What would you cook?

[Inasec24]

Dinner for 6, beginning of December.

Maybe something kind of Christmassy as we are seeing each other for Christmas, but not an actual Christmas dinner.

1 x vegetarian, 1 x can't eat fish or cream, 1 x doesn't eat lamb, pork or fish, 3 x not fussy.

Thinking maybe picky bits rather than 3 course meal, like we could all sit down together but help ourselves to different dishes, but open to suggestions! Also don't want to be in the kitchen the whole evening.

Thanks!

I would probably just order a takeaway in and let everyone choose what they want.

Saves you cooking different meals for hours as well.

If you made a big pie in advance, you'd only need to put it in the oven and get it out, which should help with being in the kitchen the whole evening. You can cook mashed potatoes in advance and put them in an oven proof dish and pop them in the oven 20 minutes or so before serving. You could then buy some green vegetables that just need steaming to go with it.

Something easy for dessert like lemon posset can be put in dessert bowls or glasses and chilled, ready to whip them out at the last minute, but not great for the person who can't eat cream. A cheesecake?

And a cheeseboard for later is pretty Christmassy!

Beef wellington? With roast potatoes and roast carrots. Boiled sprouts. Nut roast. Pigs in blankets.

I'd do two different wellingtons - one braised beef in Guinness, one braised jackfruit in Guinness (jackfruit goes amazingly when done like pulled meats I think!) then a various side dish set up - some honey roast carrots and roast potatoes, maybe other roast vegetables and a lovely veggie gravy. Wellingtons feel fairly fancy, and when it's braised / pulled meats inside you don't have to worry about it cooking to the right levels of "done" as it's already cooked! Then everyone's eating broadly the same thing, but different bit in the middle of the pastry. You can pre make wellingtons and just pop them in the oven, same for roast potatoes and veggies - pre boil then just pop in the oven!

I'd do a chicken paprika casserole and a separate veggie chilli. Serve with baked potatoes. Much of the work can be done well in advance. White chocolate and ginger cheesecake for afters.

I'd just go veggie with those requirements - something delicious from Otollenghi, you could do a big jewelled rice in the centre of the table and then some smaller dishes

I'd do a really warming veggie chilli, little bit spicy, with rice and sour cream. Easy to serve and most people enjoy!

I made a vegan Wellington for xmas one year. Used beyond burgers shaped into a fillet and squeaky bean italian ham in place of proscuitto. You can make the night before or earlier in the day then just heat in the oven. Something everyone can eat without having to cook separate dishes. Serve with mash, arparagus and Gravy or sides of your choice.

Or for something a bit easier what about Christmassy linguini with olive oil, garlic, vivera bacon pieces, roasted brussels sprouts and chestnuts and sage.

I think I'd either do a vegetarian lasagne, vegetarian chilli as suggested above or do vegetable curries. There's a coconut, cashew and cauliflower curry that I often make (usually shove some chick peas in too) and you can serve with rice, naan and some shop bought starters.

Mushroom wellington, red cabbage and apple, potato of choice honey roast parsnips and carrots green veg. Dessert would be chocolate fudge cake.

apologies for the missing commas in that list.

I would do a delicious vegetable soup to start with. Something like pumpkin and ginger or curried parsnip and apple or possibly roasted red pepper.
For the main course I would do bourgignon, one beef and one mushroom. Serve with green vegetables, such a baby spinach or kale and a potato and celeriac puree - made with butter and milk, if your non-cream-eating guest can tolerate these or olive oil, if not.
Pudding would be pineapple poached in lemongrass syrup with shortbread biscuits or tuiles for a bit of crunch.

You could do coq au vin instead of beef, but the vegetarian version would be more or less the same. You could also substitute game for beef, so venison or wild boar (does not tase like pork, but might not be suitable if your non-pork eater cannot for religious reasons).

Everything can be prepared well in advance (and usually tastes better for it) leaving just the vegetables to cook on the day.

Id either suggest takeaway or buy a whole load of party food from M&S

This. All those different food restrictions to cater for - I wouldn't.

Veggie lasagne with garlic bread

spinach(onion and tomatoes ) and feta pastries with salad

Is just make veggie for all

I'd stick with a veggie dish to make things easier for yourself.
This blue cheese stuffed butternut squash would work could serve with dauphinois potatoes, tenderstem broccoli and green beans.

Thanks all for some lovely ideas!

I have take away in the back of my head if I cba but I'd like to cook.

I think chilli and sides could be good. I'm leaning very much towards a selection of dishes and everyone can help themselves to what they like.

Maybe a big veggie centrepiece, some sort of chicken dish - skewers?, winter salad, new pots, bread, baked camembert, honey and mustard chipolatas. I don't think I'll bother with a starter, probably just do cocktails when they arrive. Then easy shop bought pud and chocs ...

Love the look of the squash recipe

Vegetarian lasagna. Salad of mixed greens, goat cheese, pomegranate and orange segments.

Stuffed peppers with tomato, feta, wild rice. Roasted squash, asparagus, potatoes, carrots.

Apple-cranberry pie with ice cream on the side.

Is the person off cream due to lactose? Can lactose-free butter, ice-cream, cream or cheese be used?

Milk, ice cream and cheese all fine - just no cream.

I've seen sweet butter boards on Instagram and now really want to do one of those for dessert - look so good!!

Ew no, please don't do a butter board, disgusting looking things

I think you'll be fine. 👍😊

I'd do a lovely veggie curry. Make it a couple of days early and you can warm it up - tastes better the next day.

Poppadoms and pickles to have with drinks

1 big veggie curry - probably a squash and coconut with some dark green veg in
1 dahl
Garlic rice
Naan breads
Onion and tomato salad

Ice cream for pudding because I hate making puddings