15 vegans to feed tomorrow

[Bollard]

I need to feed 15 vegans tomorrow, and will have to prepare everything today. I was thinking of Antony W-T's slow-cooker daal (which I can make this afternoon - has anyone tried doing triple the recipe in a slow cooker?) and some rice. But what else to make it a bit more interesting? A big pot of sloppy daal and a bowl of rice seems rather joyless. There will be quite a few children and I'd like to have some bowls of stuff on the table for those who don't like the daal. And any ideas for pudding?

I can pop out to the shops this afternoon and cook today/this evening.

If it makes any difference, they aren't all vegans. Some are veggies and some each anything, but it seemed easiest to offer the same thing to everyone.

[spicynaknik]

There is a fab vegan chocolate cake floating about on the net, I have made it several times and it is really delicious. Will search for you.

Last time I fed vegans I did sweet potato and chick pea curry (can be made without chilli so it is just like a fragrant stew) with coconut rice. Went down well.

[spicynaknik]

Vegan chocolate cake

If you can hold of some Swedish Glace non dairy ice cream, it goes really well with that.

[anchovies]

Not tried AWTs daal but have made this this black bean chilli for vegan/vegetarian friends a few times and it always goes down a storm. Easy to put bits and bobs with it too.

[spicynaknik]

Mexican turns vegan quite well - refried beans, guacamole, salsa, grilled peppers etc rolled up in wraps. The veggies could have cheese in theirs too.

[Angrybudda]

I am vegan and you can't go wrong if you have a look at www.mouthwateringvegan.com her meals are fantastic (the photo don't do them justice). Personally for 15 I would do 2 curry dishes and some rice. And also a massive salad.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out.

[Bollard]

These suggestions are great . I've checked the cupboards and I've (just about) got enough for the daal, although next time I feed them I'm going to try some recipes from the mouthwatering vegan website. I think I've got the ingredients I need for the chocolate cake so I'll try and get some vegan ice cream to go with it.

Thanks so much

[Breadandwine]

Bollard, what a wonderful challenge!

I think your idea of rice and lentils is a good one - but, to make it more interesting, instead of adding tins of tomatoes, which is what I've always done until recently, why not add coconut milk and spice it up with a Thai curry paste?

I've made this several times in the last couple of weeks and it is absolutely gorgeous - my favourite meal of the moment. My daughter loves it - even without any spices, since she's BFing a 7-week-old!

Here's my recipe which would feed four:

100g red lentils
100g long grain white rice
1 onion, chopped
200g celery, chopped
200g shredded Savoy cabbage
1 red or green pepper
1 tin coconut milk (79p ATM, from Lidl - and better quality than Blue Dragon - IMO!)
Herbs and spices
Soy sauce, garlic paste and lemon juice
1 good dessertspoon vegan Thai curry paste (I use Geo Organic curry paste)

If you can't get vegan Thai curry paste, add cayenne pepper to taste

(Never used a slow cooker - you probably just throw everything in, switch on and leave it for a while, I'm guessing! )

Here's what I do:

Method:
Put the rice and lentils on to cook - takes about 10 minutes
In a separate pan simmer the veg in a little water

Once they're both cooked through, combine the two and add the coconut milk and flavourings.

Whilst these are cooking, dry fry a teaspoon of cumin seeds for a minute or two - then add along with the rest of the ingredients. I use them whole, but next time I'll grind them in my spice grinder, see if that makes a difference.

All the very best - let us know how you get on, won't you!

[Breadandwine]

Ooh, I forgot all about a pud!

Check out my 8" vegan chocolate cake, made with 5 simple ingredients and made in the microwave:

[Bollard]

Right, I've made the AW-T daal Breadandwine - it has coconut milk in it as well as tinned tomatoes, and loads of spices. I agree that the coconut milk makes it much more interesting and warming. I cook the rice separately but next time I do it I'll try your recipe and incorporate the rice. It's simmering away in the slow cooker so I can just re-heat it tomorrow.

I'll get some brown rice washed and ready to cook in the rice cooker tomorrow when we all get home (it may be obvious that I live in the House of Gadgets!).

We have some chapattis and I've checked that they are vegan.

I'd like to do a big salad but I didn't get round to going to the shops, and not sure if I'll have time before we all go out tomorrow. I have a half hour window between taking my younger children to school, and our guests arriving so we can all go out for the day. The AW-T recipe has green beans in it, which we have in the freezer. so I'll do plenty of them and maybe some other green freezer veg so there is plenty of colour.

The two chocolate cakes both look lovely. I might even try both of them tonight. I don't really like marg, so I'm pleased they use oil instead. I've got cream/creme fraiche for the non-vegans and if I can't get to the shops for vegan ice cream I'm sure the vegans will be happy with extra cake!

Thanks again for the suggestions

[Angrybudda]

breadandwine, your recipes look great. I will be trying the cake tonight and curry tomorrow. Both sound tasty and easy to make.

[Bollard]

I've made Breadandwine's chocolate cake, and also the one linked to by Spicynaknik. They both look good although Spicynaknik' is shinier. Maybe the vinegar? We'll try them tomorrow.

[Breadandwine]

Spicynaknik I've just got around to checking out your link - and it's the recipe that inspired me to make my first vegan cake.

I tweaked it (as is my wont), by taking ingredients out one by one, and I was left with the five I now use. I credit the recipe in my post.

So, Bollard, you be the judge! You'll be able to tell us if there are any differences between the two cakes.

Hope it went well for you today.

This recipe (either of them), you won't be surprised to know, will also make chocolate fairy cakes. And guess what I found in Lidl today?

Dark Chocolate Drops - which are vegan! There's a whole new range of cake decorations in the store - and there they were!



I shall post about Lidl's vegan products shortly - keep an eye out for it.

[Bollard]

Couldn't tell the difference! Both were good, although a cake someone else brought (also vegan) went down even better. She used dates and coconut instead of sugar, and it had a more cakey texture, a bit airier. I'll get the recipe and post it.

The daal was lovely although some of the children weren't keen.

[Breadandwine]

Thanks, Bollard - look forward to the recipe, sounds good!