Help me create an amazing Easter brunch menu!
March 30, 2020 7:49 AM Subscribe
I’m a low/intermediate level cook. I do most of the family dinners, and cook all the dishes at most of our (traditional American) holiday meals. We usually go out to a specific extremely fancy restaurant for Easter brunch. Obviously this year that isn’t going to happen. Help me astound my family!
Tell me about your most impressive-looking brunch dishes!
Includes meat
No mushrooms, horseradish, or shellfish (Allergy)
No ham (to avoid conflict with dinner)
Willing to pick up some interesting ingredients, as long as I don’t have to buy a lot more than what is needed for the recipe
New Orleans theme is a bonus
Sweet and savory combined is a bonus
Tell me about your most impressive-looking brunch dishes!
Includes meat
No mushrooms, horseradish, or shellfish (Allergy)
No ham (to avoid conflict with dinner)
Willing to pick up some interesting ingredients, as long as I don’t have to buy a lot more than what is needed for the recipe
New Orleans theme is a bonus
Sweet and savory combined is a bonus
Here's the menu from the famous NOLA landmark restaurant Galatoire's, for inspo. Here's a sample brunch menu from Commander's Palace, ditto. That praline parfait, omg! And I bet that pecan crusted gulf fish on sweet corn would do wonderfully as a sweet/savory combo.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:24 AM on March 30, 2020
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:24 AM on March 30, 2020
Something I love for for brunch since it is make ahead is a fancy baked french toast. Do it all the day before and keep in fridge over night.
There are a thousand recipes online. French toast Casserole or Baked French toast. You can make it New Orleans style but I never have. "Pain Perdu"
For sweet and savory? I loved candied bacon.
posted by ReluctantViking at 8:30 AM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
There are a thousand recipes online. French toast Casserole or Baked French toast. You can make it New Orleans style but I never have. "Pain Perdu"
For sweet and savory? I loved candied bacon.
posted by ReluctantViking at 8:30 AM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
oops so sorry I missed your seafood allergy! Read too fast. Of course I withdraw the seafood suggestions. (But adding the "creole bread pudding souffle" listed under the "Jazz Brunch Special" above!
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:37 AM on March 30, 2020
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:37 AM on March 30, 2020
Choose-your-own-toppings bars can be impressive and a crowd-pleaser while also being pretty simple to put together for home cooks. I’ve seen this done as a bagel and lox bar, crepes bar, waffles, etc. all with about 15-20 toppings or add-ons available for guests to choose from
posted by horizons at 8:41 AM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by horizons at 8:41 AM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
Pain perdu, but easier and for a crowd. Alternately, bourbon bread pudding.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:47 AM on March 30, 2020
posted by Lyn Never at 8:47 AM on March 30, 2020
How about country captain chicken? Sweet+savory, southern if not exactly Cajun.
You can also make etouffee riffs that don't have seafood. here's one for an etouffee with chicken and andouille sausage.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:48 AM on March 30, 2020
You can also make etouffee riffs that don't have seafood. here's one for an etouffee with chicken and andouille sausage.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:48 AM on March 30, 2020
Are you gathering with family who don't live with you? This is not recommended during the pandemic. Any one individual act of travel or other form of social interaction is not very likely to result in infection. But in the aggregate, experience and research show that the more social interaction, the more infection. Don't shop unless you must.
Assuming you are celebrating with the people you live with, the answer to a great brunch is always hollandaise sauce. If you make hollandaise for a crowd, you'll have egg whites. My ideal Brunch is Eggs Benedict, using sauteed spinach or grilled tomato instead of Canadian bacon, which is hamlike, or thin sausage patties. Sweet & white potato home fries with lots of onion, and salsa for topping. Tons of thick bacon. Mimosas. When you have a lot of egg whites, you can make baked meringues - a silpat helps, but is not required. I make 2 sheets of meringue, layer it with whipped cream and strawberries, and it is fancy and tastes great, not actually difficult. Meringues have to be made in time to cool for a number of hours.
Other crowd pleasers: Bread pudding with bourbon sauce is delicious and easy. Quiche with swiss cheese and asparagus. Onion tart, with is quiche with a lot of caramelized onion and some cheese, usually Parmesan. Potatoes au gratin, or scalloped.
posted by theora55 at 9:49 AM on March 30, 2020 [5 favorites]
Assuming you are celebrating with the people you live with, the answer to a great brunch is always hollandaise sauce. If you make hollandaise for a crowd, you'll have egg whites. My ideal Brunch is Eggs Benedict, using sauteed spinach or grilled tomato instead of Canadian bacon, which is hamlike, or thin sausage patties. Sweet & white potato home fries with lots of onion, and salsa for topping. Tons of thick bacon. Mimosas. When you have a lot of egg whites, you can make baked meringues - a silpat helps, but is not required. I make 2 sheets of meringue, layer it with whipped cream and strawberries, and it is fancy and tastes great, not actually difficult. Meringues have to be made in time to cool for a number of hours.
Other crowd pleasers: Bread pudding with bourbon sauce is delicious and easy. Quiche with swiss cheese and asparagus. Onion tart, with is quiche with a lot of caramelized onion and some cheese, usually Parmesan. Potatoes au gratin, or scalloped.
posted by theora55 at 9:49 AM on March 30, 2020 [5 favorites]
Response by poster: Sorry, theora, yes, it will be just the people who live in my house. Husband, mother-in-law, me, 7-year-old girl, 5-year-old boy.
Sorry I wasn’t clear, I’m especially looking for recipes.
posted by Night_owl at 10:16 AM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
Sorry I wasn’t clear, I’m especially looking for recipes.
posted by Night_owl at 10:16 AM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
crepes
offer sweet and savory fillings
the main thing that makes brunch brunch is the drinks in my opinion. Doesn't have to be alcoholic - just foo foo fancy.
posted by domino at 2:04 PM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
offer sweet and savory fillings
the main thing that makes brunch brunch is the drinks in my opinion. Doesn't have to be alcoholic - just foo foo fancy.
posted by domino at 2:04 PM on March 30, 2020 [2 favorites]
Assuming you are able to get yeast and bread, a braided Easter egg bread like this is a nice side, and looks impressive (I cannot vouch for this recipe, but there are many online to compare).
posted by carrienation at 3:07 PM on March 30, 2020
posted by carrienation at 3:07 PM on March 30, 2020
Chocolate filled beignets? You can also fill them with etouffee, or other savory things, which is amazing.
I'm also a big fan of blintzes with fruit toppings.
posted by ananci at 3:08 PM on March 30, 2020
I'm also a big fan of blintzes with fruit toppings.
posted by ananci at 3:08 PM on March 30, 2020
Gougères?
I agree with theora55 that everything with hollandaise is great for brunch. Maybe poached salmon on a bed of steamed spinach with hollandaise on top.
A lovely cheese board with sourdough and crackers.
And a sweet. I'm a fan of Pioneer Woman's Pots de Crème a l’Orange because they are so easy to make ahead.
An entirely different approach could be an Israeli breakfast
posted by mumimor at 10:28 AM on March 31, 2020
I agree with theora55 that everything with hollandaise is great for brunch. Maybe poached salmon on a bed of steamed spinach with hollandaise on top.
A lovely cheese board with sourdough and crackers.
And a sweet. I'm a fan of Pioneer Woman's Pots de Crème a l’Orange because they are so easy to make ahead.
An entirely different approach could be an Israeli breakfast
posted by mumimor at 10:28 AM on March 31, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:21 AM on March 30, 2020