If you're a vegan what do you want on a buffet?

[Impatientwino]

Going away as a group later in the year and I'm looking after the food.

Going to do a buffet style spread one night and we are all meat eaters bar one who is vegan. I don't know her but I've asked all of them to let me know anything they don't like. I've got as far as planning

Antipasti platter of meats
Cheese platter
Breads and crackers
Baked Camembert
Marinated artichokes
Sundried tomatoes
Roasted peppers
Babaganoush
Couple of different houmous
Falafel
Various dips, veg crudités and crisps
Vegetable spring rolls
Roasted vegetable couscous salad

I'll get some other bits of party food to warm up as well and I think there are a few choices for her but I'm just wondering what else I can add that is tasty and fits in with the rest of the food for the others too?

So, if you're a vegan what do you want/enjoy eating on an evening buffet? Any recommendations for brands/products appreciated!

I've heard vegan cheese is a bit meh?

I obviously will put vegan foods on separate plates/platters and use different utensils etc in preparation...

Thanks!

I'm not vegan, but I make Vietnamese summer rolls. They are vegan, gluten free and delicious with a peanut satay sauce. Lots of youtube videos on how to roll them. You can get the wraps from most Chinese/Asian grocery shops.

Well that's all vegan except the meat and the cheese so there's probably enough there, just make sure there's enough for everyone as everyone will eat all that food not just the vegan.

Just put the meat and cheese somewhere separate. Maybe ask the vegan guest what they want, because it doesn't matter if people suggest mushrooms, patatas bravas or chick pea salad if your vegan guest hates those things.

Thanks, I have asked them all to confirm things they don't like and I always over cater so there will be plenty of everything.

Sounds like you have plenty of choice for a vegan, as long as you make sure the bread and crackers are dairy free (or at least some of them) and make it clear what she can eat, I'm sure she'll be happy.

I think your selection is good. The main problem I find at buffets for vegans is getting enough protein... you've got falafel and hummus which is good. You could maybe add some salted nuts or a bean salad?
Don't bother with vegan cheeses - it's a very subjective taste and imo most of them are not just 'meh', they're outright revolting.

I like Indian snacks like onion bhajis or pakoras

Sounds like lots of choice - I’d be happy

I’d be well happy with that! How about olives? You just have to be careful as some aren’t vegan.

Oh and I agree on cheese- I like Violife Epic Mature Cheddar, and Tesco do a grated mozzarella alternative which is really nice, but they’re the only 2 I’ve found that I really like.

@BeneathTheMilkyTwilight protein in a buffet? Really? You aren't feeding them for life its just one meal FFS.

Rather than the type of food think about where the food is, I don’t want to eat something if the previous hands in the bowl/platter have touched dairy. Another thing to consider is that anything vegan is also vegetarian and omnivore friendly, so make sure there is enough. On a few occasions I have experienced all the vegan friendly food being gone well before sausage rolls etc.

It looks good. One thought... There is a recipe called Camembosh. It’s a vegan baked Camembert although I would argue it’s actually nicer!! (I’m veggie not vegan)

If you can find vegan cheese that is artisan made - as in made from nuts (or make your own, it's very easy but you need to buy some unusual ingredients m, i can pm you some recipes) you would be an absolute star of the show!

Houmous & veg sticks

Nice salads - cucumber and dill with oil and vinegar dressing, a herb leaf salad, olives, sundried tomatoes etc. Mixed seeds toasted with some tamari is very easy and scrumpy and provides some protein, as would smoked nuts.

Waitrose do a basil or a smoked tofu that is out of this world! That cold in just cubes is heaven!

Granovita is a nice vegan pate, and is remarkably not that well known among vegans. You could have it on sandwiches or celery boats.

Pasta with vegan pesto is quick and easy and yummy.

Mixed bean salad - you can buy a tin and drain/rinse or fresh tub in most supermarkets. If tinned, adding fresh mint is nice.

A nice nut butter stuffed date or ten - meridian brand is safe - or just medjool dates. Or stuff the dates with walnut halves.

If the vegan friendly food is on the table in amongst the non vegan food DO expect the meat eaters to eat it. Maybe either tell the vegan to go up first or plate them up a plate of food in advance so they're not left staring at an empty bowl of sadness.

Definitely don’t bother with vegan cheese. I’d just be careful that there’s enough vegan food because everyone will eat it.

Bosh cauliflower wings with a ranch dressing are my favourite thing to eat. They’re nice hot or cold.

protein in a buffet? Really? You aren't feeding them for life its just one meal FFS.

Yes, but it won’t be filling if there’s not enough protein.

I would just make sure there is enough of the food for the vegan as the people who eat meat can and will eat the vegan food as well. Nothing wrong with that if course except sometimes by the time I get to the buffet theres hardly anything left apart from pork pies and sausages on sticks!!

One thing to be wary of is quorn. Some people react really badly to it.

X post with purpledaises
When we do buffets at work my manager tells me to go first after a few buffets of me getting a bit of left over limp salad!!😂

That sounds lovely and plenty. Very considerate.

Maybe keep a separate platter of food for the vegan. I get pissed off not being able to eat at a buffet due to meat eaters ‘cross contaminating’ the vegan food with used utensils or even dropping animal products on the platters. Not to mention, so many strip the vegan platters bare, just to try the vegan dishes, leaving no choice for the vegan. You could let them know that there’s a separate dish put aside for them.

I assumed the protein was about being filling enough rather than expecting a nutritionally complete buffet tbh, lol

I love tofu sticks.
Squeeze tofu for a few hours.
Cut into chunky strips (like thick chips).
Put on greaseproof paper amd cook in the oven for about 20 minutes, turning gently every 5 minutes.

Brush or marinade of you have time with a sauce, bbq or spicy works well then fry them in sesame oil.

They can be done in advance and eaten cold.

protein in a buffet? Really? You aren't feeding them for life its just one meal FFS.

Yes really. Everybody else gets all the major food groups, why shouldn't they? and its the one thing that either the vegan will feel sad about, or more likely the dickheads who are the type to comment on other people's food, are most likely to comment about.

I also second onion bhajis. Tesco do lovely big bhajis that are delicious cold

DS loves falafel, humous, crudités, Japanese veggie gyoza (tiny fried or steamed dumplings), onion baji, veg spring rolls, veg samosas, homemade guacamole dip with tortillas etc.