Vegetarian gf buffet ideas?

[ChuisEpuisee]

Having a complete blank 😳 all I can think of is a bloody frittata!! I also have a sort of roasted veg traybake thing with pomegranate seeds that I've done before, but what else, apart from copious amount of cheese and crisps?!

well, do not pad it out with crisps, why not a few nice salads and some tasty rolls, fresh ones? you could do cous cous or pasta salad for a start or potato salad, all things you would normally do for a buffet these days there are great substitutes I am vegan and was really pleased with Aldi the other day my freezer is now groaning!

What about some dips and spreads like whipped feta, hummus and something like a baked Camembert with gluten free flatbreads or sourdough?

Hmm that's tricky. I have one dd that's veggie and one is gf. What about a baked camembert and some nice gf bread. I find schar to be good at dipping in melted cheese! Gf pasta salad. I know you're doing a veggie bake but you could add gf gnocchi to it to make it more substantial? White rabbit do a nice gf garlic flat bread. As we have lots of dietry needs our buffet this year is heavily focussed on cheese!! I've seen something online I think I might try that was mini Yorkshire puddings with brie and cranberry in. There was also a hash browns cup version that looked fab. Then if you have any newt eaters you could add gf pigs in blankets!

Some sort of roasted or confit spiced chickpeas
Corn tortilla chips with a fresh mango salsa and guacamole
Some roast potatoes! With nice sauces maybe like a roja sauce or an aioli

I went to a vegetarian wedding and they had fantastic roasted veg and roast potatoes. Everyone loves roast potatoes!

If you're happy to buy stuff in, there's tons of V/GF party foods in all the big supermarkets, eg M&S have lovely samosas and spring rolls. Schar's breadsticks are good, and most salted tortilla chips are GF.

Rolls and couscous are not gluten free!

Baba ganoush, hummus, tzatziki, vegetable sticks, puy lentil salad with feta, mint and pomegranate, tapanade-alike but skip the anchovies, guacamole and salsa with corn chips (or go the whole hog with nachos), devilled eggs...

There are loads of options!

-https://www.amummytoo.co.uk/filo-pastry-mini-quiches-great-for-kids-to-make-and-eat/ I'd swap the filo for GF puff pastry and then add any fillings you like- tomato, basil, spring onions, but check any cheese you add doesn't contain rennet
-Dolmades https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/316786853?srsltid=AfmBOor3toBkkKY20X_pN06ULnIrOagpsGk5KUOxYGyqeNKCU4igO20C
-Olives stuffed with peppers, garlic, herbs
-Cheese stuffed mini peppers www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/315589063?sc_cmp=ppcGHS+-+Grocery+-+NewMPX_PMAX_ALL_OT_Clubcard+Offers_Online+Budget_1012764**315589063*&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22770770354&gbraid=0AAAAADiyNatnZWprYcPEXloMcfnXgBcsm&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6Y7KBhCkARIsAOxhqtPSgCPG5yq-MLoMdAyDDHj47OZimwL8SZsvyd8QBT7gZdQ0Fbb9EloaAmJkEALw_wcB

Thanks all, some good inspo here!

Some sort of patatas bravas is actually a great idea @mindutopia, that's going on the list.I should have said that whipped feta features in every buffet I ever have, @Overthebow 😁

Gf gnocchi addition is another good call @Iknowdino, will see if they have those locally. Unfortunately I can't get to an M&S.

@rainbowunicorn22 sadly couscous is not gf and I haven't had much luck finding gf pasta that doesn't taste a bit odd, which would you recommend pls?

Yes those peppers are blinking delicious @JDM625

We do a kidney bean , sweet corn and tuna salad that goes down well , you could swap the tuna for feta cheese and add some baby tomatoes , peppers and cucumber to bulk it out.

We get our gf gnocchi from Sainsbury's but think Asda has some too. Our Sainsbury's also has gf couscous which is ok, I've never had not gf so don't know how it compares. I love the Rummo pasta, again from Sainsbury's but possibly have elsewhere too. It's really nice flavour and texture. I've never found a good fusili pasta though, always really sticky and odd.

Waitrose GF fusilli is really good, but needs to be cooked for about 2 minutes less than the pack suggests.

Oooh fab thanks, I'll see if I can get some!

Another one is this dip. I've also seen it use a packet of taco/fajita mix, but you have to check for gluten. Also check any corn chips you serve, but its very yummy 😋
https://simple-veganista.com/7-layer-fiesta-dip/

@ChuisEpuisee the secret with gluten free pasta to to cook it for the exact time on the packet, no more or no less! It goes from undercooked to mush in seconds....
We used Asda/Tesco own brand pasta to make pasta salad - with a good amount of sauce eg Caesar dressing. Put half in when warm and then add extra once cooled as it will absorb huge amounts of liquid if you put it all in when still warm!

Shar do a pack of mini pizza pockets/Calzone bites - in the gf freezer section in Sainsburys and I think Waitrose.

Little onion bajis are often gf

I often get gf puff pastry and make canape type things - brie or goats cheese and red onion chutney, that sort of thing.

Quinoa is naturally gf, I tend to rinse it as I heard some people have had issues due to possible contamination but dd eats it and is full on vomity coeliac and never had an issue. I do a quinoa salad with a lemon juice and olive oil dressing, throw in pomegrante seed, chopped up pepper, you can add some feta and then lots of mint leaves

And just be aware if coeliac that a buffet can make people nervous - there needs to be strict instructions to the non gluten sensitive people not to touch stuff with crumby fingers or use a spoon/fork from one dish in another.

The calzones are actually not vegetarian, even though they look as if they should be. Their is rennet in the cheese.

Only discovered this after buying them, fortunately my husband (also GF but not vegetarian) ate them.

OMG, I've been feeding them to veggi dd for years!!!!!

It's an easy mistake to make tbh. As I said, they look like they should be veggie, why on earth they've used cheese in it that has animal rennet in I don't know.

Vegetarian quiche or pizza. Greek salad. Hummus. Many people like cheese whether vegetarian or not, so that's still a good option.

Thanks for all these suggestions. I have quinoa in so wil cobble something together with that, @PodMom, thanks!

I should have said - ideally I'd prefer to do things that are naturally both veggie and gf rather than substitute with gf versions if poss. Although good intel on the pasta, @handmademitlove!

I find a roasted veg frittata good for gf veggies.
i also make little bite sized, spiced sweet potato cakes which also go down well.

Salad-y stuff - cut sticks of peppers, cucumber, celery, carrot, olives and have assorted dips.

Home made onion bajis and pakoras. Very tasty, add extra spices as liked. Can be made in advance and frozen then cook for about 20m to serve.
serve with raita using plant based natural yogurt.
They are also gluten free.
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/onion-bhajis-raita

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pakora