Christmas buffet - veggie suggestions please?

[Chottie]

On Boxing Day Dsis and family are coming to lunch. They are all veggies. I will have cold turkey and gammon for non veggies, plus lots of salads, garlic bread etc for everyone.

I would really like some Christmassy vegetarian suggestions for the menu. I usually end up making a veggie flan and I would really like to make something different this year.

Mushroom and chestnut Wellington.

I'd personally be lazy and just order the vegetarian options from M&S food to order.

Stuffed peppers - use ainsley harriots Moroccan couscous if you want an easy life ;)

Falafel and flat bread - again, shop bought with shop bought tzatziki and salad is fine ;)

Aubergine sliced like a hassle back potato and each slot filled with alternating beef tomato slice and mozerella or smoked cheese. Wrap in foil, bung in oven until cooked.

I love this pilaf which can be eaten hot or cold.

www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/christmas-pilaff/

There are so many suggestions online from Ottolenghi, BBC Good Food, Jamie Oliver and Hugh F-W. It really depends on what you know your vegetarian guests like to eat. I would ask them fur a few suggestions. Some vegetarians don't like aubergines, mushrooms, etc.

Remember also that meat eaters often want a bit of everything so make sure you have enough to go round.

I veggie and always feel short changed by sausages/sausage rolls. If you are doing meaty ones, please do veggie ones too!

Little pastries filled with brie and cranberry

Chestnuts (can you buy them roasted?)

Quiche of some sort (not necessarily Christmassy but nice and not too much of a faff to make)

Same goes for baby new potatoes roasted and filled with sour cream and chives

Red cabbage homemade coleslaw

If you do lots of small additions for the vegetarians there's a chance everyone else will just think they're extras and you may not have enough to go round.

I would make Jamie Oliver's Incredible Nut Roast - it can be made ahead and frozen and is less hassle on the day than several small fiddly things.

Yes to veggie sausage rolls!

Little quiches, in a jam tart tray

Bhajis, samosas and pakora (can often be bought in bulk from restaurants and work out much cheaper and taste better than supermarket ones)

Tbh though, if there's a load of bread and cheese, some salad and coleslaw, posh crisps and veggie sausage rolls, I'm a happy veggie!

Tour veg crisps and nice humous keep mr happy - along with sausage rolls.

Second the stuffed peppers- red and yellow ones with the ainsley Harriot cous cous, grated cheese on top, into the grill to melt- delicious!

Melanzane isn't our veggie go-to dish!!! We make an authentic Italian melanzane which is absolutely delicious... but you have to like aubergines!

Ready roll puff pastry, spread cheese and pesto/spinach/marmite/sun dried tomato etc over, roll up, slice. Easy veggie pinwheels that are always really popular. Mincemeat ones are nicer than mince pies too.

Melanzane isn't our veggie go-to dish!!! We make an authentic Italian melanzane which is absolutely delicious... but you have to like aubergines!

Yes, but what is whimsical

Others got in first but id agree with Felafel, pakora, bhajis. And houmous, olives, sundried tons.

stuffed vine leaves? they're not my favourite but often go down well?

I am now hungry!

I'd love to see mini sausage rolls! With a range of condiments to dip into :D

Oh just one other thing. Is your family veggy for ethical reasons? If so either go easy on the eggy things like quiche or make sure you make it or buy it with free range ones. It's a classic thing to offer veggies and my heart often sinks as I take it as I know someone has gone to the effort and thought to get me something they think I'll eat, but if it's bought from a mainstream supermarket then they normally use battery eggs (m&s, waitrose, co-op and some of the top supermarket ranges are ok).

Deviled eggs, lots of crisps, mini quiche, spicy quorn sausage rolls, hummus, roast veg rice/couscous.

Halloumi and roast veg kebabs.

I'm doing a filo wreath like this but filling with chestnuts, leeks, mushrooms, cranberries and Brie. Makes a really nice centre piece.

Strata is a good thing to make.

You can do cheese and onion (non-sausage) rolls, or sausage rolls (with a link of sausage and a spot of chutney). Tomato isn't too bad in pastry but can be a bit watery.

I really like ye olde pickled onion and cheese on a toothpick. You can do it with just about anything you can skewer. I did "Greek salad ones" - feta, olive and cherry tomato.

Cold nut roast and cranberry is an excellent buffet option!

Carrot sticks and hummus is great all year round.

Linda McCartney sausage rolls are vegan, great served cold as well!

Jus roll pastry topped with cranberry sauce and roasted parsons and carrots with pumpkin seeds has a good 'Christmassy' feel.

Stuffing of course!

All the above are suitable for vegans

Just remember that whatever you do will be treated like a "side dish" by all the meat eaters so make sure you are massively over catering.

Halloumi slices
Breaded garlic mushrooms
Mini bitesize jacket potatos
Fritters made of courgette, mint and feta
Stilton and walnut mini quiches
Slow roast tomatos
Mini corn on the cob
Long slices of aubergine can be griddled then used as a wrap around various fillings secured with a cocktail stick.