Relaxed veggie lunch for friends

[wand3rlust]

Just that. There will be 6 adults and several kids (all <5).

No need to be too fancy, and I don't want to be cooking for ages. Realistically all the adults are going to be a bit distracted by their kids, so something easy.

Current thoughts are Ottolenghi's butternut crunch pie as its turned out well before. Plus a salad. But not sure it will appeal to all the kids and therefore what else to serve.

Any other menu ideas? Not fixed on the above at all.

No allergies etc, only other consideration is to avoid fake meat as no ones a fan.

I'd premake a big potato salad and do pizzas for everyone. Roll out the dough onto greaseproof paper and get all the toppings prepped. Turn oven on, prep toppings and shove in oven. Out, slice and on table.

I think the presence of kids changes everything

I’d do a load of vegetarian sausage rolls with chestnuts leeks mushrooms etc - there’s a bbc good food recipe

A really nice green salad

And a cheese board and a fruit board

Thank you, I think you're both right. Cater to the kids! I had been thinking something like pizzas might be the easiest option, will take a look at the sausage roll recipe too.

A big lentil Dahl.

Macaroni cheese, garlic bread and a salad

I'd stick with your original plan and do plenty of crudités for the kids. They could try the pie! But if in doubt, make up a platter of kid friendly sandwiches.

Sandwiches, carrot and cucumber sticks, some cherry tomatoes (if you're feeling fancy, add some mozzarella pearls too) and some crisps and the kids will be happy. Sarnies made up in advance, crudités chopped in advance, couldn't be easier.

Adults get their decent lunch, win win!

I’d do a spanakopita, some potatoes and salad, with some nibbly bits.

@AlisonDonut I've always felt pizza is a disappointing co-out tbh, and kids can be more adventurous than we give them credit for

I totally agree that dc can and should be more adventurous with food but the time to do that imho - speaking as someone whose hosted a lot of dc over the years - is consistently and calmly in your own home with your own dc. Not when dc are not your own and you may not be familiar with their preferences and they are somewhere unfamiliar and are distracted and excited with friends. In those circumstances, I think it’s better to play it safe. Each to their own though!

I like your butternut crunch pie with salad/greens idea. You could always prep the veg rolls - goats cheese, red pepper, onion chutney is a tasty one - and cook in advance, so they can be served cold. Or do quiche (store bought) for the little ones. Along with crudites, and some nice fruit.

I'm sure they can, but I'd do pizza. You can of course make whatever you want.

Massive Greek salad, cous cous, flat breads, halloumi marinated in gyros seasoning and falafels with tzatziki and hummus.

Do the pie and serve with a big bowl of mash potato, vegetable platter and then a bowl of something like veggie sausage rolls. Everyone can just take what they want. Kids will probably end up having sausage roll, mash and an attempt at veg, but could try the pie too.

You could add a bowl of peas too which the kids would likely eat

Smoked tofu fajitas!

Are all the kids veggie? If so I'd probably do falafel, pita, hummus, crudités, green salad, cous cous salad for everyone. If the kids are a mix of veggie and non I'd go for something the non veggie kids might be more familiar with, macaroni cheese, pizza, haloumi etc.
Most Kids tends like things they are familiar with. Yes, I fully recognise that falafel are not unusual and there is no reason that non veggie won't have tried them, but there are more common veggie dishes.

Butternut Squash Curry, with Coconut milk (+ Rice.+ Nan bread.)

Kids don’t normally eat very much when they have their friends around to play with, I’d go for something simple they can nibble on and come back to, would a pasta bake be too boring? Can add in veg/tuna

meant to add a picky lunch is always good, sandwiches, hummus , olives, breads, cheese that type of thing

Either your pie, but with garlic bread a plenty, or a vegetable lasagne with salads.

Pizza.

Pizzas for the kids. Easy for you, most children like them, no prep, no waste, 15 mins in the oven, no cutlery!

How about doing your pie but also doing a load of baked potatoes as a side? You could have a couple of tins of baked beans as well as grated cheese to hand, so that the children can have pie, or a baked potato and a topping. The adults also then have a side to the pie (I recognise pastry plus potato is double carbs - that never bothered me 🤣😆). My other option would be a simple tomato pasta, bread, and a salad but separated into sections of lettuce, peppers, tomatoes etc so parents can pick just the bits their children will like.

I've loved all these suggestions, thank you everyone.

I went for pizzas and salad and some little snacky bits in the end and as suspected we all were running around but the kids were happy and adults fed. And no-one touched the salad 😂.

I'd usually be prepping beforehand but this has been a helpful reminder that it really is just about the company and I don't need to stretch myself when I don't have the time.

Am storing away all the other suggestions as expect this scenario to crop up often.

A vote for pizza from me. I have found them a great way to introduce friends and family to the vegan/vegetarian meat alternatives. Buy or make the bases, lots of sauce and cheese while adding some chunks of vegan chicken and bacon. On some occasions they don't even realise it's vegetarian! You can also add mushroom, sweetcorn ot onion for extra flavour. I always opt for BBQ sauce.