Vegetarian dairy free non-spicy main meal ideas please

[OMGitsnotgood]

We are going to have a friend staying with us for a couple of weeks while they are working in tbe area.
Friend is vegetarian, which isn’t an issue, I am used to making vegetarian meals for guests and adapting for tbe meat eaters.
However, this friend is also dairy free, doesn’t like anything spicy, and dislikes anything runny, so curries, stews and casseroles won’t go down too well.
I am googling for ideas but thought I’d just ask on here incase anyone caters for similar requirements and has some favourite tasty recipes which fit the bill.
We’re also catering some nights for one of our DCs and partner while they are having their kitchen done, so too many most nights for a stir fry although I will make a veggie stir fry one night when there are fewer of us.
Also if anyone knows of a decent dairy free cheese substitute which melts well and tastes okfor making eg pizza or a cheese sauce (made with oat milk/similar) that would be helpful too.

Thank you

That is tricky. I can’t think of a lot other than pasta or risotto or a falafel salad with lots of flatbread. A surprising number of margarines are dairy free for the risotto. Good luck.

Some sort of quorn/veg pie with the pastry made with margerine rather than butter?

I'd suggest looking at vegan recipes. What about a moist nut roast with onion gravy available for those who want it, if your friend regards gravy as runny? Or ye olde nut cutlets, which is essentially the same thing in a different shape.

Herb or mushroom omelette with salad. Omelette cooked in oil rather than butter. If your friend eats eggs, they could be very useful.

Buddha bowls. I really love that kind of thing and the individual components don't have to be spicy. Quite a lot of work to get to the point of having several different components, but once made leftovers are great for lunch.

Hummus, pitta, vegetable sticks and/or salad

Yes, margarine isn’t a problem nor is pastry. I have a vegan friend so can do dairy free but then tbey like things like chilli, curry, and stews.

Baked potatoes with beans and coleslaw for her, different toppings for everyone else?

Use flora buttery and vegan applewood cheese.

Risotto is a good idea.

Check out Anna Jones' website, her recipes are generally easy to adapt to being vegan if they aren't already.

Don't forget good old beans on toast! Or baked beans with vegetarian sausages and baked potatoes/chips/wedges.

I hope your guest is going to take you out for a meal or pay for a takeaway while with you! It's a huge commitment to house and feed someone for a fortnight.

risotto
ramen (or would that be classed as runny?)
jacket potato, salad & bean salad /coleslaw
falafel wraps with salad, hummus, beetroot and wedges
veggie sausages with veg & potatoes
things with tofu!
veggie “fry up” sausages, eggs, beans, hash brown, tomato & mushrooms
pizza, Dr Oetkar do a decent vegan one
does pasta sauce count as runny? Anything with a tomato based sauce if that’s ok.

Why aren’t they cooking their own food as they’re staying for work. I couldn’t be bothered to cook for their specific diet every night for a fortnight.
But for when you do cook I’d just keep it simple with pasta dishes, rice dishes, roasted veggies and stir fries. I’d definitely still eat meat for myself and the rest of the family though. And I wouldn’t be using any dairy substitutes, your guest can contribute items like that.

I actually can’t believe you are cooking daily for this fussy eater who is staying for work purposes

they should be cooking for you for the fortnight as a thank you for letting them stay

don’t be a wet doormat

If they eat eggs what about a Spanish frittata with a nice green salad?

Or Falafels with salad in pita bread? You can use a vegan garlic dressing.

Jackfruit in bbq sauce (like pulled pork) in buns with vegan coleslaw or in jacket potatoes.

Friend needs to be cooking at least twice a week!
Roast mediterranean veg. Serve with couscous and harissa.
Pasta alla norma (aubergine)
Nigella's noodle sesame peanut salad
Anna Jones's orzo, fennel, olives etc

Some ideas....
Vegetarian sausage and olive oil mash or chips.
Pasta prima vera (peas, broad beans, Romanesco cauliflower florets, broccoli florets etc etc)
Spanish omelette or quiche if she eats eggs.
Vegetarian burgers, eg made from black beans or a large whole field mushroom fried Vegetable paella (not creamy like risotto). For a large number, this could be made in the oven like oven baked risotto.

Dairy free is actually not difficult if cooking from scratch as there are decent vegan alternatives in all supermarkets now (vegan butter, vegan cheese). If she’s lactose intolerant rather than avoiding all cows milk then lactose free yogurt and milk is really good. Otherwise oat milk is a good cows milk substitute.

Recipes I like:
veg pasta
quorn sausages, fried potatoes and greens
cottage pie made with vegan spread (vegan butter) and quorn mince
Houmous and wrap / carrots & cucumber to dip
pasta & pesto
chickpea pasta
beans on toast
salads

Why don't you ask them what they normally eat? They may not eat vegan cheese etc or only have oat milk and not soya? Surely they are buying their own, specific dietary foods and not expecting you to host and buy their food? Are they paying rent and you are cooking as part of the deal? I'd be suggesting that THEY cook some meals whilst there.

I'd be making foods where people can choose what they want:
-Fajitas/tacos/nachos can be mild and people can choose lettuce, tomato, cheese/yoghurt (or veggie alternatives), refried beans etc
-Baked potatoes with various toppings
-Frittata or Spanish omelette (tortilla)with salads
-Soup

You can get frozen aloo (potato) parathas from the Asian frozen food section. They just have to be heated with little oil on a pan. You can make burgers with a potato or fake meat patty and veggies.

I would do a roast veg and pesto tart with puff pastry. Most supermarket pastry is made with oil these days.

Roast sweet potato salad with vegetable pakora/onion bahji. Oil and vinegar dressing.

Mixed vegetable/mushroom/leak and potato soup with nice dipping bread.

Veg omelettes

Make your own stuffed pitta bread with a selection of fillings, green salad, hummus, tomato salsa, feta (for the cheese eaters).

Potato wedges with dips, salsa etc

Nachos with (non spicy) dips

Veggie couscous with mixed salads

Dairy free and bacon free (used chopped veg instead) carbonara.

Vegetable egg fried rice.

Gousto have a nice lentil cottage pie recipe, just leave out the cheese on top of the mash.

Roast vegetable kebabs with rice/pasta/pitta bread?

Mediterranean vegetables eg, peppers, aubergines, large tomatoes, stuffed with rice or couscous and baked. Make the stuffing with onions, cooked rice or couscous, mushrooms, leftovers from scooping out the vegetables, chickpeas, leftover green vegetables etc etc. Drizzle with olive oil, and a little passatta before baking. These can be served hot or at room temperature.

Thank you for so many fabulous suggestions. I should have added that whilst friend will eat eggs in things like cake, they don’t like anything that tastes ‘eggy’ so no quiche or omelette unfortunately. But there are so many great ideas on here I think I’ll be ok. I just want to make nice meals that accommodate their requirements as I know tbey can be embarrassed by it when it is making life difficult for others.

Will they eat Quorn or soya mince? That gives loads of other possibilities too.

Jamie Oliver allotment pie (substitute for the milk/butter)
https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/jamie-olivers-allotment-cottage-pie-with-root-veg-porcini-mushrooms-marmite-and-crispy-rosemary/

That's how I am and I think it may well be a sign of an allergy to egg that isn't baked (aversions often are, both my children are egg allergic but one can eat baked egg like I can)

Surely it would make more sense for your friend to do most of the cooking?