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?

I'd be quite cross! I love traditional dinner and wouldn't want to eat something I wouldn't chose but I would think it would be perfectly reasonable to explain that you have beef dinner but provided they don't have any objections you will just do something suitable for them to eat in addition (I once had friend who objected to eating out if non vegetarians ate meat at the same time). Most of the big supermarkets or (local catering companies) do pre prepared food to order that you could cook in the oven along with your food and serve at the same time. Presumably most of the veg could be shared. Happy Christmas whatever you decide.

The last Christmas we spent with family fuck you covid my mum was hosting. I pre made a mushroom wellington that just needed reheating, took a big pan of Jamie Oliver's braised red cabbage minus the bacon and my mum did a few sprouts separately for me so no pancetta in mine.

I know people say it's just a big Sunday lunch but it's really not. I'm not having my preferences cause the Christmas chef extra work!

@PinkTonic

In China, Thailand, Japan etc meat is never the 'main' event but used sparingly and in conjunction with a range of vegetable based dishes

Actually Chinese hospitality I’ve seen involved honoured guests being served a parade of different animals, roasted and chopped in such a way that they were still clearly recognisable. My step daughters are vegan and found that much of south east Asia doesn’t understand the concept.

@PinkTonic Not quite correct. I'm from South East Asia Chinese ceremonial dishes involve animals - but that's for special occasions, and is a show of wealth for the nobility (who generally ate meat anyway).

South East Asia has a strong tradition of vegetarian cooking - Chinese and Thai/Vietnamese vegetarian is a culinary tradition of its own and there are plenty of restaurants that serve it there.

However a lot of popular Thai dishes such as Tom Yum are not vegetarian and pp is correct. Meat is used to add flavour (e.g. in the broth, fish sauce or as a topping), not as the main event. Unlike in British cuisine. If you go to popular tourists spots it's difficult to 'make things vegan' because you can't remove things from the broth. however things like Pad Thai can easily be made so.

Happy to answer more questions if posed (also sorry OP this isn't really related to the thread)

Also to add I'm an excellent vegetarian cook and do all of these things!
I don't cook 'Western' vegetarian food and don't quite like it. Maybe I need more instruction

Absolutely not rude to ask them to bring food! They must know you’ve already planned and ordered stuff and obviously it’s not vege as you’re not.

TractorAndHeadphones
What are you clashing as "Western"
Do you mean European countries? American?
Theres some ama,ing Greek and Italian veggie food. Lots of really comforting English receipes as well.
I've had parsnips, smoked garlic and feta for lunch and we are having orecchiette, cauliflower and cheese for tea followed by apples pears and rye with ice cream.

I love food!!

@notacooldad

TractorAndHeadphones What are you clashing as "Western" Do you mean European countries? American? Theres some ama,ing Greek and Italian veggie food. Lots of really comforting English receipes as well. I've had parsnips, smoked garlic and feta for lunch and we are having orecchiette, cauliflower and cheese for tea followed by apples pears and rye with ice cream.

I love food!!

Hmm that's a good point. Asian vegetarian is generally soups, curries, stews and stir fries.. What in my head is 'Western' vegetarian is food that's different from the above. Roasted, made into a casserole, or salad etc. Also with vegetables like squash. This isn't accurate and I'm probably mixing up cuisine from different countries. Asians have salad, stews are cross cultural but that's how I categorise them.

The vegetarian food I've eaten so far (cauliflower cheese,halloumi burger, nut roast, mushroom wellingtons, stuffed butternut squash) isn't as nice to me as Asian vegetarian. Pasta and risotto are ok. However I'm always willing to broaden my tastes... and repertoire
You can teach me how to cook

I recommend the River Cottage Veg cookbooks for expanding your vegetarian horizons.

You and them are to good for Bisto ?
😂😂😂😂😂

😂 I saw this innocent-looking Christmas thread had 800+ posts and was intrigued 🤔 it’s hilarious isn’t it? There’s about ten separate arguments going on 😂

Either say no, or host them properly. Asking them to bring their own food would be very rude.

Roasties are just as good (actually better imo) cooked in olive oil. Or you could do mash as well / instead.

Do half your Yorkshires in beef dripping and half in oil or butter. That can't add extra work, surely? It's presumably the same batter?

Nut roasts are usually awful, but you can buy beautiful veggie pies and similar things from m&s or Waitrose and you just need to bung it in the oven. Ditto gravy - just buy a nice ready made one and heat it up.

Nut roast (bought) and some dauphinoise potatoes (bought) plus usual veggies.

I’m veggie and would be happy with the potatoes and the side dishes like cauliflower cheese and all the veg. I’d get them a little tray of cook in the tray roasties from marks and spencer and a veggie gravy from marks too. Sorted

@EdenFlower

Pigs in blankets were never part of a traditional Christmas dinner in my childhood- or anyone else's I knew. Even at school lunch or eating out they have only become mandatory in recent years. We had sausage meat stuffing instead- don't need two different forms of sausagemeat in my opinion.

Sausage or burger shaped vegetables are ok, but pretend bacon is obviously trying to imitate the look and texture of meat. The worst are those vegetarian burgers that actually bleed! Of course meat doesn't't look like an animal- it's chopped up because whole animals are like cows and pigs are huge- but it does look like meat.

Vegetarians like imitation meat for the same reason people like dildos. Looks the same, feels the same, no hearts are broken in the process.

Vegetarians like imitation meat for the same reason people like dildos. Looks the same, feels the same, no hearts are broken in the process.

Looks like you are probably sorted, but in case anyone is looking for inspiration, I made these for my veggie parents for Christmas one year and they were fantastic:
www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/food/2019/nov/25/observer-food-monthly-20-best-christmas-baking-recipes-ravneet-gill-dauphinoise-pies-potato-cheese

I made the Dauphinoise potatoes the day before and then just slices, assembled and baked on Christmas morning. They worked very well - didn't burst or leak even though I don't use puff pastry that often - and tasted really rich and delicious and festive.

I haven’t read the full thread but rice bran oil might suit you for your potato. It has a very high smoke point so crisps up well.

Artisan Grains GF Cashew & Cranberry Nut Roast 200g (Pack of 2) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FDSST10/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_Y57JXY5ST0NNY8KV1WTJ?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

These are really good "instant" nut roasts.. a few years ago I forgot to defrost home made one till too late, so did this one, with a layer of halloumi through the middle and got rave reviews!! I've not bothered making one by hand again!

As hoped, problem solved- rellies offered to bring vegetarian main dish! Yeah! Bring on the Christmas celebrations- it's gonna be a good one- I can feel it!

@User5252727 you win the thread!

Congrats OP, we can close the thread now... or not ;)

@EdenFlower

As hoped, problem solved- rellies offered to bring vegetarian main dish! Yeah! Bring on the Christmas celebrations- it's gonna be a good one- I can feel it!

sorry was replying to this have a wonderful Christmas

I’m veggie and over the years I have got used to bringing my own dishes so as not to put my v meat crazy family out. It’s the polite thing to do.

Now I host my own family for Christmas lunch I make Brussels with pancetta, turkey, roasties with goose fat and I have my own meat free versions. I love my family and don’t want to force my personal beliefs onto them!

I recommend giving them the choice.

@languagelover96 - the guests have offered to bring a vegetarian main dish.

I don't think it's ungrateful to find it rude if people invite you for dinner, and then expect you to bring your own food, or eat something different to everyone else, because you're a bit too weird for them - is it? Personally, I give everyone something everyone could eat together, otherwise it's not a very inclusive event! I don't know why people would want to come to see me if I made them bring their own food, or made them feel on the sideline of the main party. I'd be the same with allergies, or non-drinkers. I thought this was how you treated guests! If you're having a group together, then you're a group together, so you do whatever everyone in the group can do. It's supposed to be about the event, and the group, not the food - isn't it? That's what I've always done when vegans have come to see me, anyway. I'm really surprised at people being expected to bring their own food.