I have a vergetarian coming for the annual Christmas Buffet this year

[Storytown]

Can't believe it's the first time but it is?

I generally do a cheese board, pate, cold meat, sausage rolls, pork pie, smoked salmon and/or prawns, plus fruit, salad, bread, pickles and deserts. I try to make it naice but simple after all the rich things in the preceding days,

So apart from the cheese, there's no "main" there for her. Is all cheese even OK, sure I've seen vegetarian cheese but not sure why?

What pitfalls do I need to be aware of? I know no jelly in the trifle but are there other hidden animal products I need to be aware of?

What would you add to my usual buffet?

[Springcleanish]

Cheese board would be great for me, just check the label for vegetarian. Could also do some hoummus with crudités, along with salad, fruit etc I'd be really happy with that as a veggie.

[ruddynorah]

Also be aware the meat eaters will eat the veggie stuff too so make extra!

[kateandme]

shushing up the salads can make great dishes.like how about a bean salad,a simple tin of mixed beans and a dressing mixed through is nice.
have you though about getting some ready to roll pastry and topping with a variety of things?this can be done using similar meats and cheeses and sadlad bits so no need to search out ingredients.and you can make both veggie and meat ones.they are so popular at out buffet style meals.either serve them whole and easy with a pair of scissor sfor people to help themselves to slices or chop them into eat lift sqaures.

[flightywoman]

Husband is veggie and he like falafels and hummus, they'd be nice additions.

He doesn't like eggs though so no quiche or tortilla/frittata, though they'd be fine if your veggie guest likes eggs.

[NotTheKitchenAgainPlease]

Hummus, vegetarian quiche or onion tart, veg spring rolls or samosas, bean salad?

[NotTheKitchenAgainPlease]

Potato salad and coleslaw?

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Add a potato salad and make at least one other salad more substantial and 'meal' like, rather than just leaves. Agree falafel would be a great addition, as would an onion tart. She will really appreciate it if all the cheeses are veggie (check the labels, some cheese is hardened with rennet which comes from a sheep's stomach lining). Even a simple potato/chickpea curry would be easy and go with a lot of other things on the table.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

... But when my veggie friend comes to things like this, I concentrate on making the salads substantial and delicious - lots of Ottolenghi recipes - so everyone enjoys them, including her.

[MehsMum]

Vegetarian cheese is hard cheese made with artificial rennet rather than animal rennet.
Think I'm right in saying soft cheese doesn't use rennet so all soft cheese is okay.
Deep-dish leek flan is great for veggies and non-veggies alike. Ditto veg pizzas.

[isittheweekendyet]

Naice selection of cheeses
Pickles
Fruits
Crudités and dips
Fresh bread and breadsticks
Hummus
Olives, marinated peppers and other antipasti
Home made coleslaw and potato salad

I'm hungry now

And yes, make lots, those pesky carnivores will steal it all....!

[CheeseBuster]

Veggie tart? Caramelised onions and roasted peppers, plus maybe goats cheese if they are a fan? And yy to a bean salad, they are yummy.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

I'm a veggie who doesn't like buffets much, as I hate all the different things getting mixed up together on the plate.

But I would be very happy with -
bread, cheese, crackers, pickles, homemade coleslaw, green salad, some veggie sausage rolls, posh crisps, some onion bhajis or pakora.