one vegetarian coming to my dinner party - what shall I cook?

[bushbaby_de]

I'm trying to think of something that I can easily do a meat and non-meat version of as I personally don't think its a proper meal if it doesn't have meat in it so don't want to cook an all-veggie meal but don't want to do something totally different for the veggie - any ideas please? Thanks

[boxtops]

What are you planning for the meaty people? Could you do a curry, something like a biryani, then you could put a meat sauce on for those who do, and roasted vegetables for the veggie?

[DTCwordfan]

(i) are they veggie or vegan (last is a real problem)
(ii) do they eat fish
(iii) I have done two pastas - for example a tagliatelle (macaroni) cheese - making up this up first - then added some sauteed leeks, onions to the mix, and then splitting it into two casseroles , one with bacon sauteed off in the pan after removing the veg. grated cheese on top, maybe some grated breadcrumbs, and cherry toms on both and bingo......can throw one or two herbs like a finely diced thyme or oregano in the veg mix too......and for an adult version some cayenne pepper of if you can get it where you are chipotle....(fab stuff for an adult version)

Serve with a nice huge green salad with home made dressing ( for a difference try adding some maple syrup to your vinegar/herbs/mustard? and finally the olive oil) and bingo

[DTCwordfan]

this is more of a supper dish but, apparently, comfort foods are in vogue this year

[DaisyNonna]

Spicy macaroni, cooked as a job lot. Then split and add chopped crispy bacon for the omnivores and quorn for the vegetarian.

[Maydup]

meat and veg lasagne
warm chicken or halloumi cheese salad
fish pie and cheesy leek pie
meat and veg/butter bean fahitas

[ummmm]

I wouldn't class bacon as a good enough meat for someone who feels that dinner is not 'proper' without meat.

[karenmac60]

You could always go the Frankie Boyle route - 'yes we have a vegetarian option - you can fcuk off!'. As a vegetarian I thought that was hysterical :)

Seriously though - anything you can make with a sauce, sweet and sour, curry etc, you can make up the sauce and add some to meat and some to quorn or tvp or just veg. I often did it the other way round as my ex and I were veggie but his best friend was a true meat eater so I'd just make whatever we were having but add meat to his.

[AlBags]

ummmm ... Meant a whole side of bacon : ) lol

Karen ... I had you down for a meat lover too : ))

[karenmac60]

I'm not so strict these days Al - the odd bit of beef slips through my lips.... ;)

[MarkRae]

Are you being naughty, Karen... ;-)

[bushbaby_de]

Ooh I like the curry idea. I'd much prefer something that appears as though we all have the same thing and doesn't take too much effort for me to do two versions of.

She is veggie not vegan and eats fish - but I don't. One of the others won't eat pasta. What have I let myself in for hey?!

I had thought of fajitas but as there will be six of us, none of my pans are big enough! Also prefer something I can prepare beforehand and just serve when they get here rather than having to cook whilst they are here (which counts out stirfrys etc)

So I think I will go with the curry idea thank you - probably chicken for the majority but what veg would bulk it out well for the veggie? Obviously peppers and onions but what else?

Thanks guys.

[AlBags]

Not with you Mark ... sorry : )

[DTCwordfan]

ummmm if you wish to be a snob, then you would get some panacetta......

[karenmac60]

Me? Naughty? Never!!!! ;)

[DTCwordfan]

forget the advice bushbaby and thanks for wasting my time and others...poor specification there and it doesnt help us.

[sherrardk]

Just watching last Sunday's something for the weekend and they did some savoury stuffed pancakes (could do most of it in advance). You could fill them with all sorts and serve them with green veg or a salad and some nice bread. I am thinking what I could fill them with that everyone here will eat. http://www.bbc.co.uk/...eafood_pancakes_49492

[karenmac60]

Oh, and bushbaby - if it's a curry then go for things like cauliflower and potato. I've had a boiled egg curry before and it was surprisingly good!

[ummmm]

DT - I don't actually like bacon...of any type or quality. Meat in a dish to me would...well something other than bacon :-)

[boxtops]

Gobi allo sag - curried potato with spinach - is delicious. I'd go for that!

[tamborine]

If you choose the curry you could add some hard boiled eggs to the meat curry & just serve the veg-person the eggs instead of meat.