellent cooks and so I didn't want to go the burger route. There are DC, but from what I have seen, they eat what adults eat. My guests have always been the best, most generous hosts when we visit them and I want to reciprocate.

I love the idea of Pimms etc. I want to include a few British things, as after all, they want to visit the UK!

I was thinking of a few desserts. I know they will be full, but they will be here all afternoon and evening, so can have it later if they like. I have an ice cream maker and in the past have made it in advance and have decanted it into ice cream pots from Amazon and put them in the freezer for if and when anyone wants it. I am going to have to do lots of prep as I will be working up until the day.

What would you put out to "pick" whilst waiting for the food? Usually, I'd do crisps, but I want to go a bit more upmarket. I think crisps are filling and bloating.

To dip ' we sometimes do toasted fennel pitta bread. Cut pitta bread in half along the flat side. Then cut this into approx 4 triangle bits - so each pitta gives about 8 bit. Lightly oil a baking sheet. Lay the pitta bits out (rough side -inner pitta- facing up up). Drizzle well with olive oil. Sprinkle on rock salt and fennel seeds. Bake at 180 for 8 - 10 mins. Store in airtight container for 2-3 days.
Or tortilla chips and breadsticks.
For meat we like plain lamb chump chops - just don't oovercook. We sometimes do pork kebabs, and marinate in a cumin and oil rub for about a day first.
Mango chutney potato salad is surprisingly nice as a side - cook baby potatoes, add mayo mixed with a bit of mango chutney and a bit of chopped dill at the end.
Also a good pasta salad - I like one where add black olives slices,cherry toms, torn mozzarella, chopped spring onions, very thinly sliced courgette, and a white wine based dressing with dried oregano mixed in.can be made day ahead, and works with gf pasta if needed.
Am hungry now!!

For picky bits flatbreads and hummus/baba ganoush/tatziki work well. Though they can be carby and filling.

Cocktail skewers each with a cube of water melon and halloumi work well and are very low effort.

This is such a fab thread - some amazing suggestions!

When I lived abroad, one of things I missed most was a proper British butchers sausage haha - the hotdog style sausages around just didn't cut it. So I would definitely serve sausages, perhaps some plain and others with different herbs/seasonings.

For 'picky bits' or as part of a dessert/cheese course, I would definitely serve a variety of fantastic British cheeses and crackers/crispbreads. There are also some great British artisan charcuterie makers.

You can definitely shine with British desserts - maybe things like Eton Mess, individual lemon possets or sticky toffee pudding?

Some great suggestions here OP.

I would add to make consideration for your skewers - I have a really nice set of traditional ones I picked up in Turkey. They make life easier and look good too.