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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to serve a meat free meal at a dinner party

124 replies

CoralFish · 18/10/2018 12:35

Having friends round and I am trying to think of a menu. I came up with the following.
Starter: Spiced vegetable fritter topped with fried egg
Main: Lentil Dhal, aubergine and chickpea curry and rice
Dessert: Rice pudding
Mentioned to DP and he said it sounded nice but I should do a chicken curry instead because people will expect meat.
It hadn't occurred to me that there was no meat. None of us is vegetarian. AIBU to not give people meat? Nobody would say anything, but would they go home afterwards saying 'shame there was no chicken'?
My main concern was having rice twice in the meal! Grin

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 18/10/2018 16:47

I don’t eat meat anyway- and I love veg curry- but eating the same flavours x 3 could possibly be overkill.

Would rather just have no starter, a wider variety of sides with the curry, and a Wispa for pudding.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 18/10/2018 17:05

I love rice pudding and would be very happy to have it at a dinner party, but still wouldn't serve rice in 2 courses. As you want to go ahead with it, I've made rice with coconut milk - adds a lovely flavour and in keeping with the Indian theme. Then topped with Demerara sugar and grilled. You could serve with some stewed fruit or pears poached in wine?
Totally agree with not needing to impress friends - I previously suggested tandoori chicken as an addition just to add a little something alongside the daal, and not much work/expense. The important thing is that you have a lovely time with your friends x

JessieLemon · 18/10/2018 17:11

Aubergine is one of those love hate foods. I wouldn’t serve it unless I knew people coming actually liked it.

You do realise that’s down to your individual taste though and not a universal preference? You could say any food is a love/hate items as there’ll be plenty of people who love it and plenty who don’t. Aubergine isn’t exactly unique or unusual or an unexpected ingredient.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 18/10/2018 17:40

The main and pud sound too carb heavy to me, I wouldn't enjoy such a stodgy meal.

DitheringBlidiot · 18/10/2018 17:42

Wouldn’t bother me one bit and I’m not veggie.

JustDanceAddict · 18/10/2018 17:42

Couldnt eat rice twice.

Firesuit · 18/10/2018 18:09

I disagree with having the odd meat dish. Most people are used to meat being a dominant element of meal, I think you have to have a significant amount, so people can have the amount they used to, or none, so people make the psychological adjustment that it's a different kind of meal, and focus on the vegetable options.

Bloomburger · 18/10/2018 18:09

Are your guests very very old with false teeth?

RabbityMcRabbit · 18/10/2018 19:19

To all those saying it's a carb heavy meal, the only carbs in this are the rice in the main and the pudding. Most puddings are carbs unless you have fruit.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 18/10/2018 19:58

@RabbityMcRabbit not true. Lentils are about 20% carbs, chickpeas 61%. That meal would leave me in a carb coma!

RabbityMcRabbit · 18/10/2018 20:03

@HollyBollyBooBoo well I stand corrected. Never knew that!x

Sonixx · 18/10/2018 20:28

"Indian rice pudding is a thing - it's called kheer. It's bloody lovely. I'm half Indian and sometimes have it for breakfast, but as a pudding too."

I love kheer as well, so tasty and very easy to make. I do it in my slow cooker.

cl61reb · 18/10/2018 20:30

Do a trifle for desert ... the jelly will have gelatine in so they get their animal product intake :)

SinkGirl · 18/10/2018 20:32

I’m allergic to lentils, chickpeas and aubergines so i wouldn’t be able to eat it - but I wouldn’t want you to change your plans for me so I’d happily skip it or bring something myself that I could eat

(Lentils and chickpeas are legumes so if you have any guests with peanut allergies it’s best to ask them in advance if they can eat them!)

SinkGirl · 18/10/2018 20:34

Eek, almond milk in dessert too. Oh dear, i would be screwed 😂 I would feel so embarassed that I couldn’t eat it though. I hate being so awkward!

notacooldad · 18/10/2018 20:56

OP! As the people coming to your place for are your friends surely you will have some idea of their thoughts on a veggie meal.
We cook for friends on a regular basis and it is always Vegetarian.It's usualy a combination of 6 people from a group of about 15, all meat eaters. They don't seem to think I'm poor and they keep turning up time and time again so I must be doing something right with my black eyed beam and lemon hot pot followed by my giggly I've cream or similar!

SilverySurfer · 18/10/2018 21:19

I would be over the moon to be on the do not invite list with Seniorcitizen1 as far as I'm concerned none of that menu is edible.

I'm intrigued as to why you are so determined to serve rice pud. No matter how many other ingredients you throw in the pot, it's about as far from a dinner party pudding as can be.

notacooldad · 18/10/2018 21:22

'giggly I've cream'. Lol!
Figgy Ice cream!

notacooldad · 18/10/2018 21:30

To be honest, the best part of going to someone's for dinner is being with friends. I'm not getting people pulling their face at no meat. They seem to miss the point that you have been invited to join up with people who care enough to want your campany. Sure, you may not like or enjoy every dish that is served but for the majority I'm sure there would be something that you find ok.

Scandie · 18/10/2018 21:32

It sounds delicious! (Meat eater here). I’d be a) pleased to have your company and be invited to dinner and b) thrilled that youre going through the trouble of cooking for me. Rice followed by Rice still beats the beans on toast or hummmus and bread I would have most likely made for myself by an ultra marathon and then some :) (I just had pringles for dinner ... Not because I can’t cook, but because I have nausea from a stomach bug and couldn’t eat anything else. Your meal still sounds great!

Alwa · 18/10/2018 21:38

It reminds me of a meal we would have eaten during my uni days when we were skint but hosting dinner parties.

No rice pudding for me 

qate · 18/10/2018 21:44

Starter and main sound lovely - perhaps have some ice cream or sorbet as an alternative to the rice pudding or something a bit lighter depending on how spicy the curry is? The lack of meat wouldn't bother me at all but I'm not a rice pudding fan so I'd prob pretend to be full (even if a spiced rice pudding sounds intriguing to a non pudding fan 😂)

sashh · 19/10/2018 06:08

I love rice pudding but I can't get my head round a spiced version.

Nutmeg is a spice and quite common in non spiced rice pudding.

OP

What time are you expecting me?

Original poster
CoralFish · 19/10/2018 08:34

I'm intrigued as to why you are so determined to serve rice pud. No matter how many other ingredients you throw in the pot, it's about as far from a dinner party pudding as can be.

This thread has reinforced my belief that I would lose on Come Dine With Me!! In my opinion any pudding is dinner party pudding as I would never make a dessert if I didn’t have people coming round.

@sashh Make it 7:30 Grin

@sinkgirl My friend with a peanut allergy is coming round in a couple of weeks - that menu definitely won’t feature any legumes or almond milk!

OP posts:
mammmamia · 19/10/2018 08:45

I was also coming on to say that Indian rice pudding is called Kheer and would go well but I would serve flat bread or potatoes with the main in that case maybe with rice on the side for anyone who wants it.