Classic Italian Menu Dinner Party

This is a classic Italian menu and ideal for a casual dinner with friends,  most of the prep is done the day before so this menu is perfect for spending time with your guests.

Starter

Tomato, saffron and ricotta tart

Main

Beef and red wine lasagne with a green salad

Dessert

Italian apple cake



.

Tomato, Saffron and Ricotta Tart

homemade tomato and ricotta tartlets Individual short crust pastry cases with a delicious filling homemade tomato pesto topped with an egg, cream, Parmesan, ricotta and saffron filling and finished with oven roasted tomatoes. Delicious starter for a traditional Italian dinner party

View Recipe +

Beef Lasagne & Mixed Salad

Lasagne with layers of soft pasta and red wine beef bolognese, made with minced beef, onions, celery, mushrooms, tomatoes and panchetta, flavoured with red wine, oregano, Worcester sauce and garlic. This delicious lasagne is topped with a creamy homemade white sauce and a crunchy Parmesan topping, and served with a fresh green salad. 

View Recipe +

Apple and Rosemary Cake

A delicious apple and rosemary cake packed with layers of freshly sliced apples, cooked and decorated with powdered sugar. The apples and lemon add a hint of sharpness complimented by the subtle rosemary flavour..

View Recipe +
More menus you might like: Dinner Party menus

Make personalised meal plan & dinner parties menus in minutes

The Virtual HomeCook app automatically creates monthly meal plans and shopping lists that match your lifestyle and tastes. If you love to socialise it has a fantastic dinner party planner with an automatic shopping list! Find out more

More about our classic Italian menu 

This classic Italian menu can be prepared in advance making it easy to cook for a dinner with friends. The menu has  a cherry tomato, saffron and ricotta tart, followed by a beef and red wine lasagne served with salad and garlic bread. The meal is finished with a traditional Italian apple cake.

Difficulty level

This menu is simple to cook as most of the dishes are prepared the day before ensuring a stress free dinner party.

Cooking Order

Day before    

  • Bake the cake, allow to cool and store in an airtight tin, dont dust with icing sugar until the day of the party.
  • Prepare the lasagne as the recipe but do not cook leave to cool cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge.
  • make the pastry for the tart rest in fridge
  • make the pastry cases cover with cling film and refrigerate 
  • make the pesto for the tarts cover with clingfilm and place in the fridge
one hours before
  • remove the lasagne from the fridge
  • complete the tarts and place in the oven
  • prepare the salad ingredients for the starter and main 
20 minutes before your starter 
  • place your lasagne in the oven
Before serving your dessert
  • dust the cake with icing sugar

Top Tips

Check the lasagne from time to time to make sure the top doesn’t overcook 

Keep an eye on

The cake as if it overcooks it will be dry