help - vegan coming for dinner.

[HufflepuffRavenclaw]

Having friends over for dinner next week. Woman of the couple is quite faddy in her eating. Over the time we have know them she has been gluten-free for about 6 months, abandoned that and then gave up alcohol completely for about a year, stopped doing that and then cut out sugar, was also a pescetarian for a while. Latest is that she is vegan.

I am not a vegan and have zero interest in vegan food/cooking. I am looking for ideas which are easily adapted to vegan diets - so for example I could do tomato/mozzarella/basil and crusty bread for a starter and use vegan "cheese" for her.

Think I may buy a dessert for her as any decent pud has to have cream and butter in it.

Any ideas?

Vegan cheese is mostly rank so she may not eat it. What sort of meal are you planning? You could do a chilli with meat and vegan variations (beans, cashew nuts). Pasta with veg or meat bolognaise. Curry dishes can easily be vegan with options the meat eaters can also enjoy.

I'd cook a vegan meal for everyone. Something like a chilli or a curry.

Or a meat curry and a veg curry or dhal that others can have as a side.

There's no need to make it difficult.

I wouldn't get involved with vegan cheese - it's horrid!

Just do a vegetable curry with rice or chapatis, and some nice pickles and stuff, poppadoms maybe. Keep it simple.

I have to say though, you don’t really sound like you like this woman very much. I’m not sure why she’s been invited for dinner when it’s clearly something you resent.

As above, I'd do some sort of chilli or curry. If you're doing a creamy /buttery pud (as all the best ones are, of course 😉) I'd buy something like a vegan brownie and give her that. Maybe you could add some berry coulis to it.

You could use vegan cheese or just skip the cheese for her - maybe some houmous instead, or another plant based dip like salsa or guacamole?

What mains are you thinking of? It depends on how formal/what kind of occasion you're aiming for. What always springs to mind for me is a curry or a chilli. Or a roast dinner type meal, meat for you guys and a nut roast for the vegan.

First idea - seems like you don't like her much and judge her food choices so if I were you I'd uninvite her! Or meet at a restaurant where everyone can order what they like?

If I were her and read your post I wouldn't want to eat at your house - in the nicest possible way :)

If you do decide to go ahead: I cook for vegan friends on the reg and the easiest thing is NOT to buy vegan alternatives. Just all eat the same, i.e. plants.

Starter: crusty bread, hummus, tomato, cucumber and avocado salad
Main: thai veg curry, or dahl, or pasta with grilled veg and arrabiata sauce
Dessert: fruit salad!

It's no big deal unless you make it one.

There are some.e great vegan minces so just get that and make a big chilli with maybe a couple of desserts, one vegan, one not. Don't get quorn mince as apparently it's not vegan.

I don't want to eat a vegan meal. Vegetarian yes, vegan no. Pasta and chilli is a bit "everyday dinner" rather than "nice meal with friends".

What an over reaction, just cook something plant based, it’s really not difficult.

BIL is vegan.

It's not difficult. I make a vegetable dish that everyone can eat. Or a meaty main dish with veg sides he can have, or a veg dish with meat sides.

For dessert, I put the fruit bowl out for him 😆 For someone else I might suggest they bring a vegan pud.

But I quite like having him round.

Indian food is easily vegan, daal, sides (e.g.cauliflower roasted with seeds is nice) and rice.

Veg lasagne,

Something like mushroom pivithier, I have made this one for a veggie meal (would need a couple of substitutions for vegan but I think should be ok if you can get a vegan creme fraiche)
amp-theguardian-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/12/mushroom-tarragon-pithivier-recipe?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQKKAFQArABIIACAw%3D%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16765625819105&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Flifeandstyle%2F2009%2Fdec%2F12%2Fmushroom-tarragon-pithivier-recipe

Vegan brownies are straightforward with cream on the side for those who want it and plant based yogurt for anyone else.

Oh dear OP. Are you very rigid and stubborn in all areas of your life, or just with meals?

What would you normally cook for this kind of occasion? I wonder how those could be adapted.

Curry is good as you can make a few different curries, the meat eaters can even eat the vegan ones!

When DD became vegan I kind of thought the same but actually it is easy to make plant based.

falafel/hummus/pitta/aubergine/couscous is a good one then maybe some grilled chicken and halloumi as well and everyone helps themselves caters for both

You don't seem to like her very much.

As others have said a chili or curry is the way forward and well cooked and well presented can be a 'nice meal with friends'.

If you'll eat a vegetarian meal is your objection just dairy? Other than cheese I find that vegan butter and creams are really good now and not that noticeable so you could do vegan as a base and then add cheese/eggs/meat to whatever you'll be eating. Flora Plant butter and Oatly Cream are both very good.

Right, so the 25% of the group who is vegan gets to dictate the menu for everyone? Sounds fair.

Usually I would do something like thai fishcakes or mussels or something to start, main of stuffed chicken breasts, or beouf bourginon, or salmon, pudding of cheesecake or similar.

I will cater for this person's faddiness even though I know next time we see them they'll have fallen off this current bandwagon and will be hitching up to something else. I don't though want to compromise what the rest of us enjoy eating which is why I am looking for ideas for adaptable meals.

This recipe is really tasty, you guys have the lamb, and maybe roast some curried cauliflower as her added bit. Get some coconut yogurt for her to use.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/aubergine-curry-lamb-cutlets

Otherwise maybe a mushroom bourgignon, I promise you, you wouldn’t miss the meat if you had that yourself.

Oh, and I’d just do a selection of dips and nibbles rather than a starter.

Dessert: fruit salad!

Nothing will convince me that fruit salad is dessert!

Fry some leek and onion and when it's soft add some fresh chopped tomatoes, some tomato purée and some chilli flakes.

Cook some gnocchi (home made or shop bought) and add to the veg and stir in.
Nice as it is, or with some grated (vegan) cheese.

India food is a good idea.
Poppadoms and chutneys to start. Riata as well for those that aren't vegan.
Lentil dal and a separate meat curry for main with rice and naan.

If you go Italian you could make them a pasta dish with tomato and basil puy lentils instead of meat.

Mezze?

You can do falafal, hummus, babaganoush, imam bayilidi for everyone and have a meat dish and/or halloumi, spinach and feta pastries etc

Baklava for pudding - you can get vegan versions of

Will you eat a vegan dessert? Vegan brownies/cake with plant ice cream will be barely discernable from dairy based - at least one course could be easily made for everyone.

veggie chilli with wraps, rice, homemade guacamole and salsa. Pop some sour cream and cheese in bowls for the non vegans. Mango and sticky coconut rice for pudding.