Help - easy to cook vegan recipes

[PickledinGin]

Hi, I have guests arriving next weekend. One of them is veggi (fairly easy to cater for) but the other is vegan. Any quick, simple cheap ideas would be much appreciated.

[annandale]

This chana dhal is really easy and I have never known anyone not love it. Serve with rice or anything. Much better if you make it the day before.

2 tins chickpeas, 2 tins chopped tomatoes, large bunch fresh coriander (try the market or any Indian/Chinese food shop for cheaper bunch), ground coriander, ground cumin, onion(s), veg oil.

Chop onion as small as you can be bothered. Cook gently in a generous slug of the oil for a while. Add 2 large tablespoons of the ground coriander and ground cumin and stir. Add most of the fresh coriander, sometimes I just chop it all in with scissors but obviously nicer if you strip it off the stalks and chop. Stir to mix well. Add a tin and a half of the tomatoes, stir, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 10 mins. Add more tomatoes if it gets dry. Drain the chickpeas of the tin water, and add them to the pan. Bring back to the boil and simmer gently for at least another 30 mins. As I say, if you can leave it in the fridge overnight and reheat it with a bit more tomato or just a bit of water, it's much better.

Do remember that with any vegan recipe, if you eliminate the bit about soaking and boiling the dried pulses and just buy tinned ones, the recipes get a lot easier. And don't forget a nice jacket potato with baked beans.

[annandale]

Oh I forgot to say, you keep a little bit of the fresh coriander to add as a garnish before serving [classy]

Artichokes are in season, and [http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/vegan-hollandaise-sauce this vegan hollandaise]] looks as if it might be nice, though I don't know where to buy nut butters. Probably expensive but if you're not buying meat it should work out?

[annandale]

bah better link

[TigerWhoCameForGin]

Mushroom risotto
Butternut squash/chickpea curry

[PickledinGin]

Thanks for your replies. I shall be putting my just passable culinary skills to the test. I have found it amazing what foods have dairy products in and have spent an age checking the ingredients on packaging. I think I'm becoming a little obsessed!

[MillyMollyMandy78]

I second mushroom risotto, but also lentil spaghetti bolognaise is easy to make and lovely! You could do that with some garlic bread and a nice salad. If you don't want to make the garlic bread, some supermarket ones are suitable for vegans: sainsburys basics baguettes, and the round pizza-looking one from asda (who also do a tomato one and i think a couple of other ones are vegan from there too) and i believe that garlic doughballs from Iceland are vegan friendly too but you would have to check as I have not tried these.
For spag bol, just use the lentils instead of mince, and if you want to keep things really easy the Dolmio bolognaise sauce is vegan too. Not sure if you were looking at dessert ideas but a lot of apple/ fruit strudels/ pies etc are vegan but you need to check the packets. Goes lovely with Vegan ice cream (tastes really good, even non-vegans love it) - Swedich Glace (comes in black hexagonal pot) is available from all big supermarkets.

[MillyMollyMandy78]

I meant to say, as a vegan I am always extremely appreciative when someone makes the extra effort to cater for my diet. I am sure your guests will be very grateful whatever you cook them!

[PickledinGin]

The ice cream & strudel is a fab idea. I'll make my own garlic bread (going to make my own bread as I will hopefully give the impression of a domestic goddess )

[MillyMollyMandy78]

Sounds lovely, OP! Hope it all goes well - you're braver than me to be making your own bread! It's something I definitely want to try though

[TigerWhoCameForGin]

Veggie lasagna is always popular here.

Tesco now sells violife vegan cheese which is wonderful, and almond milk makes a great cheese sauce.

[TigerWhoCameForGin]

Dolmio pizza bases (im the black packaging) are vegan too, as far as I remember

[MillyMollyMandy78]

Tiger - does the Violife cheese melt into the milk to make a proper 'cheese' sauce?

[cdtaylornats]

How can you telol if someone is vegan?

Don't worry about it they will tell you!

[sashh]

Tomato and aubergine casserole - Ive typed the recipe a few times on here so maybe search.

Bean burgers - get a tin of mixed beans, or something like aduki beans, mash half the tin and leave the other half whole.

Mix together with seasoning of choice, and optional onion and garlic then form into patties or balls and either fry or oven bake.

Pita bread and hummus - check the bread.

Chips / baked potato.

Selection of veg cover in passata and stick in the oven or in a pan until veg cooked.

Mushroom cannelloni in passata.

Garlic mushrooms.

The simplest veg curry, tin of curry sauce (check ingredients) put in a pan with a packet of frozen mixed veg.

[TigerWhoCameForGin]

Sorry, late back to this, yes the violife melts, grated

[Emochild]

According to my dd, excellent vegan meals include salt and vinegar crisp sandwiches or potato waffles with ketchup

[MillyMollyMandy78]

Tiger - thanks for that. Will definately give that a try!

Emo - agree with your daughter re the crisp sandwiches. Have that every Sunday for lunch as a treat!