There are many buffet ideas, but only a few are able to satisfy the most demanding palates and the most hurried customers. For this reason, we decided to draw up a real complete menu for a buffet lunch .
Light and tasty first course
First courses are very practical for creating new ideas for your buffet. Thanks to their ability to retain their flavor at any temperature, they're a convenient option for anyone in the kitchen. Their ease of cooking allows for generous portions without excessive effort.
It's certainly one of the most popular dishes at lunch buffets, so we recommend winning over your guests with a tasty offering. For example, prepare a flavorful farro salad with summer vegetables .
Ingredients for 4 people:
- spelt 250 g
- provola 300 g
- 100 g green beans
- broccoli 350 g
- 350 g cherry tomatoes
With Combi Wave , you can break all records for farro cooking: it'll be ready in just 30 seconds. Then add the vegetables and chopped provola cheese and season with salt and extra virgin olive oil. Garnish with fragrant basil leaves, which will give the dish an even more summery flavor.
Fried second course, but without oil
Summer is already here, even though many of us haven't been on vacation yet. To create a pleasant holiday feeling, you could offer one of the quintessential summer dishes: fried fish with vegetables . Frying might be misleading, making you think it's too heavy for a buffet. However, with Combi Wave, you can give your fried foods the perfect crispiness, without using oil .
Ingredients for 6 people:
- mixed fish 800 g
- 3 courgettes
- peppers 2
- carrots 2
- 12 jalapeno peppers
Typically, cooking times are lengthy, but with the Combi Wave, you'll get perfect frying in 90 seconds. You can then add battered vegetables like zucchini, peppers, carrots, and jalapeños to give your dish an even more vibrant flavor.
Fried food will keep well on the buffet, especially if you use warm trays to keep the fried food at the right temperature as if it were just ready.
Not the usual salad
Many people opt for a salad for lunch to keep things light and avoid the risk of slumping at their desk. This doesn't mean, however, that it has to be the usual salad with lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and corn. We'll give you an unusual recipe, but the real advice here is to be bold.
Experiment with new flavor combinations, observe customer response, and occasionally revisit your most popular recipes. Because the secret is to make sure no salad becomes just another salad.
Carrot salad with watercress and parmesan shavings . Serves 6:
- carrots 10
- watercress to taste
- 30 g parmesan
This is a very simple recipe that fits well with our buffet ideas. Slice the carrots into ribbons and soak them in water for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the watercress by adding wine vinegar, oil, salt, and pepper. Finish by adding the carrots to the leaves and garnishing with shaved Parmesan cheese. Always accompany the salad with a baked good, like the rosemary focaccia, ready in 70 seconds with the Combi Wave. A small touch, but it will make your guests feel pampered.
A final sweet treat
Every now and then, we want to leave the table after a sweet treat, so why deprive buffet-goers of this sweet sensation? Given their small size and easy serving, brownies are perfect for self-service.
Ingredients for 6 people:
- dark chocolate 265 g
- butter 135 g
- eggs 4
- 00 flour 135 g
- sugar 225 g
- hazelnuts 175 g
The low food cost, the possibility of easily serving it in small portions and the speed of preparation (60 seconds with Combi Wave) are all advantages for including this typical American dessert among your ideas for the lunch buffet.
Why choose the buffet?
Now largely known as aperitifs, buffets were born as an alternative to traditional table service for lunch and dinner. Buffets are a convenient sales strategy for any establishment with high demand but limited staff . Table service would require additional staff, which would also impact the establishment's overhead. On the other hand, buffets require no additional resources, allowing for increased revenue from food.
And if your venue favors a buffet as an aperitif, we've got you covered. Get inspired by our suggestions for an original aperitif menu with Ice N Roll .