What food would you do for this event?

[Talkingtomyhouseplants]

Planning on having a (hopefully) party in my garden on bank holiday Monday - about 25 people (including 2 children).

I don’t have a BBQ and don’t want to buy one for this event.

I have a vegetarian, a vegan and someone who is gluten free.

Ideally I want to prep all the food the day before and serve it cold the next day to save faff and so I am not stuck in the kitchen and not enjoying the party.

Im thinking marinated chicken thighs/wings and a selection of salads plus crisps etc but what’s the veggie/vegan equivalent main thing?

I’m not married to the idea of chicken so happy to consider other options too.

What would you serve?

Are you in the UK? If so whereabouts?

Quiche, taboulé made with buckwheat so it’s gluten free, grilled halloumi, potato salad, tomato and mozzarella salad, hummus, poor man’s caviar, bean burgers

Falafels as the chicken alternative. Don't forget that everyone may wish to eat some of these, so make more than just for the non meat eaters.

I think the above, plus bread, crisps/dips and a couple of different salads, eg a bean and tomato one and a leafy one will be fine.

@BarbaraofSeville has it. That’s the perfect solution.

Think you need more food

Chicken thighs are great idea

Sausages / sausage rolls - could get fresh from the bakery in the morning or make from scratch, super easy

Homemade potato salad

Veg bhajis are easy to make - you can grate a combo of onion, parsnip, courgette plus curry powder, turmeric, gram flour, salt and water, mix up and shallow fry - veggie / vegan friendly

Olives

Humus - homemade would be a nice touch - with pitta on the side

Baked potatoes reheated from night before

Big salad with lots of variety and colour

A ploughman's? Bake some ham / gammon, some cheeses, quiche, fresh bread, grapes and salad.

Scones & jam cream for pudding

Perhaps do a large platter with the ingredients of a Salade Niçoise laid out, quartered hard boiled eggs, sliced tomatoes, new potatoes, etc etc, so guests could make their own selection. Serve the dressing separately. That would cater for the vegetarian and the gluten free guests.
Mixed bean salad, rice salad and ratatouille would cater for the vegan guest, with perhaps a spanakopita for the vegetarians too.

Your main problem will be making sure the vegetarian, vegan and gluten free guests actually get the food created specially for them, and it isn't quickly eaten by the other guests!

I would go vegan for everybody-so much easier. I would veer toward the Middle East- loads of substantial herby salads, dips, flat breads, felafel, grilled aubergines.... proper Ottolenghi style.

Vegan? Or do you mean vegetarian?

Protein/veg option and 3 large salads e.g.

Potato salad
Couscous/buckwheat base Delia Smith does a gorgeous layered salad with couscous, ratatouille, leaves and goats cheese/feta with a balsamic dressing
Beetroot, spinach and feta
Homemade rainbow slaw
Greek salad
Caesar without chicken salad
Caprese salad

Protein could be falafel, chicken skewers, wings/drumsticks. Personally I think this needs to be warm , it gives you more options that way.

Or you could do a seafood platter - smoked salmon, prawns, crab meat

Or perhaps think of a theme eg Italian

@Cleoforever Vegan. I like everyone to be eating from the same dishes when I cater. Easier for me-more fun for my guests-nobody has to worry about what they can eat.

I would also say felafels, hummus , chicken, dolmades (you can get big tins from m eastern grocers), tzatziki, veg salad, rice salad, chick pea salad, green salad, tomato salad and wraps or cut up
pide bread (the massive flat loaves) if you have a Greek / Turkish baker near you.

Unless the op is vegan
that does make it tricky in terms of dips and desserts etc

@Cleoforever "
Unless the op is vegan
that does make it tricky in terms of dips and desserts etc"

I honestly don't see why. I might add a jug of cream to the pudding selection because I love it....

Hummus and salsa are vegan. Providing you can get a suitable non dairy yogurt, which I'm sure you can, so is tzatziki. The OP hasn't actually mentioned desserts so might not be doing any.

I agree about making most or all the food suitable for everyone, then you don't get into any dramas about 'the meat eaters stealing all the vegan food' because they dare to have a falafel. It's almost like it might just be normal food, not special weirdy food that is only suitable for or attractive to vegans.

Maybe something like some slow cooked pulled pork, rolls, coleslaw, corn on the cobs etc? Fairly economical and popular.

But to answer your original question, a (veggie) quiche would sit well with your spread, is nice cold and provide an alternative to chicken. Maybe the coronation one? (With ready made pastry instead of lard).
Plus falafel as an option for the vegan / GF & as a 3rd protein on the plate.

So many people don't like those foods though. I don't like 1 single thing from that list. Not much fun for me or other other guests who don't like those options. My dh is vegetarian and even he does not like much of it. Forcing vegan food on non vegans is not 'fun'.

I'm vegetarian, but if I'm catering for mixed groups I do, as PPs have said, tend to veer towards Middle Eastern / Levantine menus as so much is vegan by default (and it looks beautiful!)

Hummus and baba ganoush are vegan, there'll be labneh / tzatiki for those who want it and lots of mezze such as dolamades, a plate of crudites, tabbouleh, breads, a nice green salad, boiled new potatoes served cold with a lemon, olive oil and herb dressing.

if I'm feeling very fancy I'll do a pulled shoulder of lamb for the omnis (incredibly easy, chuck it in the oven for four hours and forget about it - can be prepared the day before and gently warmed in the bottom of the oven before serving) and a roasted cauliflower for the veggies / vegans - dress it up with rose petals, crushed pistachios and pomegranate seeds!

Slow pulled pork and slow pulled jackfruit for the veggie and vegan. If you make some coleslaw you can do a dairy version and a vegan version. All of this can be prepped the day before. Serve with baps/gluten free baps.

I would also check with the GF person as to the extent of their intolerance.

For coeliacs, it is sometimes preferable to prepare and plate their food before anybody else's to reduce the risk of cross-contamination (and perhaps even serve it separately - although do check in advance if they're comfortable with this).

@caringcarer You don't like any vegan food? Or am I misunderstanding you....

None of the food you listed, no.

@caringcarer No salad? Dips? Bread?

No

Well I don't think you've been invited.

Middle eastern is my go to for a buffet. You can do a spicey roasted cauliflour thing. Loads of different dips and than do a cheese board meat board.