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Four-night guests: menu ideas?

24 replies

Abeona · 29/02/2024 00:22

Guests coming next week for five nights. We'll eat out once so that leaves me with four suppers to plan. They are into health conscious, lowish-carb, 'clean' sort of eating so no pasta or pastry and lots of fresh veg. Both eat fish and seafood, one eats chicken too, otherwise food will be veggie. Both say 'keep it simple' but they're foodies — so their idea of simple isn't necessarily mine. They are also a lot better off than me, so are used to top-notch ingredients.

We'll go out or have a takeaway one evening but that leaves four meals to plan. I'm normally reasonably confident but because the guests are good cooks I'm feeling unsure of myself. Any thoughts?

One night I'll do fish (probably hake) with a white wine and tarragon cream sauce, samphire, spinach and veg. Maybe some pommes Anna or boulangere. Or is that terribly old-fashioned? What would you do with some fabulous fresh hake?

Wondered about a prawn curry for another night. Guess I could offer cauliflower rice as an alternative. I'll serve with an Indian salad and a side of spiced greens. If anyone has a really good recipe I'd be interested.

Stuck for what else to do. Will get Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and Ottolenghi out and seek help there — but if anyone else has suggestions they'd be gratefully received. We'll be quite active during the day so supper needs to reasonably substantial without being stodgy.

OP posts:
Mumoftwo1312 · 29/02/2024 00:36

Bake a fish in a covered casserole dish with fresh herbs and soft fruit and wine, I've never failed to impress with that one.

Or just cook them what you'd usually eat. They're your guests! When in Rome etc.

Not helpful but your op reminds me of a funny Ben and Holly episode where Queen Thistle begs Nanny Plum to cook something Modern for her sister and BIL and so Nanny cooks them flavoured steam and then they end up eating a humble vegetable stew intended for the kids and they love it.

Rainbowqueeen · 29/02/2024 01:04

I consider myself a foodie too but to me that means trying things I’ve never had before - east or hard, plain or fancy, it makes no difference to me.

The fish fish you have planned sounds gorgeous. Definitely do that.

Can I suggest fish tacos? https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a53296/easy-fish-taco-recipe/. Mexican is not commonly served in the uk in my experience so they should enjoy them.

Then a couple of vegetarian options are

west African peanut stew https://www.budgetbytes.com/african-peanut-stew-vegan/ with brown rice

and a mixed mezze type plate. With hummus, marinaded mushrooms, soy marinaded eggplant slices, Greek salad, taramalsalata, bits of cold seafood and pita bread.

Stop Paying $8 For 1 Fish Taco & Use This Recipe Tonight

Beach vibes—here we come.

https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a53296/easy-fish-taco-recipe/

Babla · 29/02/2024 01:12

Red Thai salmon curry on bbc good food website is easy and very nice

Smoked haddock risotto

Any fish with ratatouille

Veggie tagine

Rainbowqueeen · 29/02/2024 01:22

There’s also a great thread on this topic called Old fashioned vegetarian food. (Meaning recipes that are not pastas and chillis ) it might have some inspiration for you

coxesorangepippin · 29/02/2024 01:38

Chicken in garlic cream sauce with roasted veg

DrJump · 29/02/2024 01:49

Pre roast veggies and cool. Then turn into a salad with chickpeas, feta and fresh herbs.

Flaffals, with tabouli, flat breads, yoghurt sauce, could do strips of chicken for those interested.

Gado Gado is great too. You premake most things. So then you can just put it together quite quickly. You can do boiled eggs plus tempeh or tofu as the protein. Then boiled rice and steam pototes for carbs. Green beans, tomatoes, lettuce, snow peas, broccoli, carrots that sort of thing. I tend to make way to much and then it's easy to pull together a lunch the next day.

TheSandgroper · 29/02/2024 02:42

My vege go to is parboil chunks of pumpkin and cool.

Make an Italian tomato sauce. Add bacon bits and/or Greek feta for a salt hit if you want.

Slice the pumpkin. Layer like lasagne with the sauce, top with breadcrumbs and cheese and bake until golden.

Very forgiving about being made in advance. Use as a main or a side dish. Very filling.

sashh · 29/02/2024 02:51

Indian Thali.

Rice or bread - you could make chapatis - I know you said low carb but you only need a small amount, 1 veg curry, 1 dhal and a cucumber salad. Put in separate bowls.

Fish catalan - passata, add olives and seasoning - smoked paprika is good, heat through then add fish - a pack of supermarket fish pie mix is fine, when you bring it to the table add hazelnuts.

Chicken and veg tray bake. Skin on chicken thighs with a little lemon juice to flavour and crisp the skin.

I use one of those 1 cal sprays, spray the tray, add the chicken, cherry tomatoes, red onion, slices of pepper, asparagus - whatever, spray on top with the oil and then bake for 30 mins.

Raclette? OK if you don't have one it's a bit of an outlay but great for this situation, just put out bowls of veg, meat, eggs, passata, slices of cheese and let people cook their own. Put a salad on the side and you have a really sociable meal.

https://direct.asda.com/george/electricals/kitchen-appliances/cooking-appliances/giles-posner-electric-raclette-grill/051220987,default,pd.html

Giles & Posner Electric Raclette Grill | Electricals | George at ASDA

Add a touch of theatre to your next dinner party with this 6-piece non-stick stone round raclette grill from Giles and Posner. Ideal for up to six people, yo...

https://direct.asda.com/george/electricals/kitchen-appliances/cooking-appliances/giles-posner-electric-raclette-grill/051220987,default,pd.html

semideponent · 29/02/2024 03:28

Could they cook one night? It seems like a big burden you]re taking on and they might enjoy it...

Diana Henry's kachumber salad is a good Indian side dish.

Hope you can find some solutions that mean when you enjoy the cooking you choose to do and spread the load when necessary,

(IME foodies LOVE to be the cooks and hate being cooked for). I in turn hate relinquishing kitchen control and generally need to come up with with some form of compensation for my inner child :)

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 29/02/2024 05:01

I would generally avoid cream sauces if they are 'clean' eaters or at least serve on the side for those that want it. if they say keep it simple, what about just steamed fish, plain new potatoes, lots of steamed veg?

what about a fairly basic stir fry one night? I would just chuck in loads of veg and then make a sauce with soy sauce / rice vinegar / seasame oil / fish sauce (optional). Serve with plain egg or udon noodles (for those that want them) or maybe do the stir fry on its own with fish?

salmon fillets are easy to stick in the oven for another night. Maybe with lemon and dill? Served again with loads of steamed veg or salad/s?

mitogoshi · 29/02/2024 05:05

Seafood and spinach curry with brown rice I like to use fish and prawns.

Vegetable and chickpea tagine with couscous

falalalalalalalallama · 29/02/2024 05:14

How about aubergine lasagne? The aubergine is instead of the pasta, so it's tasty and comforting without the actual pasta. Lots of recipes for it online, find one you like the look of - here's one at random.

https://www.themediterraneandish.com/eggplant-lasagna/

You can make it ahead of time and heat up on the day.

Serve with a couple of different salads.

Easy Eggplant Lasagna Recipe (Vegetarian & Low Carb) | The Mediterranean Dish

All-star eggplant lasagna with layers of velvety tender roasted eggplant and a delicious cheese mixutre with spinach and fresh herbs. Tips & video included.

https://www.themediterraneandish.com/eggplant-lasagna

greenacrylicpaint · 29/02/2024 05:53

a vegetarian chilli

a curry

tbh don't think too much about your guests usual diet, unless there is a health or religious need.
offer food in bowls on the table plus additional steamed veg.

blablablablablaalb · 29/02/2024 06:42

Taco night
Veggie curry
Veggie tagine
Stuffed pepper in oven/tabbouleh/hummous etc.. middle Eastern/med night

OMGitsnotgood · 29/02/2024 09:53

Ottolenghi's asparagus, courgette and manouri salad is gorgeous (although I use halloumi rather than manouri):
Serve as a side to salmon or chicken.

If flat breads aren't too high carb, you could do shawarma. Offer 3 fillings: chicken, mushroom and chickpea. You can make the flatbreads in advance, they freeze ok too.

Abeona · 29/02/2024 10:01

Cheers, everyone. We're mainly veggie-with-a-bit-of-fish people, so our regular menu consists of all the usual suspects — stir fries with rice or noodles, veggie chili, a bean or lentil-based shepherd's pie, lentil moussaka, veggie curries etc. So I think of them as too mundane to serve to guests. I think a fish curry is a good idea and I'll take a look at a no-pasta lasagne.

At the end of a busy day the last thing I'll need is a poke bowl, or shakshuka!

OP posts:
Tadaaaah · 29/02/2024 10:59

I would highly recommend only cooking dishes you've made before - if they're foodies you'd be mortified if it came out wrong on your first go. Also, they're not coming to stay at a gastro hotel, they can have an easy slow-cooker meal one night and like it! You could always posh it up with a fancy cheese board for dessert.

TheLadyIsAVamp · 29/02/2024 11:05

Dishoom’s Prawn Moilee curry is a great recipe, as is their black Daal, gunpowder potatoes and bowl of greens.

Briam could be a nice idea with a Greek salad, some nice bread, olives and hummus.

I agree with pp a big hearty chilli sounds ideal after a busy day, make your own guacamole and some really nice salsas and salads to go with it.

It's a shame they're low carb as a nice big bowl of spicy ramen would be my go to otherwise.

Abeona · 29/02/2024 11:15

Tadaaaah · 29/02/2024 10:59

I would highly recommend only cooking dishes you've made before - if they're foodies you'd be mortified if it came out wrong on your first go. Also, they're not coming to stay at a gastro hotel, they can have an easy slow-cooker meal one night and like it! You could always posh it up with a fancy cheese board for dessert.

I understand the issue of not risking doing something radically new, but I've been cooking for 40+ years and I'm confident — so if someone tells me a recipe is amazing and looking through the ingredients I think it should work I'd be prepared to give it a go. Actually, it's easier because if it's underwhelming I can say 'Damn, this was recommended to me as being the best ever...' and someone else takes the blame!

OP posts:
AtleastitsnotMonday · 29/02/2024 12:33

What about a nicois salad with tuna steaks? Simply but tasty.

indignatio · 01/03/2024 22:08

Ramen, cuddle in a bowl. Fresh and clean.

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