Dinner Party to accommodate vegan

[GloGirl]

I'm expecting around 10 people for a dinner party, 1 vegan, 1 vegetarian, 8 meat eaters.

Any ideas of a menu that will work for everyone and one lazy chef? Ideally not indian/Thai

Middle Eastern/Greek starter - olives, stuffed vine leaves, pita, hummus

Or mexican mezze with beans, avacado dishes and salad.

Bean casserole...big pot of..chorizo cooked separately to add to the meat eaters if you want it...salad bread and humus..

How about this Moroccan veg and chickpea tagine, serve with jewelled cous cous (cous cous with herbs and pomegranate seeds) and flatbreads.

Or a mixed bean chilli with tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa, rice and sour cream fo4 non vegan guests.

What kind of food do you like? I have some excellent Thai/Indian suggestions but I see those aren't what you want. What would you be doing without the vegan there? Mexican? Italian? etc.

How formal is it ? Does it need to be fancy and impressive or is one-pot meal with friends type of thing ok ?

Leon Hippy Farm Beans - raved over by carnivores as well.

simplycooked.blogspot.co.uk/2009/08/hippy-farm-beans.html?m=1

Mexican is a great shout. Just fill the table and each person can choose.

Middle Eastern is a good bet - you can cheat and buy lots of the mezzo items.

You could do fajitas- everyone picks their own filling and you can have lots of choice. Serve with chips and salad.

I do a tasty pine nut, rocket and butternut squash salad - can have Parmesan and parma ham for the meat eaters. Butternut squash is roasted with cumin and chilli flakes.

Some sort of roasted veg and cous cous job? Like delia’s one but with feta on the side instead of mixed through perhaps?

Could you do a big roast - eg chicken for the meat eaters and a nutroast for the other 2. Then same veg for all.

Or could you decide your theme and ask the vegan to bring a main dish? I am strict vegetarian and hated causing my friends extra work. I would always be really happy to help out.

There's a great porcini and tomato risotto in the River Cafe green book - really savoury. Some good ideas in Ottolenghi's Plenty or take a look at Isa Chandra's recipes online.

Wild mushrooms and aubergine (separately) are generally good for strong savoury flavours using vegetables.

Risotto for that number could be tricky though, I'd favour something that could go in the oven. plus a fresh element - could be salad for prior prep.

I'd definitely make the same thing for everyone. Could have an optional meat 'addition' but if you use enough flavours in some interesting dishes, you wouldn't need to.