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Favorite vegetarian and vegan dishes

75 replies

whatisforteamum · 12/01/2026 08:08

I work in a Nice garden centre with tea rooms.
I have lots of ideas being vegetarian myself but the boss wants a refresh for the new year.
Give me your favorite dishes and snacks please.

OP posts:
soupyspoon · 12/01/2026 15:18

Get better with soup

Soup is piss poor in most establishments. Thin, without flavour, nearly always some sad 'winter vegetable' or worse 'tomato and red pepper'

Give it some welly

Where's the barley/rice, the heat, the fragrance, the wide range of different veg and nuts and pulses/legumes. Wheres the substance, none of them are thick enough and if they are its only because of potato - do not use potato to thicken.
Wheres the protein in them?

It needs to be a meal in itself, be creative and colourful.

Occasionaluser · 12/01/2026 15:24

As a vegetarian of 35 years if I’m looking at menus and see a risotto on offer ( often as the only choice ) I simply go elsewhere . I can make a risotto myself easily , it’s lovely , but it is standard mid week fare and not at all exciting or different . Eating out is so expensive now it needs to be something I wouldn’t bother to / couldn’t cook myself

Xiaoxiong · 12/01/2026 15:29

Last night I made rosemary and parmesan polenta triangles, fried till crispy on the outside and melty in the middle, served with a punchy warm caponata and a handful of rocket. Was lush!

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ToadRage · 12/01/2026 15:30

We often just have something we are used to just take out the meat. I make a pasta bake with broccoli, carrots and mushrooms in, my husband does vegetarian fajitas avd campervan pie. Some us do like vegetarian meat substitutes, we like Beyond burgers and sausages. He makes a lovely bolognese with Meatless Farm mince. Vegan cheese is still notoriously bad

JDM625 · 12/01/2026 15:35

I'd start by checking on this website what will be in season over the coming months. Buying in season will be cheaper.
https://www.eattheseasons.co.uk/

-Jerusalem artichoke, curried parsnip or celeriac soup
-Shakshuka (yes I'm aware peppers aren't in season). I always add a tin of chickpeas for extra fibre/protein

A cafe I used to frequent made my favourite falafel wrap. A regular, tortilla wrap. Inside was humus, salad and falafel. Optional jalapeños for spiciness. Wrapped into a rectangle and heated in the sandwich press. It was hot and crispy on the outside. Yum 😋

Eat The Seasons

https://www.eattheseasons.co.uk

MrsSPenguins · 12/01/2026 15:47

My favourite vegetarian dish is aubergine parmigiana made with plenty of cheese. Also love homemade veg lasagne as long as not much black pepper on it. After that veggie korma / jacket potatoes / toasties with veg filling - I like brie and grape for toasted, jacket like having coleslaw homemade with it and then maybe just cheese on it. Love veg frittata.
More summery weather pear, blue cheese and walnut salad, vegetarian afternoon tea with egg and cress sandwiches, cheese and onion, then scones and cakes as normal.
I love spinach
I am not keen on the fake / vegan stuff, and don't like black pepper or chillis on things. Maybe do things so people can add spice if want.

DD is veggie and loves veggie pizzas and pastas like blue cheese and brocolli and cheese brocolli and potato bake, also like those but need lower calorie things some times. Loves veg cottage pie.

Homemade soups can be lovely like blue cheese and brocolli, vegetable, tomato and basil with nice crusty bread and butter.

lrwe · 12/01/2026 16:01

a good sausage roll / sausage plait substitute

my veggie son is super fussy and I can always get these into him. I make one with a feta, oat and walnut filling - tastes delicious!

soupyspoon · 12/01/2026 16:08

You can make parmigiana without the cheese for a vegan dish. With or without cheese its my favourite dish.

Parmigiana doesnt refer to the cheese, it refers to the design of the overlapping aubergine.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 12/01/2026 16:51

A huge number of first diagnoses of Coeliac Disease are made after the age of 40.

I think you need to add more things that are inherently gluten free - and, as lactose intolerance and cross reactivity to oats (not gluten free oats, that just means they've not come into contact with other grains, the oat protein avenin itself is very similar to gluten) are all part of the disease for many of those, ensuring that the GF offering isn't just a flapjack or oat crumble topping or full of dairy.

It's easy to make a spiced chickpea masala without dairy or gluten - for thickening, blending the sauce with cooked potato or butter beans works well. You could add vegetables such as courgette, butternut squash, carrot, spinach and a slight element of sweet/sour from tamarind paste or mango.

As an alternative to wheat based naan, poppadoms or pancakes made from besan, nigella seeds, salt and pepper would work (add baking powder and a little lemon juice to the water to rise into more of a flatbread) and the batter could also be used with sliced onions to make little patties, cooked in advance and served warm.

For those able to have yoghurt, raita would be incredibly easy (and cheap) to make and with pakora, could be a light snack/meal for any dietary preference. (ETA: could also be made with non dairy yoghurt)

Ineffable23 · 12/01/2026 16:56

Xiaoxiong · 12/01/2026 15:29

Last night I made rosemary and parmesan polenta triangles, fried till crispy on the outside and melty in the middle, served with a punchy warm caponata and a handful of rocket. Was lush!

Edited

Would you mind sharing the recipe for these? They sound delicious!

hohahagogo · 12/01/2026 17:00

Dal, brown rice and hot pickle. Per portion my recipe comes in under £1 so profitable in a commercial setting plus it’s vegan and gluten free. Can add samosa and/or parantha perhaps as a paid extra (I may not run a cafe but I know about business )

whatisforteamum · 12/01/2026 19:37

Here is our soups
Courgeetes basil mint
Red lentil tomato
Leek potato spinach
Butternut squash thyme
Sweet potatoes with coconut
Roasted tomatoes with basil
Slightly spiced parsnip
All with corn bread or focaccia or cheese scone
Menu is old fashioned and we do have many older retired customers however we are having a refresh which I'm all for tbh.

OP posts:
whatisforteamum · 12/01/2026 19:42

We usually have gluten free which is the soup and gf
roll
Vegan 3 bean chilli
Coronation chicken
Tuna mayo
Cheese and beans for jacket potato.
Curry and poppadom
Roast chicken with homemade gravy
Rosemary garlic roasties parsnips carrots cabbage.
Oven baked salmon roast vine tomatoes

OP posts:
giallo · 12/01/2026 19:47

Winter salads with beetroot/lentils/beans/veg etc.
Lentil dishes especially dals
All the meze dishes
Aubergine dishes

I dislike tofu/jacket potatoes/quorn(allergic)/vegan cheese/any fake meat/plant milks/mushroom risottos. Please don’t put peppers in everything as I find them indigestible and they are everywhere. I never choose the death rice.

Wonderknicks · 12/01/2026 19:55

Remember that Parmesan isn't vegetarian.

MrsSPenguins · 12/01/2026 20:02

We use vegetarian parmesan but the normal ones aren't vegetarian. Think its this one
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/waitrose-italian-vegetarian-parmesan-cheese-strength-4/856878-688834-688835?srsltid=AfmBOooT99z2Fsl3vEyZguEsSOtAHrVKZfIftodyK3SMIVaimj7txHgS

Weirdquestion1 · 13/01/2026 07:12

Please keep a few basics like the cheese and beans jacket potato. Sometimes a hit of comfort food is needed. Particularly if it is a cheaper option.

Littlejellyuk · 13/01/2026 13:05

whatisforteamum · 12/01/2026 08:08

I work in a Nice garden centre with tea rooms.
I have lots of ideas being vegetarian myself but the boss wants a refresh for the new year.
Give me your favorite dishes and snacks please.

  1. Mellanzane (aubergine parmigiana) 🍆
  2. Blind scouse (substitute the meat for quorn mince with a dollop of marmite for beefy flavour) 🥘
  3. Cheese of toast with a splash of Henderson's relish 🥪
  4. Homemade hummus with pitta bread soldiers to dip 😋
  5. Baked brie sandwich with either cranberry sauce, or some roasted cherry tomatoes and balsamic glaze drizzled on 🍅
Jugendstiel · 13/01/2026 13:15

Favourite veggie and vegan dishes include

Aubergine and lentil ragu with spaghetti
Pasta all'arrabbiata
Mixed cauliflower and macaroni cheese with grilled tomatoes and breacrumbs on top
Butterbean and root veg hotpot with cheesy sliced potatoes on top
Wild mushroom and sage risotto
Lemon and carrot dahl with garlic and chilli spinach and brown rice
Frittata omlette filled with lots of mediterranean veg and potatoes fried up with garlic and oregano and melted cheese on top.
Stir fry veg with cashews and noodles or rice
Veg chilli with brown rice or burritos or tacos
Mushroom and gruyere puff pastry tart with fresh thyme and sage
Homemade veggie pizza
Homemade humous and flatbreads with salads
Traditional eggs, chips and peas
Baked potatoes with homemade coleslaw and cottage cheese with herbs or with chilli or spiced baked beans
Red peppers stuffed with lentil, mushroom, brown rice, nut and cheese mix.

Loads more. These are just things I have made in the last few weeks.

Someone on here shared a delicious recipe of spinach, wild mushrooms and cashew milk which I made before Christmas. I need to find the recipe online as I so want to make it again. It was delicious.

RedPanda2022 · 13/01/2026 13:21

I am a lifelong veggie.

your list is great, though perhaps a little 90s in choices I am so fed up with vegan/fake meat/ low carb/high protein/ latest fad on every menu that any proper vegetarian options are highly attractive

I do like a salad or two on a menu if it is a lunchtime, so substituting those for some of your hot or more hearty options would be lovely

Bruisername · 13/01/2026 13:35

Agree - using fake meats is a bit lazy tbh!!

I would make sure you have a high protein option though - maybe tofu or beans - as I get a bit fed up of meals that are skewed to the veg and carbs

Defiantly41 · 13/01/2026 14:42

This Sabrina Ghayour recipe is amazing, every time I make it I get asked for the recipe

Favorite vegetarian and vegan dishes
Villanellesproudmum · 13/01/2026 17:48

Love a risotto! Also anything with paneer or Halloumi cheese.

soupyspoon · 13/01/2026 17:57

A lot of of these suggestions woldnt work for a tea room, you need to be able to keep things warm or in optimum condition without it cooking further or drying out.

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