non veggie friends coming for dinner tonight, advice needed

[gemandjule]

I've left this very late. In my defence, the arrangement was only made last night!
I've invited a couple of good friends over for dinner tonight, casual Friday night dinner and glass of wine. My problem is we are vegetarian, actually mainly plant-based when at home ourselves but happy to be flexible with that. This is not normally an issue as most of our friends will happily eat vegetarian food. This couple are very plain traditional eaters though. This is not a criticism, they are lovely and great company but the man especially really only eats meat and potatoes, not even vegs as a side. I don't have an ethical objection to cooking meat, it's more environmental than ethical for us, but I would prefer not to eat it myself and my husband is the same. I am working until approx 4.30 and they are coming for 7.30.
So any suggestions? Suck it up and prepare 2 meals and a dessert after work this evening! Any easy veggie meals that might possibly be acceptable to plain eating non-veggies?

Veggie lasagne?

Halloumi. I can't think of any plain eating meat eater who doesn't like it

Pizza

Quiche, roast potatoes and ‘safe’ veg like carrots? Or buy something from m&s - meat for them, veggie for you!

Veggie sausages and mash? I think it would be very unfair of your friends to expect you to cook them meat.

I’d do a tartiflette or Johanssens temptation or something like that - stodgy involving cheese and potato. Can leave the fish/meat out of that dish and serve with salad

Maybe do a few sausages on the side for the bloke

Ask him/his partner. He sounds very dull in the eating department.

Veg sausages and mash could work. Or a ready-made chicken pie? I;'m sure friends won't expect you to cook non-veggie for for them if they're veggie!

I'm not a vegetarian but have a few meat free meals a week, mushroom stroganof, spinach and ricotta cannelloni for example. I would be happy to eat a vegetarian meal if someone else was cooking it.

Made a shepherd’s pie with lentils this week ( think it was a bbc good food recipe). Husband was a bit sceptical beforehand, especially as he doesn’t like mash, but he ended up having seconds. The texture was quite similar to mince.

Please don't make something with meat substitutes. Stuff like Quorn gives a lot of people bad bellies and the squits. I would be very cross if I was fed substitutes. I'd rather have something properly vegetarian.

Give your friend a ring and as for her input or play it safe with pizza, garlic bread and some dippy shit.

Cheese, leek and potato pie or other substantial potato / vegetable/ cheese gratin, with a lovely big green salad and bread (this is not the time to concern yourself with the carb police).

owl I don’t suppose you have a link to that recipe, please? It sounds lovely.

For the PPs suggesting veggie sausages, as a meat eater I would probably prefer something that was a vegetarian meal rather than something pretending to be meat.

How about a cheese and onion pie with some nice potatoes and salad? I have a recipe passed down from my grandma which takes about ten minutes of preparationand is delicious - if you want it, let me know!

I’m veggie and I don’t cook meat, so I’d have to think of something he’d like. The ‘hardcore’ meat eaters from my family and friends love a good veggie lasagne (and ask me to take it if we are doing a shared meal or if they’re coming here).

Do you think he’d eat a veggie lasagne (with or without a soy meat layer)?

Leek and potato soup with a heavy bread, followed by cheeseboard?

Pasta?

Jacket potatoes with beans & cheese. Depends just how ‘casual’ you’re happy to go!

Ask his wife? Easier than asking him as he’ll probably faint from the shock of being asked to endure a meal without meat or be very polite and say he’ll eat anything!

Just prepare something eggy or cheesy. Quiche or pizza (include a plain margarita for Mr fussy) or similar.

LG - ME! I want your grandmother’s recipie. TIA

Another one who wants the cheese pie recipe!

my old auntie's stand by: fried egg chips & beans! followed by a crumble & custard!

Potato, cheese and onion pie with mash and veg. I am veggie but cook meat for my family. I think if I was hosting and wanting to cook an all veggie meal that's what I would make.

Ready made puff pastry is your friend there.

Just cook what you want. It won't kill them to have a meat free meal.

Any veggie pasta with side salad and garlic bread or any (mildish) veggie curry. Don’t make a deal out of it being vegetarian.

No meat substitutes, they give vegetarianism a bad name.

Cheese omelettes with chips. Extra fillings for the omelettes can be mushrooms or tomatoes, maybe served with baked beans. Puddings are easy. Most puddings are veggie anyway.

Thanks a million for all the great suggestions. I’m flying out the door so can reply properly. All recipes very welcome. I love cooking, just very caught for time and ideas today. I’m not sure lentils would work. He wouldn’t make any fuss at all, he’s really lovely and great fun, just don’t think he’d eat them. I might try “real” sausages for him, nice veggie sausages for everyone else. Nice creamy mash with nice veggie sides and garlic bread, along with plenty of nice wine, and it’s Friday night 🎉.
Sound ok?