Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Help! Need vegan ideas for hosting

57 replies

Craftymam · 06/11/2024 16:11

Two veggies; one eats fish, one doesn't.

One allergic to dairy; the other allergy to eggs 🤣

What on earth am I making here for a dinner?

Thank you wise people 🙏

OP posts:
SilenceInside · 06/11/2024 16:34

The exception being vegan mayo which is not bad!

SilenceInside · 06/11/2024 16:33

@Kindofcrunchy I know you can get vegan substitutes but I tend to prefer to just do things that are vegan by design as I invariably don't like the substitutes.

Kindofcrunchy · 06/11/2024 16:31

We make vegan risotto fairly regularly. Flora buttery or Naturli butter are both fine and work well . You can also get vegan parmesan-style cheese. Honestly there's loads of alternatives now, just google vegan replacements for the ingredients you need 🤷‍♀️

NC10125 · 06/11/2024 16:31

Falafel, pitta, hummus, a couple of nice salads.

Katsu curry served with breaded cauliflower (use vegan mayo in place of egg for the breadcrumbs) rice and an Asian slaw.

Tapas - one fish option, one cheese option, rest vegan.

Whyherewego · 06/11/2024 16:30

Craftymam · 06/11/2024 16:26

I take pride in a silky risotto. Wont olive oil make it clumpy and greasy?

God I have no time to practice these! I hope this isn't a disaster!!! I need something fool proof 😅

Honestly I think a risotto is risky unless you are used to making it vegan. Vegan cheese is often a bit wierd and you have to experiment to get the flavour profile from parmesan.
I'd go with something like a curry that is basically vegan at the heart

Kindofcrunchy · 06/11/2024 16:28

SilenceInside · 06/11/2024 16:15

Also lentil shepherds pie, or bean chilli and Mexican sides avoiding sour cream of course.

You can get vegan sour cream. There's very little you have to "avoid" or can't replace. :)

JadziaD · 06/11/2024 16:28

Craftymam · 06/11/2024 16:26

I take pride in a silky risotto. Wont olive oil make it clumpy and greasy?

God I have no time to practice these! I hope this isn't a disaster!!! I need something fool proof 😅

I think some risottos lend themselves to dairy free more than others but personally, I can't be without a bit of proper cheese on one.

Butternut risottos (pre-roated in the oven with olve oil) are good. Mushroom risotto, less so! I did a tomato risotto a few months back that came out quite well but to be honest, I felt it needed some cream or something! Grin

Original poster
Craftymam · 06/11/2024 16:27

bakewellbride · 06/11/2024 16:26

Amanda ducks on YouTube is your friend here.

Also do you live near an Aldi? They do a great vegan range - their falafel balls are delicious and would go nicely with a stir fry or jacket potato.

Ooo that's an idea!! Like a Greek type thing with couscous and lots of different dips and sides. Then non dairy eater and dairy eater both have options.

This sounds more foolproof actually

OP posts:
tuvamoodyson · 06/11/2024 16:27

Jeez…I’d tell them to bring their own! 😂

PaminaMozart · 06/11/2024 16:27

Check out Meera Sodha. She has a weekly vegan column in the Guardian and her recipes are straightforward and tasty. Here is her website:

https://meerasodha.com/recipes/

Recipes – Meera Sodha

https://meerasodha.com/recipes

JadziaD · 06/11/2024 16:26

Okay, I guess they can be made vegan using butter alternatives. But in their original form, not so much and I admit, I'm not wild about butter-free pastry. (although I do a mean dairy free chocolate chip cookie).

And yes, pesto can be dairy free, but it is unfortunately a truth based on my actual experience that lots of people don't realise it has dairy if they're buying it in! Poor DD has been served regular pesto on more than one occassion - thank god she's now old enough to ask if it's dairy free.

Original poster
Craftymam · 06/11/2024 16:26

I take pride in a silky risotto. Wont olive oil make it clumpy and greasy?

God I have no time to practice these! I hope this isn't a disaster!!! I need something fool proof 😅

OP posts:
bakewellbride · 06/11/2024 16:26

Amanda ducks on YouTube is your friend here.

Also do you live near an Aldi? They do a great vegan range - their falafel balls are delicious and would go nicely with a stir fry or jacket potato.

CloudywMeatballs · 06/11/2024 16:23

Craftymam · 06/11/2024 16:21

I'm very good at risotto actually so that's a shout and can start it in same batch as an oven bake risotto!

How do you make a dairy free one? Dairy free butter and do you add dairy free cheese?

Any recommendations for brands are good thank you 😊

Olive oil rather than butter surely?

RampantIvy · 06/11/2024 16:23

JadziaD · 06/11/2024 16:19

And many of the things on this list are not suitable for someone who is allergic to dairy.

Show quote history

Wrong. All of the above can be vegan.

Original poster
Craftymam · 06/11/2024 16:21

I'm very good at risotto actually so that's a shout and can start it in same batch as an oven bake risotto!

How do you make a dairy free one? Dairy free butter and do you add dairy free cheese?

Any recommendations for brands are good thank you 😊

OP posts:
SilenceInside · 06/11/2024 16:21

@JadziaD which ones? They can all be made without dairy.

JadziaD · 06/11/2024 16:19

RampantIvy · 06/11/2024 16:17

Mushroom Wellington
Mushroom Pithiviers
A vegetable tarte tatin
A myriad of curries
Loads of pasta dishes
A roasted vegetable traybake
A selection of Greek mezzes

The "vegetarian" who eats fish is not vegetarian, they are pescetarian.

And many of the things on this list are not suitable for someone who is allergic to dairy.

Itsallabouttea · 06/11/2024 16:19

I make a chilli with various veg, lentils, mixed beans etc, it's lovely and filling and easy to make one big pot for minimum washing up!

Serencwtch · 06/11/2024 16:18

Vegetable curry. Lots of recipes are vegan anyway
Veg chilli
Stir fry
Risotto

All can be easily adapted to add meat, fish, dairy etc for those who want .

Whyherewego · 06/11/2024 16:18

Thai curry? This can be made with tofu and then fish pièces on the side?
Check the ingrédients in the paste though

JadziaD · 06/11/2024 16:18

Vegetarian curry with a tomato or coconut cream base.

Serencwtch · 06/11/2024 16:18

Vegetable curry. Lots of recipes are vegan anyway
Veg chilli
Stir fry
Risotto

All can be easily adapted to add meat, fish, dairy etc for those who want .

RampantIvy · 06/11/2024 16:17

Mushroom Wellington
Mushroom Pithiviers
A vegetable tarte tatin
A myriad of curries
Loads of pasta dishes
A roasted vegetable traybake
A selection of Greek mezzes

The "vegetarian" who eats fish is not vegetarian, they are pescetarian.

Swipe left for the next trending thread