Meal for 30

[Tipster100]

I've rather stupidly said I would cook for a family gathering of 30 people. The people can't bring anything with them. Wondering if anyone has any good ideas of hot food that would be easy to cook for this number? Thinking of doing a curry and rice perhaps? Pudding is easy so not concerned about that. Grateful for all ideas especially if you're used to cooking for big numbers! Thank you!

I'd definitely say curry and rice or chilli and rice with lots of side dishes.... or trays of lasagne.... but this only works if you've got seating for them all to eat or eat in shifts.

Otherwise it may be better to get rotisserie chickens and serve with bread/salad/corn on the cobs or just a general buffet.

30 is pretty easy to cook in bulk for. Do a meat curry and a veg curry. Rice, nan breads, poppadoms, salad bowl.

I cooked for a similar number for my birthday, but it was in the summer. I did pulled pork and interesting salads - lentil and roasted veg, cous cous, etc. did everything in advance and stored it in those big foil trays with cardboard lids (they stacked well in the fridge) and the ones that needed to be hot could go straight into the oven.

Curry for 30 should be straightforward, rice maybe less so? Lasagnas and garlic bread?

Are you doing it was a buffet or sit down meal? How much oven space/ fridge space do you have?

Thank you so much for your responses - it's a sit down meal and I have lots of fridge space available.

I would normally do pulled pork with salads but it's a pre- Christmas supper and having a cold meal feels strange (more for after Xmas?) but maybe I'm wrong thinking that?

Rotisserie chicken is a great idea for me to remember because I'm not far from Costco who sell them but presume that would end up being a cold meal too?

I hadn't thought of naan breads too - that's a good idea. I usually cook the poppadoms you deep fat fry but worried the house will stink when they arrive and not sure how far in advance you can cook those ones? Does anyone know if Costco do naan?

Also has Anyone got a good curry recipe they like? I would do chilli but there's someone with a kidney bean allergy!

In terms of rice, I could do it in the instant pot or in the oven.

Lasagna would be good but I don't think I have enough oven space for that number.

Do you think it's ok to make the whole meal veggie as I have one or two there? Or best to make meat and veg?

Costco do amazing little mini naan dippers, I’ve ate about 15 today 😂 right now they have a giant hot plate you can sit hot food on to stay heated, it’s electric and takes any kind of heat friendly container.

Mini naan dippers - they sound perfect!

Put your deep fryer outside to cook. Anywhere covered.

Or just get the microwave ones.

Whenever I have to cater for a mixed crowd - ie veggies/meateaters - I make the mains veggie and have the meats as an added bonus

So lets say veggie - veggie biryani which can so easily be made days in advance , and then do tandoori chicken or chicken tikka skewers or even tandoori lamb cutlets - all made in advance and reheated on the day. Throw on veggie samosa and or bahgees and there is no need for breads or extra rice dishes

If you can get hold of a copy of Hairy Bikers Curry book - they have an excellent chapter for cooking for a crowd. Really easy recipes and actually very good flavours nodding towards Indian restaurant flavours ( I love the veggie biryani, make it often )

Poppadoms cook in the microwave so no smell but when cooking for so many Id be buying the bags of the walkers ones and just putting them out in bowls

The skewers are a great idea - thank you so much. I want to try and avoid cooking multiple curries so that's a fantastic way to get around it. Will look out for the hairy bikers book. I have a few of theirs including Asian adventure but not the curry one.

Hairy bikers beef curry is great.
I'm still searching for the perfect veg curry. I'd definitely do a dahl and spinach and potato.
If you are near a co op, they do 8 ready made poppadoms for just over a pound, so for a fiver, the poppadoms are sorted.

If you would normally do pulled pork that's still an option but do mac n cheese to accompany it- makes it winter friendly and the mac and cheese also acts as a main for the veggies.
Add a winter coleslaw and some green veg as sides; all can be done well in advance and reheats well.

But if you are keen on a curry a really nice recipe is meerasodha.com/recipes/what-my-mother-taught-me/
It's mild but has a nice depth of flavour so is crowd pleasing

My DH can't eat kidney beans so we put baked beans in a chilli. You could try that?

I think it's all beans and lentils. However I could just do one portion without as I add them quite late anyway. But I need to check how allergic they are as I don't really want anyone having an anaphylactic shock from the smell of them!

Hi there,
I would definitely go for a one pot for so many people. With some side small dishes. You can stay in the Indian spirit with a Biryani dish, it is easy, delicious, and full of amazing flavors. You can add serve together with an indian refreshing salad, a Raita.

You could do the chilli without any beans and if the allergic person is okay in the same room as beans, hand round the beans separately for everyone else to mix in, perhaps in a light dressing with chopped parsley or coriander.

That's a lovely idea to hand the beans round a bit like a salsa topping.

The list of dietary requirements I have is getting me down a bit. Name a type of food and I can find you someone allergic to it! Glad I'm planning early.

You're braver than me @Tipster100 Are you paying for it all too??? Some of these suggestions are good but it's still going to be expensive, and bloomin' hard work. 30 people?! 😱

2/3trays lasagna, tray of roast potatoes, a couple trays with Sweet potatoes/sautéed veggies, home made hummus, coleslaw. For desert I'd do big trays of milk cake or school cake + custard. All easy stuff that can be prepped day before.

Yes - essentially I have completely screwed up! It was meant to be the cheaper choice for us not taking the whole family out and joining in Various activities but now it's turning into a bit of a nightmare cos everyone's dietary requests mean I can't do just one dish for everyone. I'm essentially going to have to do two mains and two desserts etc etc Arrrggghhhh

I was going to do ice cream but there are some lactose intolerant ppl. Might do jelly but there's a veggie. I guess I could just do one thing and then buy a pudding for the people that can't join in that dish.

Good luck! I am praying for you! 🤗✝

Fresh fruit salad?

That's always a good shout! Thank you.

We get a lovely dairy free ice-cream called Swedish Glace. It's available in all the big supermarkets and comes in vanilla or raspberry.