Vegetarian friend over for dinner at the weekend

[ReeReeR]

I have friends over for dinner on Saturday. One of them is vegetarian and I am not sure what to make.

If the weather is good we will put the bbq on but no guarantees there.

When we go out for dinner she often orders a number of sides rather than a main.

Based on things she orders at restaurants or had at home, I think she likes:

Salad (with lots of balsamic vinegar)
Corn on the cob 🌽
Green veggies like broccoli 🥦
Hummus
Crudités like carrot and pepper sticks
Olives

I don’t think she likes pizza.

So currently all I can think of is to do a selection of things like crudités, olives, corn and salad for her but I feel there is no main event. This is how she seems to eat in a restaurant though. For us who eat meat I was thinking of doing chicken satay and maybe burgers and sausages if we put the bbq on.

Any suggestions welcome 🙂

[CassianAndor]

if she eats cheese then halloumi on the BBQ (or grill).

I would ask her, and ask her to be honest and clear.

[NewMum54321]

Nandos do really nice veggie burgers.

I think the main key to catering for a vegetarian is working out if they're OK with meat substitutes or not. If she is, then quorn sausages and chicken burgers are generally pretty acceptable (IMO). Sometimes people buy me veggie burgers that are made of things like beetroot and chickpeas and sweet potato and some of them are bloody vile. I'd actually prefer to eat the meat substitutes.

[NewMum54321]

As a vegetarian the thing that annoys me the most is when all the sides have some sort of meat in them (like potato salad with bacon or a salad covered in ceasar dressing) so you're probably into a winner if you do plenty of veg friendly sides.

[Bumbags]

Just buy a couple of veggie things from the supermarket to stick on the bbq.

Salads
Bread
Dessert

[ReeReeR]

Thanks everyone. These are some fantastic ideas.

Yes I think veggie sides that everyone can eat is a good idea and then I’ll do some chicken, halloumi, veg skewers and maybe sausages and veggie sausages depending on what she says.

I don’t want to have to do LOADS of dishes because I have no idea what she likes and then it’d probably go to waste. I’d rather she told me.

I haven’t seen her eat meat substitutes.

I have given her a list of about five things and said do you like x, y, z?

[JoJoSM2]

That sounds very nice, OP. I’d be grateful.

[MrsRedFly]

This is a filling halloumi salad - www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2394/summer-couscous-salad
I change the veg to red onion, peppers & sweet potato & roast then in oven!

[viques]

What were you planning on serving for the meat eaters? Maybe we can work out some complementary vegetarian dishes.


PS the problem with bbqs is that most people cook the veggie food in the same place as the meat, so it becomes meaty veggie which isn't very nice, or appetising if you don't eat meat.

[ReeReeR]

@viques I would cook the meat thing and the veg things away from each other (it is a big bbq) and there will only be about 4 of us. And only then if she is ok with that.

chicken satay skewers
burgers
sausages

Halloumi skewers
veg skewers (peppers, onion, maybe mushroom)
Corn on the cob

Veggie sausages if she likes them

All veg sides -
Noodle salad
Mixed salad
Parmesan and rocket salad
Olives
Crisps / crackers / bread etc
Coleslaw
Maybe potatoes
Hummus

Marshmallow

Some kind of pudding / cake

[Simkin]

Aubergines are versatile. Google Ottolenghi aubergine recipes. Otherwise aubergine roasted with miso sauce and olive oil is delicious and I feel like thar would barbecue deliciously if the slice were thick enough.

[Simkin]

I mean your menu looks delicious, I'd be round..

[viques]

i would cook the meat things and vegetarian things away from each other

Thankyou for being thoughtful, not everyone is ("oh the heat of the BBQ will burn off any meat" !!!).

Your menu sounds lovely.

[LazyFace]

I like your menu. She sounds like me: being fed up of carb heavy veggie food when eating out.

[cricketmum84]

@ReeReeR just a note that Parmesan isn't vegetarian as it has to contain rennet due to EU regulations.

If you can get a generic "hard Italian cheese" and check for the vegetarian symbol that would be much better for your veggie friend than proper Parmesan :)

[ReeReeR]

Thanks for reminding me @cricketmum84

[Loyaultemelie]

If the weather is good you are elected! Halloumi, mushroom and courgette skewers, baby potatoes par boiled then wrapped in tin foil with butter and garlic, corn on the cob, stuffed portobello mushrooms, asparagus (3 or 4 on a skewer) Just dedicate on section of the Bbq for veggie so no cross contamination.

If weather is bad maybe a goats cheese and broad bean risotto, or root veg bake with some salad and sides?

[Confusedbeetle]

BBC Good food recipes

[ruddynorah]

I'm veggie and I love nandos! If she isn't eating their halloumi and giant mushrooms nor their bean burgers or soy burgers then I wouldn't be doing those on the BBQ.

[ReeReeR]

I'm veggie and I love nandos! If she isn't eating their halloumi and giant mushrooms nor their bean burgers or soy burgers then I wouldn't be doing those on the BBQ

That’s a good point to halloumi. I’m not sure she does eat that but others might. I sent her a text earlier so I’ll see what she says.

I didn’t realise Nando’s did mushrooms

I think part of it is she tries to avoid what she sees as unhealthy food like bread, pasta, pizza, cheese

Not sure if she would like goats cheese. I don’t.

Maybe a mushroom risotto. But again I have never witnessed her order risotto or pasta when we’ve had Italian

[stucknoue]

Vegetable kebabs on skewers work well, and for the meat eaters too. Another quick and easy is a square of puff pastry, brush on olive oil, then passata, then thinly sliced peppers, mushrooms, courgette, sprinkle with chopped basil and bake for 10 mins or until golden, if she eats dairy top with shaved Parmesan or goats cheese for the last minute

[ReeReeR]

I still don’t know about the cheeses

I texted her saying I know she likes salad, crudités, hummus, corn etc

And asked does she like: halloumi, veggie skewers, Quorn, pasta, nachos, potato...

She replied saying she is easy. I said well no I want to know what she’ll actually eat and she replied saying veg, corn and crudites is good - so I don’t think she eats any of the other things!

I feel like she doesn’t have a main but then I’m not making things that u don’t think she’ll eat

[ReeReeR]

But she eats like that in restaurants too so maybe it’s fine...

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

I eat like your friend and have an Ed. I often offer to take dishes as I know they will be safe. I wonder if this os a form of restriction.
If you want her to be comfortable just provide the bits she’s she said and then your sides listed above for everyone. It can be really difficult if you are in a situation where you feel obliged to eat things you are uncomfortable with because people have put a lot of effort into dishes especially for you.

[ReeReeR]

It has occurred to me she has an ED or quite severely restricts her diet for fear of putting on weight. I have noticed that she had been “on a diet” before and that seems to be her not eating.

I will make sure there are the bits she asked for that she will eat and if she wants some of the other stuff she can.

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

That sounds great. I think when you have an Ed food when socialising becomes such a big issue you can end up missing out. If she does have Ed things like serving dressings on the side can help relieve stress. You sound like a really considerate friend.