Tasty vegetarian main....help!

[Fuckitydoodah]

I've got friends coming over at the weekend and want to cook something delicious. It needs to be vegetarian.

I really need some inspiration. Please share your delicious vegetarian recipes.

Thanks

I made a aubergine and sweet potato chilli at the weekend. Rice. Grated cheese. Tortilla crisps and soured cream. It went down very well 😊

@mitogoshi , @mrsm43s , They are all my favourite things. Why wouldn't I cook them.
Because your favourite things might not be theirs. Many people don't like mushrooms, for example.
Has it occurred to you that the reason these are often on menus is because they are popular and many people like them very much indeed?
Because if you were a meat eater and every time you ate out or were at a dinner party the menu was either steak and chips or shepherd pie you'd soon get bored of them.

@artant , I haven't seen vegetable lasagne on a menu for about 15 years.

@MerryChristmasToYou you are fortunate! It remains the vegetarian standby at some of the sort of places I might venture to if taking my elderly mother out or away on holiday. These days there’s often also an uninspiring vegan curry option.

You're still not understanding that you don't get to speak for all vegetarians everywhere. You are giving an opinion on your personal preferences and experiences, you can't possibly be so arrogant to assume that all vegetarians must feel like you do, as if you are some authority on what all vegetarians like or dislike!

Since you are presumably not a guest at OP's dinner party, your likes, dislikes, preferred ingredients simply aren't relevant.

OP was asking for some lovely vegetarian recipes, which she has been given.

@mrsm43s , I'm not speaking on behalf of any vegetarians other than myself.

My likes and dislikes aren't offered. I have not mentioned a liking or disliking of a single ingredient or dish. I've said that many people don't like mushrooms.

Meera Sodha's wild mushroom pilau
Any kind of dal
Beetroot and carrot fritters but spiced up
Naan
Yoghurt dip - cucumber, turmeric, garlic
Red onion and lime pickle

Actually just get Meera Sodha's curry book!

This is delicious, and very easy:
Lentil, courgette and feta pasta bake

And my other go to is:
One-pan gnocchi bake

Also for vegan naan swap the normal yoghurt for light coconut milk. Do not be tempted to use alpro, normal coconut milk - not enough or too much fat content respectively.

Meera Sodha EAST is definitely going on my wishlist.

I did this last week but left out the aubegines, knowing my veggie family hate them with a passion! I used courgette instead. It was very tasty.

This is delicious: https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/baked-cauliflower-with-black-beans-coconut/

You literally said
Not risotto.
Not mushrooms, butternut squash, not beetroot and not goat's cheese.

But those are all ingredients/dishes that are suitable for vegetarians and loved by many.

Unless you know the preference of OP's guests, how on earth do you know they wouldn't enjoy those dishes?

You may not wish to be served these, but OP's guests might, so why are you insisting that they mustn't be served?

It comes across as though you are trying to say that all vegetarians would not like to be served risotto, mushrooms, butternut squash, beetroot and goat/s cheese, which is ridiculous.

OP was asking for some delicious vegetarian recipes, many of which will contain the ingredients you've outlawed!

https://annajones.co.uk/recipes/smoky-mushroom-and-roast-kale-lasagne -

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jul/29/sri-lankan-beetroot-curry-recipe-vegan-green-bean-mallum-meera-sodha

Both of these are delicious :)

I suppose it's always worth checking with vegetarians if they have any aversions to anything in particular - it can be a simple text message asking 'any dos or don'ts I need to know about?'

A lot of vegetarians do have a vegetable they don't get on with, perhaps like onions/garlic, nightshades, mushrooms, aubergines, legumes, etc.

She's great - best vegetarian and vegan recipes

Jamie Oliver scruffy lasagne from his veg book is delish , it’s basically aubergine and chilli , very easy .

@mrsm43s , I am one of many posters on this thread. Why are you singling me out?I haven't 'outlawed' anything.

It comes across as though you are trying to say that all vegetarians would not like to be served risotto, mushrooms, butternut squash, beetroot and goat/s cheese, which is ridiculous.
That is your interpretation. I suggested not them because they seem to be the 'go to' vegetarian dishes on restaurant menus.

If I eat out, I would eat it because it was on the menu not because I loved it. I wouldn't choose to eat risotto, mushrooms, butternut squash, beetroot or goat's cheese. There are plenty of other things that I wouldn't choose to eat.

You didn't say whether or not you are a vegetarian.

Mushroom risotto is a token veggie dish that's usually made by people who have no idea how to cook any other veggie meal. It makes my heart sink. It makes me think "Oh FFS, not mushroom risotto again".

I know the OP asked about home cooking, but I can't take any restaurant seriously that has it on the menu. It's an afterthought. It's a "We can't be bothered to make a more thoughtful vegetarian option" dish.

@MerryChristmasToYou I literally came onto say don't make mushroom risotto or beetroot and goats cheese! 😂 If I have to see another bloody mushroom risotto I will scream!

I agree with other PPs that it should be coherent with the meat main, so if doing a lamb curry make a saag paneer curry too. If doing meat and vegetable type meal then a pie or similar that they can eat with the vegetables (that carrot and feta strudel sounds amazing!)

A hearty vegetarian roast

www.lowlyfood.com/recipe/vegan-sunday-roast-with-all-the-trimmings/

I like something like this, similar to a spinach and ricotta cannelloni (you could use the that kind of filling instead), but conchiglione are much easier to stuff

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/oct/27/slow-seasonal-food-gizzi-eskine-recipes-pork-apple-stroganoff-miso-ramen-butternut-squash

This is very tasty too

https://annajones.co.uk/recipes/baked-dhal-with-tamarind-glazed-sweet-potato

@tectonicplates & @Benjaminsniddlegrass , mrsm43s isn't a vegetarian. (see Gluten free dinner party menu | Mumsnet) so presumably won't have had the ''Oh FFS! Bloody goat's cheese and mushroom stroganoff yet again' when looking at a menu.

Merry Christmas: Are you the same poster who, on another thread about vegetarian food, said you would never touch or serve a goat's cheese tart, but instead recommended a "peanut butter salad sandwich" ?

Thank you so much for all the responses. There are some fantastic suggestions.