Summer is officially underway, which means it’s time to start prepping for pool parties, backyard barbecues and, most importantly, delicious outdoor dinners. But if cooking meals for large groups sounds like a daunting task, we’re here to tell you that impressing your friends and family doesn’t have to be a difficult feat. As long as you have the right ingredients at your fingertips — like the salmon options available from Mowi — you and your taste buds are ready to party.
To help you conjure up your dream dinner, we’ve assembled the ultimate summer-feast guide, with our best hosting tips, tricks and, of course, mouthwatering dishes.
Plan Your Vision Ahead
Any outdoor gathering revolves around two key things: quality family time and delicious food. Both are fairly easy to achieve, as long as you plan right. First, ask yourself if you prefer a casual or an upscale setting — because that will determine the ingredients you’ll shop for and affect your budget for your bash.
For example, a chill vibe might mean the Mowi Fjord Norwegian Salmon Burger, paired with simple sides and fun finger foods. Conversely, a fancier meal calls for the Mowi Atlantic Salmon Portion on Cedar Plank, served alongside a decadent white wine and fruitful appetizers. And if you’re looking to make your event posh beyond the tasty entrées, pick an overall theme for your decor — we love a garden party, backyard BBQ, or beach luau theme.
Understand Flavor Profiles
When you’re curating a meal, it’s important to fully comprehend the flavor profiles before settling on dishes. This means that you should understand how the method of cooking will affect flavor, as well as what ingredient additions will enhance the taste.
Whether you’re grilling or baking your proteins, you have the opportunity to go sweet with a drizzle of honey, savory using herbs like rosemary or acidic with crowd-pleasing roasted tomatoes. You won’t have to do much to the salmon burger, because it already features a crispy panko breadcrumb coating. Mowi Atlantic Salmon, however, gives you the exciting option of grilling it on a cedar plank, leaving a subtly delicious smokiness and the opportunity to get creative with spices.
Know Your Audience
Acknowledging your guests’ preferences is vital to any successful dinner party. In general, burgers tend to be a safe bet for kids, but for the adults you’ll need to expand the menu at least somewhat. Should your guests be primarily adults, consider the 30-ounce Mowi Atlantic Salmon Side, which feeds up to eight people. When it comes to grilling a top-tier fish like this one, the less you do the better — the rich flavor will come through naturally. All you’ll need is some salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.
Diversify Your Grill Options
Grilling is an extremely versatile method of cooking, and while it can feel intimidating to the novice, it can be totally approachable for anyone with the right strategies. Serving some salmon smoked and some grilled, for example, allows guests to have options, increasing your odds of leaving everyone satisfied.
Set the Table
Make your hosting fun! One of our favorite methods at a more formal gathering is pairing the tablecloth pattern to the dinner invitation — it’s a thoughtful way to show that you care about the details, while keeping things cohesive.
And one last tip: If you’re able, prep the ingredients and sides early in the day to save yourself some stress. You’ll want to be mingling as much as possible when guests arrive anyway — trust us!