Vegetarians invited themselves for Christmas- got beef ordered!

[EdenFlower]

So, my vegetarian relatives and asked if they can join us for Christmas? I have it planned- joint of beef on order, I've perfected my roast potatoes and like them cooked in beef dripping, likewise the yorkshire pudding, my sprout recipe is cooked with pancetta, starter is parma ham and figs...and so on! Grrr! Now everything will need to adapted to be veggie because I'm not doing two versions of everything. It was already adapted to be gluten free for MIL but now two more special diet guests is a push.

Would it be rude to ask them to bring their own veggie options with them- nut roast and vegetarian gravy or whatever it is they eat?

@WhereYouLeftIt Ohh, I'm going to my local market tomorrow and will try to get the ingredients for that loaf, it looks delicious!

I've found that avocado oil is quite nice instead of generic vegetable/rapeseed oil. It's also got a very high smoke point so safe for long/slow/high temp cooking.

All this talk of roasting potatoes in olive oil is bonkers. It has a lower burning point than a typical vegetable oil and heating it to a temperature sufficient to brown the potatoes changes it to an oil that isn't particularly good for you.
By all means use it for low temperature frying, but it's better added after the high temperature part of the cooking - on sprouts or root vegetables.
If the OP's guests are the reasonable people they appear to be I imagine they'd be happy with side dishes and the onion tart that somebody suggested. I've cooked a nice varied stir fry for vegetarians in the past, adding cashews and marinated Quorn if they like it.

I makes these roast potatoes all the time, and always get asked for the recipe. They’re made with olive oil and something like rice bran, so veggie friendly. Follow the easy tips and they come out perfect.

Best roast potatoes ever

I think I might use sunflower oil mixed with a bit of olive oil- or maybe there is something else out there that's even better?

if vegetarians invited them selves i would just shove a quorn pie in the oven and serve with mash .Keep it simple if the main is not .Keep it easy and stress free .Even with the main at christmas i cut corners keep stress to a minimum

Why ruin your lovely Christmas Dinner you have planned (it sounds great) to change it for 2 people who invited themselves? I'd be making what I have planned, a tasty meat feast or bring your own, I'm sure they could microwave a nut roast and some carrots.

I’m surprised at the dislike for olive oil roasties. I’ve always done mine like that and they get rave reviews.

Yes, the potatoes will be in a really hot oven because the yorkies will be in there at the same time- so maybe will stick to sunflower oil...

These chickpea and feta parcels are delicious and look very festive! Easy to put together as well. www.lovefood.com/recipes/59776/jamie-olivers-modern-greek-salad-with-spinach-chickpea-and-feta-parcels-recipe

@PurpleDaisies, ok
I'd not bother eating the wellington because I'm not keen on pastry and beetroot is ok only in small doses.

I generally eat only one meal a day, Christmas day included, so it needs to be balanced

I generally eat only one meal a day, Christmas day included, so it needs to be balanced

You can’t relax what you eat on Christmas Day?
The dreaded nut roast would be better for more protein, or veggie sausages.

[quote ILoveShula]@PurpleDaisies, ok
I'd not bother eating the wellington because I'm not keen on pastry and beetroot is ok only in small doses.

I generally eat only one meal a day, Christmas day included, so it needs to be balanced[/quote]
What do you usually eat on Christmas Day?

(May have missed it)

Cook are offering a vegetarian Christmas meal for about £20, sounds lke a plan!

Google says olive oil is best for roast potatoes! Not sure the smoke point thing is that relevant- beef dripping appears to have a lowish smoke point?

What’s more important. Good will to all people or food cooked in a particular way?

Just a thought

I've only ever made and eaten nut roast once, but it was bloody delicious, both hot and cold. It was the Allegra McAvedy recipe. I sliced and froze the leftovers and took it out a slice at a time and ate it for lunch, heated in the oven then left to cool down a bit. It was lush.

What’s more important. Good will to all people or food cooked in a particular way?

I’m gonna say good will to all animals. 🌱

@angela99999

All this talk of roasting potatoes in olive oil is bonkers. It has a lower burning point than a typical vegetable oil and heating it to a temperature sufficient to brown the potatoes changes it to an oil that isn't particularly good for you. By all means use it for low temperature frying, but it's better added after the high temperature part of the cooking - on sprouts or root vegetables. If the OP's guests are the reasonable people they appear to be I imagine they'd be happy with side dishes and the onion tart that somebody suggested. I've cooked a nice varied stir fry for vegetarians in the past, adding cashews and marinated Quorn if they like it.

The smoke point is surely completely irrelevant when you’re roasting and not frying.

I'd try to chill out to be honest.
Think of it as being about the people. You said you'll be glad to have them there. Hospitality is about being welcoming.
Yes to buying a pre-made veggie thing that can go in the oven. There are some fab ones available now. Yes to being welcoming. Yes to serving some veggies with the oven ready main part of meal.

If you'd like them to bring something (and I'm sure they will volunteer at some point) then do. If it helps, tell them the menu you have planned and ask them which bits they can't eat or would need adapting and see if they can bring some adaptions and you could find a couple of dishes you could adapt or take some out of before meat goes in.

Dont see this as a massive big deal. Look forward to seeing them.

Why would I want to? I don't mind nut roast depending on what's in it, veggie sausage etc

If I was hosting, it would be something like roast potatoes and roasted root veg, vege stuffing,nut roast, vege sausages, and a few boiled veg.

There seems to be some mindset that all vegetarians love goat's cheese, butternut squash, beetroot and mushroosm

There seems to be some mindset that all vegetarians love goat's cheese, butternut squash, beetroot and mushroosm

No, nobody has the first clue what you might like, so they guess, do their best, and end up getting told ‘yuck’.

@EdenFlower

Google says olive oil is best for roast potatoes! Not sure the smoke point thing is that relevant- beef dripping appears to have a lowish smoke point?

I do my roast potatoes in olive oil. I add a bit of turmeric to the hot oil which gives them a lovely golden colour.

People have said over and over that not all vegetarians like the same thing. There an element of putting up with whatever your host gives you unless you offer to bring your own or tell them you dislike certain things. To some extent that’s the same for meat eaters too.

You can only really control what you’re eating if you’re cooking.

How about saying 'Christmas is such a special meal but I am not confident that I could cook a really special veggie dish... I know you are a fabulous cook so would you be happy to bring your own to reheat here'