Favourite vegetarian meals that are enjoyed by meat eaters too?

[OMGitsnotgood]

When I cater for a mix of guests, I usually make a meat and a veggie version of the same thing (eg curry, tagine, chilli,fajitas) or make a vegetarian main with plates of chicken, meat or fish to go with it for those that want it - for example mushroom risotto or a vegetable paella. Or something like tapas where there is a variety of dishes with plenty to suit everyone.
We are going to have people staying with us for a few days including a vegetarian. We'll be busy so would like to find some vegetarian dishes that the meat eaters would enjoy too without missing the meat or fish, so that I only have to make one dish. For example, the meat eaters in our family enjoy a lasagne I make with a filling of what is essentially home made ratatouille with a can of lentils mixed in.

Mainly looking for everyday family style meals but also something a bit more special for their last night, that the meat eaters will be enjoy without missing the meat.

Thanks

Can't beat it.

A few dinners I've served to meat eating family that they were pleasantly surprised with. I think serving up all the yummy regular sides and add ons helps - makes it less like 'rabbit food' and more like the meals they're used to.

Lentil veggie bolognese with spaghetti, grated cheese, salad/tomatoes and garlic bread.

Quorn sausages with leek and potato mash, steamed broccoli and gravy

Turkish fasulye or Chana masala served with rice and naan bread

I am not vegetarian but I mainly cook most meals vegetarian ie chilli,curry, lasagna ,risotto ,ratatouille…I really don’t miss the meat . It’s so tasty and generally easier to eat/ chew .

We'd have it with fried chicken, or sausages, or sliced gammon, or pulled pork. It's a lovely carby side dish with meat and vegetables.

Cheese fondue 😋

Mac and cheese (my favourite)
veggie or mushroom lasagne

I am a meat eater but I don’t eat meat every day and I wouldn’t mind being served any veggie meal, I like veggie curry and I often have a mushroom stir fry using king oyster mushrooms or wild mushrooms.

Raclette (with potatoes, pickles, grilled peppers and mushrooms, crudités, bread(s), maybe also garlic bread)

Roasted veggie lasagne
Mushroom and paneer Curry with all the sides like bhajis, naan, pilau rice, poppadoms
veggie quiche
vegetable cobbler which I make with mixed veggies and top with cheese scones, it's one of affirmed-carnivore DH's favourite dinners
Beetroot and Red Onion tart tatin with balsamic glaze and goats cheese
pizzas with onion marmalade instead of tomato sauce, blue cheese, walnuts and rocket

Burrito bowls, I’m vege but DH is meat eater. I like burrito bowls as people can pick and mix to create their own. We do halloumi, spicy cheese, rice, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, sour cream, salsa, corn chips etc

We eat meat, but usually only have it once a week and would never eat it for lunch. We cook lots of vegetarian and vegan food too, I never consider it any less of a meal.

We regularly make things like vegetarian bolognase made with lentils, vegetable curry made with coconut milk, stir-fried vegetables with peanuts, garlic and ginger, bean and vegetable casserole.

Other favourites I've made frequently over the years include vegetarian cottage pie made with lentils, leek, butter bean and pasta with cheese sauce, vegetarian burritos filled with spiced kidney beans, chick peas with tomato and smoked paprika sauce.

I can't imagine people who eat meat complaining about anything I make. When DS1 is home from uni in the holidays, he says the best thing about being here is the food. He loves meat but still enjoys our mainly vegetarian and often vegan meals.

If I'm cooking for people, I would make sure I am aware of anything they don't like or have allergies or intolerances to.

But excluding those ingredients, I would allow myself to be creative and think of some vegetarian dishes that everyone could eat. I certainly wouldn't cook two different meals.

Grilled halloumi with sweet chilli

Stuffed peppers

Cauliflower Cheese with garlic bread and green salad

All the meat eaters love the burnt aubergine chilli, it's never failed yet. Saag Paneer or Matar Paneer and a chana masala or dhal are also big successes with the family carnivores.

Spinach and ricotta cannelloni is another one that works - I find mixing the filling and putting it in a piping bag then squeezing it into the tubes is the easiest way to do it.

Risotto with roast butternut squash and/or sweet potato. Maybe a handful of wilted spinach in the risotto, and a drizzle of pesto oil and a sprinkle of roasted pumpkin seeds over the top. Served with a big green salad, with olives, and maybe artichokes, roasted peppers - just any delicious veggie salady bits!

For proper moany meat lovers I often do end up just cooking some meat separately. Eg jacket potatoes with ratatouille, served with a choice of either meat or veggies sausages. Or pasta with a veggie sauce, and some grilled chicken to go on top.

Take a puff pastry ready made rectangle, score a border around it so it looks like a frame. Smear red/ green pesto in the middle of your pastry picture. Add whatever toppings you like as long as they're not too water-filled. Crumbled feta, sun-dried tomatoes, chopped asparagus, blobs of Boursin, olives, pre fried mushrooms... Oven bake for 20-30 mins, sprinkle chopped basil over the top and serve with salad.

Or premade gnocchi. Roasted with a drizzle of olive oil until crunchy, but soft in the middle. Stir through a tomato sauce, swirled with ricotta. Serve with one of those Caesar salad kits or chuck in some spinach when you're adding the sauce.

Extremely useful thread 🙏

Came on to say the same! Just had it tonight. I bloody love it. Do mine in the slow cooker and make sure the chickpeas are decent brand fat ones rather than the measly marbles from a standard can

I am going to have to try the confit chickpea recipe, have seen it suggested on MN so many times. I've googled, is it this one?

I couldn't get your link to work, but here's the one I use.

Vodka pasta with a rocket salad on the side - so easy and so good!

A couple of curries ( mixed vege one and mattar paneer would be my choices) with bought bhajis and samosas

@HiccupHorrendousHaddock the link doesn't work for me either, which is odd as I just copied it as usual. I can't see a link in your post either! This is another attempt at a different link

That's the one. My meat eating husband loves it too. As PP said, use decent chickpeas. The ones in the jars are usually better quality than the tinned ones. Don't stint on the garlic either, even though it sounds like an insane amount!

Ugh chick peas, little bullets of nastiness! That's the one thing I absolutely wouldn't eat!

I'm a meat eater but would be happy with macaroni cheese. I always do a layer of tomato slices on top of mine then top with plenty of mature cheddar, also put some spring onion inside. Stops it tasting too samey. Or a veggie lasagne is good.

The problem with curry is being sure everyone likes curry. And even in my household of 3, spice level is in issue, one likes insanely hot, the other medium, the other mild (like the 3 bears 🐻 😂 ).

I never see chickpeas in jars. Got some from Lidl once and they were so much better than the tinned variety, but have never seen them since there or in any other supermarket. Where do you buy them?

Love ❤️ it

Macaroni cheese