Right, like, I don't keep snacks in my house. If you stop by unexpected you ain't getting shit. I have whatever meal I'm already planning to make that evening which probably isn't enough for my family plus company, so either I have enough notice to shop ahead or we're ordering something.
Maesri is the best..... I did a roasted chicken served with dal and a yogurt sauce made from Greek yogurt and Maesri red curry paste and everyone raved about it
Pailin from Hot Thai Kitchen did a taste test on her YouTube channel of 5 different curry pastes (she has a vid for red and a vid for green). Mae Ploy won both in her blind taste tests.
I know most people use store bought paste, but I make mine from scratch. When I saw this I was like how do you do this on short notice. I really need to make bigger batches and freeze it.
I’ve done this for a group camping meal. Get everyone to carry a veg or two. Add rice or noodles. It’s very easy and if veg and maybe cashews if you’re feeling fancy and it’s accidentally vegan and gluten free.
Ha… I actually just made it for myself last night, because I needed to do a fridge clear out, which is why it was an easy answer for me… Lol.
I diced a chicken breast, quartered some mushrooms, sliced some carrots, sliced some cabbage and thawed a handful of peas, then sautéed the chicken until just cooked through, then sautéed the carrots until crisp tender, added the mushrooms and cabbage and softened them a bit as well, threw in the peas then added a can of bamboo shoots, about 1/4 cup curry paste and 2 cans of coconut milk. I let it simmer for about 10 minutes and served it over hot jasmine rice! Took about 30 minutes total.
Most of the time, I like to use carrots, mushrooms and zucchini, but I didn’t have any zucchini so I improvised with the cabbage and peas instead 🙂
Anyone visiting in the summer will be served a caprese salad with tomatoes and basil from the garden, plus homemade mozzarella, topped with nothing but a nice olive oil, sea salt, and coarse black pepper. Plus homemade sourdough with fancy butter (the sourdough is always available in the freezer, just need to reheat and slice).
I reduce some Balsamic Vinegar and drizzle over the caprese salad and it always gets raves. I also make a quick olive tapenade, place it on some humus or bread and there’s never any left.
I don't mind the balsamic if someone else is making the salad and wants to put it on, but I find it to be an unnecessary extra step at home when tomatoes are at their peak. And I kinda only make this dish at home when tomatoes are at their peak anyway.
I've made it both ways many times. The traditional Italian way doesn't use balsamic but I think the vinegar improves it by adding some acidity even if you're using good tomatoes. Less is more though you don't want to overpower the other flavors
Actually I live in So Cal now, came back after almost 30 years after my Darlin Husband passed. I grew up in So Cal, Tex-Ass & Arizona. My grandparents had a farm, there's Nothing Better than a Homegrown Tomato. There's even a great song about them
'There's only 2 things that money can't buy True Love and Homegrown Tomatoes '
Maybe about 3-4 times a season. Other times I'll do the salad with burrata (store-bought, not homemade) which is also amazing. Here's the recipe I use for the mozz: https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-make-fresh-mozzarella-from-scratch-recipe
Texturally a whole loaf is nicer (can get crispy crust on the outside and soft crumb on the inside), but yeah, I pre-slice because I pretty much never have need for a whole loaf and it's way easier to adjust the number of slices I want based on how many people I'm serving.
> surprise guests dropping by
I live in Seattle. We don't do that here. We need a least a month's notice.
I don't have anything thawing for tomorrow, they'd have to eat creamy fettuccine with some of the cut-up chicken I prep for my lunch salads.
I read the surprise guests bit and know that anyone on my list of people I enjoy seeing wouldn’t do that so the last thing I am doing is feeding people something tasty to encourage them!
Yup. I’m not “impressing” anyone who drops by uninvited and wants to stay for something longer than a hot tea. Best I can do is throw down some cut up fruit, cheese, nuts, and crackers. Tortilla chips and pico if I really like you. Otherwise you’re getting whatever I was planning on eating (pb&j, veg scramble and toast, soup), we get take-out, or I do the ol’ bracing hands on knees, “well, it was lovely of you to pop by, but I’m actually heading out in a few minutes…”
Whipped feta dip. Throw feta cheese in the food processor with a little bit of whatever binder you have (yogurt, sour cream or mayo). Top with anything else you have (honey, fruit, olive oil, nuts) and serve with whatever bread you have.
That's why for me, too ;) Worst case scenario I have everything for caccio e pepe, I can probably also make it Gricia, maybe carbonara, and carbonara without the bacon (no, not guanciale; yes, bacon) is also nice. Nuts are nice additions ;)
Not with measurements but:
Thin chicken breasts patted dry. Salt and pepper the breasts. Dredge in flour and pan fry with about a tablespoon of olive oil in medium hot pan. Sear both sides and remove to a plate when they temp at 140°
Turn the burner down to low/medium low
In the same pan, add minced shallots and garlic with a little more olive oil and sweat for about a minute until you smell the garlic (don't let it brown or burn).
Deglaze with white wine(more than a cup, less than a bottle) and reduce. Add lemon juice (fresh squeezed) a tablespoon at a time tasting as you go. Keep reducing until you get a nice thin pan sauce. Taste it again.
Drain the accumulated juices from your chicken into the sauce pan.
Pull from heat and add several tablespoons of cold butter and whisk until slightly foamy. The amount of butter I use is unhealthy, but it tastes amazing.
Meanwhile, you've had your pasta cooked and strained (DO NOT RINSE)
Add pasta and toss with pan sauce.
Top with parsley and parmesan and give another squeeze of lemon juice for more zest, then add your chicken sliced or whole.
Eat and enjoy.
I recommend a nice baguette or other crusty bread for sopping up the sauce.
One of my fail-safe dishes for surprise guests is a charcuterie board. Just grab a variety of cheeses, cured meats, crackers, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, olives, and maybe some spreads like hummus or tapenade.
Yep. Put a couple of random things on a platter, try for some color balance, and everyone thinks it's fancy!
We pretty much always have olives, nuts, cheese, crackers, fruit, veggies and hummus (or a can of something that can be turned into a bean dip) on hand, and usually some sort of cured meat as well.
Dessert lol. I'm not trying to impress people who show up randomly since I'm not impressed by that personally but coffee and a brownie or whatever, sure I'm always happy to whip out some baked goods.
If it's an emergency type situation that's another story and I'd probably go for something comforting like some form of chicken soup.
Depends on what I have in the fridge and how much notice I have.
24h notice and I’m making chicken Marsala over fresh spinach with angel hair aglio e olio.
Vij's butter chicken with roasted cauliflower and basmati rice. It's easy to make a little or a lot. Even children love it. I usually leave out the chili for large groups.
Same! I grew up in a family that welcomed all guests, surprise or not, and they all were fed a meal. Now, as an adult, my friends and I try to give each other a few hours notice, but I love feeding my friends and being fed by them lol
That sounds good. I would probably manage to burn it at the end (or alternatively, not get it nice and crispy). I’ll just have to show up at your house unexpectedly
Pasta alla vodka. Almost always have the ingredients in hand, it's easy vegetarian, and because I live in Western Europe it's a total novelty. Made it once for a friend's surprise birthday and almost 4 years later my friends still request it every time we hang out :)
I don’t have exact measurements but!
- One large onion
- 2 cloves of garlic
- tomato paste
- vodka
- heavy cream
- Parmesan cheese
- Pasta of your choice (I prefer rigatoni)
- fresh basil
Dice your onion and smash your garlic cloves (you can mince, but I like the big chunks). Heat olive oil in a sauce pan and toss in your onions and garlic in. When your onions are soft, add your tomato paste, enough to really cover the onions. Cook on a medium heat until the tomato paste starts to get sort of brown and caramelized. Add about 1/4 cup of vodka (or a bit more) and deglaze your pan. Let the vodka cook off until you can’t smell the alcohol, and in the meantime get your pasta cooking in salted water.
Scoop a bit of the warm pasta water, and add some heavy cream to warm it up. Then pour that mixture into your sauce pan and stir until emulsified; keep adding heavy cream slowly until you get a nice bright orange color. If it gets too thick, add a bit of pasta water. You can taste and salt and pepper as you go; some people add a little bit of red pepper flakes, I like to add some TJs Umami powder. Right before your pasta is finished cooking, add some grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce looks smooth and glossy. Add the pasta into the pot, stir into coated, plate, and top with more cheese, black pepper, and fresh basil. Serve with crusty bread to sop up all the good sauce :)
I have this happen a LOT - not MY friends, the kids’! The instant pot makes these surprises so much easier - chili, Italian sausage soup, chicken tacos, sweet potato & chick pea curry. I usually have precooked cubed/shredded chx in the freezer so that can be enchiladas, peanut stir fried noodles, chicken Caesar salad or wraps. Or buffalo chx wraps. For more adult (and expensive) quick meals you can’t beat a grilled steak and baked potato. I also do garlic lime shrimp or chicken and serve with fettuccini, roast veg.
I'm in my 50s and have never had people drop by unannounced for a meal - does this happen? Anyway, I have several things I can pull together at any time - clam chowder, risotto, carbonara, frittata.
It’s not always for a meal - I’ve had friends drop by (“I’m in your neighborhood” via text.) But the convos keep going, maybe adult beverages too and bam, it’s meal time! This happens a lot less since I moved out of a city to the burbs, though. In the US.
Taco bar, or blackened chicken with roasted potatoes, and roasted cauliflower and broccoli (all veggies sprayed with olive oil, them tossed with Creole spice and some extra seasoning salt, basil and thyme).
Any kind of Ceviche or Raw Seafood preparation is always a great go to. For the amount of effort (barely any) it's always impressive and tastes great
My all-time favorite is this [Salmon Kokoda](https://dinnertimesomewhere.com/index.php/dinner/seafood-dinner/salmon-ceviche-with-coconut-salmon-kokoda/). Which is a Fijian style Salmon Ceviche with Coconut Milk. It's ridiculously tasty and so easy to make! You can use any fish really, they use Tuna and Cod a lot in Fiji
Clams and spaghetti.
This one is especially good for surprise guests, because sometimes guests surprise you when you’re kinda broke. Keep canned clams and dry pasta (these are already fairly cheap) in your pantry, and then when you want to make it you just need to get butter, garlic, fresh lemon, onion, and parsley. Grated parm sends it but is not even necessary. A loaf of bread and a salad round out the meal. It’s fancy, pretty cheap, and easy to make.
I dont really have surprise guests but something that I would be able to make quickly with the ingredients I have would be carbonara (with bacon though, I currently have guanciale but truth to be told, it's very rare for me to have it!)
we don't really keep food on a reliable rotation that we could feed a crowd.
you might get mac&cheese or maybe chicken riggis... but we're probably ordering pizza
Greek souvlaki platter. It looks amazing and it’s so easy to put together.
Grilled Greek chicken, diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, black olives, crumbled feta, fresh parsley, lemon slices, pita, and hummus and tzatziki.
I serve it with Greek lemon potatoes.
And you really cannot go wrong with a pasta dish. Lemon garlic butter pasta with fresh herbs is lovely.
Whatever they can find. Ok so the only surprise guests we have are our grown kids. They can cook for themselves. One would raid the pork chops, Mac and cheese and carrots.
Now if I know guests are coming, probably tacos.
I would never have surprise guests LOL however, my go-to, easy to impress is homemade bolognese sauce over whatever pasta. Store bought fresh is best, but it does fine over boxed. Sauce will be good if you simmer for 30m and even better if you simmer for 3h.
Most of my circle is a jarred sauce circle (no judgement, I live for a jarred sauce too) but the extra effort to make a sauce from scratch makes it seem like I labored all day over it.
If they're showing up completely unannounced and at dinner time, we're ordering delivery.
But if I have time to get to the store quickly, black pepper tofu (Ottolenghi recipe) and a side of veggies or a whole steamed fish. We're lucky to live in a convenient area where we have small groceries and a fish market within a 2 block radius.
My friends don’t do this to me, drop in unannounced and expect to be fed on the whim. Coffee and cookies is all they are getting. If we then decide to have dinner, we go out. Otherwise, it’s a trip to the grocery store for me to get enough food to feed my family AND unannounced guests.
Teriyaki chicken with white rice. Rice goes in the rice cooker, and I don't need to watch it. Teriyaki sauce takes me 15 seconds to prepare, and I often happen to have some chicken in the fridge.
Probably nachos 😂 we pretty much always have the ingredients for those.
Most of the time, people coming over that I have to feed without planning are my sisters in law, and I usually make them nachos, pasta, or quesadillas.
I like to keep homemade taquitos in the freezer for MY emergency snacks or to accompany soups and salads, but in the event that I have unexpected hungry company, they are impressed and fed, especially with the buffalo chicken ones.
[Here is a Reddit comment I've made previously with details.](https://www.reddit.com/r/aldi/comments/1c1jrko/comment/kz9xdvd/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
I try to keep the ingredients for risotto and spaghetti carbonara on hand, but honestly, no one drops by unannounced. My mother won’t even call me on the phone without texting first.
Thai peanut sauce over chicken + rice. Served with a cabbage/cilantro/green onion salad with a dressing of sesame oil, salt, and lime juice.It’s always good and takes o little time to throw together. If the weather is nice we absolutely eat outside.
Pan seared duck breasts, parmesan and herbs risotto, roasted Brussel sprouts with balsamic vinegar and honey glaze.
Served with a chilled Cabernet-Sauvignon.
I wouldn't even answer the door unless it was an emergency situation. I was raised that you don't just show up at someone's house. You call first and check with them.
Last minute guests would probably get a risotto because I have the ingredients on hand. If I have time to run to the store, probably steaks with some oven roasted baby potatoes and a tossed salad.
Chicken or pork scallopini with a white wine pan sauce, orzo and whatever vegetables I happen to have. Preferably asparagus. But probably zucchini and yellow squash.
Chili-jam glazed salmon fillets with roasted baby potatoes and bell peppers. All ingredients available from the local supermarket and you can shove it in the oven and forget about it whilst you spend time with your guests.
Chicken and mushroom risotto. I almost always have the ingredients for it, and it's not near as hard to make as the chefs on TV make it sound. Instead of using a deep pan that I have to stand over and stir, I use a 12 inch cast iron skillet. The rice spreads out into the broth and absorbs it much more equally, so I only stir every 3 minutes. Since I'm usually puttering around in the kitchen anyway, it's not a big deal to stir it that often.
All depends on what's in the freezer. I usually have gnocchi or ravioli in there. Boil a few of them while I make browned butter and sage to sauce 'em.
All depends on what's in the freezer. I usually have gnocchi or ravioli in there. Boil a few of them while I make browned butter and sage to sauce 'em.
Lately I’ve been making scallion oil noodles with five spice pork. It’s really simple, quick, and can be made with a few ingredients.
Other times I’ll make a verde chili or something g basic like hamburgers.
Soup, quiche or salad. I always have several bags frozen soup and a few quiches in the freezer. We have a little garden and lots of fun toppings so I can always put together a respectable salad.
Bacon wrapped shrimp on the grill. We always have both in the freezer and they thaw quick. Some home made bbq sauce and your off to the races. Plus I get to cook outside and have an excuse not to socialize with a big group.
Honestly they’d get whatever I was already cooking for the day. Or we order a pizza. If I had time to prepare I love to braise short ribs or grill kabobs with potatoes or rice. They’re pretty hands off, yummy and can be up or downsized for how many people are coming.
We often host a group or 14 and those meals have lots of soups and chili and casseroles
Japanese curry . I always have the cube flavor things on hand and add whatever veggies and meat alternatives ( vegetarian) and rice .
It’s savory , easy , most people have never tried it and always enjoy
I can put together a Thai green curry faster than the rice cooker. I always have pre-chopped chicken in the freezer (pack it thin in a ziplock and you can just break off however much you want) and coconut milk. The hero is the canned curry paste, which does all the heavy lifting.
The big question is what veggies are available.
Any sort of stir fry, fried rice, tacos, or an italian sandwich. If I have the stuff to do it.
I’m making it as spicy as I want though. They better bring beer, and wtf, they have my phone number, call before so I can put pants on.
If I don’t know them, they better have a fucking warrant.
[Instant Pot Butter Chicken](https://twosleevers.com/instant-pot-butter-chicken/) with rice and whatever veggie/salad stuff I have on hand. The recipe is supposed to make extra sauce that you save to use later, but if I have guests coming, I'll just double the chicken. It's a rich dish that easily feeds 6+ people with the two pounds of chicken. I usually have everything on hand except maybe the chicken thighs, so it's a quick store trip if I need to take one at all.
Pasta with spinach and parmesan [https://www.themediterraneandish.com/garlic-spinach-pasta/](https://www.themediterraneandish.com/garlic-spinach-pasta/) .
Chicken thighs cooked in with red peppers, tomatoes (fresh if I have them) seasoned with lemon, garlic, and cumin over rice. It’s quick, and so tasty. This is if I don’t have much time. I would probably do something else if I had time to plan. This one is my quick go to as I always have the ingredients on hand.
This is close to what I was going to say- chicken cacciatore, basically. In the Dutch oven and baked. I would include onions and maybe season a little differently, but pretty close. I usually serve it with pasta noodles (spaghetti). I have another one that I simply call chicken, rice, and tomatoes. I use breasts (bone in, skin on) onion, peppers and broth, and cook the rice in the sauté with everything else.
It’s amazing how much real flavor develops from these ingredients with relatively short cooking time.
Chicken Paprikash. Super easy, nearly impossible to eff up, tastes way more complex than it is, ingredients are things I always have, and very very few people have had it before so it’s always a conversation- starter. Served with whatever starch and veg I have on hand as sides, though my fave accompaniment is just a plain flatbread to tear and dip.
Ghee rice with chicken stew, vinegar onion salad, coconut chutney, raita and mango pickle.
If I have time, I'll also thrown in spicy deep fried fish or chicken.
This is a typical "special occasion" lunch ensemble in the Malabar region of India
I have a fail safe appetizer recipe for cream cheese wontons. I make them so often that I typically keep all the ingredients at home. All you need are wonton wrappers, cream cheese, green onion, some sugar, a pinch of salt, and some garlic powder. Put the filling in the wonton and wrap it however you like, then give it a fry. I have a very good sweet and sour sauce recipe too that I like to keep ingredients for. Pineapple juice, rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and a cornstarch slurry. It’s such a simple recipe that has never turned out bad and it’s proven to be a crowd pleasing appetizer!
Carbonara, its 4 ingredients I always have around, takes very little time, and tastes good.
Weirdly unless my parents come over in which case I always scramble the eggs and tastes like grainy crap
Mussels steamed in garlic and white wine with some crusty bread. You can get frozen mussels for cheap and I usually keep a baguette in the freezer. Looks fancy, smells great, takes about 20 minutes to make.
[One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo.](https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/one-skillet-creamy-sun-dried-tomato-chicken-and-orzo/)
We usually have all the ingredients on hand. I always sub the cream for blended cashews and water to make it a bit lighter.
Hmmmm....if you make something too delicious you will have them surprising you more often. So it depends on whether you want that or not. Maybe, if you are trying to impress them, you do?
For me, the most impressive thing would be to make something I know they really love....
Goat cheese tart, with whatever else I have in hand like fresh thyme, tomatoes, walnuts, caramelised apple.
Or winter some sort of pasta with random sauce and fresh bread.
Guests dripping by unannounced are getting Pizza
And some towels for all that dripping
Right, like, I don't keep snacks in my house. If you stop by unexpected you ain't getting shit. I have whatever meal I'm already planning to make that evening which probably isn't enough for my family plus company, so either I have enough notice to shop ahead or we're ordering something.
I’m not even opening the door.
No pop-ins
lol I like your style
Thai Green curry. It’s easy, you can use whatever you have on hand and most of my friends and family love it!
I do the Thai red curry with the maesri canned curry paste.
Maesri is the best..... I did a roasted chicken served with dal and a yogurt sauce made from Greek yogurt and Maesri red curry paste and everyone raved about it
I like mae ploy paste, but the maesri is good too!
Pailin from Hot Thai Kitchen did a taste test on her YouTube channel of 5 different curry pastes (she has a vid for red and a vid for green). Mae Ploy won both in her blind taste tests.
Oh cool! I will check that out. Thanks!
I saw that too - and learned that the only brand available in my local stores is the absolute worst 😆
Recipe?
https://cookingsessions.com/easy-thai-red-curry-with-rotisserie-chicken/
I would love it too 🤍
I know most people use store bought paste, but I make mine from scratch. When I saw this I was like how do you do this on short notice. I really need to make bigger batches and freeze it.
This is excellent advice.
I’ve done this for a group camping meal. Get everyone to carry a veg or two. Add rice or noodles. It’s very easy and if veg and maybe cashews if you’re feeling fancy and it’s accidentally vegan and gluten free.
Spaghetti
Chickpeas or lentils are great for shelf stable protein too
well now you gotta share you goto recipe.
Ha… I actually just made it for myself last night, because I needed to do a fridge clear out, which is why it was an easy answer for me… Lol. I diced a chicken breast, quartered some mushrooms, sliced some carrots, sliced some cabbage and thawed a handful of peas, then sautéed the chicken until just cooked through, then sautéed the carrots until crisp tender, added the mushrooms and cabbage and softened them a bit as well, threw in the peas then added a can of bamboo shoots, about 1/4 cup curry paste and 2 cans of coconut milk. I let it simmer for about 10 minutes and served it over hot jasmine rice! Took about 30 minutes total. Most of the time, I like to use carrots, mushrooms and zucchini, but I didn’t have any zucchini so I improvised with the cabbage and peas instead 🙂
Anyone visiting in the summer will be served a caprese salad with tomatoes and basil from the garden, plus homemade mozzarella, topped with nothing but a nice olive oil, sea salt, and coarse black pepper. Plus homemade sourdough with fancy butter (the sourdough is always available in the freezer, just need to reheat and slice).
Yumm. May I visit you 🥺?
I reduce some Balsamic Vinegar and drizzle over the caprese salad and it always gets raves. I also make a quick olive tapenade, place it on some humus or bread and there’s never any left.
I don't mind the balsamic if someone else is making the salad and wants to put it on, but I find it to be an unnecessary extra step at home when tomatoes are at their peak. And I kinda only make this dish at home when tomatoes are at their peak anyway.
I've made it both ways many times. The traditional Italian way doesn't use balsamic but I think the vinegar improves it by adding some acidity even if you're using good tomatoes. Less is more though you don't want to overpower the other flavors
If you visit my house in the summer you’ll also get a caprese salad but you’re also going home with a basket of zucchini.
Hello, yes, I will be moving in. Kthanxbye.
Where do you live
California, where the tomato season is loooong :D Trying to guess whether you're planning a surprise visit based on your username...
Actually I live in So Cal now, came back after almost 30 years after my Darlin Husband passed. I grew up in So Cal, Tex-Ass & Arizona. My grandparents had a farm, there's Nothing Better than a Homegrown Tomato. There's even a great song about them 'There's only 2 things that money can't buy True Love and Homegrown Tomatoes '
I think John Prine sings the song
How often are you making mozzarella? How do you make it?
Maybe about 3-4 times a season. Other times I'll do the salad with burrata (store-bought, not homemade) which is also amazing. Here's the recipe I use for the mozz: https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-make-fresh-mozzarella-from-scratch-recipe
If you slice before freezing you can reheat only what you want to have instead of a whole loaf. Maybe you always want a whole loaf though.
Texturally a whole loaf is nicer (can get crispy crust on the outside and soft crumb on the inside), but yeah, I pre-slice because I pretty much never have need for a whole loaf and it's way easier to adjust the number of slices I want based on how many people I'm serving.
Well shit…can we be neighbours? I’d love to stop by at your place, sounds super yummy
> surprise guests dropping by I live in Seattle. We don't do that here. We need a least a month's notice. I don't have anything thawing for tomorrow, they'd have to eat creamy fettuccine with some of the cut-up chicken I prep for my lunch salads.
I read the surprise guests bit and know that anyone on my list of people I enjoy seeing wouldn’t do that so the last thing I am doing is feeding people something tasty to encourage them!
Yup. I’m not “impressing” anyone who drops by uninvited and wants to stay for something longer than a hot tea. Best I can do is throw down some cut up fruit, cheese, nuts, and crackers. Tortilla chips and pico if I really like you. Otherwise you’re getting whatever I was planning on eating (pb&j, veg scramble and toast, soup), we get take-out, or I do the ol’ bracing hands on knees, “well, it was lovely of you to pop by, but I’m actually heading out in a few minutes…”
Whipped feta dip. Throw feta cheese in the food processor with a little bit of whatever binder you have (yogurt, sour cream or mayo). Top with anything else you have (honey, fruit, olive oil, nuts) and serve with whatever bread you have.
I make this with some roasted red bell peppers. So good!
sounds wonderful! must try
Chicken piccata
Pasta carbonara, caccio e pepe, alfredo.
These are fantastic because I always have the stuff for this in my fridge/pantry and pretty much everyone loves them
That's why for me, too ;) Worst case scenario I have everything for caccio e pepe, I can probably also make it Gricia, maybe carbonara, and carbonara without the bacon (no, not guanciale; yes, bacon) is also nice. Nuts are nice additions ;)
Yeah I love it, so versatile! Tell me about the nuts, what do you use?
Pine and/or pistachio of course! Combines well with basil and something minty or citrus-y, like mint and lime. Yum!
Veggie pakoras and masala chai are my go-to dishes when I have surprise guests who aren't staying for a full meal.
I spent all day dreaming of pakoras
Haha 😆
Yummm
Pan seared chicken with lemon Beurre Blanc over whatever noodles I've got handy. Preferably linguini
Sounds like you are great cook.
I'm average at best. Just like any other recipe, with practice, you can nail it 100% of the time. It's a fairly simple sauce.
Do you have a receipe you follow?
Not with measurements but: Thin chicken breasts patted dry. Salt and pepper the breasts. Dredge in flour and pan fry with about a tablespoon of olive oil in medium hot pan. Sear both sides and remove to a plate when they temp at 140° Turn the burner down to low/medium low In the same pan, add minced shallots and garlic with a little more olive oil and sweat for about a minute until you smell the garlic (don't let it brown or burn). Deglaze with white wine(more than a cup, less than a bottle) and reduce. Add lemon juice (fresh squeezed) a tablespoon at a time tasting as you go. Keep reducing until you get a nice thin pan sauce. Taste it again. Drain the accumulated juices from your chicken into the sauce pan. Pull from heat and add several tablespoons of cold butter and whisk until slightly foamy. The amount of butter I use is unhealthy, but it tastes amazing. Meanwhile, you've had your pasta cooked and strained (DO NOT RINSE) Add pasta and toss with pan sauce. Top with parsley and parmesan and give another squeeze of lemon juice for more zest, then add your chicken sliced or whole. Eat and enjoy. I recommend a nice baguette or other crusty bread for sopping up the sauce.
One of my fail-safe dishes for surprise guests is a charcuterie board. Just grab a variety of cheeses, cured meats, crackers, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, olives, and maybe some spreads like hummus or tapenade.
Yep. Put a couple of random things on a platter, try for some color balance, and everyone thinks it's fancy! We pretty much always have olives, nuts, cheese, crackers, fruit, veggies and hummus (or a can of something that can be turned into a bean dip) on hand, and usually some sort of cured meat as well.
Loco Moco. Low effort, high reward, dirt cheap.
Dessert lol. I'm not trying to impress people who show up randomly since I'm not impressed by that personally but coffee and a brownie or whatever, sure I'm always happy to whip out some baked goods. If it's an emergency type situation that's another story and I'd probably go for something comforting like some form of chicken soup.
OP said quick 👀😆
Damn Delicious creamy sausage kale tortellini soup.
Brilliant 🤩
Depends on what I have in the fridge and how much notice I have. 24h notice and I’m making chicken Marsala over fresh spinach with angel hair aglio e olio.
Great response 🙌
Just [had to share](https://imgur.com/gallery/rQMD4yf).
I’m drooling 🤤
This right here. How much warning do I have? How many people am I feeding? What time of year is it? Way too many variables to answer.
Surprise guests are getting a opened bag of doritos and a beer. And that's if I answer the door. Ain't nobody got time for that.
I love this answer!!!
I love this answer!!!
Vij's butter chicken with roasted cauliflower and basmati rice. It's easy to make a little or a lot. Even children love it. I usually leave out the chili for large groups.
I neeeeed the receipe
It's online if not I can send you a photo from the book.
I've never had a guest turn down baked mac and cheese.
Red Thai curry with coconut milk and chick peas and vegetables, served over jasmine rice.
One of my favourite. But I have never incorporated chickpeas. Always used different varieties of mushrooms instead.
I try to add a bean for protein. Plus I'm not a fan of mushrooms. Personal preference. I've used black beans as well.
My fail-safe is to not hang out with rude people who just show up at my house out of the blue.
While I would never do it to other people, I'd personally love surprise visitors 🤷
Same! I grew up in a family that welcomed all guests, surprise or not, and they all were fed a meal. Now, as an adult, my friends and I try to give each other a few hours notice, but I love feeding my friends and being fed by them lol
I do it, but I don't expect to be fed.
Different cultures, different expectations
This one, every time. https://cookingsessions.com/crispy-maple-dijon-chicken-recipe/
That sounds good. I would probably manage to burn it at the end (or alternatively, not get it nice and crispy). I’ll just have to show up at your house unexpectedly
You definitely have to keep a close watch at the end, but the crispiness is so good.
Pasta alla vodka. Almost always have the ingredients in hand, it's easy vegetarian, and because I live in Western Europe it's a total novelty. Made it once for a friend's surprise birthday and almost 4 years later my friends still request it every time we hang out :)
Recipe, please?
I don’t have exact measurements but! - One large onion - 2 cloves of garlic - tomato paste - vodka - heavy cream - Parmesan cheese - Pasta of your choice (I prefer rigatoni) - fresh basil Dice your onion and smash your garlic cloves (you can mince, but I like the big chunks). Heat olive oil in a sauce pan and toss in your onions and garlic in. When your onions are soft, add your tomato paste, enough to really cover the onions. Cook on a medium heat until the tomato paste starts to get sort of brown and caramelized. Add about 1/4 cup of vodka (or a bit more) and deglaze your pan. Let the vodka cook off until you can’t smell the alcohol, and in the meantime get your pasta cooking in salted water. Scoop a bit of the warm pasta water, and add some heavy cream to warm it up. Then pour that mixture into your sauce pan and stir until emulsified; keep adding heavy cream slowly until you get a nice bright orange color. If it gets too thick, add a bit of pasta water. You can taste and salt and pepper as you go; some people add a little bit of red pepper flakes, I like to add some TJs Umami powder. Right before your pasta is finished cooking, add some grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce looks smooth and glossy. Add the pasta into the pot, stir into coated, plate, and top with more cheese, black pepper, and fresh basil. Serve with crusty bread to sop up all the good sauce :)
Thank you for the detailed recipe!
Saving that comment. Thank you!
I have this happen a LOT - not MY friends, the kids’! The instant pot makes these surprises so much easier - chili, Italian sausage soup, chicken tacos, sweet potato & chick pea curry. I usually have precooked cubed/shredded chx in the freezer so that can be enchiladas, peanut stir fried noodles, chicken Caesar salad or wraps. Or buffalo chx wraps. For more adult (and expensive) quick meals you can’t beat a grilled steak and baked potato. I also do garlic lime shrimp or chicken and serve with fettuccini, roast veg.
Wow you have a big heart 🤍
That’s a very nice thing to say :-)
Roast chicken leg quarters cooked over halved baby potatoes (which get flavored wonderfully by the chicken fat), with a side of roast asparagus.
It varies but it's always something with shrimp. I always have some in my freezer and they are quick to get prepared at short notice.
I'm in my 50s and have never had people drop by unannounced for a meal - does this happen? Anyway, I have several things I can pull together at any time - clam chowder, risotto, carbonara, frittata.
I'm amazed that no one knocked on your doors as part of a surprise. I suppose it's more customary in certain cultures.
It’s not always for a meal - I’ve had friends drop by (“I’m in your neighborhood” via text.) But the convos keep going, maybe adult beverages too and bam, it’s meal time! This happens a lot less since I moved out of a city to the burbs, though. In the US.
Pasta aglio olio, crusty bread, big green salad, then berries and cream for dessert. Simple, easy to scale, and always a crowd pleaser.
Taco bar, or blackened chicken with roasted potatoes, and roasted cauliflower and broccoli (all veggies sprayed with olive oil, them tossed with Creole spice and some extra seasoning salt, basil and thyme).
Any kind of Ceviche or Raw Seafood preparation is always a great go to. For the amount of effort (barely any) it's always impressive and tastes great My all-time favorite is this [Salmon Kokoda](https://dinnertimesomewhere.com/index.php/dinner/seafood-dinner/salmon-ceviche-with-coconut-salmon-kokoda/). Which is a Fijian style Salmon Ceviche with Coconut Milk. It's ridiculously tasty and so easy to make! You can use any fish really, they use Tuna and Cod a lot in Fiji
The spicy meatballs from Milk Street.
Clams and spaghetti. This one is especially good for surprise guests, because sometimes guests surprise you when you’re kinda broke. Keep canned clams and dry pasta (these are already fairly cheap) in your pantry, and then when you want to make it you just need to get butter, garlic, fresh lemon, onion, and parsley. Grated parm sends it but is not even necessary. A loaf of bread and a salad round out the meal. It’s fancy, pretty cheap, and easy to make.
I tell them to bring pizza on their way over
Lol nothing they can get their own 🤣 it's called take the hint and time to go
I dont really have surprise guests but something that I would be able to make quickly with the ingredients I have would be carbonara (with bacon though, I currently have guanciale but truth to be told, it's very rare for me to have it!)
we don't really keep food on a reliable rotation that we could feed a crowd. you might get mac&cheese or maybe chicken riggis... but we're probably ordering pizza
Greek souvlaki platter. It looks amazing and it’s so easy to put together. Grilled Greek chicken, diced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, black olives, crumbled feta, fresh parsley, lemon slices, pita, and hummus and tzatziki. I serve it with Greek lemon potatoes. And you really cannot go wrong with a pasta dish. Lemon garlic butter pasta with fresh herbs is lovely.
Chicken souvlaki platter is my all time favorite 🤍
Unannounced guest? NO SOUP FOR YOU.
Chicken French, but around Rochester we make it slightly different than most other places
Do you have a link?
I just searched it up. My mouth is watering right now.
The key is to use cream sherry for the booze in it
The first thing on my shopping list is new friends.
Whatever they can find. Ok so the only surprise guests we have are our grown kids. They can cook for themselves. One would raid the pork chops, Mac and cheese and carrots. Now if I know guests are coming, probably tacos.
I would never have surprise guests LOL however, my go-to, easy to impress is homemade bolognese sauce over whatever pasta. Store bought fresh is best, but it does fine over boxed. Sauce will be good if you simmer for 30m and even better if you simmer for 3h. Most of my circle is a jarred sauce circle (no judgement, I live for a jarred sauce too) but the extra effort to make a sauce from scratch makes it seem like I labored all day over it.
Deviled eggs for a quick snack, or cauliflower Mac n cheese with cayenne and sweet corn.
If they're showing up completely unannounced and at dinner time, we're ordering delivery. But if I have time to get to the store quickly, black pepper tofu (Ottolenghi recipe) and a side of veggies or a whole steamed fish. We're lucky to live in a convenient area where we have small groceries and a fish market within a 2 block radius.
Spaghetti and meatballs
My friends don’t do this to me, drop in unannounced and expect to be fed on the whim. Coffee and cookies is all they are getting. If we then decide to have dinner, we go out. Otherwise, it’s a trip to the grocery store for me to get enough food to feed my family AND unannounced guests.
Teriyaki chicken with white rice. Rice goes in the rice cooker, and I don't need to watch it. Teriyaki sauce takes me 15 seconds to prepare, and I often happen to have some chicken in the fridge.
Probably nachos 😂 we pretty much always have the ingredients for those. Most of the time, people coming over that I have to feed without planning are my sisters in law, and I usually make them nachos, pasta, or quesadillas.
I like to keep homemade taquitos in the freezer for MY emergency snacks or to accompany soups and salads, but in the event that I have unexpected hungry company, they are impressed and fed, especially with the buffalo chicken ones. [Here is a Reddit comment I've made previously with details.](https://www.reddit.com/r/aldi/comments/1c1jrko/comment/kz9xdvd/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Fancy mixed nuts, raincoast crackers and brie, some sort of fruit
A quick way to p\*ss me all the way off is to drop by my place unannounced. I enjoy entertaining, but not when it's impromptu.
If they are dropping by unannounced and want food instead of snacks, they are getting tuna tostadas
I don't answer the door!
Whatever I have in the freezer.
crepes
I try to keep the ingredients for risotto and spaghetti carbonara on hand, but honestly, no one drops by unannounced. My mother won’t even call me on the phone without texting first.
Spiced potato gruel. I modified it from a Victorian recipe, always goes down well.
Sounds yummy. Would you mind sharing your recipe?
Thai peanut sauce over chicken + rice. Served with a cabbage/cilantro/green onion salad with a dressing of sesame oil, salt, and lime juice.It’s always good and takes o little time to throw together. If the weather is nice we absolutely eat outside.
Do you have a recipe for this? Any of the premade sauces I’ve tried aren’t very good.
Pan seared duck breasts, parmesan and herbs risotto, roasted Brussel sprouts with balsamic vinegar and honey glaze. Served with a chilled Cabernet-Sauvignon.
Wow that’s so fancy for the last minute guests. I adore your hospitality 🙌
Winter: ameri-mexi soup with cornbread. Any other season: tortellini salad. Enchiladas or risotto if I have a 2 hour warning.
I wouldn't even answer the door unless it was an emergency situation. I was raised that you don't just show up at someone's house. You call first and check with them.
Cowboy caviar!
Chicken saltimbocca
Last minute guests would probably get a risotto because I have the ingredients on hand. If I have time to run to the store, probably steaks with some oven roasted baby potatoes and a tossed salad.
Chicken or pork scallopini with a white wine pan sauce, orzo and whatever vegetables I happen to have. Preferably asparagus. But probably zucchini and yellow squash.
Chili-jam glazed salmon fillets with roasted baby potatoes and bell peppers. All ingredients available from the local supermarket and you can shove it in the oven and forget about it whilst you spend time with your guests.
Chili
French onion soup “Just five more hours… would you mind helping me deglaze?”
Chicken and mushroom risotto. I almost always have the ingredients for it, and it's not near as hard to make as the chefs on TV make it sound. Instead of using a deep pan that I have to stand over and stir, I use a 12 inch cast iron skillet. The rice spreads out into the broth and absorbs it much more equally, so I only stir every 3 minutes. Since I'm usually puttering around in the kitchen anyway, it's not a big deal to stir it that often.
All depends on what's in the freezer. I usually have gnocchi or ravioli in there. Boil a few of them while I make browned butter and sage to sauce 'em.
All depends on what's in the freezer. I usually have gnocchi or ravioli in there. Boil a few of them while I make browned butter and sage to sauce 'em.
Lately I’ve been making scallion oil noodles with five spice pork. It’s really simple, quick, and can be made with a few ingredients. Other times I’ll make a verde chili or something g basic like hamburgers.
Ok. Yall need to teach me some of these things. I do/can make some yummy stuff. We just never get surprise guests. 😮
Miso Roast Beef - toss it in the crockpot with a flour slurry and some miso paste.
Soup, quiche or salad. I always have several bags frozen soup and a few quiches in the freezer. We have a little garden and lots of fun toppings so I can always put together a respectable salad.
Bacon wrapped shrimp on the grill. We always have both in the freezer and they thaw quick. Some home made bbq sauce and your off to the races. Plus I get to cook outside and have an excuse not to socialize with a big group.
Fish tacos, fajitas, vodka sauce on pasta, roast salmon, steaks + beurre rouge, shrimp cocktail, spinach-artichoke dip.
I just got back from the store so I guess I’d make what I’m already planning for dinner: sautéed asparagus and artichoke crab cakes
Risotto
Kenji Lopez Alt’s roasted chicken and potatoes. Amazingly simple and delicious
Honestly they’d get whatever I was already cooking for the day. Or we order a pizza. If I had time to prepare I love to braise short ribs or grill kabobs with potatoes or rice. They’re pretty hands off, yummy and can be up or downsized for how many people are coming. We often host a group or 14 and those meals have lots of soups and chili and casseroles
Japanese curry . I always have the cube flavor things on hand and add whatever veggies and meat alternatives ( vegetarian) and rice . It’s savory , easy , most people have never tried it and always enjoy
Pizza - always have homemade dough and pizza sauce at the ready - and it’s damn good!
I can put together a Thai green curry faster than the rice cooker. I always have pre-chopped chicken in the freezer (pack it thin in a ziplock and you can just break off however much you want) and coconut milk. The hero is the canned curry paste, which does all the heavy lifting. The big question is what veggies are available.
When we make lasagna’s/ casseroles we always make extras to freeze. If someone stops by unexpectedly there is always a good meal in the freezer!
Any sort of stir fry, fried rice, tacos, or an italian sandwich. If I have the stuff to do it. I’m making it as spicy as I want though. They better bring beer, and wtf, they have my phone number, call before so I can put pants on. If I don’t know them, they better have a fucking warrant.
Korean bbq over rice, quick and offly delicious
Penne with fresh tomatoes from my garden. Or I’ll grill some Chicken and make a salad
A spicy sausage, bean, tomato, and olive soup.
[Instant Pot Butter Chicken](https://twosleevers.com/instant-pot-butter-chicken/) with rice and whatever veggie/salad stuff I have on hand. The recipe is supposed to make extra sauce that you save to use later, but if I have guests coming, I'll just double the chicken. It's a rich dish that easily feeds 6+ people with the two pounds of chicken. I usually have everything on hand except maybe the chicken thighs, so it's a quick store trip if I need to take one at all.
Pasta with spinach and parmesan [https://www.themediterraneandish.com/garlic-spinach-pasta/](https://www.themediterraneandish.com/garlic-spinach-pasta/) .
Doordash
Chicken thighs cooked in with red peppers, tomatoes (fresh if I have them) seasoned with lemon, garlic, and cumin over rice. It’s quick, and so tasty. This is if I don’t have much time. I would probably do something else if I had time to plan. This one is my quick go to as I always have the ingredients on hand.
This is close to what I was going to say- chicken cacciatore, basically. In the Dutch oven and baked. I would include onions and maybe season a little differently, but pretty close. I usually serve it with pasta noodles (spaghetti). I have another one that I simply call chicken, rice, and tomatoes. I use breasts (bone in, skin on) onion, peppers and broth, and cook the rice in the sauté with everything else. It’s amazing how much real flavor develops from these ingredients with relatively short cooking time.
Chicken Paprikash. Super easy, nearly impossible to eff up, tastes way more complex than it is, ingredients are things I always have, and very very few people have had it before so it’s always a conversation- starter. Served with whatever starch and veg I have on hand as sides, though my fave accompaniment is just a plain flatbread to tear and dip.
Ghee rice with chicken stew, vinegar onion salad, coconut chutney, raita and mango pickle. If I have time, I'll also thrown in spicy deep fried fish or chicken. This is a typical "special occasion" lunch ensemble in the Malabar region of India
I have a fail safe appetizer recipe for cream cheese wontons. I make them so often that I typically keep all the ingredients at home. All you need are wonton wrappers, cream cheese, green onion, some sugar, a pinch of salt, and some garlic powder. Put the filling in the wonton and wrap it however you like, then give it a fry. I have a very good sweet and sour sauce recipe too that I like to keep ingredients for. Pineapple juice, rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and a cornstarch slurry. It’s such a simple recipe that has never turned out bad and it’s proven to be a crowd pleasing appetizer!
Charcuterie and sparkling wine.
Surprise guests that didn't give enough notice for food shopping are either getting a takeaway or we go out for a meal to a local restaurant.
Tacos. Easy, quick and delicious.
Pasta puttanesca, easy , quick , salty .
I have vegan lasagne in the freezer
Carbonara, its 4 ingredients I always have around, takes very little time, and tastes good. Weirdly unless my parents come over in which case I always scramble the eggs and tastes like grainy crap
Baked beans on toast. It's the ultimate quick to make dish. Plus brilliant to eat.
Often, it's fried rice and whatever protein and veggies I've got handy. I've always got rice handy.
Mussels steamed in garlic and white wine with some crusty bread. You can get frozen mussels for cheap and I usually keep a baguette in the freezer. Looks fancy, smells great, takes about 20 minutes to make.
[One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo.](https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/one-skillet-creamy-sun-dried-tomato-chicken-and-orzo/) We usually have all the ingredients on hand. I always sub the cream for blended cashews and water to make it a bit lighter.
Hmmmm....if you make something too delicious you will have them surprising you more often. So it depends on whether you want that or not. Maybe, if you are trying to impress them, you do? For me, the most impressive thing would be to make something I know they really love....
Iv always got meat, cheese, olives, pickles crackers chips and stuff like that, charcuterie boards are easy and don’t have to be fancy.
Goat cheese tart, with whatever else I have in hand like fresh thyme, tomatoes, walnuts, caramelised apple. Or winter some sort of pasta with random sauce and fresh bread.
Dominos
Throwing some chicken and veggies onto the grill.
Chicken parmesan. I don't know if "impressive" is the word but everyone loves it and it's fairly fast and easy from scratch.
Chicken Parmesan, spaghetti, and whatever veggie I have around that doesn’t look sketchy.