New Years Dinner Ideas

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New Years Eve is the last big party of the year and the size of your dinner party will help you determine which New Years dinner ideas you should go with.

New Years Dinner Ideas

Big parties do not have to be big problems, in fact, they can be easy to prepare for if you plan ahead. When cooking for a crowd, the three words that you should keep in mind are “keep it simple”. When looking over a recipe or working out your New Years dinner ideas, complicated recipes may be tempting but simple is better.

Some ideas for cooking for a large group can include:

Taco Bar: Taco shells, fillings, and garnishes fill out the buffet table and your guests create their own tacos.

Tea sandwiches: A variety of small sandwiches are great for a cocktail party.

Appetizers: Providing appetizers, as well as more filling food, rounds out your buffet table.

Pre-mixed cocktails: Three gallon margaritas are one example, but if you know your guests like a particular cocktail like Manhattans or Cosmopolitans, mix up a large batch and save yourself some time.

Big Night for a Small Group

New Years dinner ideas can include a more intimate party as well. Stuffed meatballs make a fantastic appetizer and the fact that they are stuffed is a delicious surprise. This recipe makes 25 meatballs, so it can be served as a main course, but place it in the center of the table as a starter and it will put your guests in a party mood.

Stuffed Lamb Meatballs

Ingredients

Meatballs

1 ¼ pound ground lamb
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons coriander
½ teaspoon Garam Masala
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Mix everything together in a bowl.
Fry a small amount of the mixture and taste it for salt.
Make 25 even sized balls.

Stuffing

1/3 cup sweet sun dried cherries
¼ small onion diced
1 green chili minced
¼ bunch of cilantro chopped fine
¼ teaspoon of salt

Instructions

Mix everything in a small bowl.
Slightly flatten each meatball.
Place ¼ teaspoon of stuffing in the center of each meatball.
Roll the meatball so that the stuffing is in the center of the ball.
Place the meatballs in the refrigerator while you make the sauce.

Sauce

Ingredients

1 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
5 garlic cloves
3 medium onions, 1 roughly chopped the other two minced
1 cinnamon stick
6 cardamom pods
1 tablespoon of coriander, ground
2 teaspoons cumin, ground
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped (you can use canned if you like)
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon Garam Masala
3 fresh green chilies
3 tablespoons water
2 cups water
¼ cup vegetable oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Using a blender, mix the ginger, garlic, rough cut onion, and 3 tablespoons of water.
Blend to a smooth paste.
Using a roasting pan large enough to hold all the meatballs, heat the oil over a medium flame.

When the oil becomes hot, add the cinnamon stick and cardamom.

Stir to warm the spices and then add the minced onion.
Cook, stirring constantly, for seven minutes.
Add the paste from your blender.
Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the coriander, cumin, cayenne, and tomatoes.
Cook for a minute or two.
Add the yogurt and cook, stirring, for two minutes.
Add 2 cups of water and then taste for salt.
Add the meatballs in a single layer and then cover the pan.
Bring to a simmer and then reduce the heat to low.
Let cook, covered, for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove the cover and let cook for fifteen more minutes.
Once the meatballs are done, remove them from the pan and remove the grease from the sauce.
Serve the meatballs with the sauce.

Food For Luck

If you are stuck for ideas for your New Years dinner, keep in mind that some foods are said to bring luck if eaten on New Year Eve or at the stroke of midnight.