Fancy schmancy instant pot dinner party menu

[EmpressMoo]

I am hosting a dinner party for 12 this week and my oven has blown up!

It's reunion with guests from outside the UK so I can't cancel or ask someone else to host. We could go to a restaurant but I want to try and rise to the challenge!

I have a hob and I have borrowed an instant pot. I also have a deep fat fryer lurking at the back of a cupboard. No microwave. However, I have the world's tiniest kitchen (listed building) with less than 1m worktop space for food prep BEFORE adding in the deep fat fryer and instant pot.

I also only have a tiny under counter fridge so storing lots of cold dishes is an issue eg a pudding with whipped cream, lots of salads, a whole poached salmon, a selection of cheeses plus wine would be a challenge. Usually I overcome this by having the food delivered just before so some of it by bypasses the fridge and goes straight into the oven 😂

We only get together every 5 years or so and, usually, it is a fancy affair with 4/5 courses and paired wines, fancy presentation...

I don't want to spend the entire evening in the kitchen cooking things that need cooking just before serving eg steaks, crepes etc. I don't mind doing it for one course.

1 guest doesn't eat any fruit or veg (ARFID) and another is low carbing on medical advice. I would like to accomodate this and have a menu that both can eat without missing out eg no pasta courses but a pasta salad as one of the sides would be ok, no salad courses but salad as a side if there is a carb side too is ok.

Also, no Chinese or Indian dishes...

Any up for helping me with the challenge?

Bumping for the evening crowd!

Well, one good thing about the Instant Pot is that you can plug it in anywhere, doesn't have to be in the kitchen so perhaps you could cook something in that in another room. Also it keeps things hot for ages. But a main meal for 12 in it might be ambitious capacity-wise.

Have a nice beef bourguignon or coq au vin delivered from this lot. Let it defrost overnight in the fridge and use the instant pot to warm it up. Nice salad and good crusty bread, job done!

www.cookfood.net/

Can you not put something in a neighbours oven?

If this an evening or day thing? Could you do a BBQ?

As other have said, boeuf bourguignon, coq au vin, or goulash, chilli con carne can be made ahead on the hob, and in large quantities.

Risotto - won't work for the low carber so you would have to give them an alternative. As a starter you can always go for a soup? Instant pots are all about stews and soups really.

Crudités & Dip humus, caramelized onion sour cream-make ahead.

Cornbread & honey butter cornbread made ahead, wrap airtight in clingfilm and leave on the counter.

Short ribs in the instant pot. They're even best made a day ahead, fat skimmed off, then reheated.
Potato dauphinoise Can also be assembled and put in the oven on the day.
Cauliflower cheese for the non carb person
Steamed veg to accompany

Pavlova Make meringue ahead, whip cream top with berries.
Brownies Also best made day before, left uncut in their pan. They'll also cut neater the next day. Cut bite sized to have with coffee after dinner.

I wouldn't use the deep fryer and stink up the place

How do you make a pavlova with no oven??

What would you normally cook?

Or cornbread, brownies and cauliflower cheese!

I’d do burrata cheese to start, beef bourgignon with rice and green beans for the main, and buy some fabulous pastries from a good bakery for pudding with maybe also a cheese course

I’d be tempted to sod the instant pot and see if you can borrow a raclette machine from someone. Then you need cheese, cured meats, salad, maybe some veg, boil some new potatoes and let everyone choose what bits they like, or don’t like.

Or just tell your friends the oven broke so you’re doing a really good cheese and charcuterie board with salad and fruit - and lots of wine. Maybe pair the wines to different cheeses.

It’s a periodic catch up, your oven has died and you have a teeny tiny kitchen. The food is just an enjoyable centre to the socialising. It won’t matter that Hebrew no fancy multi course meal with wine pairings.

Osso buco in a giant casserole on the hob? Or lamb shanks. Both punch above their weight in effort / outcome ratio. Do a gremolata for the osso buco to cut the meatiness.

Melon balls something or other.

Blade of beef with red wine gravy, mash and green veg.

Lotus cheesecake (very easy but will need fridge space).

Cheese and biscuits.

This is quite the challenge for you OP. I am exhausted just thinking about it. I believe you can pull it off though whatever you do.

How is she going to do cornbread, brownies, cauliflower cheese, potatoes dauphinois and pavlova without an oven??

I admire your gumption OP, I think I'd be ordering a load of stuff delivered, this sounds quite a challenge! Although I have to agree with pp that a nice beef bourguignon would be simple and yummy!

https://www.hairybikerskitchenware.com/blog/hairy-bikers-slow-cooked-featherblade-steak/

This is my go to for blade of beef. It is oven cook but I have used slow cooker before. Just needs much longer in the slow cooker. You reduce down the stock that it cooks in but this takes ages so I would be inclined to just add a few ladles of it to a deliberately thick pre made gravey / jus.

12lamb shanks take a lot of space on the hob! I'd go for a big lamb leg instead of you can borrow or buy the cooker for it.
Borrow a big slow cooker and do a North African style lamb leg. Serve with cous cous or tabouleh and salads, roast veg done in the instant pot and served at room temp.
Starter: chilled mezzo which you can pre-make or buy in: tinned stuffed vine leaves, spanakopita pastries, Whipped feta, baba ganoush, garlic roast cauliflower, yogurt, harissa vegetables, Zatar spiced chicken nibbles etc.
Pudding: a lovely (bought) cake and a fruit platter with yogurt, honey and chopped nuts.
Start with a chilled soup or sorbet and finish with cheese.
Lots of wine.
Easy social sharing food, much of which can be served at room temperature so you can stick it out on the table when it is done to give yourself as much kitchen space as possible.
Good luck!

I’d go Italian for this

Do an antipasti spread to start. Buy focaccia, salami, ham, buratta and other cheese, olives, tomatoes etc. No cooking just assembly and buy it all on the day if you can do no worries about fridge space.

For a simple pasta course do crab linguine. Courgetti for the low carber.

https://www.nigella.com/recipes/linguine-with-chilli-crab-and-watercress

Steak tagliata would be a simple main.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/steak-tagliata-with-lemony-lentils/amp

For pudding, if you have freezer space, make a semi fredo in advance. Otherwise, tiramisu is another good make ahead pudding. Or affogato is very simple.

Apero:nibbles like saucisson, veg crisps, nuts

Start: some smoked salmon or melon for non fish eaters (all plated in advance)

Main: slow cooked Moroccan lamb (with veg) with couscous as side

Cheese (can leave out so room temp for serving)

Dessert: head to cook or somewhere and get shop bought

I'd go for burrata caprese for starters, black olive and garlic lamb shoulder (cooked in instant pot) with tabboleh and new potato salad for main, and a no bake cheesecake for dessert.

Thanks, everyone.

I was hoping to avoid the classic options like coq au vin and try to come up with something a bit more creative. Except I can't 😂

Someone mentioned freezer space... That's a good idea. I could freeze a pudding with whipped cream and leave it out to defrost on the day to save fridge space. I could also do a between courses granita to make things feel fancier 😂