Large group meal ideas

maryb

For puddings I always do a choice of something chocolatey and something meringuey. Anyone who doesn't like one of those two is never going to be happy or else likes cheese

rach_k

If you do a huge chilli, you can do several options to serve it with to make it a bit more fun. At parties, chilli, jacket potatoes or wedges, massive bowl of cheap nachos (Tesco value are fine), a big bowl of plain rice plus grated cheese, salsa, guacamole and sour cream always go down well.

MallyGirl

maryb wrote: »

For puddings I always do a choice of something chocolatey and something meringuey. Anyone who doesn't like one of those two is never going to be happy or else likes cheese

I agree - Pavlova is dead easy

Hollyberry

Last time we had a lot of family here for two nights I did an Italian night and a Mexican night.

The Italian had homemade pizza, gnocchi, walnut sauce, rocket salad, mozzarella with avocado and tomato. The Mexican had slow cooker chili, sausages (some of the crowd don't like spice), bean salad, guacamole, salsa and nachos. I've also got a Belgian version in my repertoire: beef carbonnade, endive salad, jackets.

But next time I'm definitely making that massaman curry!

maman

When we've had large family gatherings I do a beef in red wine casserole. I put plenty of onions, carrots and mushrooms in it so no need for extra veg. I serve with new potatoes (cook beforehand and ping in microwave) or you could do jackets.


Alternatively I've made lasagnes. When catering for 30 people I've done 2 or 3 in those large foil baking trays (like the ones they sell for cooking turkey) and a few smaller ones. Plenty of salad and French sticks (easier than doing garlic bread) to go with those.


I'd always recommend making something where you can freeze any leftovers so nothing's wasted.

jackyann

Does everyone like curry?

I will usually do a veggie option - we have a few veges in our family, but even those who like a bit of meat might like have plenty of veggies as well.
With a curry, I might do a vege curry, using plenty of frozen peas / chick peas or bombay potatoes, mixing in some greens.

I often do a ratatouille, roasting the vegetables to bring out the flavour. This goes with almost anything.

I make sure everything is either freezable, or will at least last a few days in the fridge, so left-overs are well used.

At the moment, do a version of coleslaw: winter veg very thinly sliced or cut into matchsticks, and marinaded in vinaigrette.

Pollycat

rach_k wrote: »

If you do a huge chilli, you can do several options to serve it with to make it a bit more fun. At parties, chilli, jacket potatoes or wedges, massive bowl of cheap nachos (Tesco value are fine), a big bowl of plain rice plus grated cheese, salsa, guacamole and sour cream always go down well.

I'd second chilli.

You could buy wedges or Aunt Bessie-style roast potatoes and maybe buy some garlic bread too.

I used to make a chilli for our family get-together between Christmas and New Year and made my own wedges and garlic bread but it depends how confident you are.

karcher

A third one who would do a big batch of chilli, meaty, veggie or both.

Serve with a big bowl of rice, cheap frozen shop bought garlic bread, a big bowl of mixed salad leaves and maybe a normal baguette sliced with butter available.

Easy to do and put out for people to help themselves and not much faff involved.

Personally I wouldn't bother with dessert maybe just some cheese and crackers.

Islandmaid

Chilli,s and currys are brill and easily freezable for leftovers.

Good old pulled pork is a good slow cooker one.

Decent rolls, coleslaw, salad etc

Brownies and Icecream are a good crowd pleaser.

caronc

Trifle is good for an old fashioned crowd pleaser. If I'm not going for a curry/chilli/lasagne option I like to make a vat of chicken casserole, loads of veg in the stew so just baked spuds or crusty bread needed to serve. If you are catering for conservative tastes sometimes roasting a couple of chickens or a big pork joint and making a big pan of roast tatties goes down well, a bowl of stuffing, a tray of yorkshire puds, some veg and a big jug of gravy and job done . Most folk like a roast dinner and once you've done the prep it more or less looks after itself.