Small dinner party ideas

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We have a couple of friends coming for dinner on a busy Saturday. One of them is vegetarian, and I'd like to cook something quick and easy that can be served as a proper vegetarian meal or with meat/fish for the rest of us.

Really stuck for ideas, what would you cook?

Mushroom Wellington at this time of year!

thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/the-ottolenghi-test-kitchen-sweet-spiced-mushroom-and-rice-pilaf/

This is brilliant as a main or a side dish. Serve with some yoghurt or tzatziki.

Pies? Something like beef and onion for the meat eaters and then a vegi pie, serve all the same veg. Maybe a honity pie for your veg friend.

Maybe a quiche?

Use premade, pre rolled pastry. I usually do short crust on the bottom and puff on the top. You can also use filo on top and make a 'tangle' pie.

Or Cornish pasties, just leave the meat out of one.

I have a raclette which is easy as you just prep everything and people cook their own food.

If it is a co small party it would be more welcoming for everyone to eat the same.Curries work very well eg a cauli and potato curry or an aubergine curry, dal, raita, veg side dish , popadoms, pickles , flat breads or rice.
Alternatively a Middle Eastern spread Ottolenghi style.
Or a filo topped pie eg with a leek and mushroom filling.
Vegetarian lasagne
My DC like a vegetable stew with cheesy dumplings that I think they found on BBC website.

Roast cauliflower tagine https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/roasted-cauliflower-tagine.html

This ottolenghi recipe is delicious, pretty easy and a show stopper. Serve with some ottolenghi style wintery salads, you can have one with meat is the meat eaters would be offended at the lack of meat (I’m a veggie so don’t think you need it). You can do some dips (homemade of shop bought), nice bread, olive oil and balsamic, crisps and crudités for starter. Then leave these out to go with the main course. Can all be prepared in advance.

I think if I was looking for something quick and easy. I'd probably do fajitas, I'd do them traybake style with one tray halloumi and veg and one tray of chicken.

Serve with pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, cowboy caviar, pickled jalepeno and tortilla chips. Not fancy food but perfect for something quick and casual with friends. Corona and lime or margaritas optional 😉.

Aubergine parmigiana served with saffron risotto, you could add some grilled lamb chops for the meat eaters if you thought it necessary.

Another idea is a vegetable paella, delicious as a stand alone dish. You could keep the Spanish theme going with a selection of vegetable tapas to start, garlic mushrooms, grilled artichokes, Padron peppers, cherry tomatoes stuffed with cheese etc etc, and an orange and almond cake for pudding.

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/leek-and-lentil-gratin/

This is really easy, will suit everyone, and is delicious.