Top 10 when cooking for a crowd by Mike Tomkins

BBQ is a fantastic option when it comes to cooking for larger groups of friends and family, but we’ve all been in that position where we’re stuck there flipping burgers and turning sausages not talking to our guests because we’re slaving away. I want to show you my top 10 dishes for cooking for a crowd. Just a disclaimer before we dive into my list: while brisket, pulled pork and pork ribs are all great options for cooking for a crowd, I thought we’d go for something a little different this time.

1. Porchetta – the ultimate Italian BBQ dish. Rolled pork loin or belly stuffed with fennel citrus and herbs. Traditionally cooked on a rotisserie, this delicious dish is a sure-fire way to impress your guests.
2. Lamb kleftiko – another classic Mediterranean dish, the signature of this dish is the wonderfully flavourful potatoes that you’re left with as the cooking liquor from the marinated lamb seeps through to your spuds, which means you’ve got at least one of your sides and main event covered.
3. Whole roast salmon – fish can be pretty intimidating to cook on the BBQ but it doesn’t need to be. Keeping a careful eye on temperature ensures that this doesn’t go wrong. A whole roasted salmon makes an amazing centre piece for a party and served on the table with all your sides is sure to be a real talking point.
4. Chicken shawarma – I love this option for a crowd because its so versatile, you can marinate your chicken thighs however you want; spicy, fruity or BBQ style – you decide. Serve your chicken with pittas, wraps and plenty of salads you give your guests the choice to make their own dinner.
5. Rump of beef – absolutely packed full of flavour, rump of beef is a cost-effective way of serving beef as your show stopper at a party. Rump can be cooked whole low and slow until it reaches your desired internal temperature before being charred and portioned up for your guests into big thick slices.
6. Gumbo – the official dish of Louisiana and New Orleans, gumbo combines African, American Indian and European flavours to create a rich and punchy dish that is cooked differently by everyone. You can add pork, chicken, shellfish whatever you’ve got lying around really. But the ‘holy trinity’ of flavour that makes a gumbo a gumbo is onions, peppers and celery – this dish cooks amazingly over fire and is great served with rice.
7. Paella – what’s better than a paella at a party? I don’t think this list would be complete without this absolute classic. Paella is traditionally cooked over fire and it’s there for everyone to see. At parties people gather round to watch this dish cook; the smell of the saffron as delicate as it is welcoming. This is definitely one for a crowd.
8. Cowboy chilli – A chilli con carne cooked low and slow using whole cuts of brisket, coffee and ancho chillies is such a game changer. It will be one of those dishes that once you’ve cooked this way, you’ll never go back to a regular chilli again and I guarantee everyone at your party will want your recipe.
9. Stuffed aubergines – a bit of a Sicilian classic this, but a fantastic party dish that can be prepared in advance and kept warm on the BBQ or in the oven. The aubergine is stuffed with a rich pork ragu and finished with pine nuts and parsley. If you’re catering for vegetarians you could make a sauce packed full of chunky veg instead.
10. Roast chicken – last but not least on my list is a roast chicken, super easy to cook over fire and so versatile. You can roast your chicken before shredding and creating a stunning Caesar salad; you could douse your chicken in piri-piri before serving over rice; or you could even spatchcock your chicken and baste with plenty of sweet BBQ sauce. The best thing about a roast chicken cooked over fire though is you can usually cater easily for large numbers.