Summer Dinner Party Menu Ideas

Tap to Read ➤ Rimlee Bhuyan

From refreshing lemon sorbets to peachy sangrias, there are many summer preparations that are ideal for a party. However, putting together a menu for a summer dinner party requires a bit of planning. Here are our recommendations that will help you to get your stuff together and save some time.

A summer dinner party should be laid-back and fun and your menu should reflect this. Try to have food and courses that can be made well ahead of time so that on the day of the dinner party, you are not slaving over a hot saucepan.

Prepare a good mix of cold and hot items and remember to also focus on the drinks. Remember to keep an equal number of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Getting a combination of some classic cocktails, as well as punch makes sense as your guests will be thirsty on a hot summer morning, noon, eve, or night.

An Asian Banquet

Drinks and Cocktails

Mimosa Red Apple Sangria Pomegranate Soda Singapore Sling Kumquat Mojito Lychee Martini Asian Pear Martini Watermelon Lemonade Ginger Sparkler Mai Tai

Appetizers

Curry Puff Minced Chicken Samosas Spicy Tuna Rolls Salt and Pepper Squid Steamed Chicken Dumplings Mini Spring Rolls Spiced Coconut Prawns Chicken Satay Pork Pot Stickers Sweet Potato Balls

Main Course

Massamam Curry Japanese Hot Pot Soy-glazed Chicken Thighs Roasted Teriyaki Spareribs Thai Green Curry Chinese Barbecued Roast Pork Roasted Duck with Tangerine-hoisin Glaze Pork Vindaloo Chicken Tikka Masala Red Cooked Pork Belly

Desserts

Pineapple Pie Banana Pancake Coconut Cream Cupcakes Korean Sweet Rice Balls Mango Sorbet Coconut Custard Rice Pudding Apple Dumplings with Rum Sauce Chinese Almond Cookies Lychee Pudding

A Mediterranean Feast

Drinks and Cocktails

Pomegranita Greeka-Rita Rosemary Gin Fizz Damascus Affair Fresh Mint Margarita Sangria Bellini Santorini Sunrise Fig Martini Corfú Dè Jávu

Appetizers

Grilled Shiitake Mushrooms Baked Feta Filo Fingers Crab Cakes Gazpacho Skewered Rosemary Shrimp Prosciutto Wrapped Melon Warm Marinated Olives with Herbs Prosciutto-basil Crostini Zucchini Fritters Marinated Feta, Yogurt, and Aubergine Rolls

Main Course

Tunisian Braised Short Ribs Greek-style Meatloaf with Olives Red Mullet with Tomatoes and Olives Lamb Chops with Pistachio Gremolata Seared Mediterranean Tuna Steaks Seared Scallops with Lemon Orzo Grilled Eggplant with Roasted Red Pepper Beef Daube Provençal Steamed Mussels with Bell Peppers Shrimp Saganaki

Desserts

Mint Ice cream Roasted Figs with Caramel Rustic Fig and Raspberry Mini Crostatas Lemon Tart Pear Strudel Chocolate Amaretto Soufflés Caramelized Peaches with Mascarpone Baklava Orange and Hazelnut Cake Pasteli

A Classic American Menu

Drinks and Cocktails

Flirtini Manhattan Long Island Iced Tea Peach Granita Vodka Gimlet Miami Strawberry Margarita Sunset Boulevard Cape Codder Chartreuse Swizzle

Appetizers

Meat Pies Sweet Potato Tartlets Deviled Eggs Goat Cheese Tart Buffalo Wings Marinated Shrimp Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes Mini Crab Cakes Mini Meatballs Waldorf Crudités with Onion Dip

Main Course

Spice-rubbed Roast Beef Tenderloin Braised Beef Brisket Beef Wellington Herb Stuffed Chicken Breast Grilled Salmon with Grape Relish Grilled Porterhouse with Potatoes Mushroom Ragout Grilled Flank Steak with Garlic Sauce New Orleans style Gumbo Herb Marinated Braised Lamb Shanks

Desserts

Chocolate and Raspberry Cheesecake Pots Almond Tea Cakes Poached Pears with Raspberry Coulis Strawberry Ice cream Boston Cream Pie Raspberry Tart Blueberry Cheesecake Cherry Tart Lemon Curd and Ginger Fool Sticky Toffee Pudding

Essence of Italy

Drinks and Cocktails

Lime Ginger Coolers Mango Spritz Aranciata Cocktails Americano Watermelon Bellini Limoncello Bicicletta Negroni Fruit and Herb Carafe Strawberry-ginger Caipirosca

Appetizers

Marinated Olives Fried Mozzarella Shrimp Cocktail Caponata with Garlic Crostini Tomato Bruschetta Mini Smoked Salmon Pizzas Fried Calamari with Aioli Endive Spears with Avocado and Lobster Red Pepper and Olive Canapés Roasted Peppers with Anchovies

Main Course

Polpettone Short Rib and Dried Porcini Lasagne Tomato, Spinach, and Mascarpone Gnocchi Lobster Ravioli with Tomato Sauce Classic Chicken Cacciatore Penne with Vodka Sauce Risotto with Arugula and Toasted Garlic Spinach and Feta Cannelloni Roasted Squash and Polenta Torta Spezzatino di maiale

Desserts

Strawberry Macaroons Bellini Granita Torta di riso Tiramisu Strawberry Shortcake with Mascarpone Passion fruit Soufflés Double Espresso Tart Peach Melba Peach Zabaglione White Chocolate and Pistachio Panna cotta

Caribbean Delight

Drinks and Cocktails

Coconut Margarita Spearmint Juleps Watermelon Basil Margarita Pineapple and Mango Rum Cocktail Spiced Pineapple Cocktail Watermelon Margarita Cherry Mojito Tequila Sunrise Blue Hawaii Classic Caipirinha

Appetizers

Fried Plantains Jamaican Hot Wings Hot Pepper Shrimp Cod Fish Fritters Fried Cheese Balls Pork Kabobs Jamaican Beef Dumplings Caribbean Meatballs Spicy Sweet Potato Cubes Sausage Cheese Triangles

Main Course

Fish Stew Traditional Chicken Asopao Spicy Pork Chops Caribbean Shrimp and Banana Curry Coconut Crusted Salmon Jerk Chicken Beef Picadillo Grilled Tuna Steaks with Mango Salsa Grilled Fish with Caribbean Salsa Pepper Pot

Desserts

Coffee Pecan Brownies Churros Mango Meringue Guava Fool Coffee Flan Chocolate Bread Pudding Coconut Rum Cake Key Lime Pie Coconut Rice Pudding Tropical Cheesecake

A Taste of Spain

Drinks and Cocktails

Peachmopolitian Raspberry Spritzer Rasmopolitian Melon Mint Sangria Sparkling Wine Sangria Sherry Spritzers Kiwifruit Caipiroska Rum Punch Paloma Cooler Pear Lemon Fizz

Appetizers

Gazpacho Garlicky Shrimp with Olive Oil Stuffed Peppers with Goat Cheese Grilled Seafood Salad Salt and Pepper Shrimp Piquillo Peppers Stuffed with Shrimp Salad Steamed Clams in Garlic Saffron Broth Stuffed Fried Sardines Marinated Baby Artichokes Tuna Empanada

Main Course

Partridge with Pears Leek and Potato Hotpot Tuna and Potato Stew Braised Beef Cheeks Paella Pork in Adobo Sauce Mussels in Tomato Vinaigrette Rack of Lamb with Baby Potatoes Marinated Salmon Stuffed Eggplants

Desserts

Magdalena Crema Catalana Almond Ice cream Lemon and Berry Dessert Custard with Peach and Meringue Churros with Hot Chocolate Spanish Apple Pie Strawberry Flan Orange Cake Lemon Sorbet

If you follow these easy dinner party ideas, you are sure to have a very successful party.These were some menu ideas that you can take inspiration from for your next dinner party. You can also mix and match items from all the menus given above. Just make sure that the taste of the variant dishes do not clash wildly with each other. Every course should complement each other. Go on, make the most of these ideas given above and do let me know how they worked for you.