The most wonderful woman in your life deserves the most wonderful of lunches. Below, we've put together a menu that says, "I love you. But now it's my turn to cook." Start with easy-to-assemble finger foods like bruschetta and fresh veggie starters, and move into the big stuff: show-stopping chicken thighs and a chocolate malva pudding that even a dessert novice can handle. It's all here, and there's something for everyone—just don't let mom lift a finger. You've got this.
The Mother’s Day Menu
Start with Italian Bruschetta
Even if you aren't cruising on a yacht somewhere off the Amalfi Coast, you should be celebrating seasonal vegetables and exotic ingredients with an Italian-style bruschetta. Try our Crab Bruschetta that uses tinned crab, or opt for the classic tomato and basil bruschetta with the best olive oil you can find (and your mum deserves) drizzled on top.
See our crab bruschetta here
For the Main Affair: Green Goddess Chicken Thighs
On the list of truly versatile sauces, green goddess takes the very top spot. Here it acts as a marinade for the grilled chicken as well as a sauce to serve with the finished dish. Feel free to go wild with whatever tender herb or dairy product you have on hand, just do not skip the anchovies. They will make the chicken more savoury, delicious, and, well, more chicken-y.
Find the full recipe and other grilling ideas here
On the Side: Chopped Broccoli Salad
The whole idea of this broccoli salad is to have too much. Two heads is a trusty start, serving 4 to 6 as a main (or even more as a side dish). If you want to increase from there, more power to you. Just don’t toss the broccoli stalks. These are an under appreciated vegetable cut—they’re fibrous to a fault, but peeling the exterior (or trimming it with a knife) reveals a crunchy-meets-tender centre. Slice the broccoli stalks into thin coins or cut into a fine dice. I like to keep the florets in bite-size pieces, small enough to sit on a spoon, but a little smaller or larger is A-OK.
See the full recipe by Bon Appetit here
Add a Starch: Our Creamiest Mashed Potatoes
Originally created for Heritage Day, our creamiest mashed potatoes are sure to be a crowd pleaser even on Mother’s Day as the fluffiest and creamiest side dish around. Opt for multi-purpose or floury potatoes (never red potatoes), which are the best varieties for mashing, and have a rich buttery flavor and creamy mouthfeel.
The key is to not waterlog the spuds: Boil potatoes over low heat in well-salted water with their skins on, which helps them absorb less moisture, yielding a silky texture, not a gummy or gluey one. As for those skins, the ricer or food mill will catch them—great news for lazy cooks everywhere.
Get the full recipe here
What’s for Dessert? Chef Zola Nene’s Chocolate Malva Pudding
Is there anything more comforting than a bowl of warm malva pudding topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream? Very few desserts are as nostalgic and heavenly as a malva pudding with a romantic twist: The addition of cocoa powder, which makes for a divine dessert to indulge your loved ones. This specially curated dessert by acclaimed chef and author of Simply Seven Colours, Zola Nene is the perfect closing to a a thoughtfully curated Mother’s Day lunch at home.
See the full recipe here
