Amazingly Tasty Vegetarian Recipes Needed ...

[MissWooWoo]

... that can be prepared beforehand and whacked in the oven or whizzed together in a relatively short space of time. I have guests coming but not sure what time they'll be arriving.

I am trying to avoid "cold" (hummus/salad etc) and "the usual" (veg shep pie/tomato pasta)

Any ideas? they're big eaters and anything goes, except animals obviously

There's an Olive recipe that was something like gnocchi, pesto and mascarpone with spinach. You cooked the gnocchi, added some cooked spinach (think I added uncooked as couldn't be bothered...but squeeze it out if you pre-cook it I'd think) then dolloped over splodges of mascarpone and pesto. Think it might also have had mozzarella splodged over and then grated parmesan - then bake in the oven 200C for 20-25min. You could maybe add some fried mushrooms to make it a bit more substantial. And serve with a nice garlic bread and some salad. Could easily be prepared ahead of time and then whacked in the oven when your guests are there. I have the actual recipe somewhere if you're interested.

I've also done a recipe (must have it somewhere) that was a kind of mushroom and stilton wellington. Very easy though. For each portion get 2 big Portabello mushrooms and drizzle oilve oil (or smear in butter) and pop in oven for about 15min at 180C until its pretty much cooked through. Then
sandwich two mushrooms together with some stilton (probably dry the mushrooms a bit with kitchen paper first). Get some ready rolled puff pastry and cut into 2 rounds slightly larger than your mushrooms. Then plonk mushrooms between two bits of puff pastry and press down to seal the edges. Brush the top with some beaten egg and bung in oven for probably 25-30min at 200C. Bit more faff....but actually a lot more simple than I've made it sound.

One of my favourites is a bean casserole from the Good Food 101 Best Veggie Recipes.

Cut up three courgettes into chunks and fry in olive oil until brown. Add two tins of flagolet beans (or you can use haricot beans, and I usually add a small tin of butter beans too), about a carton and half of passata and pitted black olives. Cook for 20 mins.

Then put into casserole dish, put slices of garlic bread on top and grill.

It's very delicious - the olives add a lovely flavour. You can easily cook the bean mixture in advance then just add the garlic bread before serving.

You can add some salad or green veg if you feel the need.

Oooh goodness gnocchi - I'm not sure I have the skill for that. Love the sound of the mushrooms but am off stilton at the mo.

Bean casserole sounds very good - do you think cheese topped garlic bread would work? does the bread not go "soggy"?

I've got a great recipe for italian tuna "meatballs" - it's a Jamie Oliver one, it says to make them and leave in fridge for up to an hour before cooking them in the sauce - do you think they would be ok to sit in the fridge for, say, 4 hours?

veg risotto
chop all the vegetables (I usually add a pepper and some posh mushrooms as well and use dried mushrooms so the soak water becomes the stock iyswim) it is lovely, serve with salad

sorry I meant chop all the vegetables in advance so all you're doing at the time is adding the wine, stock and rice

Lol...I just bought the gnocchi - didn't make it myself - cook in salted water and ready in about 3-5 mins - you know they're cooked when they float to the surface!

really zam? never knew they were so easy to cook! I shall put it on my short list

I had a very bad risotto experience back in 2002 when I was going through an experimental phase ...let's just say it involved coconut milk and was very very scary. I'm now afeared of making it! must must get over it though as love a good risotto - not brave enough for a risotto comeback in the company of friends.

the gnocci recipe It is delicious! I used mozzerella instead.

Yes...that's the one!

No, the bread doesn't go soggy.
I usually do my own garlic bread so cut a baguette into slices, spread with garlic butter and put under the grill until toasted. So the bread is only on the casserole until toasted, no time to get soggy. It does soak up a bit of juice, but that just makes it yummier, IMHO.

I know it doesn't look like much, but it is a very tasty recipe.

Gnocchi are brilliant too though. We always have a packet in the cupboard as they are so quick and easy to cook. We normally have with tomato sauce but they are easy to "posh up".

I've done something similar with a saucy chicken bake with garlic bread on top and it wasn't soggy at all.

this is nice I made it for tea tonight. great with a big green salad, and looks v. impressive like an onion tarte tatin (sp?)

MissWooWoo I'm sure the tuna meatballs would be fine in the fridge for 4 hours, but don't they have tuna in them? Aren't they vegetarians?

Dh makes gnocchi bake which is lovely and v filling.

Stuffed peppers?

Puff pastry tart with varius veg and cheese?

mexican style lasagne, with tortillas instead of the actual lasagne sheets?

curry?

Tagine?

Veg frittata?

Veg. Chilli always gets greeted with cheers of joy in our house:

Tins of toms;
Tins of kidney beans;
Tomato puree;
Chopped up peppers;
Chopped up courgettes;
Sweetcorn/green beans/any other veg.;
Load of chilli powder;
Bit of chocolate.

Stir up and cook until yummy. Add sour cream and lots of grated cheese.

So simple, yet everyone's favourite.

Second the rec for the BBC 101 veggie dishes book it's ace! Aubergine parmesan always good slice 2-3 aubergine and roast in a bit of oil and seasoning until golden, fry some onion and garlic and add three cans of toms and cook for 15 mins. Then layer the sliced aubergine with the tomarto mixture and crumbled mozzarella and grated Parmesan top with more Parmesan and bake for 15 mins.

Add basil as well forgot to mention that

a really good cheese and veg tart eg spinach and gruyere or leek and stilton. Make beforehand then warm through when ready to eat.

If they are big eaters serve with crusty bread/potatoes and salad or veg.

petisa well, not strictly vegetarian as they have recently started eating fish (!) but I don't want to complicate things further as I'm not great at cooking fish (although could manage the tuna meatballs) besides which I fancy the challenge of a no flesh supper

I was actually a vegetarian myself for 8 years, yes! 8 years but decided it was no longer for me 10 years ago and quite frankly I cannot remember what I used to eat ... I think potatoes and cheese were heavily involved. How . Think really I have just lost confidence in that area.

so many yummy things on here - cannot decided! think I will pick a few, get the ingredients and see how I feel on the day. Could have a vegetarian week, just like the old days but without the beer and fags

If they eat fish I do a variation on a very easy Jamie O dish.

Lightly oil a an ovenproof dish, put some smoked haddock in it, add cherry tomatoes and a sliced avocado (probably 2 for 4 people...and best firm so just ripe or slightly under). Dollop over a small tub of creme fraiche (half-fat is fine). Drizzle some white wine. Grate a good amount of cheddar over the top, season with pepper and bake for 35min at 180-200C. Sounds a bit funky with cooked avo but it is really, really tasty. Jamie does it with a non-smoked fish too...which obviously works too.

I only asked in case you went to all the trouble only to find they didn't eat fish! There are some lovely ideas here that I want to steal. Sorry was not much use in contributing anything! (Not the best cook at anything apart from veg chilli type all in one pot stuff)

right, back from shopping and got everything I need for the gnocci thing but have realised that I only bought one packet (surely not enough for 4 tubby on the go parents?)

Also what is this talk of gnocci "in the cupboard" I could only find it in the fresh section ...

might do a veg curry for sat and that way it can be reheated and eaten whenever