No nut vegetarian main for a teenager

[NotLactoseFree]

I need a vegetarian main course for a teenager who is allergic to nuts.

I will research some good stuffed butternut options as that has worked for me in the past except that last year the one I did had.... nuts in it! So need an alternative option!

I am checking on her willingness to eat mushrooms on the basis that a mushroom pate to start could work.

Any other good ideas? Preferably something I can make/buy in advance so that I can just heat it up at the end.

Sides etc all fine. Thank goodness she's not vegan!

My daughter just eats the sides mainly. I sometimes make a pastry thing with mushroom filling but she is perfectly happy without this

I have made these veggie Christmas pies several times but you'd have to substitute the chestnuts. I've made them in advance and frozen them (defrost overnight).

My teen will generally ask for a quorn roast - I think they are a bit gross but he likes them, we make all the sides veggie and it works fine.

There’s huge amounts of things available just have a browse in the supermarket.

I have been extremely disappointed by the options on the supermarket websites. But will take another look - perhaps abandon any attempt to buy from the "Christmas" menu and just focus on regular vegetarian options.

Ideally, I would like to make her something though. As a rule, I'm happy to offer a vegetarian pre-made option but at Christmas, I just like to put that extra little effort in for vegetarian guests.

Delia’s parsnip roulade is a classic for a reason. It’s rich and delicious and feels special. It can be prepped in advance, and even frozen, and it reheats beautifully. It also works as a side for everyone else. I think it would be fine without hazelnuts and I probably made it without. I don’t even remember them, and I’m not a huge fan so doubt I would have bought them specially for this recipe.

This year I’m making Ottolenghi’s kale and pesto strata for me. It’s best left overnight before cooking so perfect for Christmas Day.

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/spinach-courgette-lasagne I have made this and gone down well a number of times.

I made individual butternut squash Wellingtons for our veggie contingent last year, and made sure I went all out with the vegetable sides too.

I make a vegetable jalousie ( similar to this castlemaclellan.co.uk/recipes/oven-roasted-mushroom-and-vegetable-jalousie/)

Ah ok got you 👍🏻

I usually buy a mushroom wellington from Cook for the family veggies at Christmas. Goes down well.

www.cookfood.net/products/Mushroom-Wellington/

What about chestnuts, can she have chestnuts? Nice and festive.

All nuts or some nuts?

Anna Jones is always my go to for vegetarian food. Some of these are nut free, and others it is only walnut pastry which could easily be swapped for normal shortcrust

https://annajones.co.uk/general/ten-favourite-vegetarian-christmas-centrepieces

New York Times mushroom Wellington recipe is delicious. I made it without the walnuts on New Year’s Day as DSis is allergic - well received all round.

Just don't fall for the whole roasted cauliflower and cabbage thing - they are truly horrible.
I'm vegetarian, coeliac and lactose intolerant which is fun.
I love vegetarian tarts, you can make them look really decorative and fun.
53 Vegetarian tart recipes - delicious. magazine (deliciousmagazine.co.uk)

I've just ordered the mushroom, brie and butternut squash wellington from M&S for my DD. Looks lush, I'll no doubt help her out.

Oo they look lovely.
Chestnuts aren't actually in the same category as 'nuts' are they?
My friend is super nut allergic but can eat chestnuts.

Oh, I didn't know that. We have the added complication of gluten free so I normally buy ready made GF pastry.

Pieminister do some lovely veggie and vegan individual pies. Easy to find in supermarkets
https://pieminister.co.uk/pies/

That’s interesting I’ve never thought about that 👍🏻. Now I can’t stop thinking about the hot roasted chestnuts 🌰 you get often at Christmas markets, mmmmm that smell.

I didn't see this when I was browsing the website. Going to go and search specifically!

Growing up I always just ate sides, there was non of this special 'veggie' stuff 35 years ago.

Now we do do a cheesy pasta instead of Turkey, not sure if people would class that as a 'main'.

Honestly veg is more than enough though.

According to google sweet chestnuts lack the protein that causes both types of nut allergy (ground and tree) reactions.

Its up to you if you want to take that risk though (as someone will allergies I tend to avoid the unknown if it 'could' be risky) but if you do chestnut wreath are nice.

Butternut squash, sage and ricotta wreath made with croissant dough. Bit of Parmesan on top. Gorgeous.

Moroccan spiced pie

Lots of other vegetarian pie recipes online, i think pies work well with the festive sides.

I usually keep sides fairly straight forward with so much else going on, but with a vegetarian guest I'd do something extra like cauliflower cheese (I know some people have this anyway but we don't usually), leeks in cheese sauce, or i like this root mash - tho you'd need to check that they are ok with parmesan. If not use a vegetarian cheese she is happy with.