Veggie alternative?

[Solasum]

I'm having a few friends over tomorrow, and we are having

sausages, himmel & erde, red cabbage and onion gravy.

Followed by apple crumble and custard.

Can anyone think of a veggie main that will go with the accompaniments, but is not veggie sausages, which I know the guest dislikes?

Also something very quick and easy that people can nibble on when they arrive. I am pregnant, so no pates, etc.

Thank you!

Had to look up himmel and erde, would a nut roast work?

Could you do a dip or two perhaps with tortilla chips or crudités for nibbles?

I believe nigella Lawson has a recipe for an onion tart - bit like an onion tarte tatin. What's hummel & erde?!

As for nibbly things - if you're anywhere near a Waitrose, they sell fennel taralli - they're italian bread rings, very very moreish & perfect with a glass on wine

Don't do nut roast! Sorry but I was a veggie for 8 years & the idea of nut roast would have made me heave!

Waitrose do lovely mushroom and chestnut burgers in the frozen section. dtd2 really likes them, and they are our default setting when everyone else has a chop/burger etc.

Some veggie sausages are better than others. The Linda McCartney ones we tried were foul, but the Cauldron ones were lovely.

Also some shops do Glamorgan sausages which are made of potato and onion rather than protein type stuff.

forgetfulmog I love nut roast, I guess it's a bit like Marmite!

Himmel und erde is basically mashed potato and apple, topped with caramelized onions. Really recommend it! Mmm.

Thank you for the suggestions so far. Mushroom and chestnut sounds good. I love onion tart, but it might be a bit much onion with the other things too?

Himmel and erde sounds gorgeous, can I have the recipe?

How about a big Yorkshire pud to fill with the onion gravy? Delicious.

Yorkshire pudding is an inspired idea, thank you!

As to Himmel und erde recipe, it is prob not 'authentic' German recipe, but:

Boil potato chunks until tender, then mash with butter (and a pinch of nutmeg if desired).

Meanwhile for the apple element either chop apples into small chunks and put in with the potatoes to boil
OR
make apple sauce separately by putting apple chunks in a saucepan with a tiny bit of sugar and tablespoon of water/lemon juice, cover until turned to mush.

Mix together potato and apple mixtures.

Cut up onion very small and fry in oil with a pinch of brown sugar until fully caramelized. (We like lots of onion, so do one medium-sized per person)

Either serve immediately, topped with the onion (plus crispy bacon if you like, in which case it is excellent on its own), or put the potato mix into a buttered ovenproof dish, top liberally with onion, then reheat in a medium oven when needed (maybe cover with foil if the onion starts to get too dark).

It is lovely with roast pork etc.

I'd feel a bit 'done' with a plain Yorkie but I'd love it if you roasted some chunks of onion, pepper, maybe squash, possibly courgette and then cooked them in the Yorkie batter, like a toad in the hole. Some rosemary or thyme would be nice in that mix too.

Otherwise, and if they are mushroom likers, a big mushroom stuffed with garlic, breadcrumbs, cheese and roasted.