To hate vegans!!!

[TheUnexpectedPickle]

Hi vegans!

Now I have your attention, can you please tell me what you would love to be seved at a dinner party for your starter main and dessert? DPs best friend's girlfriend is vegan and I don't want to palm her off with yet another stuffed pepper/mushroom risotto combo. She must be sick of it!

Bonus points for a crowd pleaser that'll do for everyone!

Lots of people are talking about Quorn; lots of their products, including the pieces, mince and sausages are not vegan as they contain egg. They do also do vegan products but if you are catering for vegans, please don't assume all Quorn is safe, cos it's not!

The burnt aubergine chili that someone linked to upthread is bloody lovely and would be great served with lots of sides.

Tasty.co website - cauliflower/walnut burritos - amazing and my kids eat them regularly.

I also do a fabulous mushroom “cream” sauce that I pour over roasted potatoes and/or roast cauliflower.

Take the time to go to the supermarket and look at the vegan food !

For starter delightfulvegans.com/recipe/vegan-smoked-salmon-carrot-lox/

Crispy tofu laksa is a favourite with our pet vegan generally served with some party spring rolls or gyoza on the side.
Or papa johns!

Daal, bread, okra curry, aubergine curry, Bang Bang Cauli

Or

Homemade corn Tacos with cripsy fried (marinated) tofu
Gauc, vegan cheese (violife or the m&s plant based kitchen one)

A word of warning - we have a vegan and a vegetarian and both of them detest mushrooms.

Dark Matters vegan brownies for dessert! They're vegan and honestly the best brownies whether you're vegan or not :P

Sorry haven't RTFT but please don't do sweet potato curry... The mainstay of the gastropub vegan option.

Depending on her preferences/dietary requirements, I'd say a vegan Wellington (made with mushrooms, aubergine, and chopped nuts), with roast potatoes, asparagus and vegan gravy.

@cherrypie66

Take the time to go to the supermarket and look at the vegan food !

I think it’s best to avoid all the processed vegan supermarket offerings. There are so many delicious options that can be made from fresh, unprocessed ingredients.

Lentil & Mushroom Bolognese (I do the Napolina recipe)

Spinach, Sweet Potato & Chickpea Curry

Honey Chilli Tofu (made with maple syrup instead of honey)

Cashew Mac & Cheese (honestly unreal!)

@Normando91

Lentil & Mushroom Bolognese (I do the Napolina recipe)

Spinach, Sweet Potato & Chickpea Curry

Honey Chilli Tofu (made with maple syrup instead of honey)

Cashew Mac & Cheese (honestly unreal!)

@Normando91 How do you make the cashew mac and cheese?? I've been wanting to make something like that but hesitating as I don't want to end up disappointed.

@mrsm43s You are eating more than a trace of soya if you don't actively police your intake - I'm not doubting your intolerance, but you might want to look at ingredients lists, because it's added to many things where you wouldn't necessarily expect it. (I don't mean things like soy lecithin, which even people with soy allergy can sometimes tolerate.)

To the pp, I imagine anyone with a soya intolerance probably does look at ingredients lists.

I'm intolerant to it and manage to avoid it very easily (although it is a pita). There are lists readily available online of the things like E numbers, mono di glycerides etc. that contain it.

The only time it sneaks in is when I'm eating out but even that is happening less and less as the onus on caterers to know what's in their food is pretty strict now.

@INeedNewShoes the poster said: "I wouldn't eat any meat substitute, but apart from that it doesn't impact on my diet at all, and I eat normally."

So, no. They are not scrutinising ingredients lists; they are avoiding vegan meat substitutes (although actually, there are many without soya these days!). My point is that soya appears in more things than they may realise, and do they might be consuming more than a trace merely through their normal eating.

I really don't think that sharing that info, as someone with a confirmed soya allergy, is problematic in any way!

Accommodating vegan people at a dinner party is a nightmare.

Recently at work, our office did a Bake Off competition, however one worker is vegan and it meant everything we baked HAD to be vegan. It was a total nightmare for the minority. I do wish vegans’ knew the effort we go to in having to learn new techniques and make sacrifices on ingredients to please then.

There are in saying that great recipes for a vegan diet but it just makes things a little more stressful.

Plus, vegans are not saving the planet, nor are plant based diets cruelty free. I work in the countryside and understand this fact.

@CountryGirl17 Every vegan saves 200 animal lives per year, actually.

Vegetarians live on average seven years longer than omnivores, and vegans fifteen years longer.

If you want to learn more about veganism, the film Dominion is a good place to start:

www.dominionmovement.com/watch

[quote Innocenta]@CountryGirl17 Every vegan saves 200 animal lives per year, actually.

Vegetarians live on average seven years longer than omnivores, and vegans fifteen years longer.

If you want to learn more about veganism, the film Dominion is a good place to start:

www.dominionmovement.com/watch
[/quote]
It's not quite as clear cut as that though. The findings do not necessarily mean that it's veganism or vegetarianism that makes the most impact. Most vegans also don't drink, have never smoked, and exercise and are very generally more health aware. Also plenty of omnivores actually do not eat a huge amount of meat, limit it but eat lots of plant based food alongside it. So I don't think it's quite as stark cause/ effect as it immediately appears.

@CountryGirl17

Plus, vegans are not saving the planet, nor are plant based diets cruelty free. I work in the countryside and understand this fact.

In what way are plant based diets cruel? Genuine question, just curious.

I’d steer clear of any fake meat things- many veggies and vegans dislike meat so they can be a fail. Tofu is another that is a bit marmite- I’m vegan and I can’t stand it. Too many bad experiences in the 90s
I’d agree with curry- a nice biryani served with Dahl, chana masala and sides

@rambleonplease
Where/how does alcohol and smoking come into the equation? My understanding was that vegans do not eat animal or use anything containing that or by products

[quote BeachTree]@rambleonplease
Where/how does alcohol and smoking come into the equation? My understanding was that vegans do not eat animal or use anything containing that or by products[/quote]
It's not that they don't drink or smoke because of animal products necessarily but because lots of vegan people tend to make healthier life choices which is why the study that is referred to is flawed, as it can't really be ascertained that the apparent greater longevity experienced by vegans is down to a broad spectrum of healthy choices or purely been vegan.

[quote rambleonplease]@CountryGirl17

Plus, vegans are not saving the planet, nor are plant based diets cruelty free. I work in the countryside and understand this fact.

In what way are plant based diets cruel? Genuine question, just curious. [/quote]
When crops are being grown, pest control measures in place and chemicals used to ensure public health policies are met. This keeps the food we eat safe. Conservation and farming go hand in hand. But in a nut shell, something has lots it’s life to grow food for plant based diets, whether fox, deer, rodents or insects in the UK. Not to mention elsewhere in mass deforestation to make way for farm land, re-routing rivers and waterways - both having negative effects on wildlife - or even farmers being kidnapped and murdered in Mexico for avocados.

something has lots it’s life to grow food for plant based diets

What about everything that loses its life to grow the crops that are fed to animals? Because a vast amount of crops that people assume are destined for terrible heartless vegans are actually destined to sustain cattle... @CountryGirl17

I'm afraid your argument just doesn't hold water.