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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what you’d cook for a vegan dinner party?

241 replies

Fueoe · 19/05/2026 12:29

Hosting a vegan dinner party for 6 people. One of them is allergic to all nuts.

I’m not a great cook and stressed. What should I make that seems impressive? Just a main and dessert

OP posts:
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18
CurlewKate · 19/05/2026 13:11

Indian-easy because there are so many good dishes that aren’t specifically vegan, they are just nice food!

StationJack · 19/05/2026 13:09

Chips and beans.

Surgeonsattheedgeoflife · 19/05/2026 13:07

Most vegans I know don’t eat meat substitutes (the sort that are supposed to represent meat) so I’d check that if you’re planning to serve that sort of thing.

notacooldad · 19/05/2026 13:07

Remember to check the alcohol is vegan.
I would
Welcome drink 🍸 French 75
Appetiser: Toasted sourdough topped with smashed sweet peas, fresh mint, lemon zest, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Main: pan seared king oyster mushroom 'scallops ' served over a parsnip or pea purée, with charred asparagus spears and a saffron-infused white wine sauce

Dessert dark chocolate and avocado mousse decorated with broken white chocolate bits and raspberries.
All easy to make and the starter and dessert can be made in advance.

Owlmoonstar · 19/05/2026 13:05

Ooooh I vote for Indian. So many vegan side dishes you can make to make it feel a bit more fancy.

With a mushroom curry of your choice.

Dessert- a huge pile of flapjacks arranged on a plate with some strawberries/raspberries or whatever you fancy to decorate.

lifeisgoodrightnow · 19/05/2026 13:05

Look up tea steeped chickpeas. I promise it’s a mild Indian curry which tastes so incredible that when placed alongside meat dishes even meat eaters have preferred it.

Meadowfinch · 19/05/2026 13:04

I have a good repertoire of recipes but I can only think of two vegan recipes that I would choose to serve at a dinner party - a good veggie chilli made with a mix of cubed veg & beans served in a fresh tomato & chilli sauce, and home made wholegrain bread.

Or a mushroom risotto, using expensive dried oyster mushrooms and fresh garden parsley to add lots of extra flavour. Even then, I'd struggle to serve vegan parmesan 😩

I'll never understand people who choose not to eat real cheese/milk/yoghurt. But then I used to live on a dairy farm and I saw daily the love and care the farm manager showed his herd of prize winning Friesians.

boundarysponge · 19/05/2026 13:04

@ButterYellowFlowers that’s great but we live all over the UK and that recommendation is very specific

StationJack · 19/05/2026 13:03

Not risotto or chilli or curry. Make something that is normal food that happens to be vegan and nut free.

Roast dinner with a non-upf meat substitute.

EveryKneeShallBow · 19/05/2026 13:03

ButterYellowFlowers · 19/05/2026 12:57

Round the corner from my house? An Asian supermarket run specifically by Koreans.

Given that op might live nowhere near you that’s not that helpful. Where I live the nearest supermarket is 9 miles away. I’ve no idea where I’d find a Korean one.

christmaspudding43 · 19/05/2026 13:03

Marry me lentils (with coconut milk) with crusty bread and green salad

Nigella vegan chocolate cake

AnnaQuayRules · 19/05/2026 12:58

I'd do a vegan tagine. I've got a really good recipe for one, I'll try to link

Here it is: Vegan tagine recipe - BBC Food https://share.google/2kYU8WMFrHxqohuAS

Ohdearnotthisagain · 19/05/2026 12:58

Vegetarian curry with coconut milk.

Berries with sorbet.

gerispringer · 19/05/2026 12:58

Mushroom wellington
rosemary roast potatoes
broccoli / carrots other veg
sherry and mushroom gravy

ButterYellowFlowers · 19/05/2026 12:57

boundarysponge · 19/05/2026 12:54

Also where are these Korean markets???

Round the corner from my house? An Asian supermarket run specifically by Koreans.

ButterYellowFlowers · 19/05/2026 12:57

Oilofeveningprimrose · 19/05/2026 12:51

Honey and eggs are not vegan

Oh, oops. You’re right lol. Swap the honey for maple syrup and take out the egg. Exchange for braised pak Choi and plain fried rice.

boundarysponge · 19/05/2026 12:56

Seven vegetables Moroccan style with lemon couscous followed by vegan brownies with berries is my suggestion.

boundarysponge · 19/05/2026 12:54

Also where are these Korean markets???

FunnyOrca · 19/05/2026 12:54

Helliephant · 19/05/2026 12:50

Or tofu then.
But as you can see from this thread, not the endless cycle of Indian or Mexican

Agree. As a vegan, I eat one pots most days at home. I can guarantee I can make a better vegan one pot than a non-vegan. There’s no point serving chilli or curry to a vegan unless you are actually an excellent Mexican or Indian cook.

Also, I always advise non-vegans to avoid fake meats or cheeses as a lot are expensive and bad. Vegans will know which one or two they like and anything else is a waste of money.

poetryandwine · 19/05/2026 12:53

Or just glorious figs for pudding if you can get them! Or chilled, thinly sliced oranges with Cointreau.

But fresh fruit has to be very good and very ripe to be suitable for a dinner party.

Oilofeveningprimrose · 19/05/2026 12:51

ButterYellowFlowers · 19/05/2026 12:48

Get tofu from a Korean market and cook in a pan with honey, soy sauce, ginger and a dash of ketchup and chilli flakes. I swear it’s lovely! Serve with egg fried rice with roasted root vegetables done in soya and white pepper.

Dessert? Mango coconut fool. Check that the person allergic to nuts it’s ok with coconut, it’s literally not a nut so they shouldn’t be but I find lots of nut allergy people refuse to eat it because of the name.

Honey and eggs are not vegan

poetryandwine · 19/05/2026 12:51

As the weather is getting warmer, I would do a vegetable tagine served over cous cous for the main dish, with pita breads and a couple of delicious Middle Eastern salads.

If a few people are not vegan, I might make a traditional yoghurt and olive oil dressing for one of the salads.

Something like a date, pineapple, plum or orange upside down cake (made with oil) and options of fruit sauce or vanilla ice cream.

PersephoneSmith · 19/05/2026 12:50

I would do a mushroom curry, with sag bhaji, Tarka dal and pilau rice. Naan breads and popadoms, mango chutney and onion salad.
yum