04 different dinner ideas to surprise
There's nothing like having friends over for dinner, right? If you're tired of always serving the same thing, we've put together some different recipes for your dinner with friends.
Our selection includes some unique dinner dishes that will make your mouth water just thinking about them. let's go!
1. Guacamole
If you're a fan of the famous tortilla chips and enjoy mixing sweet and savory, guacamole is one of the unique dinner options you'll love. You can even opt for tortilla chips—like Doritos—in different flavors to vary the dip.
See how quick and easy it is to prepare this Mexican dish that will transform your evening with friends into a feast of flavors:
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 avocado
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 1 onion
- Coriander to taste
- 1 lemon to make the juice
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Preparation method
- Peel the avocado and cut it in half. Discard the pit and cut the fruit into cubes. Set aside in a bowl.
- Chop Tomatoes.
- Then chop the coriander leaves and onion.
- Mix the tomato, onion and cilantro.
- Add the two tablespoons of olive oil.
- Stir everything and add salt and black pepper to taste.
2. Tacos
Another Mexican dish that will surprise your friends: these tacos are super crunchy, and the original recipe includes ground beef. But this is a super versatile dish, and you can opt for a vegetarian filling too, how about that?
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups pre-cooked cornmeal
- 2 cups of ice water (480 ml)
- 1 tablespoon butter (optional)
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 250g ground beef
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 chopped green pepper
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 3 crushed garlic cloves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation method
- Place the water and butter in a bowl and mix everything with your hands.
- Gradually add the flour and salt and knead, still with your hands, until combined, for a few minutes.
- Then, shape it into a ball and refrigerate for ten minutes.
- When removing from the fridge, knead a little more and make smaller balls.
- Place them on a cutting board with plastic wrap so they don't stick together, and crush the ball.
- Remove the plastic wrap from the top and use a round container to cut the dough into round shapes.
- Grill the dough balls in an ungreased nonstick skillet. When the dough is golden brown on each side, remove from the skillet.
- Use a blender or food processor to make the filling creamier or add a sauce of your choice.
Tip: How about using the guacamole you learned here as a side dish? It's delicious!
3. Yakisoba
This Japanese favorite is a crowd-pleaser, as it's nothing more than a mix of noodles, soy sauce, and vegetables. You can even add seafood, beef, pork, or chicken to complement the dish.
You can find a variety of recipes out there, including various types of vegetables, so feel free to add your favorites. Traditional yakisoba is eaten with chopsticks, but you can use a fork if you feel more comfortable.
Preparation time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 500g of yakisoba noodles
- 1 jar of soy sauce
- 300g of chicken, shrimp or rump
- 200g of broccoli
- 120g of diced carrots
- 100g diced chayote
- 120g of zucchini, chopped into cubes
- 60g of sliced leeks
- 1 red onion
- Olive oil or butter for sautéing
- Oregano, salt and pepper to taste
Preparation method
- Cook the pasta while the vegetables are sautéed in olive oil or butter. Some vegetables take longer to soften than others, so it's best to sauté one ingredient at a time.
- Start with the carrots: sprinkle a little oregano on top, followed by the zucchini and chayote, also with a little oregano, and broccoli.
- Sauté until the vegetables are tender. Test with a fork.
- Sauté the onion in butter or olive oil and add the leek when the onion is golden.
- Once the vegetables are ready (remember you can add other vegetables to this recipe), it's time to grill the meat, chicken, or shrimp.
- Season the meat of your choice with salt and pepper and cut it into lengthwise strips (except for the shrimp).
- Drain the pasta and combine all the prepared ingredients in a bowl.
- Serve hot.
04. Gyros
How about surprising your friends with this delicious Greek fast food? Gyros consists of pita bread and various fillings, the most common being beef, pork, or chicken with tzatziki sauce and fresh vegetables. See how easy it is to make this traditional pork recipe!
Preparation time: 40 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 clove of sliced garlic
- ½ onion, sliced into strips
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of oregano
- Thyme and rosemary to taste
- ½ tablespoon of honey
- 1 cucumber
- 2 cloves of garlic
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 200g of natural yogurt
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- Ground salt and pepper to taste
- 4 pita breads
- 1 sliced onion
- 1 sliced tomato
- French fries (optional)
- Lettuce
Preparation method
- Place the meat strips, garlic, onion, olive oil, vinegar and herbs in a bowl and mix using your hands or two tongs.
- Add honey and cover the bowl. Refrigerate overnight, or at least two hours, to marinate.
- Heat a nonstick pan and add the marinade and meat to the pan and grill for one minute without stirring.
- Then, turn the meat until it is golden brown on the outside and tender on the inside.
- In a food processor, pulse the garlic and olive oil until the garlic is finely chopped to create the sauce.
- Set aside the cucumber after grating it and adding salt.
- Put the cucumber, yogurt, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a food processor.
- Mix and refrigerate.
