If you’re looking to make the best impression at a dinner party and make sure that your guests go home with full bellies and satisfied smiles, then your main is going to be the most important part of your evening. While a good starter like some salad skewers sets the mood, and a rich dessert tops it off, the main is what will have your guests talking. When it comes to creating a true showstopper, there is a wide range of different options that you can choose from and different ways to prepare them.
Rack of Lamb
For main meat, it’s often a good idea to choose something that your guests aren’t likely to have quite as often, and a rack of lamb is a wonderfully refined option that isn’t usually part of the average weekly menu. This is a highly tender and flavorful meat that also has a rather distinct aesthetic that works very well as the centerpiece of a meal. Learning how to cook lamb well is vital, as you want to achieve a nice crispy crust while still keeping the center nice and juicy. These are best cooked in a mix of breadcrumbs and fresh herbs, with maybe some garlic to maintain the lamb’s flavor and complement without overpowering it. Mint sauce is very popular with a rack of lamb, but a red wine reduction works very well, too.
Crab Lebs
If you’re looking to bring a touch of indulgence to your gathering and to truly eat like kings and queens, then getting hands-on with some king crab legs can help you do just that. The meat of king crab in particular is particularly sweet and tender, easily lending a celebratory air to the night. What’s more, crab is as much of a spectacle as it is a meal. Preparing crab legs and claws isn’t too difficult, and you can serve them with a side of garlic butter for easy dipping, as well as preparing some fresh lemon wedges so your guests can squeeze the juice onto their meat. It’s a crowd-pleaser in both taste and presentation.
Lobster
A good lobster has many of the same benefits as serving crab, both in its presentation and how relatively simple its recipes can be. However, there is an air of luxury and class that does tend to separate lobster and make it feel like a level beyond the usual dinner party serving. It can be served grilled or boiled, but if you’re going for the latter, it’s important to learn how to cook live lobster to get the best flavor experience possible. Served whole, as tails, or included in dishes like lobster thermidor, you don’t really need to pair it with much except clarified butter and a sprinkle of sea salt. A bottle of champagne helps to cut across the rich taste while still maintaining that air of sophistication.
Scallops
While more of a comfort food than something truly luxurious like a good crab or lobster, scallops do have an air of refinement that can add to any spread. Getting them as fresh as possible is vital but, beyond that, they don’t require all that much handling to make a delicious main. Typically, all you have to do is quickly sear them in some butter. This creates a beautiful, sweet crust that works well with its silky texture. Be careful not to overcook them, as well, as you want them to be so tender as to almost melt in the mouth. A good citrus glaze can help ensure that their briny taste isn’t too overwhelming and they can be served with something as simple as some cherry tomatoes or spinach.
Sushi
Sticking with the seafood for now, if you want a display that will truly impress your fellow diners, then it’s hard to beat sushi. Combining the freshest seafood ingredients with an utterly unique presentation makes this more of a culinary art than just a dish alone. Preparing sushi well is not easy to do, so if you want to cheat and order in, then that frees you up to better prepare the sides and presentation. Complementary toppings like pickled ginger, soy sauce, and wasabi can work very well to bring out the flavor profiles of your individual picks. Variety is the spice of life here, so choose a diverse platter of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls for the best effect.
Roast Duck
Getting away from the seafood, but sticking close to the water’s edge, roast duck is a bird that most people tend not to have too often due to its sheer richness. However, for a special occasion, the balance of juicy and tender meat with that crispy skin truly does exude luxury. Duck is best cooked slowly to make sure that the fat is allowed to cook through the skin to create that signature crackle. As rich as it is, you typically want to pair duck with something that can cut across the grease, like a nice orange or cherry glaze. That said, it should also be served with something hearty and grounding, like roasted potatoes. You can roast these in the duck fat, but that can make the flavor of the dish a little monotone. Instead, consider saving the duck fat for future recipes.
Coq au Vin
You don’t necessarily need to use the rarest or most exotic ingredients for a luxury meal. Sometimes, taking something simple and cooking it right can have much the same effect. Such is the case with this classic European dish. The setup is simple, all you have to do is braise chicken in red wine, with onions, mushrooms, and bacon. However, this combination lends to a complex richness of flavors that has made it a favorite in restaurants across the globe. Served well with some crusty baguette for dipping, you should pair it with the same wine used in the cooking to truly appreciate the grape.
Beef Wellington
An option that’s a lot heartier, more traditional, and filling, this is still considered an impressive centerpiece for a dinner party. Source the finest beef tenderloin and wrap in a layer of flaky puff pasty, with gorgeous mushroom duxelles, and you create a dish that makes for a wonderful spectacle as you serve it and cut off slices, revealing a stunning combination of delicious layers. Despite its relatively simple ingredients, Beef Wellington is something of a more advanced dish. It has to be cooked just right to ensure that your crust is gold and crispy, and the meat within tender and pink, but still well-cooked. It’s best served with traditional options like roasted root vegetables, but you can heighten that luxury feeling with truffle-infused potatoes, as well.
Stuffed Porchetta
Keeping with them of using relatively common ingredients but elevating them through preparation, this Italian dish is both rustic and rich, making it great for the colder seasons. Find a good pork belly or loin and cook it with a dense filling of herbs, garlic, sausage meat, and perhaps even fennel. As a result, you get some juicy, tender meat infused with flavor, alongside a crispy exterior. Roast potatoes make for a favorite side to this dish, or if you’re looking to keep it a little lighter, an arugula salad also makes for a more vibrant and colorful addition. Balsamic glaze can be just the right thing to top it off.
Turkey Breast
This seasonal favorite doesn’t have to be saved for special occasions alone. If you have a good recipe that typically calls for chicken breast, turkey breast can be an option that’s lighter as well as a little more sophisticated. A roast turkey breast can make for a delicious main course on its own, especially when roasted thoroughly to a golden crispiness and infused with herbs such as rosemary and thyme. If you do want to give it a touch of seasonal charm, then cranberry sauce and stuffing are popular accompaniments for a reason. However, it also goes well with slightly more exotic options like a wild rice pilaf. Turkey is well served with a crisp white wine to make things feel even more elegant.
Baked Gnocchi
If you have a recipe that makes for a delicious casserole but you want to class it up a touch, then preparing it as a baked gnocchi dish instead could be just what you need. Soft, pillowy gnocchi is both mouth-watering and pleasing to the eye, especially when coated in a drizzle of creamy cheese sauce. You can make sure of roasted vegetables, pancetta, or fresh herbs to infuse the paste with a richer taste. Then, you can pair that richness with a light green salad and a glass of white wine. Perfect for multi-course menus when you don’t want the main to leave your guest too full for dessert.
Make sure that you consult with your guests before deciding on your mains for the evening. Be sure to take their culinary preferences and, most importantly, their dietary requirements into account.
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