Any vegetarians about able to give their opinion?

[SharkiraSharkira]

I'm trying to plan a menu that includes some veggie options for a christmas meal and really need some help as most of the time the options for veggies/vegans are some kind of nut roast, maybe mushroom risotto and that's about it!

In order to try something more interesting, I've come up with a few ideas - would any veggies/vegans out there be happy with these?

To start:
Cheese straws with red pepper dip (could be made cheese-less or with vegan cheese for vegans)
Rosemary, olive and goats cheese bruschetta (can be made with tomato instead of cheese for vegans)
Mushroom and tarragon pate (vegan)

Mains:
Veggie wellington (can be made vegan)
Squash, spinach and chickpea filo pie (vegan)
Butternut and sweet potato dauphinois (could be made with vegan cheese, or cheese less for vegans?)

Desserts:
Mincemeat crumble pies (mini ones with veggie pastry)
Lemon, prosecco and elderflower sorbet

Any thoughts?

I have one question...

Please can I come for dinner?

It sounds great, you've put a lot of thought into that. No idea about working with vegan cheese, but for a vegetarian sick of nut roast, it sounds great.

We often have a stuffed squash for veggie main at Christmas - something pumpkin shaped, precook filling a bit then roast the whole thing. It's a mixture of wild rice/bread crumbs/cheese/nuts/veg. I'm not currently veggie but I always have some if there's enough left!

I assume you won't be putting suet in your mincemeat!

That all sounds fab to me,I'm vegetarian not vegan and you're going to more effort than I so for myself for Christmas (the rest of them all eat meat so would be just for me!). The only suggestion I'd make is maybe do the roast potatoes (if doing them for meat eaters) maybe do them/some not in goose fat so the veggie likes roasting they can still have them. I love roast potatoes but have been caught out before not being able to have any as they were done in meat fat. Though I never had as much of a spread as you're doing so probably wouldn't be an issue!

I think my only problem would be which one to choose!
All sounds very lovely and carefully thought out.

Oh and I'd go for the bruschetta and veggie Wellington,just my personal taste though. It all sounds delicious.

I'm not a veggie myself but I have veggie friends and I do like a lot of veggie food!

We're trying to sort out a christmas party for work and its quite depressing that 99% of places only have nut roast as an option..what if you have a nut allergy and are veggie? You're screwed!

I've not had great experiences with vegan cheese so far but I'm willing to try and find a decent one or a nice alternative.

Don't forget that mincemeat isn't veggie.

You can get veggie suet. It's the only one I use as it's lower fat.

Looks good! You can get vegetarian suet and yes, definitely make sure the vegetarians get roast potatoes and gravy if they want them.

Make your own mincemeat. It's easy!

Yum. I'd make sure to remember that vegetarians like roast potatoes and gravy too!

Most mincemeat in jars is made with "vegetable suet" rather than the real thing, as far as I've noticed. (I always read ingredients labels carefully due to gluten and dairy intolerance)

I was planning to do roasties in olive oil/something similar so suitable for vegans and veggies to go with the main, maybe with something like roast parsnips/carrots or a celeriac mash? I wanted to do creamy mustard leeks too but then it won't be suitable for vegans, I can't imagine coconut cream will taste the same....its a minefield!

And no, no suet in the mincemeat! I prefer it without anyway, I usually make my own so I can add apricots, dates & cranberries and leave out the gross mixed peel [vomit emoticon]

Mushroom and sherry sauce with the mains.

Sounds delicious.

Soy cream in the creamy leeks! Yum.

Wow,you must be an amazing cook ,to be able to make all that..what lucky guests...I like the idea of a mincemeat ice cream..vegan mincemeat stirred in to Swedish glacé ice cream..I might try to make it

As a vegetarian I would expect at least the option on a nut roast in the same way that non-veg would expect a roast option. Also hate filo pie, that doesn't feel like real food to me. The bruschetta sounds really good but wouldn't ever go for the cheese stick dip thing. Def glad that you are not doing risotto though-I am so sick of it.

I don't know if they've got anything online but i always use Demuths recipes. They used to have a restaurant in Bath which was sold but they kept the cookery school on. Rachel Demuth was the main person and her Christmas recipes are lovely. Fancy and a lot of process though!

Tesco vegan chesse is the best, vegan Red Leicester slices absolutely delicious

I'd want something like a thyme roasted beetroot and feta tart to start.

Then a celeriac and Jerusalem artichoke gratin with veggie sides (all of them)

And a chocolate and chestnut yule log for dessert.

Sounds yummy :)

Rapeseed oil better than olive oil for roasties.

Oh wow. yes please to all of it!

I've done mash and sauces etc with soya milk before now, so that's an option for vegans.

Your friends are very lucky OP.

I’m vegan and this sounds great! I don’t particularly like nut roast and it definitely isn’t something I’d consider a special occasion meal so I think your ideas are great. I’m not sure if I’d go for the Wellington or the filo pie as even hypothetically I can’t decide