Help needed with veggie-friendly roast dinners
Discussion
Right, I'm used to cooking roast dinners for quite a few people, an old tradition in first year of uni, one of 3 flats would cook one for everyone, and when it came to our flat's go, it was just me doing it, but nonetheless when we did a charity "Come dine with me" weekend, I won. Now, one of the people there was vegetarian, but wasn't fussy about not having a substitute for meat, as long as the roast potatoes weren't done with goose fat (done with olive oil instead), and there was vegetable or onion gravy on offer, and she could have more veg. Quite the happy customer.
A couple of years later though and I'm a bit stuck. Friend of OH is coming over for Sunday dinner, and she's veggie, and apparently a bit more fussy than just having more veg on her plate rather than meat. So, what can I substitute the meat with? I'm not bothered how difficult it could be, as I mentioned I've done roast dinners for 30 people before without a hitch, and that included a completely scratch made brownie dessert. But I'm just stuck for ideas of what I can do for a veggie roast, other than just pile on more veg, use olive oil instead of goose fat for potatoes, and offer veg or onion gravy. Gordon Ramsay isn't much help given his views on vegetarians (is that story about kicking Cheryl Cole out of his restaurant because she asked for a veggie dish true?), and normally I'd agree, but apparently if I take his stance, I'll be "crying into the duvet with one sock for company". So, what do you guys recommend?
A couple of years later though and I'm a bit stuck. Friend of OH is coming over for Sunday dinner, and she's veggie, and apparently a bit more fussy than just having more veg on her plate rather than meat. So, what can I substitute the meat with? I'm not bothered how difficult it could be, as I mentioned I've done roast dinners for 30 people before without a hitch, and that included a completely scratch made brownie dessert. But I'm just stuck for ideas of what I can do for a veggie roast, other than just pile on more veg, use olive oil instead of goose fat for potatoes, and offer veg or onion gravy. Gordon Ramsay isn't much help given his views on vegetarians (is that story about kicking Cheryl Cole out of his restaurant because she asked for a veggie dish true?), and normally I'd agree, but apparently if I take his stance, I'll be "crying into the duvet with one sock for company". So, what do you guys recommend?
Simpo Two said:
DanB7290 said:
Friend of OH is coming over for Sunday dinner, and she's veggie...
....apparently if I take his stance, I'll be "crying into the duvet with one sock for company". So, what do you guys recommend?
Recommend your OH does it.....apparently if I take his stance, I'll be "crying into the duvet with one sock for company". So, what do you guys recommend?
Perfect time of year to do something with one of the many varieties of squash out at the moment. Perhaps hollow out a small one and stuff with a savoury rice concoction before baking.
My 'get out of jail' veggie option is to make a mushroom pie using lots of different types of mushrooms, white wine, tarragon, garlic and cream. Easy to make ahead and put into a ceramic bowl, then pop a puff pastry lid on shove in the oven 20 mins before you want to serve it. If you want to make it an inclusive thing, then mushroom pithivier tends to go down equally well with the carnivores.
Alternatively, give her some beef and tell her it has only ever eaten grass, so it is technically made from veggie friendly ingredients.
My 'get out of jail' veggie option is to make a mushroom pie using lots of different types of mushrooms, white wine, tarragon, garlic and cream. Easy to make ahead and put into a ceramic bowl, then pop a puff pastry lid on shove in the oven 20 mins before you want to serve it. If you want to make it an inclusive thing, then mushroom pithivier tends to go down equally well with the carnivores.
Alternatively, give her some beef and tell her it has only ever eaten grass, so it is technically made from veggie friendly ingredients.
Our friend is veggie, and as long as you make her some vegetable gravy and plenty of various vegetables and good yorkshire puddings she is really happy.
Accepts that she is the odd one out in a group of carnivores, and is happy to have correctly prepared vegetables.
On the subject of olive oil and roast potatoes, do you not find they struggle to brown properly in olive oil? Have tried both, but veg oil just seems to give a better finish.
Accepts that she is the odd one out in a group of carnivores, and is happy to have correctly prepared vegetables.
On the subject of olive oil and roast potatoes, do you not find they struggle to brown properly in olive oil? Have tried both, but veg oil just seems to give a better finish.
Glamorgan sausages go well with the traditional trimmings of a roast. Infact, we often eat them with roast potatoes/ mash, gravy and yorkshire puddings at home. (Family and I are vegetarian). As a bonus, Asda do a pretty nice frozen version of them but they aren't that difficult to make either.
The other option would be do something like a portobello mushroom and perhaps set it in a puff pastry case after roasting with plenty of butter and garlic. Though imo this goes less well the roast accompaniments.
My final suggestion would be filo parcel. I recently had one which had stuff like mushrooms, peppers, onions, brie and cranberry jelly in a white creamy sauce which was all covered in filo. This was really tasty but might be a bit of a faff to do just the one. However, the lads I was sitting with were having steak and were all umming and ahhing over it, so done right it could win some brownie points.
The other option would be do something like a portobello mushroom and perhaps set it in a puff pastry case after roasting with plenty of butter and garlic. Though imo this goes less well the roast accompaniments.
My final suggestion would be filo parcel. I recently had one which had stuff like mushrooms, peppers, onions, brie and cranberry jelly in a white creamy sauce which was all covered in filo. This was really tasty but might be a bit of a faff to do just the one. However, the lads I was sitting with were having steak and were all umming and ahhing over it, so done right it could win some brownie points.
Shaw Tarse said:
Some years ago I was working at a golf club, serving a set menu dinner (roast beef)
One diner (guess the gender) said she was vegetarian but "I do eat chicken!"
Reminds me of this:One diner (guess the gender) said she was vegetarian but "I do eat chicken!"
Bill Bailey said:
I'm a vegetarian. I'm not strict; I eat fish, and duck. Well, they're nearly fish, aren't they? They're semi-submerged a lot of the time, they spend a lot of time in the water, they're virtually fish, really. And pigs, cows, sheep, anything that lives near water, I'm not strict. I'm sort of like a post-modern vegetarian; I eat meat ironically.
As Chim Girl says, stuffed squash is good. Sister in law is vegetarian, I had her stay for Christmas once and planned in advance good hearty meals everyone could eat, and also get her eating more as she doesn't eat properly and came up with the following that were enjoyed by all;
Spinach & Ricotta Canneloni
Sage & Onion tart
Baked squash (small individual orange turban type) filled with a tomatoe and mascarpone risotto
Spinach & Ricotta Canneloni
Sage & Onion tart
Baked squash (small individual orange turban type) filled with a tomatoe and mascarpone risotto
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