Oscar Party Recipes 2020
Lynley Jones
My annual list of the trendiest and most impressive noshes to serve at your Oscar party. So you'll win for Best Party. (Don't forget to thank the Academy.)
And the award goes to...
Hibiscus-Allspice Champagne Cocktails
for Most Festive Cocktail
Roasted Turmeric-Spiced Cauliflower
for Trendiest Use of Turmeric
Stuffed Burgers with Gochujang Mayo and Scallion Curls
for Best Burger to Impress the Korean Family You Work For
Pasta with Red Wine Meat Sauce
for Best Dish to Serve a Mafia Boss
Grilled Peaches with Aleppo-Tequila Honey Sauce
for Best Picture
This Year’s Winners:
Grilled peaches drizzled with a tequila-honey sauce infused with Aleppo pepper and a punch of lime. It’s like a party for your peaches! (And for you, of course.)
Champagne poured over hibiscus-allspice syrup and Calvados, and rimmed with Mexican brown sugar and cinnamon. Cheers!
Burgers stuffed with melty cheese on the inside, topped with red cabbage and scallion curls and a slather of gochujang mayo. Full Korean flavor on a stuffed burger. (Seriously, is there anything else to say?)
More Ideas for Your Oscar Party:
Addictively snackable crunchy chickpeas, roasted with coriander, cumin and fennel seeds, with a pinch of asafetida and a little hot paprika zing.
A little bit pesto, a little bit chimichurri, and lots of flavor! Spoon it over grilled meats or veggies, toss it with pasta, slather it over crostini or dribble it onto your pizza. Made with lots of fresh herbs, garlic and shallots, plus toasted pine nuts, mixed together in olive oil with a splash of lemon juice and a little Aleppo pepper.
Super-refreshing, fizzy and fun lemonade cocktail infused with basil and sumac.
Arugula and prosciutto pizza with cracked black pepper and sea salt, drizzled with garlic olive oil and spiked with Aleppo pepper.
Champagne poured over hibiscus-allspice syrup and Calvados, and rimmed with Mexican brown sugar and cinnamon. Cheers!
Ice pops made with semisweet chocolate, Aleppo pepper, Mexican piloncillo sugar, cinnamon and cream. Chocolaty and slightly spicy, with a cinnamon twist.
Tomatoes, basil, Parmigiano-reggiano, balsamic vinegar, good olive oil, a good baguette. It’s summer, and you’re living the good life, my friend.
Artichoke leaves are an appetizer-delivery device, cooked until tender then topped with salmon, garlic-mascarpone and crispy fried rutabaga straws (my new favorite thing).
Miles of mangoes and flaky puff pastry make for a fairly simple but impressive dessert, especially when topped with homemade Cajeta de Leche.
Fish marinated in lime juice and tossed with chiles, onions, tomatoes, avocados and orange juice.
Guaranteed to disappear the minute it's served. Check out the recipe notes for tips on how to achieve guacamole awesomeness in your kitchen.
Mild, creamy dip with a hint of goat cheese tang. Perfect for crudite or chips, as a spread on sandwiches or to dollop on veggies.
Minced carrot-tops with basil, garlic and parmigiano-reggiano make the perfect dip for carrots - or any other veggie!
Golden-fried zucchini spears served with a savory marinara dipping sauce.
Potstickers served with Sriracha sauce and Hoisin sauce. Plus, how to make Asian meatballs with the extra filling!
Cupcakes tinted pink with fresh raspberry puree, with a berry special surprise inside. Frost with Lemony-Basil Buttercream or frosting of your choice.
White buttercream frosting infused with fresh lemon and basil. Sweet, creamy and deliciously different. Created for Pink Raspberry Cupcakes (but would be great with many other kinds of cakes).
Roasty-toasty cauliflower with turmeric and other warming spices, tossed with parsley and basil.