Help!!!!! Dinner problems!!!!

[Tryingtostayyoung]

Totally not AIBU but I need help... having people round for dinner tonight, DH told everyone we're having fish because we have some vegetarians coming. Were skint after Christmas. We never ever cook fresh fish so I have no idea of prices or anything.

How much fresh salmon from the fish counter would i need for 4 people? Three are big eaters... how much would it roughly cost? Thank you!!!!

That sounds great. Do you poach the haddock in milk or water?

alorsmum the risotto sounds delicious. Good luck OP.

i always poach fish in milk, then you can use the milk for the sauce.

agree, that risotto sounds lovely

Potato no, it's easier to say "I don't eat any meat but fish"

Because saying they're vegetarian is misleading.

If you have a Lidl, they sell really really good fishcakes.

I did this Delia recipe for my vegetarians this Christmas. It went down very well.

www.deliaonline.com/recipes/books/delias-happy-christmas/a-luxuriant-vegetable-pie

Id never do a risotto for guests: too much time at the hob!

RTFT! They say they're veggie, they're not proper veggies, they eat fish, who gives a fuck about that.

They just don't eat meat. That does not make them 'not proper' vegetarians, it doesn't make them vegetarian at all. Neither the OP nor they ever had to mention vegetarianism as all they have to say is 'I don't eat meat'. EG 'I am doing a meal tonight, fish based - any ideas?'

Who gives a fuck? All the people that are - you know - actual vegetarians - who endlessly get told that because some dipstick they know is a vegatarian and eats fish, then that means everyone eats fish. Which is fucking annoying once, let alone after 3 fucking decades.

I did this Delia recipe for my vegetarians this Christmas. It went down very well.

Which is lovely. But the OP's guests are not vegetarians!

They may not be vegetarians according to your definition, but the pie is vegetarian and my guests liked it. They said that they get a little tired of being offered something cheesy.

Lidl do a gorgeous 3 Fish pie which is lovely , Cook it, Cook and mash potatoes and Cauliflower together , arrange on a dish ,pipe potato/ Cauli mash, around and garnish . Do lots of colourful Veg,and its a beautiful and tasty meal.
Enjoy !

Can't you just cook something that's properly vegetarian, and forget the salmon? Leaving aside the irritant of the fish-eating 'vegetarians', if you're not experienced at cooking fresh fish wouldn't it be cheaper and less risky to make something vegeatable-based?

They may not be vegetarians according to your definition, but the pie is vegetarian and my guests liked it

I am sure they did, I don't doubt it was lovely, but the OP's guests are not vegetarians, by anyone's definition.

Another option is smoked salmon risotto. You can get smoked salmon trimmings for about £2 or a packet of smoked salmon is about £5. Check out Jamie Oliver's recipe it's really easy and goes a long way

Oh I do love smoked salmon risotto , I'd do that if I was cooking up tea for tonight for fish eating friends.

I doubt they are interested in badges! When people ask if there is anything I don't eat I just say that I prefer not to eat meat - others then say "oh you are a vegetarian!" and then assume a whole load of political views!

Some then accuse me of not being a proper vegetarian because I eat fish !!

If you think "vegetarians" who eat fish are illogical, get your head around the new wave of vegans who are happy to eat oysters and mussels because "they don't feel pain".

More common in the US, but just google "are oysters vegan" to find out more .

I agree with the posters saying don't call yourself a veggie if you eat fish, just say you don't eat meat. My adult DD has been a full veggie since she was in primary school. There have been so many instances of people going to the trouble of especially preparing her a fish dish and then being put out when she doesn't eat it. She has also been offered chicken as the hosts 'vegetarian' SIL ate chicken. She even has one friend who calls herself veggie but will eat chicken and pork - she just doesn't eat red meat. And don't get me started on my MIL who fed her white pudding ('it's a pudding, it must be suitable for vegetarians') or the 'vegetarian' buffet table in Disneyland Paris that had crab sticks on it.

It can be complicated having or catering for dietary restrictions and it would easier all round if people used accurate descriptions of what they will or won't eat.

I think they're Pescetarians?

Frozen fish is actually sometimes of higher quality than fresh fish (frozen fish gets frozen on the ship it's caught, whereas fresh fish has to be shipped around).

Anyhow, a curry? Or a chowder? Stew?

Things like that don't need a lot of fish but are still really lovely.

ChuckSnowballs Not just fish either - I've been presented with bloody chicken because the 'vegetarians' in their circle ate everything except red meat. They were at the dinner in question and described themselves as 'vegetarian for health reasons'. WTF?

Why is it so difficult to use the correct term when it makes an actual difference.

OP: if they are fish eaters I agree with other posters - the risotto or fish pie will stretch the budget. However I'd suggest a big veggie chilli or curries will stretch it further - they may eat fish, it isn't mandatory at every meal for them.

Where I've had one dish for a mixed table chillis and curries go down well with both meat/non meat types as do rich autumn stews with chestnuts and mushrooms. All can be served with rice or jacket potatoes or breads depending on what is available.

If your supermarket has a fish counter, see if they have the service whereby they seal your fresh fish in a foil pouch with flavoured butter and herbs? Asda do it, so not just the posh supermarkets and you really can't go wrong with it. Just chuck it in the oven, and let it do its thing.

You might even get a bargain - I got some reduced salon fillets for the freezer earlier in the week.

Good Luck. I Hope you have a good time.