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It’s almost time for the AFL Grand Final!
It’s almost time for the AFL Grand Final, and if you’re hosting, the last thing you want is to be stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is cheering on the big plays! That’s why we’ve put together a winning line-up of make-ahead game day recipes that’ll keep your guests happy (and you stress-free). Think crispy Street Corn Rolls with creamy Avocado Dipping Sauce to kick things off, spicy Buffalo Wings with homemade Ranch for that classic footy food vibe, and messy-but-delicious Sloppy Joes that are guaranteed to be a crowd favourite. All three dishes can be prepped ahead, so when the siren sounds, you can actually enjoy the game with a plate in hand instead of hovering over the stove. Because let’s be real—game day is about mates, footy, and good food, and this menu has you covered on all fronts!
Street Corn Rolls
with Avocado Dipping Sauce
- 250g cream cheese
- 2 corn cobs
- 2 jalapeños
- 1 shallot
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 1 tsp chilli powder
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 pack wonton wrappers
-
½ cup sour cream
-
2 limes
-
1 bunch coriander
-
1 avocado
- Roughly chop cream cheese. Add to a large bowl and set aside to some to room temperature.
- Remove corn kernels from cobs, and dice jalapeños and shallow. Add to bowl with cream cheese as you go along with lime zest, chilli powder, mozzarella, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine.
- Lay wonton wrappers in a diamond shape on a blench bench. Keep a small bowl of water nearby.
- Place 1 tbsp of filling on the bottom corner of the wrapper.
- Roll wrapper up halfway, then wet the edges with water. Fold the side corners inward tightly, then continue rolling to seal. Continue with remaining filling and wrappers until you have used all the filling.
- Spray rolls with cooking spray and cook in an air fried at 200°C for 6 minutes. Flip and cook for a further 4-6 minutes until until golden and crispy.
- To make the sauce, add sour cream, juice from 1 lime, coriander (including roots and stems), avocado, and salt. Blend until smooth.
- Halve rolls and wedge remaining lime. Serve on a plate with avocado dipping sauce.
- Set cream cheese out for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature.
- Want less spice? Omit the jalapeños and substitute chilli powder with smoked paprika.
- Can’t find wonton wrappers? Substitute with filo pastry and rice paper roll sheets for a gluten-free option.
- Bake the rolls instead of air frying. Spray with oil and bake at 200°C for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden.
- Uncooked rolls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking. Alternatively, they can be frozen. Cook from frozen, adding an extra 3-4 minutes to the cooking time.
Want to make this at home? We used Philadelphia Original Cream Cheese, Corn Cobs, and Hass Avocados from the Dinner Twist Marketplace.
Buffalo Chicken Wings
with Ranch Sauce
makes 6-8
- 1.2kg chicken wingettes
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- ¼ cup hot sauce
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Ranch Sauce
- 100g mayonnaise (or aioli)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried dill tops
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- To serve: 5 celery sticks
- Preheat your oven to 220°C. Line an oven tray and place a wire rack on top.
- Pat the wings dry with paper towels (this helps them crisp up in the oven), then place in a large bowl.
- Toss the wings with oil, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Arrange the wings on the wire rack with some space between each one. Bake for 45-50 minutes, flipping once halfway through until golden and crispy.
- For the buffalo sauce, add hot sauce, butter, and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for 3-5 minutes, whisking occasionally, until butter has melted and ingredients are combined. Remove from the heat.
- To make the ranch sauce, combine all ingredients in a small bowl and mix to combine.
- While the wings are still hot, add them to a large bowl and toss with buffalo sauce until evenly coated.
- Serve wings on a platter with ranch sauce and celery sticks.
- For a milder, kid-friendly version, substitute hot sauce with 2 tbsp tomato sauce and 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar.
- For game day, pre-bake or air fry the wings until nearly cooked, then finish them just before serving so they’re hot and crispy.
- The ranch sauce can be made up to 2 days prior. Store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Want to make this at home? We used Liberty Free-Range Chicken Wingettes, Fancy Hanks Original Mayo, and Beerenberg Chilli Sauce from the Dinner Twist Marketplace.
Sloppy Joes
serves 8-10
- 1kg beef mince
- 1 brown onion
- 1 green capsicum
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 100g tomato relish
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
To Serve
- 8-10 burger buns
- 1 jar gherkins or pickles of choice
- 1 bag potato chips
- Heat a frypan over high heat. Add mince and cook for 5 minutes while breaking up lumps.
- Dice onion and capsicum, crush garlic. Add to a slow cooker along with beef mince, mustard, tomato paste, tomato relish, Worcestershire sauce and 3/4 cup water. Mix to combine and cook on high for 2 hours.
- Halve burger buns. Warm in the oven for 2-3 minutes or toast lightly in a sandwich press.
- Season the sloppy joes mix with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve sloppy joes mix, burger buns, gherkins and potato chips on a platter for guests to serve themselves.
- Substitute tomato relish with 3 tbsp tomato sauce and 1/2 cup water.
- Don’t have a slow cooker? No worries, cook everything in one large frypan or saucepan over medium heat, semi-covered, for 30–40 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Cook the beef mixture a day or two ahead, and store in the fridge. The flavours actually improve as it sits!
- Want to add more to your sloppy joes? Serve with shredded lettuce or cabbage, or coleslaw, top with cheese slices or a sprinkle of grated cheddar, or add jalapeño slices or pickled onions.
Want to make this at home? We used Margaret River Tomato Relish, Abhi's Wheat Burger Buns and Proper Crisps Cider Vinegar & Sea Salt from the Dinner Twist Marketplace.
