Ideas for vegetarian buffet ‘mains’ please

[OMGitsnotgood]

I’m planning a buffet for up to 20 people. Including 3 vegetarians & 1 pescatarian.

One of the vegetarians will eat eggs ‘in things’ like cake but doesn’t like anything that tastes too eggy so no quiche, which is a shame as I then wouldn’t need this thread!

I will make most dishes vegetarian, so far am thinking butternut squash and chickpea salad; roast courgette, aubergine and pepper salad; mixed ‘regular’ salad, pasta salad (adding tuna to one bowl maybe - clearly labelled obviously). Then have a couple of plates of meat dishes eg chicken salad and lovely pork pie from our butchers. I know the vegetarians won’t go hungry but would like ideas for a couple of dishes that replace the meat dishes for them (appreciating I’ll need to make enough for the meat eaters too) Fall back woukd be sausage rolls made with plant based sausages or mushroom Wellington but would like ideas for something more interesting. There’s not a great love of tofu in this group so would avoid that but the vegetarians eat all cheeses. I’ll probably serve a cheeseboard alongside the desserts.

Thank you

https://www.riverford.co.uk/recipes/vegan-sausage-rolls - these are vegan but so delicious

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/may/28/anna-jones-vegetable-tart-recipes - also either of these are great - the first one does have eggs but doesn't taste like it does.

https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/char-grilled-sprouting-broccoli-sweet-tahini
This is lovely served cold too.

What about samosas, pakoras etc.?

Spanakopita

Similar to the vegetable tart above, but fig, feta, honey and thyme.

@thelondona2z wow thank you so much, completely hit the nail on the head thank you and for going to the trouble of posting the links. All look perfect for what I need and I think will all make their way onto the buffet table. Thanks again

Samosas, pakoras, spanakopita and another lovely tart idea - all great ideas, thank you.

Feta and olive skewers
Greek beans
falafel

Another one for spanakopita. My friend makes a version that only has pastry on the top so it’s easier to make. But I also think the options you are planning sound good. Sounds like a fab buffet.

Honestly my veggie husband would be happy with a selection of quorn picnic bits. Sausages rolls etc. They even have vegan pork pies in supermarkets now. Cheese board?

My go to that I put up here is

parboil chunks of pumpkin. Allow to cool a bit and slice.

Make your favourite Italian tomato sauce.

Layer the pumpkin in a lasagne dish with the sauce. I scatter crumbled Greek feta for odd salt hits. Bacon works, too.

Top with cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake until golden.

Filling, forgiving and keeps well.

A Mumsnetter made it once and came back to say how much they liked it. I was so chuffed.

Nigella’s anglicised involtini- delicious and you can make them way ahead and just cook them on the day.

Delia's veggie sausage rolls are fab. So much nicer than Quorn stuff. Everyone I know who had them loves them.

What about fajiatas?

All the sides are the same- wraps, lettuce, peppers, onions, refried beans, salsa, savoury rice etc

Then I'd do a beef chilli or chicken strips cooked in fajita mix and also a veggie chilli and/or halloumi option.

Definitely don’t serve quorn unless you know they like it - of the people I know that tried it roughly a third had horrible tummy trouble after it, a lot of people can’t digest it at all.

Are they the ones with breadcrumbs, cheese and onions as the filling? Or something like that, from her Christmas Book? I used to make them, but had forgotten about them. Thanks for the reminder.

I always recommend this. Looks good, tastes great, not particularly difficult, time-consuming or expensive to make. Can be served warm or cold. Keeps well.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jun/09/meera-sodha-recipe-tomato-pistachio-saffron-tart-vegan

Thank you all for more lovely suggestions.

This looks amazing!

I always do the Anna Jones tomatoe tart when I have my vegan sister over, but it takes bloody ages!

That’s your husband though and what he likes

I don’t like the taste or texture of meat so don’t eat “imitation” meat like quorn etc either.

for a buffet and a mix of guests better to stick with non meat/fake meat dishes.

Middle Eastern is always good, as is Indian. Decent bread and butter is useful.

there’s always good old baked potatoes too.

and always remember the non-veggies will also eat the veggie stuff so you need more than you think!

Yes I make most dishes vegetarian, enough for everyone. Just felt I was missing something vegetarian that wasn’t essentially a side dish, although the ‘salads’ will be fairly substantial. Am thinking tarts made with sheets of bought puff pastry will bridge that gap, less prep and effort!
thanks all

Apologies for basing my reply on my own opinions and experiences and not yours.

Caramelised onion with goats cheese topping tart.

Waldorf salad with flaked smoked trout or smoked mackerel fillets added is something a bit different for the fish eaters. Add some horseradish sauce for a spike of flavour. Looks appealing with the colours of the apples, celery, black grapes etc.

As a veggie I'd be well happy with that!

I tend to prefer it when people do "normal" veggie food that most people will eat including non veggie. I call it accidentally veggie. Things like pasta salad, potato salads , cheese straws etc are great.

Some people get really caught up in it so will buy things like quorn ham, fake meats etc to make me a sandwich, when I'm perfectly happy with egg mayo, cheese etc that can be shared with the wider groups

Same with things like sausage rolls in general id prefer things like cheese and onion rolls etc rather than veggie specific ones

I love fake meat, and am eternally grateful at the thought people put in but sometimes it's a lot of pressure. Its not uncommon as veggie to go to a something like this for example and discover some kind person has bought you a pack of mini sausages, a pack of pork pies, a pack of sausage rolls etc and multiple sandwich fillings that only you will eat. It somehow ends up feeling like your horrendously ungrateful then if you don't like one of them or don't polish off all of it