As Easter Sunday approaches on April 20th, many of us are planning festive gatherings with family and friends. With Easter falling later than usual this year, we’re afforded the luxury of extra preparation time to perfect our dinner party menus and make everything that bit more special. A beautifully presented Easter dinner brings together tradition and seasonality, offering a chance to showcase spring’s finest ingredients.
Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a larger celebration, these seven spectacular dishes will ensure your Easter feast is memorable for all the right reasons.
Smoked Salmon Blinis With Dill Crème Fraîche
Begin your Easter celebration with these elegant canapés that set the tone for the sophisticated meal to follow. Light, fluffy mini blinis topped with smoked salmon and a dollop of dill-infused crème fraîche offer the perfect bite-sized introduction to your feast.
Add a sprinkle of lemon zest and a few tiny capers for an extra dimension that will have your guests reaching for seconds.
Chef’s Tip: Prepare the blinis and crème fraîche mixture the day before, then assemble just before guests arrive to prevent them becoming soggy. A quick blast with a kitchen blowtorch will give the salmon an appealing caramelised edge.
Pea & Mint Soup With Crispy Pancetta
This vibrant green starter captures the essence of spring with its fresh, bright flavours. The sweetness of peas (frozen work wonderfully well) don’t need much in the way of adulterating, while crispy pancetta adds a satisfying savoury crunch that elevates this simple soup to dinner party status.
Serve in warmed bowls with a swirl of crème fraîche and a scatter of pea shoots for an elegant opening to your meal. This soup can be made the day before and gently reheated, allowing the flavours to develop and saving you precious time on the day. The verdant colour makes a stunning visual impression, setting the stage for the courses to follow.
Chef’s Tip: For an even silkier texture, pass the soup through a fine-mesh sieve after blending. To make a vegetarian version that’s equally delicious, replace the pancetta with roasted, spiced pumpkin seeds and use vegetable stock instead of chicken.
Spring Vegetable Tart
Celebrate the vibrant produce of early spring with a showstopping tart filled with asparagus, broad beans, and spring onions. A crisp puff pastry base cradles a filling of cream cheese, and fresh herbs, allowing the seasonal vegetables to shine.
The beauty of this tart lies not only in its gorgeous appearance but also in its versatility. It works beautifully as a vegetarian main course or as an elegant side dish to accompany your lamb. The combination of the buttery pastry with the creamy filling and the fresh snap of spring vegetables creates a bright, crisp textural experience that embodies the hopefulness season.
Chef’s Tip: Bake your pastry separately until it’s completely cooked and golden before adding the filling to ensure you avoid the dreaded soggy bottom. For perfect presentation, brush your vegetables with olive oil before the final bake to give them a beautiful glaze.
Read: 5 fantastic tips for cooking with asparagus this spring
Herb-Crusted Rack Of Lamb
The centrepiece of any Easter table, this herb-crusted rack of lamb delivers both impressive presentation and divine flavour. The secret lies in the aromatic herb crust – a mixture of fresh rosemary, mint, parsley, and breadcrumbs bound with a touch of Dijon mustard. Roast until perfectly pink in the centre for a showstopping main that celebrates the season.
This classic dish allows high-quality meat to take centre stage, enhanced but not overwhelmed by its herb coating. Present the whole rack at the table for drama before carving it into individual cutlets.
Chef’s Tip: Allow the meat to rest for at least 15 minutes before carving to ensure those precious juices redistribute throughout the meat. For the perfect crust, brush the lamb with Dijon mustard, then chill it for 30 minutes before applying the herb mixture and roasting—this helps the crust adhere better to the meat.
Read: 7 steps to the perfect, medium rare rack of lamb
Leek & Cheddar Gratin
This comforting side dish celebrates the season, layered with tender young leeks in a creamy sauce infused with bay. A crunchy topping of breadcrumbs and mature cheddar adds textural contrast to the velvety layers beneath.
This dish can be prepared in advance and popped into the oven as guests arrive, filling your home with an enticing aroma and freeing you up to enjoy their company. Consider making serving simpler by creating individual gratins for your guests.
Chef’s Tip: For extra flavour beyond the bay leaf, infuse your cream with a sprig of thyme or even a clove-studded onion for 20 minutes before straining and using in the gratin.
Honey & Orange Glazed Carrots
These aren’t just any carrots – they’re a celebration of spring’s sweetness. Choose heritage varieties in purple, yellow and orange for visual impact and a medley of slightly different flavours. Roast them until just tender, then glaze with a reduction of orange juice, honey, and a touch of star anise.
The natural sweetness of the carrots is enhanced by the honey and orange glaze, creating a side dish with complex flavours that perfectly complements the richness of traditional Easter meats.
Chef’s Tip: Keep the carrots whole with just a bit of the green top attached for dramatic presentation. For the most intense flavour, use blood oranges when in season for their deeper, more complex notes, and finish with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to cut through the sweetness. Finish with a scatter of fresh thyme leaves for a fragrant flourish.
Hot Cross Bun Bread & Butter Pudding
Transform traditional hot cross buns into a decadent dessert with this clever twist on a British classic. Behold; the hot cross bun bread and butter pudding!
Layer sliced hot cross buns in a baking dish, interspersed with dried fruit and orange zest, if you wish, and a vanilla-infused custard. Bake until golden and puffed, with a crisp top hiding the soft, custardy layers beneath.
This pudding cleverly repurposes the spiced Easter buns into something even more indulgent, creating a dessert that honours tradition while offering something new. The spices in the buns—cinnamon, nutmeg, and mixed spice—infuse the custard as it bakes, creating a warming, aromatic finish to your meal that pairs perfectly with the seasonal theme.
Chef’s Tip: Allow the buns to dry out slightly before making the pudding—this helps them absorb more of the custard without becoming soggy. For an extra touch of luxury, add a splash of Grand Marnier or Cointreau to the custard mixture and serve with a bitter orange marmalade sauce.
Read: The best hot cross buns in London
Babka Wielkanocna (Polish Easter Cake)
If you’ve already indulged in a few too many hot cross buns, then consider a the traditional centerpiece of a Polish Babka Wielkanocna. This celebratory yeast cake, deeply rooted in Eastern European Easter traditions, brings both symbolism and delicious indulgence to your holiday table.
The Babka Wielkanocna features a rich, brioche-like texture with a characteristic tall, cylindrical shape that represents the rising of Christ. Its slightly sweet, vanilla-scented crumb is often studded with raisins or candied orange peel, bringing subtle fruity notes to each slice. The crowning glory is a generous topping of sweet glaze or icing, decorated with chopped nuts, candied fruits, and sometimes edible flowers to represent spring’s renewal.
For an authentic presentation as shown in the image, wrap your babka with delicate tulle ribbon and position small spring flowers alongside the cake. Serve on your finest china with a golden candle nearby to create an atmosphere of celebration and reverence befitting this special holiday.
This iconic Easter cake not only serves as a delicious dessert but also honours centuries of tradition, making it the perfect conclusion to your Easter celebration.
Chef’s Tip: The secret to a perfect babka lies in patience—allow the dough plenty of time to rise, ideally in a warm spot in your kitchen. Traditional recipes often call for a splash of spirits like rum or brandy, which adds depth while ensuring the cake stays moist for several days. For the most impressive results, bake your babka in a traditional fluted tube pan, which creates beautiful ridges that catch the glaze and provide visual appeal when sliced at the table.
The Practicalities Of Hosting
Beyond the menu, successful Easter entertaining relies on thoughtful planning and preparation. Setting your table the night before saves precious time on the day, allowing you to focus on finishing touches rather than basic logistics. An eight seater dining table provides the perfect canvas for a spring-inspired tablescape – consider incorporating seasonal blooms like daffodils or tulips in low arrangements that won’t impede conversation, and adding personalised place settings with hand-written name cards or small chocolate eggs.
Timing is everything when hosting a multi-course meal. Create a detailed timeline working backwards from your desired serving time, allowing for resting periods for meat and any last-minute preparations. Many of the dishes above can be partially or fully prepared in advance, taking pressure off the cook and allowing you to enjoy your own gathering. Remember that the most memorable hosts are those who appear relaxed and present – something more easily achieved with careful advance planning.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re celebrating with a few close friends or hosting an extended family gathering, these seven dishes offer a perfect balance of tradition and fresh inspiration. Easter provides the ideal opportunity to embrace seasonal cooking while honouring time-honoured traditions. The combination of these carefully selected recipes will create a feast that delights all the senses – a true celebration of spring’s abundance and renewal.
