Dinner for 6 - People with allergies, help!

[misslomi]

Hi all,

It's my partners birthday this weekend and his friend is coming to visit with his family.

The friend is on a healthy eating journey as they have had some health issues this last year, and his wife is dairy free.

I need a dinner to suit all, and something that I can make in advance if possible. Under normal circumstances, I would normally do a lasagne with salad and garlic bread.

Any ideas?

Forgot to say, wife and teenage children don't like spicy food!

Do a big pasta and salad, have cheese seperately for just on top and hold the garlic bread.

Could you do something like a big chicken spanish style casserole - chicken breast one each in a tomato, pepper and olive sauce, serve with a side salad/ bread/ small roasted potatoes
Or a tagine served with couscous and flatbread

I'd do something like chicken in bbq sauce, corn on the cob, potato wedges and a green salad.

Dessert could be a fresh fruit salad.

Most of that you could prepare in advance ready to serve or pop in the oven to cook.

I don' tknow what your friend means by "healthy" eating. is he eating low fat? or avoiding red meat? gluten free? If he's vague, my chouce would be Roast chicken served with pilaf (or some other kind of flavoured) rice and green vegetables.

Normally, other options for me would be a good quality lamb casserole or tagine - I add vegetables and chickpeas to this sort of dish and serve with rice or couscous. But if he's trying to avoid red meat or is paranoid about meat that isn't super lean, this won't work.

Similarly, I like a roast rib of beef which I routinely do without a traditional roast dinner sides. Often with a mix of salads and new potatoes. But if he's anti-red meat, that won't work.

Or lamb shoulder that I serve med style with flat breads, tabbouleh, tzatiki, baba ganoush etc. But if he's gluten free or fat free, again, this probably won't work.

I would do a raclette, but it is a bit of an expense if you don't already have one.

Do you have a slow cooker? You could do something like a pot roast.

I don't see what is wrong with your usual meal, just use a non dairy milk and serve cheese on the side for anyone who wants it.

Alternatively a pasta bake with salad and garlic bread.

How healthy does it need to be?

Here are some ideas, I’ve made all of these and they are always popular

https://www.recipetineats.com/lamb-shanks-in-massaman-curry/

https://www.recipetineats.com/smoked-sausage-and-rice-quick-one-pot-meal/ www.recipetineats.com/smoked-sausage-and-rice-quick-one-pot-meal/]]]] for non spicy use a mild chorizo and leave out the smoked paprika. To prep ahead you can cook until the rice is mostly done but not quite and then give it the last 5/10 minutes of cooking just before serving (peas last minute). I wouldn’t do this the day before though but a few hours ahead would be ok.

https://www.recipetineats.com/lemon-garlic-salmon-tray-bake-easy-healthy/ www.recipetineats.com/lemon-garlic-salmon-tray-bake-easy-healthy/]]]] you can’t cook this in advance but you can get it all ready & then just put in the oven.

https://www.recipetineats.com/braised-beef-short-ribs-in-red-wine-sauce/ www.recipetineats.com/braised-beef-short-ribs-in-red-wine-sauce/]]]] prep the day before and skim the solidified fat off the top to make it healthier. And serve with rice or cous cous or roasted new potatoes rather than mash.

PS the massaman is really not spicy

Is the friend’s wife dairy-free because of allergies or is it just preference?

Your title indicates the former, but it’s not completely clear from your post.

I ask because actual allergies bring a whole extra level of caution to food preparation. I wouldn’t serve cheese on the side if she’s allergic, for example.

I would just do something quite simple like a roast chicken, new potatoes (with dairy free spread) and roasted asparagus or squash if you want to do something more seasonal. You could bulk it out a bit with a salad with vinaigrette. Throw some baguettes on the table with butter and dairy free spread.

If you want to do pudding, I’d make a nice fruit salad and serve with ice cream or clotted cream for anyone who will have the dairy.

Thank you for all the replies!

Husbands diet is low fat, whole foods, and I think the dairy allergy is actually lactose intolerance, she can be around dairy!

I like the idea of roast chicken with salads, baguettes etc. Might add some smashed new potatoes and roasted veg.

@sashh I would do a raclette, but it is a bit of an expense if you don't already have one.

But raclette is cheese and 1 guest is dairy free! When I've done it, I served several types of cheese to be melted on the potatoes, sides etc.

OP- I'm sure the husband can cope with one meal which isn't entirely whole foods!
I'd do:

• roast chicken and veg. Ottilenghi has some twists on a bog standard chicken and sides and majority aren't hot or spicy. https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/chicken-recipes

https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/sides-recipes -chicken thigh tray bake -spaghetti Bolognese with salad -https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/lamb/herby-leg-of-lamb-creamy-beans/ -Tagine

I’m also in the roast chicken camp with salads etc.

Pumpkin is good here. Either roast diced pumpkin dredged with a little oil and spices (za’atar or whatever). Serve layered starting with lettuce then pumpkin, olives, pecans, walnuts or pine nuts, an onion of some sort and good Greek feta serves separately. A little vinaigrette over. Or mix in a bowl with a tin of cannellini beans stirred through.

Or parboil chunks of pumpkin, cool and slice. Layer like lasagne with your favourite tomato sauce (thinned with water a bit), nutmeg, salt and pepper. Top with breadcrumbs and into the oven at 180 until brownish and bubbling. Serve the Greek feta normally scattered through the layers separately. Very filling and forgiving.

I might even shove the chicken on a bit earlier and cook a bit lower - it needn’t be boiling hot when served but warm will be fine. Also, the house will smell amazing which makes everything taste better with no extra work.

Roasted veg aren't low fat if the person is really obsessed with low fat (ask me how I know SIL). And "whole foods" usually wouldn't include baguettes unless you're making them entirely from scratch.

I'd stick with rice/new potatoes and salads or simply prepared veggies.

OP- The friend is on a healthy eating journey as they have had some health issues this last year, and his wife is dairy free.

MN- I would do a raclette 😂

I’d do Thai, chicken skewers with a dipping sauce rather than satay, pretty much any curry, rice and noodles. You can control the spice.

You can get lactose free milk/cream/cheese. Widely available at supermarkets, if she is lactose intolerant.

Unless there's a real possibility of a medical emergency my view is that they eat what you serve to them. I wouldn't dream of asking someone to cook anything different just because I have a 'lifestyle' . Your lasagne idea is fine, just use non dairy milk. Or as others have said, a lower fat chicken veg tray bake. Have a lovely weekend!

Thanks guys!

Just to confirm, its not a 'lifestyle' issue with either of them. Husband has been very ill and told to overhaul his diet, I'd like to help him stick to this. And wife has a dairy intolerance.

I am going to do a (mild) peri peri spatchcock roast chicken or 2, with potato wedges, garlic bread (dairy free), sauteed garlic tenderstem broccoli and corn on the cob.

I'd like to do something fancier but I think this will please the crowd, including their teenage children and our 2 year old!

Those of you laughing at me or saying raclette is cheese can just go do one.

Yes it is traditional to melt cheese in the pans to put over the potatoes, but that can be missed out.

If you have a raclette at my house you will have some form of meat or fish.

A side salad.

A range of veg to cook on the raclette (or eaten raw) usually peppers, green beans, baby corn, onion, spring onions, mushrooms, slices of courgette.

Some boiled new potatoes.

To cook in the pans I have eggs and passatta, yes normally I would include cheese and to be honest if only one person is dairy free I probably would a few slices out.

Some seasoning eg salt and pepper, smoked paprika, chilli, whatever.

Everyone serves themselves and cooks for themselves so it is a good option when you do not know what people will eat.

But I'm glad you have had a laugh, I suppose it means you are leaving someone else alone.

OP I'm glad you have something sorted.

Raclette is literally the name of a cheese

<runs away>

Yes, but it is also the name of what is virtually an indoor BBQ.

Does anyone actually think I would serve a lump of cheese for dinner for 6 people?

Raclette cheese is literally the point of a a Raclette! I've never known anyone serve it without cheese. What next, a cheese free fondue?

Do you know what a Raclette is? It a dish of melted cheese melted over meat & vegetables. If you omit the cheese, you're not serving a Raclette.

I’m sure the PP is not breaking any laws by using a Raclette grill to cook food without cheese.

OP I see you have a plan but as an alternative take a look at Dale Pinnock (The Nutritional Chef)’s recipes. If you know what your guest’s specific issues are, these might suit. He explains the health benefits of all the component ingredients and they are simple and tasty too.