cheapest vegetarian alternative to chicken

[panfries]

Anyone talented at hosting on a budget?

I'm cooking for 38 people. I need a protein to go with sides. For meat eaters I am doing chicken thighs. What can I do for vegetarians? Falafel is too expensive. It also needs to be easy to make. Stick in the oven preferably

Make more vegetarian food than you think you need because the carnivores will probably want some too.

If the vege items are quite light (eg courgette fritters), they won't be as filling as chicken.

It sounds a decent spread.

Because all the things listed are just food for everyone and humans are omnivores not carnivores, so of course they're going to eat bread, falafels, salad, hummus and quiche. They're not just going to eat a piece of chicken.

Can you share your recipe? It sounds just what I am looking for
Thanks

🙄

Why the eyes? People often forget that when catering parties. Many times I have seen meat eaters with plates piled high with meat and all the vegetarian sides, and when I have gone to get myself a plate there's barely anything left.

Nut Roast. Make it in a sandwich tin so it can be sliced for serving

@SethAndReubenTooSendGaloshes, I was rolling my eyes at the quoted post. I don't normally use the term 'vegetarian food' as it implies some special food, but in this case I used it to mean 'what the vegetarians are having instead of the chicken'.

I've been to buffets and barbecues where the vegetarian items were snaffled by the meat eaters, or were not filling enough. I've been to a work do where someone had counted the number of people who were to have the meat-free option and provided that number. The Muslim, Jewish and vegetarians went without because the first ones in the queue took the meat and meat-free options.

Why is falafel too expensive?? It’s tins of chickpeas with spices?!!

Or a bag of dried chickpeas and spices.
If you buy them ready-made they are expensive.

Easy Authentic Falafel Recipe: Step-by-Step | The Mediterranean Dish

It isn't an official recipe I follow
I eyeball it.
.I make it in my slow cooker.

So two onions chopped and a couple of crushed garlic cloves.
Saute until soft.
Then I add 3 to 4 tins of beans ( I usually do two of kidney beans, one butter and one black eyed) a cup of well rinsed red lentils..
One tin of chopped tomatoes (you could probably do two but I don't like too much tomato)
A really decent squeeze of tomato puree.
I swill the tomato can with water and add that too. Usually two thirds.

Now my spice mix
Is usually a couple of tablespoons of smoked paprika.
Couple of tablespoons of cumin
Maybe one of dried coriander
Half a teaspoon of cinnamon
Half a teaspoon of oregano
Chilli powder to taste. We like it hot.
I also do maybe half a teaspoon of coffee or cocoa
And I personally add two chopped red chillies.

Salt and pepper to season

Now the spice mix really is eyeballing for me and I think it is really what your family prefers..

Sometimes I add a little water. Depending on how it looks.

If I have peppers I add those at the onion and garlic stage.

Serve with rice, nachos and guacamole.

My DD prefers this to a meat version and I am the only veggie in the house.

I don't add much liquid really (drain the beans) as do in the slow cooker so less is needed.

I put mine on overnight for about 5 hours low and it keeps it warm until we are ready (it is an instant pot)

That looks delicious!
Thank you!

Thanks @NC543210 .

For others, I'd go easy on the spices - I'd halve the cumin as I find it overpowering, but the others look ok. I like a lot of hot chilli.

With spices, you need to know what amounts suits you.

I'll be trying the recipe for sure. It sounds easy and delicious.

With this meal plan, I’d go for halloumi. Maybe as a tray bake with roast veg and Harrissa or as veggie kebabs if making them up isn’t too much hassle.

Veg kebabs with halloumi will appeal to many but are probably more expensive than home-made falafels.

That's a really good point. I do think home-made falafels are quite hard to get right, though (although maybe that's just down to my own bad falafel cooking - I can master the texture!!)

Veg kebabs are great aren't they but courgettes, peppers, aubergines and halloumi are expensive compared to dried chickpeas. (I'm hankering for some now )

A traybake is probably easiest and least faff. What is there that is falafel-ish but baked in a tray?

The Leon sweet potato falafel are baked in a tray I think. Fairly straightforward to make from what I remember but it’s been a while since I made them.

Lentils are great and easy to cook in bulk

@YourGreyOtter , do you have any recipes that would go with the rest of the meal?

i could pre prep home made falafel. I have time the week before and can freeze. I never thought of that

I found Indian recipes online using spices - so tasty. I normally add some veg to the lentils - carrots celery etc cut into small pieces and serve with rice. Can make a lot and keep in fridge for a few days as well

Sweetcorn fritters, basically tinned sweetcorn mixed in to a pancake batter (obviously you will need to swap in something that isn't egg) dollop in to an oiled prying pan and cook like pancakes

Aduki burgers.

Tinned aduki beans, mash half of the beans and then use the mashed and unmashed to form 'burgers' or balls. Before you do that add some seasoning, you can make them plain or quite spicy. Bake in the oven.

Very cheap and popular with both vegis and omnivores, stuffing balls.

I use the Jack Monroe recipe for falafel - you can scale it up, use only dried herbs / spices if you have then (but good if you can stretch to some cheap fresh coriander - even the stalks). Basically carrots, onions & tinned chickpeas (should be able to get these at 3 for £1).

Otherwise I make veggie Wellington using finely chopped carrots/ onions/ celery, even cabbage. Plus little bit of marmite or nutritional Yeast and chopped nuts - peanuts will suffice - and a little grated cheese as filling.

I'm not a fan of JM but Quick and delicious budget recipes: Chickpea, carrot & coriander falafels - IMO