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AIBU?

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Original poster

Unexpected guest

90 replies

bubblicious47 · 05/11/2023 07:40

Is coming to our Sunday roast dinner today. My son has invited his new gf (great!) but only just told me she's pescatarian. We are having roast gammon with roasties, carrots, broccoli etc. what could I make her (or pref buy - I'm not feeling that great) that would go with the same sides?

OP posts:
HoppingPavlova · 05/11/2023 10:17

Given it’s late notice, I’d just expect her to eat the cauliflower cheese, and other veg and be happy with that. Just apologise and say you were not aware she was pesc until just prior but you will cater accordingly next time and it will be fine.

Thingamebobwotsit · 05/11/2023 10:13

@bubblicious47 Salmon is fine. Season well. Bake it in the oven with lots of butter in a foil parcel and it will generate enough liquid to pour over the top of it and stop the whole meal feeling dry.

Can't remember if you said how you were doing the veg, but again you can roast carrots/parsnips etc in a honey glaze to help brighten up the sides that would normally be buried under gravy.

Good luck!

Schoolchoicesucks · 05/11/2023 10:11

Salmon en croute, mushroom Wellington or something like roasted squash with cauli cheese would be my preference.

I'm a bit surprised by the pescetarian saying they'd be disappointed by a lentil loaf. Do you expect to eat fish every meal? Don't meat eaters eat vegetarian (or fish) on occasion?

Ponoka7 · 05/11/2023 10:09

I'd get another type of fish, like basa, incase she doesn't like salmon. A simple cheese sauce over that, potatoes and broccoli is easy to do.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 05/11/2023 10:07

I'm veggie rather than pesc, but usually have veggie sausages (only the Richmond ones) or just extra stuffing.

mrsbyers · 05/11/2023 10:04

Salmon with a roast dinner sounds awful
to me , I’d just do some veggie sausages and make sure her gravy is meat free , Linda Mcartney do great ones or I love the vegan Richmond sausages

Haydenn · 05/11/2023 10:02

Another vote for the salmon. So many people won’t touch the ultra processed vegan or vegetarian meat substitutes. You know she eats fish so can’t go wrong with that

Mosaic123 · 05/11/2023 09:57

Salmon in a foil parcel topped with two teaspoons of green pesto. Oil the foil first.

25 mins in the oven on 200. Unwrap and serve. So easy.

Manadou · 05/11/2023 09:56

MyGooseisTotallyLoose · 05/11/2023 07:47

Off topic but i know a 'pescaterian' who eats duck...
Because its a water bird 😶😶
But yes the salmon idea.

Massive eye-roll from me. That person is a meat-eater.

DRS1970 · 05/11/2023 09:52

Just steam a piece of fish steamed in the microwave in lieu of the gammon. She can have the veg you are having with it, providing you aren't roasting them in animal fat.

determinedtomakethiswork · 05/11/2023 09:40

It's just following traditional fasting rules. The 15th century Council of Constance defined "fish" as anything that lives in water, hence including beavers. Allegedly leading some monasteries to drown piglets in their ponds in order to re-classify them. And then there's the apocryphal abbot who solemnly baptized a roast piglet as "carp."

That is so interesting @GrumpyPanda!

meganorks · 05/11/2023 09:22

For my Veggie mil we always just cook more sides. Cauliflower cheese, Yorkshires, Stuffing. You could maybe roast some extra veg like squash, sweet potato, parsnip etc. I wouldn't buy a specific Veggie 'thing' though

Tempnamechng · 05/11/2023 09:14

A nice easy way to accommodate is to make a special nutty stuffing - just use your usual stuffing recipe (without the meat fat) and add chopped mixed nut and perhaps fried off onions and peppers. I don't think you need to worry about trying too hard or making extra trips to the shops. I'm a lifelong vegetarian and am very happy to have a roast dinner with everything except for the meat. We (my home and meat eating in laws) always do a cauli cheese with the roast dinners, which suits me fine. If I go to my mum's she always does a nut roast as there are a couple of vegetarians, but I wouldn't expect a non veggie family to do that.

Watchthedoormat · 05/11/2023 09:02

Ask DS if he's ever seen her eat salmon.
I also don't eat 'meat' only fish but absolutely hate salmon.
I'd prefer lemon sole or cod.

Tooshytoshine · 05/11/2023 08:59

Salmon fillet in tin foil 'bag' with oil, lemon chunk and parsley. 20 mins in the oven - all self contained. Lovely!

Lemsipper · 05/11/2023 08:57

Salmon en croute vote

TheDogthatDug · 05/11/2023 08:55

Aldi/Lidl do some nice vegetarian/vegan dishes. Lidl vegan nut roast with gravy is delicious. I'm not vegetarian BTW

Sarvanga38 · 05/11/2023 08:53

If you just want to throw some money at something easy as you’re not well, the Charlie Bingham salmon en croutes are lovely.

SummaLuvin · 05/11/2023 08:51

heads up OP, if you are making cauliflower cheese be sure to check whatever cheese you use is veggie, many varieties like parmesan are not.

tabulahrasa · 05/11/2023 08:50

Honestly - the cauliflower cheese with the other stuff would be fine.

I’d be quite happy with that over a bad meat substitute or something that doesn’t really go.

Normal bistro is vegetarian btw.

AnxiousPangolin · 05/11/2023 08:50

People seem to be getting confused over the definition of a pescatarian. A pescatarian eats fish but not meat. It’s not the same as a vegan. As a pescatarian I would be upset to be presented with a lentil surprise as my dinner. Grin

lilyblue5 · 05/11/2023 08:45

Salmon en croute with a roast is lush. IMO

PaperSn0wAGhOst · 05/11/2023 08:39

Loads of people are allergic to Quorn so check she’s not or you won’t want her in your house 💨 🤢

Original poster
bubblicious47 · 05/11/2023 08:39

Wow love the look of the Emmental parcels! I'm a coeliac so don't eat or make pastry, that could be a good option. I have salmon in so I think I'll let her choose. Lots of dissent between what people like, I guess it's v personal!

OP posts:
Lose10kyesterday · 05/11/2023 08:30

GrumpyPanda · 05/11/2023 08:04

It's just following traditional fasting rules. The 15th century Council of Constance defined "fish" as anything that lives in water, hence including beavers. Allegedly leading some monasteries to drown piglets in their ponds in order to re-classify them. And then there's the apocryphal abbot who solemnly baptized a roast piglet as "carp."

Maybe worth a try for new gf?

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Thank you for that wonderful nugget of knowledge, completely new to me, and which passed me by during years of studying Medieval History at a Catholic school, @GrumpyPanda Halloween Grin