Entertaining recipes and tips

Whether it’s a casual catch-up, festive celebration or a foodie feast, there’s nothing better than gathering with friends and whānau. Here you’ll find easy entertaining recipes, party food ideas and simple hosting tips to help your next BBQ, dinner party or drinks-and-nibbles night go off without a hitch.

Entertaining dips and platters

Serves 4
1 hour

Capsicum and eggplant dip with yoghurt flatbread

Serves 1
15 mins

Smoked kahawai dip

Serves 4
15 mins

DIY charcuterie platter

Serves 2
30 mins

Honey and almond baked brie

Serves 6
6 hours 30 mins

Beetroot dip with pita chips

Serves 1 batch
40 mins

Rough puff pastry

Serves 6-8
10 mins

Green goddess dip

Serves 4
35 mins

Easy homemade guacamole

1 / 0

Easy recipes for the BBQ

Browse more BBQ recipes

Serves 6
35 mins

Barbecue pineapple salsa hot dogs

Serves 6
25 mins + soaking time

Barbecued corn with flavoured butters

Serves 4
45 mins + marinating time

Indian-inspired BBQ chicken drumsticks

Serves 4
35 mins

Chicken kabobs with chilli and lime

Serves 4
35 mins

Argentinian style hotdogs

Serves 6
40 mins

Summer BBQ meatball rolls

Serves 2
40 mins

BBQ steak and cheese sliders

Serves 4
15 mins

BBQ pork ribs and slaw

1 / 0

Get everything you need for the summer season, easy

Browse all

Bananas

$3.69/1kg

Select unit type

Product of Ecuador

Telegraph Cucumber

Product of New Zealand

Broccoli

Product of New Zealand

Blueberries

125g

$34.32/1kg

Product of New Zealand

Avocado

Product of New Zealand

NZ Strawberries

250g

$23.96/1kg

Product of New Zealand

Red Truss Tomatoes

$4.99/1kg

Select unit type

Product of New Zealand

Brown Onions

$2.49/1kg

Select unit type

Product of New Zealand

Tip Top Supersoft White Super Thick Bread

700g

$0.61/100g

Carrots

$2.89/1kg

Select unit type

Product of New Zealand

Pams Baby Spinach

120g

$33.25/1kg

Product of New Zealand

Green Courgettes

$3.99/1kg

Select unit type

Product of New Zealand

Navel Oranges

$5.49/1kg

Select unit type

Product of New Zealand

Copper Kettle Sea Salt Potato Chips

150g

2 for

$1.67/100g

Limit 12 assorted

$3.46/100g

Loose Red Tomatoes

$4.99/1kg

Select unit type

Product of New Zealand

Yellow Flesh Nectarines

$7.99/1kg

Select unit type

Product of New Zealand

Golden Baby Gourmet Potatoes

1.5kg

$3.99/1kg

Product of New Zealand

Just Juice Tropical Fruit Juice

2 for

$2.50/1L

$3.99/1L

Pams Value White Toast Fresh Sliced Bread

600g

$0.33/100g

Red Capsicum

Product of New Zealand

1 / 0

Refreshing beverages

Serves 8-10
10 mins

Sparkling summer fruit punch

Serves 4
10 mins

Sunset mocktail

Serves 4
5 mins

Vegan summer berry lassi

Serves 4
5 mins

Icy pineapple and orange mocktails

Serves 10-12
30 mins

Peach and lemon iced tea

Serves 4
10 mins

Blueberry mojito mocktail

1 / 0

Easy finger food

Serves 4
35 mins

Salmon fishcakes with lemon caper mayo

Serves 10-12
35 mins

Vietnamese inspired prawn summer rolls

Serves 4-8
20 mins

Nectarine and haloumi bruschetta

Serves 4
30 mins

Smoky chickpea tacos

Serves Makes 16-20
50 mins

Air-fryer filo samosas

Serves 4-6
45 mins

Baked ravioli bites

Serves 8
25 mins

Whipped feta and tomato bruschetta

1 / 0

Planning tips

Adopt the ‘buy some, make some’ mantra. There’s no need to cook a menu entirely from scratch.
If you’re serving canapés, allow five per guest for a one hour function, or eight for two hours.
Stock up on non-perishables. Christmas cake, crackers or biscuits are good to have in the pantry in case of unexpected guests.
Ease your workload by including a couple of items that can be made up to a day ahead, or have ‘do-ahead’ elements that can be put together just before they go to the table.

On the day

If you're serving a main meal, allow around 45 minutes between guests arriving and sitting down to eat. This gives everyone time to mingle and settle in.

Cheese is best served at room temperature, so remove it from the fridge at least two hours before serving.

If you are having a BBQ or serving food outdoors, make sure you check the weather forecast and allow for a plan B. Have sunblock, rugs and insect repellent available if needed.

Thirsty? Tips for serving beverages

Serve your guests a welcome cocktail or mocktail as they arrive. It adds to the festive vibe and will make feel special.

Let guests make their own cocktails. Have a few favourite recipes on cards, and all the ingredients on hand.

Make sure you have some soft drinks or juice available for a non-alcohol option.

Ensure that you have plenty of ice. You don’t want to run out in those hotter months.

Place fruit, herbs and flowers in an ice tray, then fill it with boiling water and keep it in your freezer for a night. Out will come beautiful, clear ice cubes with surprises frozen in the middle!

Entertaining recipes and tips

Entertaining dips and platters

Capsicum and eggplant dip with yoghurt flatbread

Smoked kahawai dip

DIY charcuterie platter

Honey and almond baked brie

Beetroot dip with pita chips

Rough puff pastry

Green goddess dip

Easy homemade guacamole

Easy recipes for the BBQ

Barbecue pineapple salsa hot dogs

Barbecued corn with flavoured butters

Indian-inspired BBQ chicken drumsticks

Chicken kabobs with chilli and lime

Argentinian style hotdogs

Summer BBQ meatball rolls

BBQ steak and cheese sliders

BBQ pork ribs and slaw

Get everything you need for the summer season, easy

Refreshing beverages

Sparkling summer fruit punch

Sunset mocktail

Vegan summer berry lassi

Icy pineapple and orange mocktails

Peach and lemon iced tea

Blueberry mojito mocktail

Easy finger food

Salmon fishcakes with lemon caper mayo

Vietnamese inspired prawn summer rolls

Nectarine and haloumi bruschetta

Smoky chickpea tacos

Air-fryer filo samosas

Baked ravioli bites

Whipped feta and tomato bruschetta

Planning tips

On the day

Thirsty? Tips for serving beverages

More Christmas recipe collections:

Summer drinks

Christmas desserts

Pavlova recipes

Christmas dinner

Turkey dinner

Christmas baking