Ideas for festive dinner party main course

[NigelHarmansNewWife]

I'm after ideas for dinner for 8 on NYE please. I like to do something a bit different, maybe a touch luxurious, but can't do anything spicy hot. Last year I did a fish pie which was salmon and beetroot with a gratin dauphinois topping which was recommended on this board. I don't want to do a roast dinner or a buffet. We have three courses plus cheese. TIA.

Whole salmon?
Spit roast pig?
Buffet?

Beef Wellington?

Or lots of alternatives here, mainly meat game and poultry:
https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/christmas/christmas-main-courses?page=1

Or go scandi

https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/filipino-chicken-adobo.html

this is nice, not spicy but different. Serve with rice and greens.

Id follow with Delia’s lemon meringue icecream.

Poussin always feel really special as everyone gets their own. But it's basically a chicken tray bake so easy to prep and you can pick flavours and sides appropriately.

Wellington
Salmon linguini or risotto
Truffle mushroom risotto

Venison casserole www.delish.com/uk/cooking/recipes/a37372465/venison-casserole/

Mushroom bourguignon pie https://www.coop.co.uk/recipes/mushroom-bourguignon-and-parsnip-rosti

Slow cooked lamb shanks

If your crowd are open to vegetarian food, then Ottolenghi’s aubergine parmigiana pie is stunning. It’s a real crowd pleaser, being a bit unusual while still familiar enough not to be too challenging for a crowd.

His curried cauliflower cheese filo pie fills the same niche, and is also wonderful.

A bit more out there, but I’ve seen this prawn lasagne with habanero oil go down a storm before. You could easily remove the chilli from the ragù and serve the chilli oil on the side so people can have it without heat, or add the oil to their serving as they like it.

I've got the same dilemma.

I did a dummy run of Mary Berry's Chicken Tartiflette last night. It want very nice- way too acidic.

I think I'm going to do beef in Port and Guiness with mash. Or slow roast pork with potato dauphinois.

Delia has the best starters in her Winter cookbook. I might do prawn cocktail as it's easy and very impressive. Roast onions with Palma ham is pretty amazing too.

In fact, just buy Delias Winter book. It's brilliant.

Love that recommendation @Movinghouseatlast 😁We also have a couple of kids who are better with familiar foods and I then need something else for dinner on NYD.

With a fussy dd I hear you re the familiar foods thing. So I tend to do large roasts of some sort, but often without all the regular roast trimmings - I adapt according to event or time of year. eg a large rib of beef looks impressive brought to the table and can he served with whatever sides you like. Potato dauphinoise and green beans is simply but amazing.

Lamb shoulder is another one I'm partial too - can be slow cooked low and slow. I tend to go slightly mediterranean with this route with things like roasted aubergines with tahini/yoghurt dressing, stuffed peppers etc.

Even chicken - two large birds served on a bed of pilaf or risotto. Makes a lovely centrepiece when you put it down to eat and then a few simple greens on the side and it's done.

it works as DD will eat them - worst case I do some basic veggies for her on the side if the rest of us are tucking into a stuffed pepper or whatever - but it still feels celebratory and a bit flashy.

I would love pork but DH isn't a huge pork fan but I've seen some interesting pork recipes in this line recently.

For starters, I tend to default to pates as they're easy to do in advance. Chicken liver I make myself, most others I buy in.

Dessert - it totally depends on what your preferences are. If we do a new years even dinner this year I'm planning poached pears.

Thank you - it's the main course I am looking for inspiration for. Something a bit different that will go down well with everyone and I'd like to avoid a roast on NYE.

Boeuf bourgignon (could also use venison)- has the benefit of being best made well ahead.

For something interactive and fun- Raclette or fondue? We've had a type of fondue which was a hot broth in the bowl, then thin slices of meat to cook in it. Similar to a Chinese hot pot. Or borrow 2-3 fondues and have a cheese a broth etc. Shop Salter 2-in-1 Electric Raclette Grill & Fondue Set

Duck legs braised with Seville oranges recipe | BBC Good Food

Buy 2 chickens, spatchcock to cook then cut into the various parts- legs, thighs, breast etc and serve with cous cous or savoury rice- depending on the flavour/marinade you use

Pasta bake with salmon or chicken

Toad in the hole with nice sausages, creamy mash and veg sides or individual ones

A traybake:

That's a great suggestion and I might do a chocolate/sweet fondue for pudding. For various reasons I won't go into I don't think it would work for the main. And various of your other suggestions wouldn't suit.

If everyone was equally adventurous/up for trying new things food wise, it would be a breeze! Hence me planning ahead now. There are three generations and half won't/can't eat this, that and the other. I'm also catering for allergies but that bit's easy in comparison!

I'm actually wondering about chicken is riesling - I've got a Diana Henry recipe for that. Everyone will eat chicken.

The ottolenghi chicken Marbella is fab
You can prep it days in advance as well and just bung in the oven

www.thekitchn.com/ottolenghis-chicken-marbella-recipe-23123072

I did beef bourgignon on NYD last year. Can't use venison as someone won't eat game.

Coq au vin
Chicken in white wine and tarragon sauce
Slow cooked pork belly
Lamb tagine/lamb ouzi on a bed of jewelled rice (ottolenghi)
Steak diane/steak with mushroom sauce

There are three generations and half won't/can't eat this, that and the other.
Last year I did a fish pie I did beef bourgignon on NYD last year

Could you do 2 mains again for choice and variety or were these served on different days? If you gave us an idea of what types of things might be suitable, if roasts and many other of the suggestions are out, yet it needs to be luxurious- it would help😕

This brine recipe really adds flavour and moisture to chicken, and can be used for a while chicken or pieces. I don't follow the recipe exactly, I throw in whatever herbs I have at the time. You could brine the chicken, to then use in a different recipe Chicken Brine - for the juiciest roast chicken of your life! | RecipeTin Eats

Would a mild, lamb curry be out? Home-style lamb curry recipe | BBC Good Food
Easy Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breast - Fit Foodie Finds
Chicken supreme recipe | BBC Good Food
Lamb lollipops with smashed minty broad beans recipe | BBC Good Food

Seafood platter with various sauces.

Chicken savoyarde is a brilliant fancy-ish easy crowd pleaser. I use Tamasin Day Lewis' book a lot for this kind of thing. Here's an online version

www.theenglishkitchen.co/2013/07/chicken-savoyarde.html

@SM4713 - it was poncey fish pie on NYE and the beef on NYD. I don't mind doing a roast on NYD, but it's NYE I'm after inspo for. I don't want to do two different main dishes for either meal.

I like the chicken Marbella suggestion upthread. I also had Poulet Marengo in France once and it was delicious. It doesn't have to be chicken though.

Everyone will eat chicken. It doesn't have to be chicken though.

As said, if you could give us an idea of what can/can't eaten, other than non spicy, it might help with suggestions.

Slow cooked lamb shoulder Moroccan style
Tabbouleh with pomegranate seeds
Roasted small potatoes
Halloumi and roasted Med veg cous cous
Tsatsiki