Friends coming for dinner - what to make?!

[SniffyBee]

A few weeks ago some parent friends had OH and I round for dinner and we are planning to return the favour this weekend. However, they are excellent cooks, while we are both firmly mediocre. We've also fallen into a cooking rut over the past couple of years and have no idea what to make for them that isn't pesto pasta or shepherds pie (not that there is anything wrong with either of those, I'd just prefer something a little more exciting). To complicate matters, one of them is a rampant meat eater (as are myself and OH), while the other is a dairy free vegetarian. Ideally I would like to make something that can be easily adapted to make both vegetarian and meat versions. It also needs to be relatively easy. Any ideas?

[HopeAndJoy16]

How about a Thai curry? You can cheat and buy a readymade paste but it's also really easy to make your own. My DH sometimes makes a bigger batch of paste and then freezes leftovers in an icecream tray. The basic curry can be veggie friendly, and you could split it and do chicken/prawn/fish for the non vegetarians.

[Ricekrispie22]

This is an easy recipe for chicken and chickpea tagine www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chicken-chickpea-tagine You could easily omit the chicken and add extra chickpeas for the veggie. Likewise for this chorizo and chickpea stew www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3147690/chorizo-and-chickpea-stew

[chatwoo]

i second @HopeAndJoy16 - Thai curry would be perfect. I sometimes make a yellow Thai curry with pumpkin with cashew nuts and coriander to sprinkle over the served up portion (for texture/colour) and it's really delicious. Very easy to pop some cooked chicken shreds in at the last minute for the meat eaters, or just let everyone have veggie :)

[serbska]

www.ocado.com/webshop/recipe/coconut-chicken-curry/100106

This is AMAZING. So easy and so freaking tasty.

I have made it as per the recipe (chicken) but also I have made it with veg instead of chicken. I use aubergine, green pepper, mange tout and baby corn.

Serve it with rice, and also the nice spicy thai crackers.

If I do the chicken one I serve it with HRW Asian slaw but if you do a veg curry you don't need it.

[SniffyBee]

Thanks for all the suggestions, they sound great. Curry definitely seems like a good option.

[QuantumGroan]

I don't know - shepherd's pie is a pretty good option if you can make a half decent one!