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Melbourne Cup Party Food: Easy Recipes for Race Day

Cup Day works best when most of the food is either finger food or something you can set out and leave alone, since everyone's attention is on the race for at least a few minutes. This list leans on recipes that hold up on a table for a while, plus a couple that can be made ahead entirely.

Start the prawns and kofta close to when guests arrive, both only take a few minutes on the barbecue. Everything else here can be made that morning or even the day before, which matters more than it sounds once you're also sorting out sweeps and trying to watch the fashions on the field.

The pavlova is the one thing worth planning around: bake the shell the day before and keep it somewhere dry, then top it right before serving so it stays crisp under the cream.

  1. 01
    Barbecued shell-on prawns in garlic butter with parsley and lemon wedges on a white plate

    Garlic Butter Barbecue Prawns

    Ready in under 30 minutes and eaten with fingers, good for the stretch before the main spread comes out.

    Get the recipe
  2. 02
    Salad of peeled prawns, diced mango, avocado, red onion and coriander on a white plate

    Mango, Prawn and Avocado Salad

    A lighter option next to heavier finger food, assemble it just before guests arrive so it stays crisp.

    Get the recipe
  3. 03
    Watermelon, cucumber and feta salad with red onion and coriander in a white bowl

    Watermelon Salad

    Scaled for a crowd (15 serves), this is the one to put out once and not have to refill.

    Get the recipe
  4. 04
    Three squares of zucchini slice with bacon and cheese on a white plate with a knife

    Zucchini Slice

    Cut into small squares, it's easy to eat standing up and just as good made the day before.

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  5. 05
    Two flatbread wraps filled with grilled lamb kofta, tzatziki, lettuce, tomato and red onion on a white plate

    Lamb Kofta Wraps with Tzatziki

    Shape the kofta ahead and chill them, then it's a few minutes on the barbecue once guests are there.

    Get the recipe
  6. 06
    Greek salad with cos lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives and feta in a white bowl

    Greek Salad

    A fresh side that balances out the richer finger food, toss the dressing through right before serving.

    Get the recipe
  7. 07
    Bowl of Eton mess with whipped cream, broken meringue, strawberries and flaked almonds

    Strawberry Eton Mess

    Served in individual glasses, there's no plating required and no one needs to cut a dessert into slices.

    Get the recipe
  8. 08
    Pavlova topped with whipped cream, sliced strawberries and passionfruit pulp on a white plate

    Classic Pavlova with Passionfruit and Strawberries

    The traditional Cup Day centrepiece, bake the shell the day before and top it just before the race.

    Get the recipe

Most of this list is designed to go out on the table early and get picked at through the afternoon, so you're not stuck cooking through the big race.