vegetarian / vegan – serve an eggplant (aubergine) and preserved lemon tajine instead of the chicken. And for dessert vegans could serve sliced chilled oranges with a coconut sorbet.
the lazy cook / short on time? – Just serve olives from the deli instead of marinating your own. Use chicken pieces on the bone such as thighs or marylands instead of messing around with cutting up a whole chicken. Replace one of the salads with some commercial pita or other flat bread. And for dessert pick up your favourite gourmet ice creams or a few different brands of chocolate and let everyone help themselves.
carnivore– red meat lovers will love either osso buco or lamb shanks cooked instead of the chicken. You’ll need to increase the cooking time to about 3-4 hours for shanks and 2-3 hours for osso buco. And increase the preserved lemon a little to
wintery – with 2 salads this is more a warmer weather menu. For cooler weather consider either warming the cauliflower couscous in a little oil in a frying pan before tossing in the herbs. Or replace the couscous with hot steamed rice or mashed potato. I’d also change dessert to these heavenly ginger self-saucing puddings and ice cream.
menu step-by-step planning guide + timing
menu total active time: 4.5 hours
step 1. any time up to 5 days before or on the day
marinate the olives (15 minutes)
make the yoghurt cake (60 minutes)
step 2. 2 hours before your guests arrive
Prepare chicken tajine and get it on to cook (90 minutes)
Make the cauliflower couscous (15 minutes)
step 3. 1 hour before guests arrive
When the tajine is cooked, reduce oven temp to low (100C / 200F). Cover tajine and keep warm. (5 minutes)
Put plates in the oven to warm (1 minutes)
Make the shaved zucchini salad (15 minutes)
Set the table (10 minutes)
Change into your party outfit (20 minutes)
Serve olives (5 minutes)
step 4. when guests arrive
Appoint someone to look after drinks (especially yours!) (1 minute)
Serve the olives and relax (1 minute)
step 5. about 30-60 minutes after guests arrive
Delegate someone to get your guests to the table (1 minute)
Serve zucchini salad + couscous on the table (5 minutes)
Serve tajine into warmed plates (5 minutes)
Enjoy some wine with the food!
step 6. when you’re ready
Delegate someone to clear the table (5 minutes)
Make tea or coffee (10 minutes)
If you feel like it stack the dishwasher and put a load on – or delegate this step. (10 minutes)
Serve yoghurt cake with honey and pistachios and cream, if using (5 minutes)
step 7. when the guests leave
Finish cleaning up + congratulate yourself!
menu problem solving guide
Note: for problems with individual recipes see the problem solving guide for each recipe.
guests running late Not a problem. The chicken can keep warm in a low oven for a few hours. And the salads will be fine waiting as well.
guests early
I hate when this happens! Get them to fix themselves a drink while you finish whatever you were doing then return to the plan.
chicken not cooked when serving
We’ve allowed way more time than you’ll need to get the chicken cooked but it’s super important that when you stop cooking and tranfer the chicken into ‘warm’ mode, that you are 100% certain that the chicken is cooked through. The best way to tell is to cut into a piece down to the bone with a knife and have a good look. Any pinkness and you need to keep cooking. If you do get to serving stage and you notice uncooked chicken – just quickly crank your oven and pop the chicken back in for another 10 minutes or however long it needs. Pour everyone a drink and if they’re super hungry, serve the zucchini salad as a ‘starter’ while you all wait.
cook running late – if time gets away from you. Focus on getting the chicken in the oven and cooked. Then forget about the yoghurt cake and when it comes time for dessert serve the natural yoghurt in little teacups or glasses and drizzle with honey and pistachios. If you’re still feeling pressed forget about the zucchini salad and just serve the chicken and couscous. You can also skip the olive marination if need be.
Add to my Old Favourite Recipes
Leave a Reply