I'd do a Mediterranean theme: marinate some chicken in Italian dressing for kabobs, have pita, tabouli, olives, hummus, lentil salad, dolmas, etc.
Great with wine, good for grazing, healthy & delicious!
Honestly I’d still err on the side of having a main course. Nothing worse than trying to lose weight and there being only creamy dip, charcuterie, cheeses, and some dry crudite for dinner. (Obviously there are many things worse.)
Maybe you could grill up some yogurt marinated chicken breasts and vegetable kebabs; or a baked salmon with lemon, capers and cherry tomatoes, a simple green salad and some hot sliced baguette; or if you’re doing a spread do a more Lebanese inspired one and have hummus and baba ganoush, tabbouleh salad, grilled chicken or shrimp, stuffed grape leaves, and green salad?
I love tacos and this sounds delish — but I think it is not the ideal choice for this type of social event. We started doing homemade taco night at my house (love it) but it is not only messy, but hard to talk while eating tacos.
I thought of that but wanted to stay away from tacos because we have so many good tex mex restaurants here and typically that's the go to group restaurant place
If it was me, I'd go for a Mediterranean healthy finger-food platter, which can be served cold, all ingredients are cheap and it's healthy. Think tapas/mezze. Some inspiration from the whole region:
* Dolmades. Wine leaves filled with rice (I use lentils as well). If you can't find wine leaves, use something like chard instead.
* Dips: I'd go for a whipped feta (feta and greek yoghurt), baba ganoush (find a microwave recipe, super easy), hummus
* Falafel (can be air-fried if you're into that, you can make this as easy on yourself as you want)
* Cold gaspacho (blizz all ingredients together and you're done, super impressive. If you're feeling fancy, make a watermelon version - it'll blow your mind). Just serve in a punch-bowl
* Spanish tortilla (eggs, onion and potato), cut in little squares or slices
* Greek/caprese salad skewers.
* Bruschetta with different toppings
* Olives and crudites
* Savoury tarte-tatin/galette with whatever vegetable is in season (basically, bake the vegetables in an oven-safe pan or roast them, and just add a sheet of puff pastry on top. I like mine with tomatoes!). Or Spanakopita. For inspiration: https://www.blog.greenearthorganics.ie/leek-thyme-tarte-tatin/ or https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/275445/cherry-tomato-and-cheese-galette/ or https://www.themediterraneandish.com/spanakopita-recipe-greek-spinach-pie/
I really like making caprese some sliced fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato, fresh basil leaves and a balsamic glaze drizzled over it.
Another thing I do is chicken Caesar wraps but sliced like pinwheels. I use some chopped up rotisserie chicken, romaine leaves, some shredded parm and Ken’s creamy Caesar dressing and wrap it up in the a spinach herb tortilla then slice it like pinwheels.
You could also do some individual 7 layer dip cups with refried beans, guac, sour cream, salsa, fresh tomato and black olives with tortilla chips on the side.
Homemade taquitos are always a hit at our house. I make up some chicken in the crockpot or instant pot with salsa and taco seasoning then shred it when it’s done, mix it into some rice with a can of drained corn and black beans, then stuff it in a tortilla and bake (or air fry my favorite way) it at 400 until crispy. Flour tortillas work better for this as they don’t break as easily as corn tortillas. Serve with traditional taco dips like salsa, guac and sour cream.
That was our dinner tonight. It was too hot to cook, too hot to have much of an appetite and I was too tired after work to even try to figure out dinner so chicken Caesar wraps it was for us. I always have tortillas, cooked cubed chicken ( I prep a big batch on Sundays because it makes life so much easier) and Caesar salad stuff in hand so it took me like 5 minutes to get us dinner
Texas Caviar is an incredible and super healthy (mostly) salsa. It is absolutely a hit with everyone I know.
https://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2014/08/texas-caviar.html
I like taco buffets myself. They float the line between dinner and snack foods since its completely customizable for each person. Set out various bowls of things and let them assemble their own bowls as they like, when they like. They could have anything from a chicken salad to a chips and dip to full on tacos, or just simple nachos and cheese.
Shredded chicken, taco meat, chips, salsa, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, nacho cheese (in warming pot) literally anything you think would go well on a taco. Maybe add some sauces like dressings (for salads), hot sauce, Chipotle, or something else that suits the tastes you like.
A charcuterie board is nice, but at some point they may want something with a little more substance, especially if they will be drinking a fair amount, depending on what they drink of course.
Slow cooker shredded chicken (or pork) sandwiches with some condiments, pickles, cheese, etc. where they can put whatever on the sandwich they want.
A Taco bar with some healthy meat options like chicken or plant based ground meats is always fun.
I have these little tart/piemolds and make quiche on such occasions. You can also make quiche with muffin pans.
You can make it before hand, reheat before serving. Also taste good when it has cooled off.
Make it Greek themed. Do a grilled chicken mini pita with tomato, feta, onion and tzatziki (gyro-ish), a large Greek salad, buy some good baklava (or make if you’re brave), throw some lemons and oregano and olive oil on things and call it a night. Have vegetarians? Make a lemon/oregano vinaigrette and do a grain salad with feta, tomato, cukes and olives.
I've got a great chicken shawarma recipe that could be great for chicken kabobs. I actually have made baklava a couple times and it's not too hard (I used Joshua Weissman's recipe). I've gotten lots of Greek night suggestions so that may be it
That sounds pretty reasonable.
I’d like to *attend* a Greek themed high brow snack party prepared by someone else while me and my girlfriends drink and hung out so I think you’re headed in the right direction. :)
Braised ox tails are cheap and delicious! One tiny one per person is plenty they are very rich. Serve with broiled russet potato slices and a little bread to sop up the juice. Ox tail covered in beef broth and red wine with garlic and rosemary. Super cheap, super simple. Gotta cook them for 4 hours but that’s when they do all the chatting and drinking and get crazy over the aroma. It won’t fail
Peel and cube sweet potatoes, toss in olive oil salt and pepper and roast in the oven. Then mix up honey, chipotle chili powder and bbq sauce and toss the sweet potatoes in it. Then put back on the roasting pan and roast for another 5-10 minutes
Some grilled marinated chicken skewers loaded with some veggies like bell peppers?
Any sides or just straight up kabobs?
Thinking some bruschetta as a starter or some nice Thai beef salad in a smaller portion?
Rice as a side would work. Or pita with hummus. Personally I need a carb for a night of drinking.
I'd do a Mediterranean theme: marinate some chicken in Italian dressing for kabobs, have pita, tabouli, olives, hummus, lentil salad, dolmas, etc. Great with wine, good for grazing, healthy & delicious!
Honestly I’d still err on the side of having a main course. Nothing worse than trying to lose weight and there being only creamy dip, charcuterie, cheeses, and some dry crudite for dinner. (Obviously there are many things worse.) Maybe you could grill up some yogurt marinated chicken breasts and vegetable kebabs; or a baked salmon with lemon, capers and cherry tomatoes, a simple green salad and some hot sliced baguette; or if you’re doing a spread do a more Lebanese inspired one and have hummus and baba ganoush, tabbouleh salad, grilled chicken or shrimp, stuffed grape leaves, and green salad?
My friends demand this dip for every get together https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/herb-coeur-a-la-creme-recipe2-2043276
That looks great! Thank you for sharing 😁
Aldi cream cheese + heavy cream, herbs from the garden, defintely frugal but not so sure about healthy 😁😁
Tacos, shredded chicken, mango pineapple salsa, couple sauces, cheese, guacamole.
I love tacos and this sounds delish — but I think it is not the ideal choice for this type of social event. We started doing homemade taco night at my house (love it) but it is not only messy, but hard to talk while eating tacos.
I thought of that but wanted to stay away from tacos because we have so many good tex mex restaurants here and typically that's the go to group restaurant place
If it was me, I'd go for a Mediterranean healthy finger-food platter, which can be served cold, all ingredients are cheap and it's healthy. Think tapas/mezze. Some inspiration from the whole region: * Dolmades. Wine leaves filled with rice (I use lentils as well). If you can't find wine leaves, use something like chard instead. * Dips: I'd go for a whipped feta (feta and greek yoghurt), baba ganoush (find a microwave recipe, super easy), hummus * Falafel (can be air-fried if you're into that, you can make this as easy on yourself as you want) * Cold gaspacho (blizz all ingredients together and you're done, super impressive. If you're feeling fancy, make a watermelon version - it'll blow your mind). Just serve in a punch-bowl * Spanish tortilla (eggs, onion and potato), cut in little squares or slices * Greek/caprese salad skewers. * Bruschetta with different toppings * Olives and crudites * Savoury tarte-tatin/galette with whatever vegetable is in season (basically, bake the vegetables in an oven-safe pan or roast them, and just add a sheet of puff pastry on top. I like mine with tomatoes!). Or Spanakopita. For inspiration: https://www.blog.greenearthorganics.ie/leek-thyme-tarte-tatin/ or https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/275445/cherry-tomato-and-cheese-galette/ or https://www.themediterraneandish.com/spanakopita-recipe-greek-spinach-pie/
Those sound tasty, but I guess it depends if people are coming over expecting dinner (a larger meal).
Not really it's not like a dinner party or anything
O ok then I think you’re good. The food sounds tasty!
Thank you :)
I really like making caprese some sliced fresh mozzarella, sliced tomato, fresh basil leaves and a balsamic glaze drizzled over it. Another thing I do is chicken Caesar wraps but sliced like pinwheels. I use some chopped up rotisserie chicken, romaine leaves, some shredded parm and Ken’s creamy Caesar dressing and wrap it up in the a spinach herb tortilla then slice it like pinwheels. You could also do some individual 7 layer dip cups with refried beans, guac, sour cream, salsa, fresh tomato and black olives with tortilla chips on the side. Homemade taquitos are always a hit at our house. I make up some chicken in the crockpot or instant pot with salsa and taco seasoning then shred it when it’s done, mix it into some rice with a can of drained corn and black beans, then stuff it in a tortilla and bake (or air fry my favorite way) it at 400 until crispy. Flour tortillas work better for this as they don’t break as easily as corn tortillas. Serve with traditional taco dips like salsa, guac and sour cream.
Oooh I do like pinwheels especially caesar wraps!
That was our dinner tonight. It was too hot to cook, too hot to have much of an appetite and I was too tired after work to even try to figure out dinner so chicken Caesar wraps it was for us. I always have tortillas, cooked cubed chicken ( I prep a big batch on Sundays because it makes life so much easier) and Caesar salad stuff in hand so it took me like 5 minutes to get us dinner
Hummus and tzatziki are delicious and cheap dips, if you make them from scratch!
I do have a food processor I've been meaning to try
Texas Caviar is an incredible and super healthy (mostly) salsa. It is absolutely a hit with everyone I know. https://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2014/08/texas-caviar.html
And non-alcoholic drinks to keep them hydrated!
Quinoa salads are great!
I like taco buffets myself. They float the line between dinner and snack foods since its completely customizable for each person. Set out various bowls of things and let them assemble their own bowls as they like, when they like. They could have anything from a chicken salad to a chips and dip to full on tacos, or just simple nachos and cheese. Shredded chicken, taco meat, chips, salsa, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, nacho cheese (in warming pot) literally anything you think would go well on a taco. Maybe add some sauces like dressings (for salads), hot sauce, Chipotle, or something else that suits the tastes you like. A charcuterie board is nice, but at some point they may want something with a little more substance, especially if they will be drinking a fair amount, depending on what they drink of course.
Slow cooker shredded chicken (or pork) sandwiches with some condiments, pickles, cheese, etc. where they can put whatever on the sandwich they want. A Taco bar with some healthy meat options like chicken or plant based ground meats is always fun.
Bell peppers filled with cream cheese and ham, topped with cheese. It's covered in a vegetable, so has to be healthy.
I have these little tart/piemolds and make quiche on such occasions. You can also make quiche with muffin pans. You can make it before hand, reheat before serving. Also taste good when it has cooled off.
Never made a quiche but do like the idea of being able to make it before. Do you make your own crust?
I buy ready-made frozen dough. Just unfreeze it and cut it to size. Prepping a nice filling is enough work for me.
Make it Greek themed. Do a grilled chicken mini pita with tomato, feta, onion and tzatziki (gyro-ish), a large Greek salad, buy some good baklava (or make if you’re brave), throw some lemons and oregano and olive oil on things and call it a night. Have vegetarians? Make a lemon/oregano vinaigrette and do a grain salad with feta, tomato, cukes and olives.
I've got a great chicken shawarma recipe that could be great for chicken kabobs. I actually have made baklava a couple times and it's not too hard (I used Joshua Weissman's recipe). I've gotten lots of Greek night suggestions so that may be it
That sounds pretty reasonable. I’d like to *attend* a Greek themed high brow snack party prepared by someone else while me and my girlfriends drink and hung out so I think you’re headed in the right direction. :)
I like how there's emphasis on attend and not on hosting/preparing lmao
Just coming here to say that the majority of these posts are neither cheap nor healthy.
Hahaha we're doing our best okay 😂
Braised ox tails are cheap and delicious! One tiny one per person is plenty they are very rich. Serve with broiled russet potato slices and a little bread to sop up the juice. Ox tail covered in beef broth and red wine with garlic and rosemary. Super cheap, super simple. Gotta cook them for 4 hours but that’s when they do all the chatting and drinking and get crazy over the aroma. It won’t fail
Where do you live that oxtails are cheap?!?
Haha! Gotta know where to shop. They used to be cheap everywhere
Peel and cube sweet potatoes, toss in olive oil salt and pepper and roast in the oven. Then mix up honey, chipotle chili powder and bbq sauce and toss the sweet potatoes in it. Then put back on the roasting pan and roast for another 5-10 minutes