Food for a crowd

[SproodleDoodle]

Hi all, going on holiday with 5 other families soon (house for 25!) and the idea is that each family takes a turn to cook.

Any ideas? I’m thinking chilli possibly but another family may well nab that idea.

A tapas type dinner. You could just stick to a big omelette and a pan of roast peppers for the hot dishes and then supplement that with hams and cheeses and bread. It’s the kind of thing that can be as simple or complex as you want it to be and is good for a range of people with different dietary needs because everyone serves themselves.

I’d do some sort of buffet with hot and cold bits.

You could do a big pasta dish with garlic bread and salad.

My brain is struggling with the logistics of trying to cook for that many in a rental property. Like how big is the oven, how big are the pots and pans etc…

For a large number I usually cook several curry dishes, so there's something for vegans and meat eaters, and both. Eg chicken jalfrezi, sag aloo, lentil dal, lamb curry (Jamie Oliver has a really good one), home made nan breads, kachumber and lots of lemon rice.

How big are the cooking facilities?

Even the biggest slow cooker is going to struggle with 25 portions of chilli or whatever you want to put in it, although I assume some of the group are children

Also, a big omelette? How big a pan do you think OP will have!!!

A tray of roasted peppers? I cook up 3 roasted peppers for myself and that only does 2 meals, how big is the oven and tray going to be for that

I think its quite difficult OP, who came up with this idea, is everyone signed up to it?

Also the lamb curry takes a few hours and is best next day anyway so it saves a bit of time to make that and the dal the day before.

Roast chicken - at least 4 if your supermarket doesn’t sell mumsnet chickens (mine doesn’t), lots of par baked rolls which you can put in to cook while the chickens are resting (they are juicier if you don’t carve straight away) and salad - I’d do a buffet rather than a mixed salad to cater for fussy ones.

it might be better to cook chicken pieces - in two trays as that would save space

If everyone is meat eaters you could do something like a large roasting tray of chicken thighs and chorizo with some chopped up peppers and onions and covered with tinned tomatoes in the oven, served with rice and salad and maybe some fresh bakery bread to bulk it out.

For pudding I would do something which can be served cold and make it before you go to take with you.

Lots of different curries, breads etc is a great idea. Saag aloo, bombay potatoes etc, some can be prepped in advance and reheated.

Logistics are going to be your main problem. Perhaps find out from the venue ASAP exactly what cooking facilities and equipment are provided, then plan around that.
You might consider taking a couple of slow cookers and some large stock pots with you by the various group members.

Can you get a supermarket delivery for the afternoon you arrive? Could the people catering for the first night bring a ready prepared meal?
You all need a plan, and lists....lots of lists!!

I’d opt to do first night and cook at home and serve up there.

Big Pasta dish (or one meat and one veggie), cook pasta, salad stuff in big bowls, garlic breads and baguettes, same dessert for all mess.

Selection of meats, cheeses, salads, potatoes, breads, tapas dishes.

Giant Jules Oliver stew, bread.

Two curries, rice and selection of ready made Indian starters.

Tacos and everyone chooses for themselves.

I cook for this many very regularly. Have loads of fun doing it. Hers my suggestion.

Burrito bar -
Warm tortillas
Chicken Carnitas
Coriander Rice
Black Beans and Feta
Sweetcorn and red onion Salsa
Guacamole
Sour Cream
Grated Cheese
Green Salad
Jalapenos

Basic assembly line and the only real cooking is the chicken which can be done in two large oven trays in 45 mins. Do the rice in a slow cooker or instant pot. Rest is just chopping and assembly.

Thanks all, great ideas.
It's a simply massive house with a huge kitchen and lots of pots and pans. I'm going to take my big stock pot, my sister's taking hers.
Yes, a bit of a mad idea but once our respective turns are out the way, we can relax! In theory.
Lots of hungry teens, so 25 adults in reality 😳

Oh, so you're cooking for 50 really!!!

Are you only thre for 5 nights then? How is the 'turn' arranged if not?

No, a week. Well just do our own thing other nights, eat out, whatever. Not all together I imagine!
I will probably come home needing a holiday but should be a laugh! She said anxiously 🤣

I would do 2 curries, with sides like spring rolls, samosas etc. loads of rice 🤣

or a rotisserie chickens and shed loads of sides!

good luck.. this sounds like a standard family gathering for us 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

I would plan to make ahead and do lasagnes.

Buy some huge foil containers and make 4x lasagnes and freeze them at home. Try to 'bag' the second night so you can bring them frozen and then defrost in the fridge.

3x traditional lasagnes - each to serve 6-8 people
1x veggie lasagne (if needed)

Bring plenty of garlic/normal baguettes to fill up hungry teens and add a big salad.

An alternative (and easy option) could be to do jacket potatoes.

30x baked potatoes done in the oven and plenty of toppings - cheese, tuna, coleslaw, salad. If you did that as the final night you could also use it to use up any leftovers that have accumulated over the week - chill, curry, stew, chicken etc. I'd be the one sad enough to call it 'Last Night Leftovers' night.

If hungry teens in the mix I’d do at least double quantities and have extra portion padders available. Mine would have seconds, thirds and fourths if available.

I prefer Delia's macaroni pie for large number - much easier to take a helping from than lasagne. (It's particularly helpful if you are having a meal where not everyone can sit at a table as can be eaten with just a fork; appreciate you will probably all have table space in a large house).

Tagines make a nice change from curry/chilli, especially lamb which I find is better reheated than other versions. Lots of vegetarian recipes if you need to cater for non meat eaters.

Consider a vegetable tray bake as a side to tagines/casseroles/stews etc, much easier than juggling huge pans of veg. I always take some large foil trays with me as back up - whilst decent accommodation should provide all that you need, it does vary IME.

Lasagnes - I would make at home and bring with me and serve with salad and garlic bread.

Fajitas - massive pot of chicken strips fried with peppers and onions & fajita seasonings, wraps, cheese, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

Sausages - roasted in the oven with jacket potatoes and baked beans, and a bowl of grated cheese and a big pile of fried onions. Maybe some buns too. Tomato sauce and mustard.

Shoulders of pork, marinated and slow cooked, then shredded. Served with buns, coleslaw and sweetcorn. Maybe potato wedges too.

Keeping the number of elements to the meal relatively low is the key to it being fairly easy.

I go away with a group of 30 a few times a year and do the catering

We have sausages and hot dog buns and chips night one and jacket potatoes and filling night 2 with salad

I think for this a little more fancy I'd do a glazed baked ham and a roast chicken and a baguettes fancy butter with some sides like mini roast potatoes and Cole slaw. Allow 1/3 baguettes per person

For pudding do sliced Swiss roll with instant custard or ice creams.

@Chewbecca is You need a few elements so avoid tapas

Beware that filling an oven it will take longer to cook so plan to be 1 hour a head and keep warm if do the ham the day before.

I'd also take air fryer if I wanted to chips etc

I would do a huge pile of chicken thighs - if you cook them in the oven on a relatively low heat, they're extraordinarily forgiving and you can do whatever sides you want.

BBQ is obviously always a good choice with salads etc. Simple like hotdogs/burgers, or you could go a bit more elaborate eg with a couple of deboned lamb legs.

I like the sugestion of jacket potatoes with different toppings too.

I would go for a Mexican theme.
Large pot of either mince taco meat or even better slowcook brisket and shred.
Large pot if chixken tinga
You can get spice mixes for both.

Hard taco shells, Soft mini tortillas (alllow 2 of each per person)

Shredded lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Red onion
Sour cream
Cheese
Salsa
Guacamole
Put ut all out for people to help themselves

Pudding I would do a large tray of brownies, served hot with ice cream.

I would allow a lot more than 2 mini tortillas per person, especially for teenage boys!