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. :-)

[quote pelosi]Aubergine parmigiana. The flavours of the tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and aubergines are sublime.

headbangerskitchen.com/recipe/keto-eggplant-parmesan/[/quote]
Parmesan isn’t vegetarian

It's so easy too, @Winenota. I roast the vegetables with herbs and seasonings for about 20 minutes to half an hour, then add cherry tomatoes and one thick slice of goats cheese per person, and drizzle the whole lot with honey before giving it another 10 - 15 mins.

Richmond now make 'meatballs'.I'm using them tonight to make a Stifado,serving with creamy mash,feta cheese and a side of roasted vegetables.I've already started the Stifado and put it into the slow cooker.It smells really good.Message me if you want the recipe😁

I'm vegetarian and often worry about what to feed meat eating guests as I think they'll likely hate anything I serve.

I've done sweet potato and kidney bean fajitas a few times for guests which usually go down well. Filling of onions, peppers, roasted sweet potato cubes and kidney beans with your usual mexican seasoning. And then all your usual sauces and cheese and bits when you assemble them.

BaronessBomburst ooh, ta! Definitely giving that a go tomorrow.
Stifado sounds nice too Delphinium 90.
MangoM, personally I love it when someone else cooks something I don’t know about. Especially veggie!
For what it’s worth my faves are lasagne made with layers of garlicky mushrooms with leeks and cottage cheese spinach, and marrow stuffed with lemony buttery herby breadcrumbs, dotted with butter and roasted.
With a good onion gravy and roast veg for a Sunday roast. Both ancient rose Elliott recipes. Wish I still had that book!

I'd avoid the mushroom risotto, mushroom is a commonly hated ingredient and mushroom risotto is EVERYWHERE at the moment as a vegetarian option

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

See?

Veggie lasagne I've had soooooo many times as the only option (in over 30 years as a veggie) that I honestly can't face it without balking to be honest!

Thing is, when I look at the recipes they don’t look particularly filling

You sound like my gran there to be honest! She thought you NEEDED meat to feel satiated!

A vegetable stir fry can be hearty and satisfying IF you make a proper effort with it and put in a wide and plentiful variety of veg. Thickly chopped Pak Choi, peppers, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, spring onions, mushrooms (if they like onions), a good home made sauce (tons of recipes online, super easy to do for a good cook), a well cooked side of carbs (noodles, rice) and perhaps some appropriate sides and you're good to go

Pasta but please don't do a boring tomato sauce you'd be doing your guest and yourself a disservice. Do a really good rich tomato sauce - I'd advise make it ahead of time as the longer the flavours have to develop the better it tastes. Again loads of recipes online. Make it a bit special with some really good antipasti on the side like artichokes, stuffed olives etc

Vegetable soup is good for lunch/starter. I'm a scot we love our soups. I hate getting an insipid poorly seasoned one though (which as a veggie often happens!). I make a spiced butternut squash and carrot blended creamy style soup that my dd loves. Or a scotch broth but without the meat. Minestrone usually goes down well or a spiced Thai style soup

Mexican - is perfect if serving veggies and omni's as people can pretty much serve themselves. You can make a veggie chilli (as she's not keen on beans use a soy or Quorn mince - very easy to work with, it doesn't have to have kidney beans in it indeed purists say a chilli should never have beans!) and an omni chilli, have tortillas and taco shells available to choose, some sour cream and guacamole, grated cheese, shredded lettuce, corn on the cob (delicious with a little smoked paprika sprinkled on and grilled), rice, a gorgeous home made coleslaw, refried beans for those that do like beans, smoky baked beans (juj up normal baked beans with a little smoked paprika or smoked chipotle, garlic granules, a wee bit ginger if liked)

Curry can work similar to Mexican too, have a veggie curry and a meat curry and lay out/make popadoms, naan bread, rice, raita, spiced onion salad, samosas, pakora...

LOTS of food is vegetarian or can be made vegetarian.

It's so much easier these days to when I first went veggie.

Don't assume desserts are veggie. Lard, cochineal, gelatin etc so check labels (or of course make from scratch. Few will turn away a lovingly made cake/scones/pastries)

A vegetable tart if well made will go down well and is very easy to make. You could even do a Sunday roast with a tart or nut cutlet or Quorn item instead of meat, make sure the roast veg stays veggie (no goose fat) lovely Yorkshire's, sage and onion stuffing is veggie or you could make your own I love sage and onion stuffing balls myself.

Veggie toad in the hole is yummy too, Linda McCartney sausages are my favourite

Or a casserole - cook meat separately for the omnis. Very easy to do especially if you have a slow cooker. Again loads of recipes online, I never really make the same one twice! Just whatever root veg I have in plus other veg that would be suitable, Quorn pieces if I fancy, stock, seasoning, whatever herbs and spices I fancy/have in and cook for about an hour (conventional oven) serve with roast potatoes (again keep them veggie) or even home made crusty rolls with good butter

I was vegetarian for 17 yrs (been omnivore for 21 yrs since).
I'm baffled by people who make a production out of catering for vegetarians.
I would be happy with nice vegetables & plain potatoes with cream cheese, though. Maybe that's unusual.
My vegetarian meals didn't need a "centre piece."

Risotto is easy to make vegetarian (I'm not a fan of white rice, mind).

I’m a pasta lover. As long as it’s well made even a basic oil and black pepper (with chilli) is lovely.

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/ottolenghis-spicy-mushroom-lasagne/ This is fab. Loads of flavour and the mushroom makes a really good fake mince. Much nicer than Quorn etc. You can go less full on fancy with the mushrooms.

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/yotam-ottolenghis-stuffed-aubergines-in-a-curry-and-coconut-dal/ I used halloumi in this. Very nice. Looks fancy because of the aubergine wraps.

I've been vegetarian for about 40 years. Personally I'd avoid meat substitutes - Quorn can cause stomach upsets, it's very processed, and some of us find the meaty texture unpleasant. There are so many other things you can make.

This roasted cauliflower soup is lovely (my favourite soup in the world) cookieandkate.com/creamy-roasted-cauliflower-soup-recipe/ Also Nick Nairn's cauliflower cheese soup here sososimple.blogspot.com/2010/08/cauliflower-cheese-soup-lemon-posset.html?m=1

For mains, I'm always grateful if someone makes an effort so don't worry too much. That said my heart would sink a bit at the usual suspects of pasta and tomato sauce, risotto, lasagne etc.

Anjum Anand has brilliant vegetarian recipes, take a look here: www.anjumanand.co.uk/Home/CookBook2?CookBookCategoryID=4&CookBookSubCategoryID=0

It's a perfect time of year for roasted veg, griddled halloumi and couscous. Or how about Nigella's courgette, mint and feta fritters? A Thai curry? Perhaps some tapas, with tortilla, patatas bravas, roasted peppers and then add in some middle Eastern mezes with homemade hummus baba ghanoush, flatbreads etc.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/sticky-tamarind-tomato-spinach-whirl This makes a nice centrepiece. Make a yogurt dip and add some interesting salads and sweet potato wedges.

It's just lunch?

Then a really nice vegetarian soup for everyone, with crusty bread and crackers and cheese and chutney and ham/cooked meat for the meat eaters.

If you’re making a roast for everyone else, please don’t give the vegetarian a risotto or stir fry! This happens to me a lot and I’m always grateful for the effort, but it’s odd eating a completely different style food to everyone else on the table and makes your different choice really stand out.

If you’re doing a roast for the meat-eaters, do one for everyone with a separate “main” for the veggie. I actually quite like nut roasts and wellingtons, even if they are a cliche.