Whether it’s your first time catering for a small house-party or you’re a seasoned caterer looking to switch things up, having healthy, fresh, and innovative ideas in your steam table pan to delight your guests is the key to making any event a crowd pleaser. Having a variety of unique yet complimenting dishes will be sure to please any palate and allow your menu to break free from the stereotypical meat and potato hot plates of stereotypical catered events; guests will feel good about their choice, and you will feel great about what you’ve served.
Here are some ideas to switch up your menu, and put a modern and innovative taste to your buffet line:
Fish
Chicken or steak? Let’s talk fish. Serving fish at an event is the perfect way to provide something light yet filling, all while creating a theme of elegance and refinement in the meal. Choosing a recipe that lightly acts upon the fish’s natural taste not only allows the fish’s freshness to speak for itself, but also creates the airy Mediterranean vibe that is perfect for a summer-night event. Whether you choose a classic yet simplistic lemon pepper foiled salmon or a more complex yet delightfully different almond-crusted salmon, your guests will be sure to enjoy each meal to the last bit. Take caution to cook your salmon until it has reached the pink-salmon color, as any lighter usually leads to a loss of texture and overcooked taste.
Not Your Classic Starch
What better way to play upon the refined, light, Mediterranean theme of fish as the primary protein than serving it with an al fresco risotto? Not only does this add a more authentic spin on classic starch sides such as potatoes, but it is also filling, and the possibilities to individualize the flavors are endless! You can stick with the classics, like creamy mushroom risotto, put a unique spin on the dish with a risotto with edamame, arugula, and porcini, or keep it a light fare with a primavera risotto. Risotto is a great way to incorporate vegetables into your starch dish, all while being an easy-to-make and less costly option.
The Michelin Vegetable
Toss the classic garden salad aside and go for something that will keep your guests asking for seconds on their vegetables. Asparagus is the perfect green side dish to complement almost all main dishes and sides. Easy to cook, asparagus puts a refined and Michelin star appearance to any plate. The vegetable can preserve simply, oven roasted and doused with olive oil, or made with an extra explosion of taste with a garlic and Parmesan rub. The seasoning options for asparagus are endless, leaving ample room to put all kinds of innovative twists on this healthy dish.
Fruity Desserts
Desserts are not often associated with ‘healthy foods,’ but it is possible! Keep things fresh, light, and always tasty by incorporating fruits into your dessert dish, using their natural sugars as a substitute for synthetic sweeteners, leaving your guests feeling everything but guilty for the delicious, end-of-the-meal treat. Chocolate mousse-filled strawberries are a sweet classic and is the perfect finger-food secret, along with guest-controlled portions for those who want just a bit of something sweet.
Having options that are both healthy and delicious in your Steam Table Pans is a sure-fast way to leave all your guests feeling healthy and satisfied with your next event. To make sure that your catering supplies are of as high a caliber as your food, visit gatorchef.com to find the best steam table pans, hotel pans, and much more!