Big family vegetarian lunch

[mindutopia]

We have family coming to lunch next week. Including us, there will be 8 adults, plus 6 children, and most of them are vegetarian. To complicate things, we don't even have enough table space/chairs for a sit down meal, so it's going to have to be a bit of a standing up meal (we didn't actually invite this many people - they sort of all piled in and invited themselves, hence how a quick visit has turned into a big family meal, but never mind). I was thinking about doing: #

selection of quiches (store bought)
roast potatoes
hummus
selection of (vegetarian) cheeses
olives
crusty bread and butter
salad - what sort? - plus will have tomatoes, cucumber slices, etc. esp for kids

Any ideas for a pudding that is easy and doesn't require a plate/dish? I was thinking about doing ice cream cones for the kids and then adults can help themselves too. We don't even have 14 bowls so can't think of anything else to serve them all!

Bite size Brownies Or Flapjacks
Cupcakes
Gu deserts or something similar that is shop bought and comes in a dish!

Also for salad I'd make life easy for myself and do a simple Greek salad with tomatoes cucumber red onion feta and olives.

In these situations I find that the fewer different dishes the better. It's also all a bit beige and sad.

Would one main dish that can be served and eaten with just a fork be better? E.g. a primavera risotto and then some bread on the side?

you could broaden out quiches into quiche, veggie sausage rolls and veggie tarts, all shop bought. i wouldn't do roast potatoes as you have bread already. perhaps add in a dip such as a salsa, rather than just hummus. i'd do loads of veggie sticks rather than a dressed salad. and a big fruit salad for pud, together with ice cream cones as you suggested. pps ifea of brownie bites or similar also great for kids.

Would be a lot easier and cheaper to do a bit vat of something - like veggie chilli or a veggie curry? Something than can be eaten with a fork only if people are going to be standing. You can make them more interesting with sides - corn chips, cheese, salaa, guacamole for the chilli and chutneys, raita etc for the curry?

ice cream cones is a great idea, as are brownies as can be eaten one handed and don’t need bowls. If you wanted something a little fancier you could do individual puddings in plastic cups or in gu ramekins if you’re a hoarder of them like me!

I think maybe veg sausage rolls/tart might be an option. I think the issue is that most of the children (except mine) are in the 1-3 age range - so while a chilli or a curry sounds simpler, doing a big pot of something that will please older (non-veg) grandparents, the vegetarian parents, and picky toddlers is probably more of a challenge, hence the finger food sized picky bits - potatoes, bread, hummus, veg that isn't necessarily mixed in with a salad. That's mostly for the kids and the fussy eaters.

I also have a diabetic thrown in there who only eats low carb. 😩The quiche and salad is mostly for her because that's a food we know she'll eat.

Ooh, I might think about cupcakes though, that's a good idea!

I agree with pp - I'd do a big pan of chilli with crusty bread (easier than rice) plus bowls of cheese, guacamole, tomato salsa.

Fussy kids could have bread, cheese, crudités and veggie sausage rolls.

Brownies, ice cream and fruit for pud.

With your roast potatoes- make sure you make them bite sized! Crispy roasties would be difficult to eat with fork alone. Or roast those little miniature salad potatoes.
Or sack off roast potatoes (which although delicious will need your attention while your guests are with you) and make a good potato salad.
Homemade coleslaw always goes down well and will prevent it all from being a bit dry.
A beany Mexican salad with plenty of mixed peppers, red onion and coriander will add more colour.

Shop bought quiches aren’t low carb.

Have you asked your guest what they’d like? I’m vegetarian but due to a medical condition have to avoid high fat foods.

For 14 people including young children, I’d do a jacket potatoes bar - 14 spuds with a range of toppings you know they’d like e.g cheese, a big pan of beans chilli, plus a bowel of salad

bowel of salad

🤢

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/1165/lakeland-good-with-everything-herb-sea-salt-300g

Potato wedges - par boil wedges of skin on Maris Piper or whole baby potaties , You can do this in advance.
Roast in a flat tray with some oil and a good sprinkle of this herb salt .
Bloody lush

Also instead of quiche you could do pastry free -line with parchment paper and cook . Like a thick omlette

They are if they're crustless. Quite widely available nowadays. Effectively a baked Spanish omelette.

I love baked potatoes but they're not easy to eat standing up, especially if people are juggling plate, cutlery and glass/beaker.

My only word of advice is that if this awful dreary weather continues it would be nice to have some warm or hot food in the mix. The quiches could have that role. I like to bake them and then leave to cool for a bit before eating, as they're nicer warm than piping hot.

Good luck!

I think your list plus a few other nice bits that pp have suggested is fine.
I’d maybe add some of the tapas type things that you can get in places like Sainsbury’s and Aldi. Artichoke hearts, those big beans etc.
If I were a guest I wouldn’t want vegetarian chilli as the only option. I’m sick to death of veggie chilli being offered in restaurants as the only vegetarian option. It’s replaced veggie lasagne as the vegetarian option, and both are everyday meals that I make myself all the time.

Veggie lasagne
Massive salad 😅
Garlic bread

Ice cream cones and sprinkles

"If I were a guest I wouldn’t want vegetarian chilli as the only option. I’m sick to death of veggie chilli being offered in restaurants as the only vegetarian option. It’s replaced veggie lasagne as the vegetarian option, and both are everyday meals that I make myself all the time."

Tough shit, they invited themselves 🤣

You say most of these guests are vegetarian but not all? I'm a meat eater and wouldn't be very happy only being offered veggie meals. Just as DH who is a vegetarian, wouldn't be very happy if there were no vegetarian options. We offer our guest a choice of meat and veggie options.

I'd do new potatoes, not roast with quiches. Also MUCH easier.
And a load of ice lollies or magnum things for pudding on a stick, no no bowl required.

It's family and they invited themselves, so keep it simple!

How strict are the vegetarians with their diets ?
Loads of cheese (not all) is vegan , but if they eat eggs do they mind that many are now barn not Free Range due to the restrictions with Bird Flu ?

Carrot salad with crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, sesame oil, chili and garlic, tossed up

I certainly wouldnt do a veg risotto, unless a shit load of parmesan in it and made with chicken stock, otherwise totally bland.

Pizza, salad, garlic bread. Most people like pizza!

Really? I'm not sure it would even register with me that there were was no meat. Most people are omnivores, not carnivores. Not providing a veggie option means vegetarians have nothing to eat. Only providing vegetarian options should mean everybody has something to eat.

"Carrot salad with crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, sesame oil, chili and garlic, tossed up"

They won't come back 🤣

Not if it means veggie Frankenfoods, like the suggested sausage rolls. And tbh it all sounds rather lacking in actual veg as well as proteins. I'm a plant-based omnivore - happy to do without meat but only if I get plenty of lentils or beans, and also always eggs.

If you didn't invite all of them, are you happy with catering for them all?