Just as New Year's Eve is the time to break out that velvet suit, sparkly dress, feather boa, what have you—it's also the time to treat yourself to over-the-top ingredients, from caviar to champagne. And if your NYE plans involve little more than Netflix and pajamas (honestly, you're winning), all the more reason to cook up something special and toast to another year in the books.
1. Crispy Garlic Dip
A very fuss-free take on onion dip. You just, ahem, skip the onions (which take around an hour to caramelize) and swap in crispy garlic.
2. Potato Chip Tortilla Española
Potato chips to the rescue! Instead of the usual wedges, cut this tortilla into itty-bitty squares, perfect for munching with drinks.
3. Baked Brie in Puff Pastry With Cranberries
How to upgrade baked brie: Add a DIY cranberry jam, sumac, and pistachios.
4. Blini With Horseradish, Beets & Smoked Trout
Buckwheat blini plus champagne equals a party. Feel free to swap in any smoked fish, like salmon or whitefish.
5. Sweet Potato Pancakes With Caviar & Crème Fraîche
You had me at sweet potato pancakes. If you’re doing a sit-down dinner party, these would make a great side dish, too.
6. Blini With Crème Fraîche & Smoked Salmon
More blini! For a vegetarian option, try a slice of hard-boiled egg and aioli or crispy mushrooms and hummus.
7. Truffle Fondue
Truffle fondue. Really, what else do you need to know?
8. Estela's Endive Salad
Beneath this pile of glossy endive hides a cheesy bread “granola,” tossed in an anchovy vinaigrette.
9. Radicchio Salad With Manchego Vinaigrette
A quick ice water bath and a generous pour of Manchego vinaigrette tames radicchio’s bitterness.
10. Roasted Seaweed Caesar Salad With Anchovy Croutons
Caesar salad is already full of umami (thanks, anchovies)—but Senior Editor Eric Kim’s version takes it one step further with crispy nori.
11. Blood Orange Salad With Olives
Every winter soiree needs some brightness. Try to find Castelvetrano olives if you can, which are butterier and less briney than the pimento-stuffed ones.
12. Bitter Greens Salad With Melted Cheese
Can a salad be a conversation starter? This one from Joshua McFadden’s Six Seasons thinks so, and we think it’s right.
13. Pasta With Ricotta & Saffron
A little pinch of saffron makes a big difference in this simple pasta with creamy ricotta and salty guanciale (feel free to swap in bacon or pancetta if you can’t find it).
14. Lobster Diavolo
Come to me, spicy lobster pasta. Bump up the chile flakes if you dare and go wild with the herbs if you want (I’d do a big handful each of basil, parsley, and mint).
15. Braised Onion Sauce
It’s hard to overstate how obsessed our office is with this braised onion sauce. I like to top mine with a boatload of freshly ground black pepper.
16. Pappardelle With Pork Shoulder Ragu
This recipe’s alternate title is “instant dinner party.” Best part is you can make the whole thing a day (or two!) ahead, just reheat and add to hot pasta.
17. Creamy Lemon Spaghetti With Crunchy Bread Crumbs
A contest-winning spaghetti with a creamy lemon sauce and lots of crunchy, herby bread crumbs.
18. Champagne Alfredo With Crispy Prosciutto & Shrimp
How to make creamy Alfredo not too creamy? Add a splash of something bubbly and acidic, like champagne (prosecco or pét-nat work wonders, too).
19. Roasted Radicchio With Ricotta & Dates
Think of roasting as a foot-in-the-door path to loving radicchio. Any remaining bitterness is mellowed out with creamy ricotta and sticky dates.
20. Shaved Fennel, Cannellini Beans & Burrata With Hot 'Nduja Vinaigrette
Pair any shaved, crunchy vegetable (from fennel to radishes) with burrata and you’re halfway to a party-ready salad.
21. Roasted Autumn Vegetables With Walnut-Miso Sauce
Think of this garlicky walnut-miso sauce as a vegan bagna cauda. It’s dreamy on just about any roasted vegetable—especially sweet ones like carrots or squash.
22. Estela's Taleggio Sauce (With Roasted Anything)
A two-ingredient cheese sauce that would love to be poured on whatever vegetable you’re serving, be it roasted potatoes or sautéed green beans.
23. Turmeric-Roasted Cauliflower With Pistachio Gremolata
This pistachio gremolata was dreamed up with roasted cauliflower in mind, but don’t let that stop you from putting it toward broccoli or fennel or pumpkin.
24. Charred Radicchio With Arugula, Cherries & Parmesan
Charred radicchio, juicy fruit, and salty Parmesan are a dream team. For when cherries aren’t in season, try apples, pears, or even oranges.
25. Parsnip Latkes With Apple Chutney & Horseradish Yogurt
Latkes, but make them parsnip. These come with two sauces (one savory, one sweet), which you can 10/10 make in advance.
26. Fried Oysters With Saffron Aioli
If you’re hosting a smaller group, it’s hard to beat crispy-custardy fried oysters. These come with a from-scratch aioli, but no one will know if you doctor up store-bought mayo instead.
27. Sicilian-Style Swordfish
Any meaty fish would be happy to be covered in this Sicilian-inspired sauce with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and capers.
28. Ginger-Soy Glazed Salmon
This gingery-sweet glaze for salmon has a lot of fans. “This is one of my favorite ways to prepare salmon,” says Carolyn. “Omg this is delicious (and easy)!” says Amy.
29. Poached Tuna
Fish poached in olive oil is “an old-standby” for our co-founder Amanda Hesser. Here’s why: Despite the gentle heat, it cooks quickly (10 to 20 minutes). And because you’re cooking in warmish oil, it’s almost impossible to dry out.
30. Barbecue Shrimp
This shrimp dish is all about the spicy-buttery sauce. Make sure there’s lots of bread to tear and pass around.
31. Steak Au Poivre
A foolproof menu any carnivore will love: This recipe with Genius fake frites, a super-simple green salad, and lots of red wine.
32. Lemon Oregano Leg of Lamb
This herby leg of lamb serves 8 to 10, perfect for a crowd. Serve with lemony labneh or horseradish Greek yogurt.
33. Pomegranate Flank Steak
Here’s an easy way to brighten up any meat dish: Sprinkle juicy pomegranate seeds on top. A handful of fresh herbs wouldn’t hurt either.
34. Roast Chicken With Mustard & Grapes
Mustard and grapes may sound like odd bedfellows, but just trust: They add just enough spice and sweetness to make roast chicken feel special.
35. Herb & Mustard-Crusted Rack of Lamb
The most important thing about rack of lamb is: Everyone should pick up the chops and gnaw at them by hand. Otherwise, there’s no point.
36. Chicken With Sausage, White Wine & Artichokes
Another good reason to always have jarred marinated artichoke hearts in your pantry. Pick a white wine that you like to drink so the rest of the bottle can be enjoyed while you eat.
37. Short Ribs Braised in Red Wine & Vanilla
Vanilla extract in a winey, meaty braise? Yes. It’s a game-changer for short ribs—and we can’t wait to try it with pot roast and brisket, too.
38. Flourless Chocolate-Walnut Cookies
These flourless chocolate cookies are like two-bite walnut brownies with the crackliest, shiniest shell around.
39. Saffron-Infused Rice Pudding
A golden-hued rice pudding, fragrant with rosewater, cardamom, and cinnamon, begging to be served in your cutest cocktail glasses.
40. White Chocolate Fennel Truffles
Here’s a game: Put out a plate of these truffles and invite everyone to guess what’s in them. Winner gets bragging rights for all of the new year.
41. Pink Champagne Cake
Pink champagne does double duty in this layer cake: First, it goes toward the fluffy cake layers. Second, it’s whipped into a tangy vanilla buttercream.
42. Pine Nut Brittle With Rosemary
According to community member Ms. T, this festive brittle is “the closest you can get to eating the Christmas tree without getting tinsel in your teeth.”
43. Saffron & Chocolate Tea Cake
From Samantha Seneviratne’s new book, The Joys of Baking: a chocolate-studded tea cake that practically glows thanks to earthy saffron.
44. Dark Chocolate Avocado Truffles
Instead of heavy cream, these chocolate truffles get their silky texture from avocado.
45. Blood Orange French 75
A happy drink to kick off the night: gin, blood orange juice, and honey, all topped off with a pour of bubbly.
46. Negroni Sbagliato Punch
Good to know: This crowd-favorite punch serves 12 people—twice.
47. Angostura Sugar Cubes for Champagne Cocktails
These sugar cubes are the best party trick to pull out before midnight strikes. They also make an A+ host gift if you’re traveling somewhere else.
48. Pom Fizz
This DIY pomegranate syrup (it’s just pomegranate juice, reduced) can be made in advance whenever you get the chance. Just keep in an airtight jar in the fridge.
Choose your holiday adventure! Our Automagic Menu Maker is here to help.
View Maker
Written by: Emma Laperruque
Popular on Food52
1 Comment
See what other Food52 readers are saying.