Ideas for informal 'supper' type meals for friends please

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Okay - need veggie idea to feed about eight people. Have already done curry night and lasgagne night. Don't want to do chilli night as have overloaded on veggie chilli lately.

Any more ideas please?

[KellyMarieTunstall]

Tapas or mezze would be as informal as you want.

[Mrscog]

What about roasted veg (with roasted garlic) with mozzerela melted over the top with crusty bread and salad?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

That sounds nice Mrscog but probably too lasagne-ish.

I like meals that have lots of 'bits' to go with them so tapas or mezze type things would be good. In fact, you've reminded me of a lovely Greek bean dish I like.

What could veggie tapas involve apart from tortilla and potatas bravas?

[cleanandclothed]

Garlic mushrooms? Quince paste and manchego?

[Sparkles23]

Fajitas always works well with a group

[KarenHL]

Something we used to have a fair bit (need to have it again, thanks for the reminder!) is Nigella Lawson's supper onion dish.

Slow cook red onions (they only need quartering, that doesn't take long). Make up a cheese scone topping (can be done in advance, as needs to go in fridge for a while) - roll in the right shape, put on top of the onions and put in the oven. The recipe is in her 'domestic goddess' book (try library). We usually eat with baked beans and feel pogged afterward ('cause we eat a 4 person serving between 3). For a quick pud, I'd get something from the shop.

One quick pud MIL does at Christmas as an alternative to Christmas pud is frozen berries on a plate, with warm cream/custard sauce drizzled on top. It is yummy.

[Allalonenow]

Garlic mushrooms
Roast pepper slices
Green beans with onion and tomato dressing
Butter beans with black olives
Cubed feta with spicy dressing
Membrillo with cheese
Aubergine with tomato

[Titsalinabumsquash]

Lots of Hummus, Olives, pitta and flat breads, halloumi grilled on skewers, stuffed vine leaves...

[dumdedah]

Fondue perhaps. Getting to be the weather for it. With baby potatoes, bread, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, peppers ... And a salad or two on the side or for entrée to aid digestion - wine helps too! Probably need two sets though for 8 people, so things aren't too crowded. And then if really motivated can have chocolate fondue w/ fruit (or cake cubes!) for dessert.

Dolmades are a nice addition to a mezze.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Thanks. These are all great ideas but none of them is jumping up and down as the 'chosen one' yet. Love Supper Onion Pie but really want something more special than that.

Middle Eastern or Greek is probably my favourite idea so far. Hate dolmades though. Could do chocolate fondue for pud after a non-fondue meal, maybe!

SO: ideas for Greek/Middle Eastern - or any more ideas please. Filing them away for family dinners too.

[CaptainNancy]

Where does one get membrillo these days?
Waitrose have stopped selling it
I luffs it!

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

|What is membrillo? Is it quince paste? If yes, I hate it - but am pretty sure you used to be able to buy it in the deli in Moseley, Captain Nancy.

[Roseformeplease]

Mexican themed food?
Do they eat fish? Fish pie?

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Spanakopita? (Spinach and feta pie)?

Lovely baked persian ricey thing?

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

No to fish. I don't like it and couldn't stand the smell anyway!

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Or, not Med/ME, but a nice british pie. a chicken and mushroom pie, but with quorn.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Persian baked rice thing = gorgeous. Do you have a good recipe, Hazel?

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Ooh, what about shakshuka? Lovely red peppers, onions and toms sauteed, then eggs added in and baked. WIth a green salad and crusty bread.

[DameFanny]

Yy to spanakopita, also google the recipe for green beans in tomatoes - scary quantity of olive oil but delicious.

And baba ghanoush is another favourite

[HazeltheMcWitch]

I've made a nice rice and potato pilav (baked Persian ricey thing). Do you want that rec? NB traditionally, you'd have it in one dish, then serve per plate. Then you'd add in a RAW egg yolk and yog, and sumac, and mix it all together. This is delicious, and I'm a bit gippy about raw egg. But you could of course miss out the eggy bit.

[OhBuggerandArse]

You need Claudia Roden's Book of Middle Eastern Food. Full of inspiration for that kind of supper, and a real work of love and scholarship. It's a great read, as cookery books go!

[HazeltheMcWitch]

OOh, or the Armenian cheese bread thing from Nigella's Feast?

can you tell I am fond of both carbs and cheese??

[ImperialFireworksInMyKnickers]

We do Curry Feast night, proper Indian stuff is full of veg specials.

[HazeltheMcWitch]

Or, you need this beauty - Arto de Haroutunian's Vegetarian dishes from the middle east...

Or Ottolenghi's books. Can vouch for 1st 2, not seen the recent one.

[EdgarAllansPo]

risotto, either as a main dish or a tapas.
stuffed peppers/mushrooms/courgettes
couscous with a variety of chopped veg
plain rice, lemon & herb rice, onion & mushroom/sweet pepper rice
sweet potato dip or roasted chunks with other roasted root veg
celariac chips
roasted cherry tomatoes
crostini (sliced baguettes with a pizza style topping, make it as posh as you like with olives, capers, sun dried tomatoes or wild mushrooms, etc.)
little veggie kebabs on cocktail sticks (can use choice of tiny cocktail pickled onions, or fried spring onions, cheeses, tomatoes, sweet peppers, garlic mushrooms, chunks of marinated cooked courgettes)
mini quiches with brocolli and cheddar with garlic/spinach & goats cheese and toasted pine nuts or whatever Med ingredients you have not used in your other dishes. Can be made in advance and served hot or cold.