Special lunch: vegetarian recipe ideas? Ottolenghi?

[bewleysisters]

Looking for inspiration. Friend has left work and I'm cooking a special Sunday lunch to mark the occasion. Needs to be veggie. If the sun is shining we'll eat outdoors. Have been thinking about eastern mediterranean/Ottolenghi-type things? Thanks in advance.

This is absolutely lovely - you can feel yourself getting healthier as you eat it, and not in a boring worthy way - the mix of flavours is great. It also looks really nice as a centrepiece on the table.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/apr/12/foodanddrink.recipe

Oh and although it's for two, it's easy enough to double up or quadruple up or whatever - it's veggie, so it doesn't take any longer too cook. You do need a big frying-pan/paella pan if you're going to do so though, obviously.

That looks great Cruikshank - what would you have along side it?

I've only ever had nice bread (you know, something like the Mediterranean bread that you get in Tescos) but if there's a few of you maybe a couple of different types of bread like that eg olive bread as well, and then some nice (veggie) anti-pasta type things - sundried tomatoes, that sort of thing I think would work. Btw although that recipe says it's for two I've found it's actually easily enough for three.

:) I've just been recommending that paella, it's delicious, had it twice this week. Try fried Halloumi with it, we did ours in a grill pan. Does she eat seafood? If so some nice big prawns on top or squid. The recipe is enough for two on its own or four if serving something alongside.

Oh, fried halloumi would work really well. Do that, OP, definitely (and in fact I will next time I cook it) - cheers, Pantah630.

The lentil tacos on sprouted kitchen are AMAZING (promise)

Thanks all - that is one fab paella recipe: looked spectacular and was enjoyed by all, including kids. There had been a run on halloumi by the time I hit the supermarket. So I stayed with Ottolenghi and did the stuffed tomatoes (with fetta and sourdough) from yesterday's Guardian, plus a green salad. Experimental apricot and walnut crumble for pud.

glad you liked it