Catering for vegetarians at large party

[SevenKingsMustDie]

DH is turning 40 this summer and we are having a party in the garden (as long is the weather is ok!).

We DO NOT want to be tied down to a BBQ and not be able to mingle, so I am buying a heap of bread rolls, and making slow cooked beef, pulled chicken and pulled pork for people to fill the rolls, with sauces and 'naice' salads.

Am looking for suggestions for a veggie alternative - needs to be ok being kept warm in a chafing dish for a while...

TIA for your ideas!

I would make this Butternut squash curry & leave it in the slow cooker on low (ask friends if you can borrow one if you don't have one). I usually make it on the hob but 5-6 hours in a slow cooker works too (again on low setting). Dc1(14) always takes the left overs to school in her food flask, along with a roll then puts it in as a filling.

No offence, but that’s a stupid idea. If everyone else is having bbq style food, why on earth do I get a curry? It’s also a complete faff to eat - you need bowls and spoons etc, and you’ll have to do rice or an appropriate side.

People don't fall neatly into meat eaters and vegetarians. I'm an omnivore and so are most people. If I went to an event where there was only meat on offer, I'd eat it, but if presented with a more varied selection of food, I'd like to try all of it. This is why there should be plenty of food that doesn't contain meat or fish. It's only a problem for meat eaters to eat some of that if there was only a tiny amount of it to start with.

Everyone else isn't having bbq style food though, OP is cooking slow cooked beef and pulled chicken/pork to be served with bread rolls. Plenty of people eat/serve curry with bread sides (not my first side of choice, but I wouldn't call it a stupid idea)

@ohthejoys21 just to inform you - Parmesan is not vegetarian. It is made with animal rennet.

Yes need clarity, is it something to serve in rolls that you want? I’m a veggie who’d also not be keen on jackfruit. Something like these look tasty and easy and would keep warmed well.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeaB8BDh/

Bakewellbride you are 100% right my apologies, it should be vegetarian Parmesan which is sold.

Maybe the bbq should be mostly vegetarian with just a few meat & fish options.

I’m veggie who hates rocket unless it’s cooked so I’m always happier if there are choices without it.

I’m a lifelong veggie. I really don’t enjoy meat substitutes but would be happy with halloumi, quiche or pasta salad.

Along with salads, we tend to do baked dishes.
Melanzane parmigiana,
Spinach and ricotta cannelloni,
Pesto kale, lentil & burrata lasagna,
Shallot or beetroot tarte tatin
Macaroni cheese
Quiches
Jerk/ tikka halloumi or paneer & veg kebabs

I substitute the Waitrose vegetarian hard cheese for Parmesan.

Seriously? It's 2024. How can you have no idea how to cater for vegetarians? Halloumi, veggie burgers etc. Or, you know, actually ask people what they like.

Thanks all - sorry for not getting back to this thread...busy few days!

Those of you who understood my OP, thank you! It's ideas for things to fill rolls I'm after, not quiche, curry etc, though those are good ideas for other times.

And thanks for the unnecessary nasty comment @SqueakyDinosaur 🙄. It's not that I have 'no idea', I'm just asking for some suggestions...

I'm going to go with large pieces of roasted veg with feta, and plenty for everyone!

So mushrooms in sauce then, not pork 😂

@ohthejoys21 oh my apologies, I didn't realise that was even a thing! x

I’d do veggie sausages and halloumi. Bear in mind lots of other non-vegetarians will probably eat this though! Especially hallouni! So make a lot.

Jackfruit could be an option (I don't like it personally though) or you could use the Linda McCartney fake pulled duck which is actually quite nice!

Put out some cheese as another option for rolls.

Do 'nice' salads - not just lettuce and tomato - maybe do some couscous with feta or something.

If you want to stop meat eaters from eating all the veggie options, just label them 'Vegetarian option' and put them on another part of the table, and make sure you tell your veggie friends first that the food is out and to go and help themselves, before you tell everyone else.

You could also put out some 'Beyond burgers' and/ or veggie sausages. They are less likely to get eaten by the carnivores if there's meat on offer.

Bakewelbride it's a thing but not as tasty as the real thing!

Or, to repeat what I said above, recognise that vegetarians aren't the only people who enjoy eating things that aren't meat, and provide plenty of them. You won't have any trouble keeping the vegetarians away from the meat options.

Good luck serving curry in a bread roll….

You’ve clearly never been served mushroom risotto for the umpteenth time whilst everyone else gets a roast dinner with all the sides!

This. 'Vegetarian food' is not special weirdy food attractive only to vegetarians, it's normal food that everyone eats so it's ludicrous to expect people who eat meat to not have any.

I know you've chosen now OP, but something else that would fit your brief would be pav bhaji, which is an Indian recipe that is basically vegetable curry served with bread rolls. You could even put chick peas or paneer in the curry to avoid any accusations of depriving people of protein.

Loads of recipes online, for example https://www.cookwithmanali.com/pav-bhaji/

Quiche - super easy to make the day before and really tasty 😋

Make a few though as meat eaters will eat it too

Ask people what they like?

Isn't that exactly what OP is doing? 🤦‍♀️🤣

peppers stuffed with rice and vegetables always a winner

maybe with cheese

Lots of vegetarians hate mushrooms so I would opt for a simpler suggestion like samosas, cheeses or salads