To ask for vegetarian inspiration?

[AlternativePerspective]

Have friends coming to visit at the weekend and one of them is vegetarian. Now I never was nor never will be a vegetarian, so am eager for some ideas.

So far I have:

Vegetable stir-fry,
Mushroom risotto,
Potentially pasta in tomato sauce
Vegetable soups of varying kinds.

Thing is, when I look at the recipes they don’t look particularly filling given that if I did the same stir-fry I would add chicken or similar for instance so there would be more of it, iyswim.

I’m reticent to add tofu as I’ve heard that many people are intolerant to it.

Added to which, she doesn’t like peas or beans.

So MN collective, give me some inspiration as to how I can feed a vegetarian and send them home wanting more not because they’re still hungry but because I have met their expectations.

PS: I am a very good cook, just not a vegetarian one. :-)

As a vegetarian please don’t feed us a mushoom risotto or a veggie lasagne, they are generally the only option when we go out.

If you do a risotto something like roasted butternut squash with goats cheese and mixed seeds would be better, or spring greens. Remember some cheeses aren’t vegetarian.

We’re also a dairy free household, I’ll give a few things we eat but add dairy where appropriate.

Veg curry (and paneer) with naan (roast the cauliflower then add it to the sauce, roast the leaves as well, they’re very nice)

Kedgeree just without the fish

Roast harissa squash and salad

Thai soup (just avoid the fish sauce)

Spicy halloumi ‘stew’ with almond and mint couscous

Tacos with roasted sweet potatoes in a bbq rub

Everything above can easily have meat added, veg curry lamb, kedgeree fish, salad chicken, thai soup pork, halloumi stew lamb, tacos lardons.

I really like the Deliciously Ella app. Loads of ideas there and a good variety of flavours.

Meera Sodha recipes are very good. I particularly enjoyed her pumpkin Curry (with butternut squash), potato paneer and tomato curry. Otherwise Hugh Fearnley-whittingstall Veg book is good for ideas (the first one is better than the second).

I love a good veggie lasagne with roasted veg and lentils plus lots of cheese

Walnut and lentil ragu

Butternut squash dhal

Roast dinner with nut roast

Risottos

Teriyaki aubergine and rice

Also BBC good food website is good for vegetarian recipes - the burnt Aubergine chilli is fabulous.

You could add cashew nuts or peanuts to the stirfry for protein. Pasta with lots of green veg, pesto and halloumi (check whether they are vegetarian).

Nigel Slater does a puff pastry tart. Buy pre rolled cut a one inch border and fill the middle. I do tomatoes, olive and feta. Or mushroom and spinach with mozzarella or cheddar. Then they can have whatever salad or veg everyone else is having

What is your meal plan for the meat eaters? We can maybe suggest how to modify them?
I always find it odd when everyone is having something like a roast dinner and I'm having risotto. I would prefer the roast dinner with a vegetarian/vegan main. (Not necessarily shop bought meat alternatives as not everyone likes these - there are lovely things you can make if you would like to)

Jamie veg cookbook is great , his scuffy lasagna is delish , as is the upside down flaky pastry pizza, this is the favourite with my non veggie family 🙌

I havent heard of people being intolerant to tofu. Some people don't get on with quorn so I wonder if you've got them mixed up.

Another vote for a vegetarian curry. You can always serve a few dishes, and include a meat one if wanted. Meera Sodha is great, and this Jamie Oliver curry works really well using the vegetable option. I add chickpeas (which your friend may not like ), and small mushrooms, aubergines, courgettes, thinly sliced red and green peppers, plus spinach with lots of fresh coriander.
recipes.gawley.org/2011/06/jamie-olivers-favourite-curry-sauce.html

BBC have a lovely Aloo Gobi recipe, which would be nice with rice and onion bhajis:
"Roasted aloo gobi recipe | BBC Good Food" www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/roasted-aloo-gobi

Richmond meat free sausages are really popular with meat eaters too, I enjoy meals with them..maybe sausages, mash and veg.

Aldi do lovely plant menu burgers, especially the chicken ones. And Co-OP's incredible burgers are beef style and lovely.

If you don't want to add tofu to things most supermarkets have meat free chicken pieces to use instead.

We like to have fajitas (with vegan chicken and vegetables) with a spicy rice and nachos topped with bbq jackfruit:
"Vegan pulled jackfruit recipe | BBC Good Food" www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/vegan-pulled-jackfruit

I gotta go get ready but I'll add another comment if I think of more! but feel free to ask any questions, I love catering and often have to cater for most eaters so I'm always looking for tasty vegan food that they enjoy too.

Excellent thank you.

@simonJT duly noted, we eat a lot of risotto in this house so I will find a suitable one which isn’t mushroom. [wink[

@NotYourCupOfTea I had thought of nut roast but have seen complaints elsewhere that nut roasts are a bit cliche’d and that everyone serves them? But am happy to make one of them and us have say roast chicken/lamb chops and do the roast potatoes in a separate pan…

Butternut squash risotto with fried sage leaves is nice. Ditto soup.

Burnt aubergine chilli (BBC good food recipe, omit beans), with homemade guac, salsa, etc.

Creamy mushroom and truffle tagliatelle with rocket salad

A selection of curries (lentil dhal, cauliflower and potato, aubergine or something) with flatbreads

Jamie O does a lovely Tuscan style aubergine stew you could serve with salad and olive bread

To be honest, I'm veggie but the bean thing would stump me. We eat beans nearly every day!

melanzane parmigiana

vegetable oats curry

homemade bean burgers with spice sweet potato wedges

If a cold day a big milestone or pasta e fagioli

Aubergine parmigiana. The flavours of the tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and aubergines are sublime.

headbangerskitchen.com/recipe/keto-eggplant-parmesan/

Actually- i didn't mean the comment of it being 'odd' to sound ungrateful to any of my meat eating hosts who cook me something separate. I am always eternally grateful as I am vegan and gluten free so extra awkward and in fact always happy to bring something along.

I just meant it as an option, to modify the meat portion of the meal everyone else is having. It might make it easier for you too. You might find it easier to serve everyone a roast dinner for example and just make (or buy) the meat part.

Veggie chilli with lentils added is easy. Can you check if they eat quorn? It's not that common to be intolerant. Veggie sausages (linda McCartney) are handy. Then you can do bangers and mash, toad in the hole. Pizza is another easy option.

You can serve pilau rice and coriander and garlic naan with the curries to add bulk. Onion bhajis would be a good starter. A slow cooked fresh tomato and garlic sauce with chopped courgettes, olives and fresh basil works with pasta (add tuna for non-vegetarians if wanted) - serve with a big salad and lots of garlic bread.

I love

Panner spinach and pea curry
Quorn spaghetti Bol
Lentil dhal
Tofu and noodle stir fry
Veggie frittata with salad
Stuffed roasted butternut squash

Poached eggs on bubble and squeak is lovely.

Cauliflower and macaroni cheese with salad.

Homemade pizzas. Peppers, red onion, sweet corn, black olives, pineapple, fresh chilli etc. You can add meat to yours.

Baked aubergines for 30 mins then add tinned tomatoes, capers, black olives, garlic etc and bake. Serve with cheese. Serve with fresh bread, cous cous or similar.

Make a tagine and add hallumi (sp) at the end.

As above, we add cashews to stir fries.

Paneer and roasted cauliflower curry.

I know, as you say, a nut roast might seem like a cliche to sone but I would love if my host made me one. My dh makes a beautiful nut meat and bakes it in a Portobello mushroom and tops with breadcrumbs (you could add a cheese topping for a veggie). It's such a lovely rich addition to a roast meal.

Beetroot and goats cheese tart
Aubergine and spinach curry
Paneer and spinach curry
Falafels, cous cous or tabbouleh
Mushroom and lentil bolognese

If planning for the whole meal to be veggie, this is amazing (spinach and feta pie: www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/cheese-recipes/spinach-feta-filo-pie.

You could do meat burgers for others, then a portobello mushroom with goats cheese for the veggie? And if doing a BBQ, have veggie skewers and lots of salad.

I make a veg lasagne, with layers of aubergine, courgette and mushroom, normal tomato sauce and for the cream sauce, a mix of spinach and ricotta.

I'm not actually a vegetarian, but would happily eat all of the above rather than meat.

@SuperLoudPoppingAction soy is one of the worst migraine triggers in susceptible people. Some people also develop typical allergy type symptoms such as wheezing, hives etc. It’s annoying that it’s in so many foods, especially meat free foods & recipes.