Veggie Meal Challenge

WeirdoMagnet · 17 May 2006 at 4:00PM

OK - here's a challenge. Well, it's a challenge for me, but hopefully you can help!

We have visitors over the weekend, one whom is a veggie, and is also fussy! To save me having to cook seperate meals, I'd like us all to have veggie.

So, I want something that looks stunning(!), and could possibly be prepared in advance. I don't eat eggs, so they're out, and I'm not very partial to beans & pulses. I don't think I would want to cook something too strong eg curry, just in case!

I'm erring towards some kind of pasta dish, with my HM foccacia and salad, but anyone got any better ideas?

They're here Friday - Sunday, but I'll probably do a roast on Sunday, so I'm really after two dishes. A 'virtual' prize for the suggestions I end up cooking!

George (with her fingers crossed that someone comes up with a good idea!)

piggy73 · 17 May 2006 at 5:14PM

Check out the UK veggie society recipe section for ideas

http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/recipes/index.html

If your guest doesn't mind meat substitutes you could make a bolognaise sauce using a soya mince. If you go down this route buy the one made by "Releat" (costs approx 2 quid in Tescos) as it is the best tasting & it even has recipes on the packet. Basically you treat the stuff as mince that has already been cooked, fry your onions, add the mince & then your sause ingredients.

Other ideas for pasta - a wild mushroom sauce.
Alternative dishes - home made pizza, mushroom stroganof, cooked halloumi cheese.

The veggie society website will give you some really great ideas - I'm sure you will find something to your taste.

Happy cooking.

PJ

muddled_midget · 17 May 2006 at 5:48PM

Whenever I have meat-eating guests over, I steer clear of anything that looks like it should have meat in it, and normally end up doing a goats cheese tart from Delia's Vegetarian Collection, as it looks much more complicated than it is.
Take a sheet of puff pastry and unroll over a baking sheet (or make your own if you're a better cook than me!). Score a line 1cm from each edge. Mix 200g soft goats cheese with a clove of crushed garlic and a pinch of fresh thyme and spread over pastry. Put slices of plum tomatoes over, a sprinkle more a fresh thyme and a drizzle of olive oil. Bake in the oven until the edges are golden and puffed up and the tomatoes are slightly charred around the edges. Serve with new potatoes and salad. Can be eaten hot or cold

1sttimer_2 · 17 May 2006 at 5:53PM

This meal is stunning to look at and tastes delicious and can be made in advance. It's not that hard to do either. We save it for special occasions as I can find it a bit rich.

Mixed mushrooms & brie parcels

to serve 4 (I usually do 1&1/2 times quantity as we make loads of small ones)
15g butter
50g button mushrooms - sliced
75g oyster mushrooms - sliced
75g plueurot mushrooms (never used these so I use chestnut) - sliced
1 clove garlic - crushed
3 tbs fresh dill (I use dried - or miss it out if you haven't any)
325g frozen puff pastry (thawed) - I usually have the larger pack (gms ?)
1 beaten egg
100g brie - cubed

Melt butter and fry mushrooms and garlic till soft, stir in dill, leave to cool.
cut pastry into 4 - roll out each into 20cm circles (I do about 12 smaller ones using larger pack pastry and 1&1/2 qty) brush edges with egg/milk
Stir brie into mushroom mixture and spoon onto circles. Gather edges together, pinch and twist to get a 'purse' effect. Chill for min 30 mins (I usually leave overnight if I don't have time on the day itself)
Put onto greased baking sheet and brush with remaining egg/milk
Cook at 425F/220C/gas 7 for 20 mins.

They grow in size when cooking so don't put too close together.

Hope you have a go - you'll love them!

m-m's meal also looks good - I'm going to try that!

Happy cooking!

Anne_Marie_2 · 17 May 2006 at 5:57PM

You could do a lasagne or moussaka using soya or quorn mince - or using vegetables, make it up in advance to save you being harassed at the last minute, and will keep in the fridge covered for a day or two, then just pop in the oven whilst preparing salad, garlic bread/foccacia.

You could always make homemade pizzas with veggie toppings and salad.

Have to go and get on with tea just now but will try to remember to post more later.

WeirdoMagnet · 17 May 2006 at 6:07PM

Fantastic ideas - keep them coming!

Although I love eating veggies (vegetables, not vegetarians!!!) I'm a confirmed meat eater, so have difficulty thinking what to have 'instead of' meat!

Thanks for your recipes and ideas though, and thanks also for the cordon vert site - all great ideas.

George

JailhouseBabe · 17 May 2006 at 6:11PM

cannelloni tubes

Filling:
6oz feta cheese
8oz ricotta cheese
4 sliced spring onions
2tbs chopped fresh parsley
2 tbs chopped fresh mint
1 egg, lightly beaten
1tbs lemon juice

Mix these all together (I have been known not to bother with the herbs, still tastes good) and season to taste.

Spoon into cannelloni tubes and place side by side in an ovenproof dish.

Sauce:
half oz butter
I chopped onion
1 crushed garlic clove
14oz can tomatoes
8fl oz vegetabl stock
1lb spinach, washed and shredded

Melt butter in a frying pan, add onion and garlic and cook until onion is soft. Drain and mash tomatoes and add to frying pan, along with stock and spinach. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Spoon sauce over cannelloni, cover dish with lid/foil and bake for 25 minutes (gas4/180C/350F).

Remove lid/foil, sprinkle with mozzarella/grated strong cheddar and return to oven until top is golden.

I had this recipe (or similar) from an ex's cookbook. It really looks and tastes good. I'd serve with a nice crusty bread and side salad.

Noozan · 17 May 2006 at 6:18PM

Heat a little oil in a pan and add a few finely sliced red onions and a spponful of dark brown sugar. Cook over a very low heat for 20 to 25 mins unitl the onions are caramelised and sticky. Allow to cool slightly.

Get 3 squares of filo pastry and lay them on top of each other, buttering each layer (lay them slightly squint so that it makes a star shape. Put a chunk of camembert cheese in the centre of the pastry and top with a dollop of red onion. Scrunch up the pastry and brush with melted butter. Bake in a hot oven until golden brown and crispy.

Serve with green salad and crusty bread to mop up the melted cheese. :drool:

Noozan · 17 May 2006 at 6:20PM

Also, as a starter, you could get a camembert (the type in a wooden box), unwrap and replace cheese in box. Put into oven for 30 mins on a moderate heat to melt the cheese. Serve it at the table with chunks of bread to dunk. Can you tell I have a cheese fetish? lol

1sttimer_2 · 17 May 2006 at 7:08PM

Tell you what georgina, if you don't get what you want for a meal, I certainly will, there is some gorgeous food coming in on this thread and I'm looking forward to trying some!

WeirdoMagnet · 17 May 2006 at 8:10PM

There are some great ideas - I love them all! :idea:

I just spoke to guests on phone, and asked what they didn't like, which was met with "(sharp intake of breath) ooooooh, that's a difficult one, just get some quorn", :rolleyes2 but I want some nice food, not quorn! Even goats cheese is not allowed - I love goats cheese! :drool:

I think I'll make a veggie lasagne, with sun dried toms, peppers, courgettes, aubergine(?), onions, plenty of herbs etc. At least I'll be 'safe' with that! :doh:

I'm going to make some of the other things just for us though, they sound delish! :drool:

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Veggie Meal Challenge

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