Summer vegetarian entertaining menu?

[anxietytty]

I’ve got friends coming for dinner this weekend. Half are vegetarian and also it’s going to be really hot!

Personally, I don’t like bbqs, but do love eating outside and also love cooking.

Any delicious vegetarian, warm-weather recipe ideas?

Cold thai noodle salad?
vegetarian summer rolls?

I have hundreds of cookery books, but in warm weather often default to several recipes from Delia Smith's Summer Collection, which are regular favourites. I know some foodies can be a bit snobby about her - but I don't care!! I used to invest a lot of time & effort in cooking for dinner parties, but just can't be bothered these days, & these are all simple & lovely.

Personally I wouldn't bother with a starter - maybe have some marinated olives/roasted almonds (good bought or homemade) as nibbles to accompany drinks when people arrive. And do something summery like an elderflower cocktail or spritz as the first drink? And then serve all the mains/sides/salads at once & let people help themselves?

These first two make lovely starters separately or together, if you DO want to do a starter (you'll need bread on the side), but I would just do as part of the main spread, personally:

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/delias-summer-collection/fried-halloumi-cheese-with-lime-and-caper-vinaigrette

For veggies you can swap the anchovies for black olives/capers - https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/delias-summer-collection/piedmont-roasted-peppers

I love this fish dish from her, & make it often - though I use salmon fillets not steaks - no bones! https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/easter/easter-recipes-using-seasonal-ingredients/salmon-steaks-with-avocado-and-creme-fraiche-sauce

And this alongside it - https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/delias-summer-collection/warm-potato-salad-with-lemon-and-chive-vinaigrette

As an alternative cheese dish to the halloumi, this is an ancient & basic Nigel Slater recipe which is done in the oven, so you could cook at the same time as the fish, or after when the salmon is cooling. I pimp it up with thin slices of red onion, & some sliced jarred peppers if I have them - & in summer if my thyme or oregano is flowering I add the flowers & it looks SO pretty! https://wtfdoieattonight.com/2011/07/15/nigel-slaters-baked-feta-with-thyme/

I also love Diana Henry & her summer recipes are always great & uncomplicated. This tomato tart (which I make rectangular not round as it's easier with bought puff pastry blocks!) is delicious -https://eu.palmbeachpost.com/story/entertainment/dining/2017/06/06/recipe-week-fragrant-cheese-filled/7172545007/

Tabbouleh (properly made with scant bulgur & copious parsley) would be another good dish, plus (if you don't do the tomato tart) a tomato & basil salad using all those pretty different colours of tomatoes in the shops now, &/or a simple green salad (I love butterhead lettuce in a classic French vinaigrette).

Favourite & very easy summer desserts include this Nigella one for baked plums with Barbados cream that you make the day before: https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2000/mar/19/life1.lifemagazine4

I also do a baked peach dessert with amaretti & ricotta & honey, but it is such an ancient Nigel Slater one I can't find the recipe online!

Failing that, a monstrously huge bowl of Eton mess is always lovely ...

My go to recommendation here is

Parboil chunks of pumpkin. Slice when they have cooled a bit.

Make an Italian tomato sauce.

Layer in a dish the pumpkin and sauce like lasagne. Dot as you go with chips of bacon, chorizo, good feta for a salt hit, or nothing at all.

Top with breadcrumbs and cheese. Bake at 180C until golden. Serve hot or lukewarm.

Salmon. Bacon. Chorizo. Those famously vegetarian foods. Wonderful.

Vegetarian paella https://realfood.tesco.com/recipes/vegetable-paella.html

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/halloumi-burgers#commentsFeed

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/hummus-flatbread-pizzas-with-roasted-veg

Halloumi and veg on a skewer
Flatbread and loads of dips, hummus etc

Watermelon, Feta and mint salad served really cold.
Waldorf is lovely with pink lady apples and crème fraiche rather than mayo.
Potato salad with loads of chives, mint. Wipe the bowl with half a raw garlic clove before stirring everything together
Baby gem leaves filled with a mix of shredded carrot, chopped red pepper, spring onions, cucumber and a humous dressing served like a wrap.
Potato and red onion tortilla wedges with a tomato salsa.
Pasta with pesto, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped roasted peppers, lemon and olive oil dressing topped fresh basil and toasted pine nuts.

Look at Anna Jones recipes. She has quite a few vegetarian crowd pleasers. Her recipes are always delicious.

Ottolenghi salads are always good for summer.

Ottolenghi is your friend! So is bought pastry. And so is a buffet.

I'd do something a bit different.

Go to your local indian/Asian supermarket. Buy the big blocks of paneer. Buy the chilli sauce, lemon dressing, pickled chillis, mango chutney and anything else that would look and taste great in a kebab.

Marinate some paneer that you've cut into large chunks. Yoghurt, chilli, garam masala, turmeric, coriander and cumin. Or whatever pleases you. You can make raita with any leftover yoghurt.

Shred iceberg, red/white cabbage, onion. Slice tomatoes and cucumber thinly.

Buy the kebab wraps from lidl.

Oven cook the paneer. Assemble the salad (you could do it all in separate serving bowls).

Then everyone can assemble their kebabs in a way that pleases them.

I would do Tzatziki , roasted red pepper hummus, with Pita Chips, a selection of olives, dolmades, Imam Bayildi, Spanakopita, Greek lemon potatoes and a few salads.

I'd do an Ottolenghi mezze type spread too! I think Flavour has some great menu suggestions in the back.

Ooh some delicious ideas here! Thank you so much!!

There are some great ideas on this thread https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/food_and_recipes/5356924-wow-salads?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

not all are vegetarian but many are. I’d also be browsing Ottolenghi for ideas, always yummy