Plan A Sensational Summer Menu

Hosting a dinner party in the heat of summer can be as easy as pie when you use recipes that are simple and fresh. With Knorr, you can bring the vibrant flavours of summer to your dinner table without spending hours in the kitchen. Here are some handy tricks to help you plan your special menu:

Delicious Drinks

A cold glass of something special is always welcome in the summer heat. Mix up a batch of cold minty iced tea or home-made lemonade, or make a big bowl of fruity punch to welcome your guests. Whatever your drink of choice may be, serve it in cold glasses with plenty of ice.

Perfect Party Snacks

Interesting, tasty nibbles start any dinner party off on the right note. Served with welcome drinks, they will keep your guests happy and refreshed while you focus on putting last-minute touches to the rest of the dinner. Some of our favourite summer snacks: Butternut & Feta Christmas Phyllo Crackers, Mini Caprese Salads, Bread Basket Tartlets with Smoked Chicken & Feta and Thai Spring Chicken Rolls.

Scrumptious Starters

The starter course signals the beginning of dinner. Get your guests talking with a big ‘sharing’ dish they can pass round the table. Big, bountiful salad platters are perfect for sharing. Or serve one or two cold soups plus a selection of home-made quick breads. You’ll find more ideas for starters in our Snacks and Sides recipe collection.

Marvellous Mains

Treat your guests to something special by going all out with your main course. Plan ahead and make sure to accommodate the dietary requirements of your guests. A beef fillet, a side of salmon or a rack of lamb make impressive main courses for celebrations, but if these are beyond your budget, your guests will be just as satisfied with a platter of perfectly roasted chickens served with fresh seasonal veggies.

For very hot weather, how about a cool, flavour-packed Wild Rice Chicken & Avo Salad, or a Bulgur Wheat, Prawn & Corn Salad? Click here for more delicious dinner party recipes.

Decadent Desserts

Hot summer weather is the perfect time to whip up a sensational chilled dessert. Choose something that will save you time and effort, and which can be put together well in advance, leaving you more time to enjoy yourself. Buy a few large meringue cases, and make pavlovas by filling them at the last minute with seasonal fruit and whipped cream. Or mix summer berries and crushed, shop-bought meringues with whipped cream to make ‘Eton Mess’. Or keep things super-simple by presenting guests with a beautiful platter of chilled fruit, nuts and chocolates.