Vegetarian recommendations for carnivores

sonastin

I have a vegetarian friend coming over tomorrow night and I've promised her dinner. OH is resolutely carnivore and would normally expect meat to feature on his plate somewhere. In the past when she's come round, I've made pizzas so its been easy to cater to suit both of them. We had pizzas at another friends on Saturday, pizzas on Monday coz it was on the meal plan so OH will kill me if I do pizzas again this week. Ideally I'd like to bung something in the slow cooker so that it doesn't matter what time I escape from work/what time friend arrives/what time we get around to eating.

I've done all manner of searches for vegetarian recipes but I'm struggling to work out what will be a filling substitute so that OH doesn't miss the meat. I'm hoping that a request for recommendations will help me work out what to cook to suit both a veggie and a carnivore. Half the veggie recipes in my slow cooker books look like side dishes to me so he's bound to see them like that!

I have to go to the supermarket this evening anyway for other stuff so it doesn't really matter what's already in the cupboards - I can always pick up ingredients when I'm out. There's nothing that (I can think of!) we don't eat (other than beef - obviously out anyway) so does anyone have any recommendations for me?

[Deleted User]

How about Macaroni Cheese or Vege Lasagne, my confirmed carnivore of an OH usually enjoys both when I serve them, at least he doesn't complain so I am assuming he enjoys them!!!!!

FairyPrincessk

Perhaps a nice risotto with mushrooms (I hate them) but make sure your parmesan is veggie--most of the standard stuff isn't.

timehastoldme

We make vegetarian burritos which are nice, like fajitas but with a mix of beans, brown rice and peppers, pretty chunky so the meat isn't a painful loss.

The other thing we've done is lots of vegetable curries, butternut squash (in aldi super six) and coconut curry is lovely, with a thick lentil dal and a egg curry.

We also trialled refried beans, squash and brie quesadillas with scrambled eggs the other night, which was delicious and incredibly filling.

We're carnivores trying out lots of vegetarian food to keep costs down

sonastin

I knew there would be something I couldn't think of - I hate rice! I can eat it but it has to be well and truly drowned in sauce. I've never really thought of risotto (only recently started eating rice at all) - does it have the same sort of texture as rice?

Lasagne is on the carnivore menu tonight. Hmmm might think what I can do with lamb mince tonight so that we can switch to veggie lasange tomorrow instead...

camelot1001

Have you tried @sda veggie meatballs? I have served them for both vegetarians and carnivores and the meat eaters think they are meat! You can also replace mince with meat free mince and there is very little difference in taste.

Pink.

I'm a true carnivore, but vegetarian lasange is one of my favourite meals, just use oven roasted veg (courgettes, onions, tomatoes, mushrooms etc) in place of the meat. If you want to add protien, use some green lentils Add white/veggie cheese sauce and everyone should be happy.

Pink

bearcub

Things like veggie meat balls are a risk with vegetarians, as some can't tolerate anything that has a meat-like texture. My DD2 is like that - she says if she wanted something that was like meat, she'd still be eating meat! Anything with a meat-like texture makes her heave, be warned.

CCP

How about a vegetable casserole of some kind, with a nice topping - dumplings (made with veggie suet or grated butter), scones, garlic bread, or something similar? Like Pink I'm a real carnivore but I love this kind of thing.

Alternatively, the veggie lasagne option sounds good, and how about kofte (spicy meatballs) as a use for the lamb mince?

pesky85

I cooked for a group of people on holiday with a couple of them being vegetarians. I did a basic HM tomato pasta sauce (lots and lots of olive oil, chopped tomatoes, couple of whole garlic cloves, seasoning, chilli flakes - let it bubble away for a good 30 minutes).

Then cook your pasta of choice (fusilli for me) and throw into the pan with the sauce, the good amount of olive oil will make sure each bit of pasta is coated with the sauce and make it extra tasty!

In a seperate pan I fried some diced chorizo for the meat eaters to throw on top of their pasta if they wanted to, and had grated hard cheese (eg parmesan, pecorino) and garlic bread to serve.

Everyone that ate it asked for the recipe and wouldn't believe the simplicity of it!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Tell him to bog off to MccyDs for a horseburger and not come back until he's learned how to be polite to guests.


Or do a good ratatouille, boiled potatoes, etc, and then slap a lump of chicken on top of his bit.