Catering for a vegetarian?!

[Magenta3]

My brother's gf is a vegetarian. We're having everyone over next weekend for a get together. My family eats a lot of meat and I feel a bit unsure of what to cook her, and if I'm being honest I don't see why we should change our catering for one person.

I asked my brother to bring along some of their own food for her (he eats meat so will be fine, it's literally only for her) and he seemed annoyed at me. He obliged but I could tell he wasn't happy. When we've been to theirs she doesn't cook meat for us so it feels one sided. She jokes she'd probably poison us as she doesn't know how to cook meat but realistically she doesn't want to cook it, so why should we for her?

Not sure why you quoted me. OP wrote a snotty post when she could have just said ‘anyone have any nice, easy vegetarian lunch ideas?’

Easy dal recipe for anyone with a vegan/veggie/gf guest

Gently fry a finely chopped onion, a couple of garlic cloves chopped, 1cm ginger chopped (you can use frozen garlic and ginger to save money) a fresh chilled finely sliced (or use flakes) add heaped tablespoon of medium curry powder and a teaspoon turmeric, add 100g red lentils 600ml boiling water, 1 vegetable stock cube and 50g of creamed coconut (they come as a pack of 4 normally, each us 50g), cook until soft, approx 20 minutes. Add extra liquid if needed. Add chopped coriander or curry leaves at end if desired.

Makes 2-3 full portions or more as a side. Cheap, healthy and a great addition to a meat curry

I would just do a meat curry, a vegetarian curry (spinach/paneer or cauliflower/potatoes), Dahl, rice and some kind of bread (roti, naan, paratha, whatever you like). You'll probably find the meat eaters enjoy the vegetarian curry too.

The thing is, particularly for curry, most Indian dishes are naturally vegetarian. It’s actually YOU who is eating the alternative 😂

Honestly I'd be embarrassed if I couldn't cater for a vegetarian. It's not the 1950s. What are you eating to not be able to do something without meat?

Thank you again for the recipe ideas. Didn't mean to come across like I'm being nasty, it was literally just for one part of the meal and I didn't think it would blow up like this.

I posted because I felt bad after talking to my brother and I should've trusted that feeling instead of consulting here!

Over and out!

Why not make some Dahl ? It will fit in with the rest of the menu and she can have that with rice, or chapatti and some vegetables . Google George Alaghai ( spelling, but it will get you there!) coconut Dahl , it is delicious, and really easy to make. I don’t usually bother with the fresh coconut, just the coconut cream.

Curry is probably one of the easiest veggie meals.

Dahl
Bhajis
Naan
Pilav
Chutneys
Poppadoms

I've been vegetarian most of my life (im.in my 40s). My husband is a carnivore and does the majority of the cooking. It really isn't difficult to cater for both vegetarians and meat eaters- especially these days. When I was a kid, we'd have to go to health food shops for veggie food- supermarkets didn't have dedicated chiller and freezer sections. And I wouldn't be able to cook meat either- not out of objection but lack of skill/ knowledge. It's pretty rude to invite someone to dinner and expect them to bring their own food.

Is it that hard to cook something for her? Veggie lasagna or something?

We don’t eat meat every day, a lot of people don’t anymore, we can’t afford meat every day. It’s not hard to make something without meat in it. I would happily cater for anyone’s needs.

OP, two wrongs don't make a right. Would it really hurt to make something veggie. You could make a really nice ratatouille that everyone could enjoy, or some really nice salads etc.

YABU. Why can't you make some vegetarian food for all of you to have?
You sound VERY old-fashioned in your approach to food. Vegetarianism is not a new or unusual thing in 2023. Get with the times and stop being so silly!

Yabvvu. Inviting someone over and then not including them is crap hosting. ( Unless they are a coeliac vegan with a nut allergy who prefers the safety of bringing their own.
Come on OP it’s not hard to add a single vegetarian option.

Jeez. This attitude is at least 20-30 years out of date, OP. Of course they are pissed off.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/georges_dal_75678

here is it. You can get curry leaves in Sainsbury. I used frozen garlic because I am lazy! I get confused with different sort of lentils so I use Chana dal which are split yellow gram. It freezes really well, but I would be surprised if there was any left over from a family meal.

Obviously she’s not going to cook meat for you.
Shes against it. Imagine if she was a cannibal, for example, would you happily eat human flesh. That’s how it is for her.

If you invite people over for a meal you surely make sure what your cooking is ok for everyone.

Can you not eat the food she/ they cook for you when you visit.

Its really not that difficult to be accepting of peoples beliefs and work around it.
Especially these days with all the ‘easy to stick in the oven’ meals

Sorry, re read the recipe, no fresh coconut, I was thinking of a Rick stein fish recipe where I don’t use fresh coconut.

Mushroom risotto??!!

I'd make a vegetarian meal for once although I'd probably get their help to do it.

There are great veggie ready meals available. It isn't hard to buy one and bung it in the microwave to serve along with whatever you're having, as a bare minimum. You're being unreasonable. God forbid you ever have to cater to someone with halal/kosher/severe allergy-related dietary needs.

Oh ffs only on mumsnet! Of course you’re not feeling unreasonable. She can’t be arsed to cater for you, I wouldn’t want a vegetarian dinner. Not your fault she’s a vegetarian.

Our family is 50/50 veggie and 50/50 carnivore so this is quite a normal situation for us

if making a curry it’s not hard to separate some out and cook it without meat

if it sounds like too much hassle just buy something in.

vegetarianism is hardly new. I fully agree that vegan is harder but she is not. It will be fine.

Wow, what a nasty attitude you have. Making a non meat dish once, really isn't an imposition.

Rude...

Catering for a vegetarian is no big deal.

You can still make pasta, rice, roast veg and if you are making meat and fish, all supermarkets will sell affordable veggie burgers, veggie mince and even veggie version of ''fish'' fingers.

You just sound like you are somehow deciding to be unpleasant on purpose towards your brother and his partner.

If I was in your brother's shoes, I would simply cancel on you as you seem to be working hard to make them feel unwelcome and a burden.

I am a vegetarian and I won't keep meat and fish in my fridge even for guests for ethical reasons.

I am sure you can perfectly survive if the girlfriends cooks you a veggie meal when you visit.

There must be a back story to this because it is bizarre that someone would be so petty...

I'd go NC with your brother until he comes to his senses and finds a nice carnivore girlfriend.

Surely it's usual to have people with a variety of needs at any gathering. Vegetarianism is so mainstream these days I expect at least a couple at any gathering. There's also various food intolerances.
I think meals are best dealt with by a buffet/tapas type approach where everyone can help themselves to things they eat