Nice meal for Friends- need another choice

[PugwasHDJ80]

have good friends coming over saturday and was going to make:
Individual Beef Welington
Potato Dauphinoise
Home made Bearnaise
some sort of veg.

Wifey thinks its a bit heavy, so can anyone else think of something with the "wow" factor that would make a nice meal?

Can't be Lamb, Currry, Spicey or too Creamy.

?

[RizzoTheRat]

Too heavy? That sounds fantastic. How about doing a big wellington instead of individuals, less pastry per person so she might accept it as being a bit lighter.

[zbc]

Can't you make a big BW and then there's less pastry per slice. Also if you could get new potatoes with a nice herb butter instead of the dauphinoise. Less WOW I know but it is only potatoes and cream and a good BW with a sauce is impressive already

[PugwasHDJ80]

RizzoTheRat said:

Too heavy? That sounds fantastic. How about doing a big wellington instead of individuals, less pastry per person so she might accept it as being a bit lighter.

was the original plan, but one of our friends is pregnant and can't face the thought of red meat at the moment, and i won't eat fillet that is overcooked on principle

[Bill]

Too heavy? I suppose a new wife is out of the question?

You could do a big BW for most of you, and a small overcooked one. Or use milk rather than cream in the dauphinoise.

[grumbledoak]

There's no point winning an argument with the wife.


You could make individual chicken wellingtons?

[Type R Tom]

I'm looking to give this a go this weekened

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/pork_wellington_...

[PistonSmegs]

I'm normally a steak kinda guy however I recently had this round a friends house and it was extremely nice!

Sea bass with citrus-dressed broccoli, carrot and coriander fritters and crushed potatoes.

Just an idea...

[eastsider]

How about rice and fennel en croute - similar area but veggie and lighter. Its made with risotto rice (google recipes obvs) my wife made that for a dinner party recently and I was pleasantly surprised. New potatoes rather than dauphinoise and some nice veg eg green beans to accompany.

[Mobile Chicane]

Google salmon coulibiac - it's the fishy version of Beef Wellington.

That, with steamed new potatoes and green beans.

[PugwasHDJ80]

Thanks all, some good tips

[TIGA84]

Do a whole wellington, its easier to make by miles, you can always slice and then flash a slice under a grill or pop back in the oven for the expectant one.

[manic47]

Mobile Chicane said:

Google salmon coulibiac - it's the fishy version of Beef Wellington.

That, with steamed new potatoes and green beans.

I'll second that - it's a nice dish.
Don't go for a recipe with boiled eggs in it though, it makes it an odd meal.

[captainzep]

One of my favourite staples when something lighter is demanded is a really good quality piece of smoked haddock or similar, on buttery mash or crushed new potatoes, with some asparagus or wilted greens and a poached egg with some lemony caper butter or similar.

It can be dressed up to look quite impressive, and tastes amazing, but other than the faff of doing perfect poached eggs, lots of it can be done earlier.

Here's one I prepared earlier (minus the egg):