Guests are about to arrive, and you need to set the table without breaking the bank? Want to impress your friends and cook some great dishes without spending a lot of time? We'll tell you what to feed your guests – and these 20 delicious, quick, and inexpensive recipes will help you make an impression on family, colleagues, and friends with minimal effort!
1. Pasta with Tomatoes
This simple dish has a pleasant aftertaste and doesn't require specific ingredients.
You'll need: 400g pasta, 4 regular tomatoes or 10 cherry tomatoes, 2 bell peppers, 100g sour cream, garlic and herbs to taste.
Preparation: Boil the pasta until al dente. Then chop the vegetables and sauté them, covered. While they soften, mix grated garlic, herbs, sour cream, any spices, and salt in a bowl, then add the mixture to the pan. Once the tomatoes and peppers are well stewed, add the pasta on top, mix thoroughly, and leave the dish on low heat for another 10 minutes.
2. Deviled Eggs
A very simple but delicious dish that is quite filling.
You'll need: 6 large eggs, 100g Russian or Dutch cheese, 100g crab sticks, a couple of garlic cloves, 100g thick mayonnaise, olives or black olives (for garnish).
Preparation: Hard-boil the eggs, peel them, cut them in half lengthwise, and separate the yolks. Finely grate the crab sticks, garlic, and cheese. Mash the yolks with a fork and add all the grated ingredients to them.
Dress the mixture with mayonnaise and mix thoroughly. Using a teaspoon, add the mixture into the egg white "boats." Garnish the dish with thinly sliced olive rings.
3. Homemade "Raffaello"
A wonderful homemade dessert made from simple ingredients.
You'll need: a packet of sweet corn sticks, 100-120g condensed milk, half a teaspoon of butter, 100g shredded coconut, a handful of unsalted peanuts.
Preparation: Melt the butter, add the condensed milk and the corn sticks, crushed with a meat grinder or masher. Mix the ingredients well and refrigerate for half an hour. Lightly fry the nuts in a pan and let them cool.
Take the chilled mixture from the refrigerator, scoop a small amount with a spoon, and form round flat cakes. Place a nut in the center of each cake, pinch the edges, and roll into balls. Dip them in shredded coconut and refrigerate until guests arrive.
4. Cottage Cheese and Semolina Casserole
An amazingly tender and quick-to-prepare delicacy for any celebration.
You'll need: half a kilo of cottage cheese, 5 eggs, 50g sugar, 100g semolina.
Preparation: Combine cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar. Add the semolina, and mix all ingredients well again. Let the mixture sit for 15-20 minutes, preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius, and then bake the batter for half an hour.
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5. Korean-Style Pork
Although this is a hearty meat dish, its preparation won't take much of your time. An excellent recipe for what to feed guests!
You'll need: half a kilo of tender pork neck, 2 onions, a couple of garlic cloves, 80ml soy sauce and 20g chili sauce, 100g green onions.
Preparation: Cut the meat into small strips and fry it in oil over high heat for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat, add onion rings and minced garlic to the pan, and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour the sauces over the top, sprinkle with chopped green onions, and keep the dish covered for another 3 minutes.
6. Zucchini Boats with Mushrooms
This is a very delicious dish that will suit a company of guests, including vegetarians.
You'll need: 200g mushrooms, 100g hard cheese, 2 medium zucchinis, 1 tomato, 1 onion, mayonnaise or thick sour cream and herbs to taste.
Preparation: Cut the zucchinis lengthwise, remove the pulp with seeds, and salt the resulting "boats." Evenly distribute the fried mushrooms and onions inside. Pour sour cream or mayonnaise over everything. Slice the tomato into half-rings and arrange them on top along with herbs. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake the zucchinis in the oven until a golden crust appears.
7. Quick Chicken Caesar Salad
A classic treat that will appeal to gourmets and lovers of simple home cooking alike. It's very easy to prepare and perfect for quickly feeding guests!
You'll need: 400g hard cheese, 6 cherry tomatoes, a large chicken breast, 8 leaves of Napa cabbage, 200g croutons, 6 cloves of garlic, lemon juice, herbs, and mayonnaise to taste.
Preparation: Boil the chicken (if you have time, you can also fry it afterwards). While the meat is cooking, slice the cabbage into strips and the cherry tomatoes into wedges. Grate the cheese finely, and shred the cooked fillet or cut it into small pieces.
For the sauce, add minced garlic, herbs, and a few drops of lemon juice to the mayonnaise. It's best to blend everything in a blender. Arrange the meat, cheese, vegetables, and croutons on a plate without mixing. Serve the sauce separately so guests can add it to their liking.
8. Stuffed Mushrooms with Cheese
This incomparable dish is very filling and restorative. Your guests definitely won't leave hungry!
You'll need: 10 large mushrooms, 150g hard cheese, 1 onion, 50g sour cream, dill, and salt.
Preparation: Separate the mushroom stems and gills, chop them with the onion, and fry in oil, remembering to salt. Add sour cream and simmer for 1-2 minutes, then add finely chopped dill and turn off the heat. Sprinkle with 2/3 of the grated cheese.
Add the mixture to the mushroom caps and top with the remaining cheese. Pour a little water into a baking dish, arrange the mushrooms filling-side up. Bake for 25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.
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9. Lavash with Carrots and Processed Cheese
An excellent appetizer that can be prepared quickly when guests are already at the door.
You'll need: 1 package lavash, 2 medium carrots, 2 processed cheese blocks, a couple of garlic cloves, mayonnaise.
Preparation: Chill the cheese blocks in the refrigerator, then grate them with the carrots on a coarse grater. Mince the garlic and add it along with mayonnaise to the other ingredients. Evenly spread the filling over the surface of the lavash, roll it into a log, and cut into small pieces.
10. Baked Cheese Balls with Olives
This is a familiar cheese dish, but with a small surprise inside. You'll not only feed your guests deliciously but also pleasantly surprise them!
You'll need: 150g cheese, 100g butter, a glass of flour, 1-2 small jars of olives, 1 egg, sesame seeds, and hot spices.
Preparation: Grate the cheese and butter, add spices, then mix everything in a blender or pass through a meat grinder. Gradually add the sifted flour, but make sure the dough is not too stiff and doesn't tear. Pinch off a small amount of the mixture, place an olive in the center, roll into a ball, and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Refrigerate the dish for 20 minutes. Brush the chilled balls with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 20-25 minutes.
11. Cheese Stars
Another wonderful treat for guests, quickly made from cheese.
You'll need: 300-350g ready-made puff pastry, 100g hard cheese, 50ml milk, 100g flour, sprinkles as desired (poppy seeds, sesame seeds, caraway seeds, etc.).
Preparation: Roll out the dough, place 2/3 of the grated cheese on one half, then cover with the second half, folding the sheet in half. Dust the table and rolling pin with flour, and roll out the dough again thoroughly. Cut out stars using a special cookie cutter or knife.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius, line with parchment paper. Mix the remaining third of the cheese with milk and spread it over the shapes, add sprinkles. Bake for about 10 minutes.
12. Country-Style Potatoes with Sauce
Pay special attention to the sauce, as it will give the dish its unique flavor.
You'll need: 1 kg potatoes, 25g butter, a pinch of salt and curry, paprika or other spicy seasoning, 50g each of mayonnaise and sour cream, 1 pickled cucumber, a clove of garlic.
Preparation: Peel the potatoes, cut each into 6 wedges, and boil in salted water. Mix melted butter with seasonings, pour over the cooked potatoes, and spread on baking paper. Cook for half an hour at 200 degrees Celsius, stirring a couple of times.
For the sauce, add sour cream, minced garlic and cucumber, as well as salt and pepper to the mayonnaise. Serve the dish hot, placing the sauce in a separate bowl.
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13. Quick Homemade Pizza
Pizza is an ideal and quick-to-prepare dish to feed guests. There will definitely be enough for everyone!
You'll need: 2 chicken eggs, 50g mayonnaise and the same amount of flour, 150g soft sausage, half an onion, 1 tomato, 20g any hard cheese.
Preparation: Combine eggs, flour, and mayonnaise, then pour the mixture onto a baking sheet. Layer the sausage, onion, tomatoes, and cheese in order. Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius.
14. Pilaf with Minced Meat
What feast is complete without a hearty side dish? Even ordinary pilaf can elicit a storm of delight and compliments from guests!
You'll need: 500g minced meat, 350g long-grain rice, 2 medium carrots and onions, 1 head of garlic, spices to your liking.
Preparation: Thaw the minced meat and roll it into small balls. Peel the vegetables and slice the onions into half-rings, and the carrots into thin strips. Fry them in vegetable oil in a high-sided pan, stirring occasionally, alternating between low and medium heat.
Add the meat balls to the vegetables, sprinkle with spices after 2 minutes, and place a whole unpeeled head of garlic in the center of the pan. Without turning off the heat, pour hot water over all ingredients so that its level is 1-2 cm higher than the products. Cover and simmer until all the liquid has evaporated.
15. Breaded Chicken
This is a delicious, quick, and easy dish that both adults and children love.
You'll need: 250g chicken fillet, 1 egg, 100g each of flour and breadcrumbs, oil for frying, spices to taste.
Preparation: Cut the chicken breast into serving pieces and thoroughly pound them with a kitchen mallet. Whisk the egg with seasonings. Dip the chicken in the pre-sifted flour, then in the beaten egg, and finally roll in breadcrumbs. Heat oil in a pan and place the meat. Fry until a golden crust appears.
16. "Peacock's Tail" with Eggplant
Looking for a recipe for a delicious appetizer with an interesting presentation to feed your guests? Here it is!
You'll need: half a kilo each of eggplant and tomatoes, 400g cucumbers, 100g cheese, 80g olives, 100g mayonnaise, 40g minced garlic, dill for garnish.
Preparation: Slice the eggplants into oblong ovals, fry over low heat on both sides, and place on a napkin to remove excess oil. Mix cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic for the dressing.
Take a large platter, arrange the eggplants in a circle, alternating with fluffy dill. Spread each piece with dressing, and then layer with tomato and cucumber slices. Repeat all steps, this time placing the vegetables closer to the center of the dish. Finally, place olive halves on the cucumbers.
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17. Baked Mackerel
This is one of the simplest recipes that requires little effort for an amazingly delicious result.
You'll need: 3 large mackerels, 3 bouillon cubes, 2-3 tbsp vegetable oil.
Preparation: Rinse the fish, remove the entrails, and use paper towels or napkins to remove excess moisture. Crumble the instant bouillon cube and rub it all over the mackerel. Pour oil onto foil, place the fish, and bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes.
18. Cottage Cheese Cocoa Soufflé
Wondering what sweet treat to feed your guests? Here's another delicious and quick recipe!
You'll need: 300g fat-free cottage cheese, 100g low-fat milk, 20g gelatin, a glass of water, 50g each of cocoa and honey.
Preparation: To the gelatin swollen in water, add cocoa, milk, and honey (can be replaced with sugar). Simmer the liquid over very low heat until the cocoa is completely dissolved. Make sure the mixture does not boil.
Turn off the heat, add the cottage cheese, and mix everything until smooth (preferably in a blender). Pour the mixture into special molds or any dish with sides, and leave in the refrigerator until serving.
19. Ratatouille
Surprise your guests with a classic French dish featuring incredibly aromatic and juicy vegetables.
You'll need: 200g feta cheese, 4 tomatoes, 2 eggplants and 2 zucchinis, 1 bell pepper, 1 onion, 2 garlic cloves, vegetable oil, herbal seasonings (e.g., thyme, basil, or rosemary).
Preparation: Slice 3 tomatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, and cheese into slices of equal thickness. Alternating the ingredients, arrange them at a slight angle on an oiled baking sheet.
Chop the remaining tomatoes, onion, and pepper into small cubes, add minced garlic, a spoon of oil, and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour the resulting mixture over the arranged vegetables and cover them with foil. Bake for 30 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius, then remove the foil and leave in the oven for another 20 minutes.
20. Homemade Lavash Chips
This snack is perfect if your guests enjoy spending evenings with games, board games, or movie nights.
You'll need: 100g thin lavash, 40ml olive oil, 30g cheese, a small bunch of dill, a clove of garlic, salt and pepper or any spices.
Preparation: Cut the lavash into triangular pieces. Make a sauce for the chips by mixing minced garlic, spices, finely chopped dill, and oil. Place the lavash on parchment paper, brush all pieces with the sauce, and sprinkle with grated cheese. Bake the chips for no more than 5 minutes in an oven preheated to 180 degrees Celsius.