Hosting a dinner party can get tricky, what with all the menu planning, dietary preferences, and seasonal availability to keep track of. To make this a little easier, we’ve created 5 foolproof dinner menus for each season, including a starter, main, side, dessert, and a drink pairing. All you’ll need to come up with is a snazzy table setting and a playlist that sets the mood.
Leave the Come Dine With Me-esque kitchen chaos for the TV and enjoy your next dinner party, stress-free!
Menu 1: A lazy Summer braai
This menu hits the spot with South African favourites that will please anyone, even your mother-in-law. Get those jams pumping, ons gaan nou braai!
- Starter: Cheesy mozzarella pulls OR Quick and easy cheeseboard idea
- Mains: Ostrich braaied espetada OR Whole braaied fish with fennel and caper butter
- Sides: Honey-roasted pumpkin and barley salad OR Green bean & spekboom potato salad; Spring onion and cheddar stuffed bread; watermelon, cucumber, and feta salad
- Dessert: 4-Ingredient peppermint crisp tart
- Top tip: Prep as much as you can before your guests arrive, and make sure to delegate the braai duties.
Menu 2: Autumn harvest table
Graze all day with this rustic indoor harvest table. Fill up your table with assorted fruits, nuts, and crackers for those who prefer a small snack in between seconds.
- Starter: Baked camembert & vincotto figs with walnut crackers; Cape Malay lamb curry croquettes with spiced apple chutney
- Mains: Chicken, spinach, and feta cannelloni OR Spanakopita
- Side: Spiced butternut and beetroot salad OR Feta, beetroot, and rocket salad
- Dessert: Plum and apple crumble
- Top tip: Prepare all the food and lay it out on your table, letting people snack and eat as they like, leaving more time for conversations with your favourite group of people.
Menu 3: Winter comfort night in
Perfect for a fireside dinner with friends or family.
- Starter: Butternut and coconut soup with toasted seeds
- Mains: Slow-roasted oxtail with caramelised red onion OR Spiced lentil & sweet potato mini pot pies
- Sides: Steamed dombolo OR Roasted root vegetables with honey, cumin, and thyme
- Dessert: Amarula malva pudding with rooibos custard
- Top tip: Use a pressure-cooker for the oxtail if you’re in a hurry.
Menu 4: Spring Garden Dinner
This menu is perfect for alfresco dinners, relaxed celebrations, or just ’cause.
- Starter: Foccaccia with Olive oil and balsamic bread dip
- Mains: Lemon and rosemary roast chicken with chorizo stuffing OR Fish provencal with herbed tomatoes
- Sides: Halloumi salad
- Dessert: No-bake blueberry cheesecake
- Top tip: Prep everything in advance and serve family-style for an elegant, effortless feel.
Menu 5: Year-round vegetarian feast
Who says vegetarians can’t enjoy a flavour-packed feast?
- Starter: Spelt flatbreads with hummus
- Mains: Pan-fried gnocchi OR Spaghetti with chilli, garlic and clams
- Sides: Warm green salad
- Dessert: Vegan avocado and lime tartlets
- Top tip: Prep in stages; sauces, flatbreads, and dessert can be made ahead.
Entertaining doesn’t have to mean late-night prep, complicated recipes, or a flurry of last-minute stress. With these five seasonal and foolproof dinner menus, you’ll be hosting with ease in no time. Whether you’re looking for a lazy summer braai menu or a flavour-filled vegetarian feast, these menus have everything to boost your hosting confidence.
Remember that hosting is all about creating a great atmosphere that leaves your guests with lasting memories, not about the perfectly plated dish. Pick a menu, prep what you can ahead, pour yourself a drink, and enjoy the company, because the best kind of dinner party is one where the host is having just as much fun as the guests.
