Anyone up for a menu challenge?

[Sarvanga38]

Need a main course for five people, preferably something that doesn't take too much faffing or can be made in advance.

One person is vegetarian and is allergic to mushrooms
One person doesn't like melted cheese (but cheese cooked in a flan is fine)
One person is a fussy plain eater, so obvious easy options like curry and chilli are out.

I could do something separate for the vegetarian, but would be nice if I didn't have to.

Things that I am considering:

Homity pie - quite fancy trying this, but would prefer something a bit healthier if possible.
Vegetarian cottage pie type thing with lentils and veg (Jamie's Allotment Pie without mushrooms) - do wonder if the fussy one will not be keen on this if she clocks the lentils.
Vegetarian lasagne, but melted cheese ...
My standard option of salad, jackets, various bits that people can pick and choose from to suit all.

So, things there I could happily do, but none of them quite floating my boat, so thought I'd open it up to other ideas.

Honestly, they sound horrendous. Sorry! .

what about Spanakopita? It's cheese, but feta and isn't all melty and oozy inside, looks suitably good, relatively easy to make and goes well with some salads and perhaps a nice tzatziki? Felicity Cloake in the Guardian's spanakopita is great.

Hommity pie is great.
Also the courgette lasagne recipe on the BBC food food website.

Oven baked risotto - perhaps tomato hungryhealthyhappy.com/easy-tomato-baked-risotto/ or butternut www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/baked-butternut-squash-and-sage-risotto/

Something like tacos? Options of tofu or chicken/shrimp, then all the other bits separate so people can make them as they like? Refried beans, guac, salsa, slaw etc?

Roasted veg & veggie sausage traybake?

LOL, they probably do. They're not really, I could do something 'easy' and picky and all would be fine. I just do that every time they come, and I'm bored with it, so it's just me trying to find something different.

I fear Spanakopita would fall foul of fussy one, but thank you.

Would be great for all but fussy one (who is frankly the biggest issue).

Also something I thought about, farm shop does fabulous sausages. May come back to this one. (See also sausage and mash ... !)

I’d do a buffet.

Spanakopita bad for the fussy eater? Oh dear!

I think the risotto suggestion above is a good one. Roasted butternut squash makes a great risotto. Or pea risotto is nice - I usually add chicken at the end so you could do that for the meat eaters? I used to often do a nigella lemon risotto and then add parma ham for the ones who liked it at the end.

Did think about a BNS risotto too, but such a regular in this house it doesn't feel like trying really, and fancied something different.

Spanakopita bad for the fussy eater? Oh dear!

She really is the worst of them LOL, the others I could feed all manner of great stuff. She is elderly and much loved though, so will work with it.

Ah if that's the case and she is the much loved one in the group I'd make her something special just for her to suit her tastes then match the main to the rest of the attendees. Homity Pie sounds excellent though.

What about a big cheese & tomato (or other veg)quiche and a couple of nice salads?

Would haloumi be too cheesy or adventurous? Hasselback haloumi in tomato sauce with roasted gnocchi might be a bit different.

One is vegetarian so shrimp or chicken isn't an option.

I'd probably do roasted veg, roasted meat (chicken for less fuss) and gravy separately for guests to mix and match themselves. Maybe add a mixed leaf side salad too.

Something they could assemble themselves.

fajitas, potatoes with toppings, savoury crepes (top them yourself) and salads etc. would be my suggestions.

or a meal that consists of various separate dishes. Letting them pick and choose seems easier than trying to make a big dish like lasagne (which already encompasses most of the food groups you’ll want to cover).

A veggie hot pot and a meat hotpot they'll look the same and can be done in advance too, then just do some greens to serve

I would make something that the main 4 would like and then some I thing separate for the plain eater. Otherwise all 6 of you are having to eat something bland.

I was going to say fajitas.

Assortment of peppers, onions, mushrooms, Chicken, beef, tofu all served in individual dishes. Home made wedges and a big green salad!

If it's a one-off, I'd do a roast with a variety of sides. Risotto also sprang to my mind too. Hugh FW has a recipe for leek and chestnut, which is a firm family fave in our house.

If it was day-to-day, I'd be catering around the veggie/no mushrooms only...

Our 'go to's:

Pot roasted guinea fowl in orange juice. If you haven't had it, guinea fowl is just chicken but more so. The advantage of it for pot roasting is that it is very lean so there isn't a lot of separating needed at the end. Make a separate vegetarian one.

Vegetarian sausage tray bake.

Paella using vegetarian sausages

Mediterranean vegetable risotto is delish.

I’d do two tray baked, one chicken and one veggie.

Theses a great one in The Roasting Tin book- chicken, fennel and lemon with a mustard Mayo. It’s so delicious.
The “picky” lady can steer away from the elements she doesn’t like and everyone else can have a tasty meal. There are lots of veggie tray bakes in the Roasting Tin book.