HELP! I need to provide a buffet suitable for gluten intolerant, dairy free, egg free and vegetarian foods!

[NottsMum]

I have only just realised that I have to provide tea for all of these allergies! My friends and their children are coming for the afternoon on Sunday and I said I'd provide tea for everyone. I've only just realised that I have to provide a range of food to cover all of these allergies!

Suggestions anyone?

So far, I've thought of sausages, cheese (dairy free) and pineapple sticks and crisps which sounds pretty poor. I'm quite happy to cook something hot but am stuck for ideas ....

nut roast for the veggies.
Full roast dinner for everyone else, with gravy made from cornflour.
Sausages may contain gluten, although sainsburys do gluten free ones, I think. If you can find them, do sausage and mash, with veggie sausages for the veggies.

sorry, just seen that you said Buffet! Ignore me.

Vegetable curry with rice

ooh, vege curry and rice sounds ideal. Great suggestion RP.

Now I need a recipe! Can anyone send me one? It needs to be mild for the children.

crudites with a salsa style dip

you can also get gluten free breadsticks which are really nice (kallo)

This is my cobbled together version which isn't hot at all but tasty.
Fry the onions until soft and then bung in all the other veg you want peppers, courgettes, celery, mushrooms, etc etc chopped up similar sizes for cooking evenly. Add cumin, coriander, garam masala - what ever you fancy in that line and then I add coconut milk and cook until the veg are soft.
I am upstairs and too lazy to look downstais but don't think the coconut has any of your no no things in. I use the block and dissolve in hot water.
Other than that why not do veg chilli with rice?

where are you Nottsmum btw?

Along the same lines how about baked potatoes with ratatouille and grated cheese (for those who can have dairy).
In fact baked pots with a variety of things that people can help themselves to eg. salad, baked beans (gluten-free)

I'm in West Bridgford Nottingham!

Your "cobbling together" sounds good to me. I thought I could serve it up with nann breads and poppadums.

oops, meant to say check that the baked beans are gluten-free as not all brands are

This happened to me a dds party. I went to tescos and they had a whole section of everything free stuff.

I would do ratatouille with baked potatoes and salad (vegan and gluten free). Sausages and baked beans to go with the baked potatoes for the kids if they won't eat ratatouille (allergies permitting).

For afters why not try coconut rice pudding (made with coconut milk so dairy free) or I have a good recipe for rice krispie and date squares which can be made gluten free if you get hold of the right rice krispies. Or a nice fruit salad and swedish glace ice cream.

Ha - crossed posts! Looks like ratatouille and baked potatoes is a favourite gluten, dairy and egg free option

Naan breads have gluten in them Notts mum- you can get gluten free ones but they are like bricks!
what about a little something from your new M and S??

My DH is the coeliac and he thinks Tesco's naans are pretty good, he's not tried any other makes. Yep, I might well have a nosey round M&S too

What is ratatouille? I've not eaten it since I went to school (many eons ago...) and I really can't remember what it is!

Coral - yes please could I have your rice krispie and date recipe. Thanx

cake made with rice flour, xanthum gum (from Tescos if you don't already use it), egg replacer and sultanas? Sultanas are good to have around for any of the kids anyway, mine would eat them by the handful but wouldn't touch a curry or ratatoiulle (not their allergies, just copying their father). They love baked potatoes though. Or scones with clotted cream for the ones who can have dairy and jam for the others or sultanas for everyone.

baked potatoes and various fillings so they can pick and choose ... put out little bowls of baked beans, cheese (for those who can), tuna mayonnaise, small cubed salad

make a rice salad and green salad to go with it

and choice of desserts

well that's what I'd do

black bean chilli guacamole and baked tatties? Or Indian vegetarian (something like a chickpea curry with rice) Just sent the black bean recipe to a friend who asked for it so will copy it in here just in case.
serves 8-10 as main course-
450g dried black beans or 1.4 kg canned
1 whole onion
2 cloves garlic whole
5/6 stems and leaves coriander
2 large red peppers
4-5 dried red chilli pods
4 tsp cumin seeds
4 tsp oregano leaves
4 tsp paprika
3 onions chopped
5 cloves garlic minced
1 bay leaf
425g canned chopped tomatoes
1 tsp salt
1-2 tbsp wine vinegar
4 fresh green chillies seeded and chopped
6 tbsp chopped coriander
If dried beans soak overnight and then cook with whole onion garlic
and coriander until tender (2-3 hrs) Discard onion etc and add salt
Grill and skin red peppers
Heat dried chillies in a pan until scorched then add enough water to
cover and simmer for 10 mins minus stems and seeds
puree chilies their simmering water and peppers in blender
Toast cumin... oregano and paprika mortar and pestle add this to chili puree
Saute onions, minced garllic and bay leaves...add chili puree, tomatoes
salt vingear and green chilies add beans with their juice
Stir in six tablespoons of chopped coriander leaf.
Serve with guacamole

falafel is good finger food for veggies, you can just buy packets

Try the Library for a copy of The Gluten, Wheat & Dairy Free Cookbook by Antoinette Savill. Or The everyday wheat-free & gluten free cookbook. I have found both to have some really good recepies in when cattering for those with allergies.

Wow - thanks everyone! Loads of good ideas. Now I just need to make a final decision....

sounds like my family Nottsmum! I always do a range of things and spend the first five minutes of lunchtime explaining which dish is suitable for who! I suppose I could just do labels....

For rice krispie and date squares you need to melt 4oz of suitable margarine in a pan, add half a cup of sugar and 4oz chopped dates. Bring to a very very slow simmer (barely bubbling) and let it simmer like this for 5 minutes. Mix in 3oz rice krispies and press down in a 20cm x 20cm square pan. Melt half a bar of plain chocolate and pour over the top. Chill in the fridge to set then cut into squares.

For rice krispies I use nature's path organic crispy rice which I buy at waitrose which is suitable for vegans & wheat free and gluten free. Green & Blacks plain chocolate is also OK.

Ratatouille is basically a one pot dish made up of aubergine, courgettes, peppers, tomatoes and herbs. I have a recipe if you want one. It's good in that it can be made in advance and reheated.

Thanks Coral. Yes please, could I have the Ratatouille recipe too. You're a star!

Hi there,

Recipe for Ratatouille taken from Good Housekeeping "Vegetarian Cookery"

50 ml olive oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1 large clove garlic crushed
350g aubergine, halved or quarted lengthways and thinly sliced
450g courgettes trimmed and sliced
450g tomatoes skinned, seeded and roughly chopped
1 green pepper & 1 red pepper seeded and roughly chopped
1 level tbsp chopped fresh basil
2 level tsp chopped fresh thyme
2 level tbsp chopped fresh parsley
2 level tbsp tomato puree
pinch aniseed (although I never put this in!)

Heat oil in pan, add ponions & garlic, fry until soft but not brown. Add everything else and season. Fry for 2 -3 minutes , stirring, then cover tightly and simmer for 30 - 40 minutes until all the vegetables are tender. Serve hot or cold.

Enjoy - it's worth getting the fresh herbs as they really make the difference taste wise.