Buffet, vegans and omnivores

pickledonionspaceraider

Hi all, 
I had some great advice for a gathering i am catering and i am hoping you can help once again. Please. I feel rather flummoxed and wishing i wasn't doing it

I am doing a buffet for 12  over the weekend.
There are mixed requirements and i am finding this a bit of a challenge. I have six vegans, and one dairy free, and the rest meat eaters

I know a small bit about dietry requirements for vegans and dairy free but am stuck for ideas dor these in particular 
Even puddings. I can't mt do cheesecakes etc... Eek? 

(for the omivores i have lots of ideas really, being one) 

I have to say that time will be a real issue so in reality i likely have 2-3hours prep time max

I am not great in the kitchen so anything that can be bunged in the ovem or chopped up will be a bonus.... Although i would like to try other things if anyone has ideas. 

The only idea i have at the min quorn nuggets. I really am in trouble 

All ideas grateful recived

pickledonionspaceraider

Oh, i have a slow cooker if anyone can think of anything that can be thrown in there too x

unrecordings

Go to the Waitrose, Tesco etc websites and search for party food or vegan party food. Tesco has a good frozen range. Once you've found a selection you like the look of, check each product page which will list things like vegan, gluten free, may contain egg etc
(bloody new interface made my original post sound downright rude - edited to fix)

Rosa_Damascena

If you don't have a lot of prep time, I can predict salad will loom large on your menu. Why not do jacket potatoes with vegan and regular chilli? Plus a load of vegan salad. Otherwise a vegan curry with rice / couscous and garlic bread from the freezer aisle (most are inexpensive and vegan). You could do a vegan crumble and fruit salad for dessert, both are easy peasy.

If the buffet is not 100% vegan, I would highly recommend letting the vegans near the buffet first otherwise they may go without once omnivores have sampled a bit of everything!

CapricornLass

Oh dear -what a pain!  I must admit I hate catering for vegans.

Pudding wise, perhaps an ice-cream?  I have this recipe which is diary free and vegan, and does have the advantage that you can make it a day or so before, giving you more time on the day.  However, I have an ice-cream maker, and I'm not quite sure of the technique of freezing it yourself in the freezer, so you will have to look this up.

Chocolate Ice-Cream

200g soft prunes, soaked over night in 480 ml water

200g dairy-free chocolate, 80g of which should be grated finely

80 ml sunflower oil

4 tbsp golden syrup

2 tbs brandy.

Blend prunes and water in a liquidiser - gives a smoother result than a blender.  Melt the ungrated chocolate and stir into the prune mix.  Add oil + syrup, and blend until smooth - about 2-3 mins.  Add grated choc and brandy and stir again.  Freeze.

It will need to be used up within a month as it gets harder as time goes on, although I imagine you wouldn't have a lot left once you've fed seven people with it!  (Just thought -  sorbet is usually dairy-free, and again tyou could make that yourself several days in advance)

With regard to dairy free, salmon, sliced meats (just check that they don't contain milk or milk products, as some do), sandwich fillings that use mayonnaise, so things like tuna and sweetcorn, or egg mayonnaise  My son says that the vegan cheese you get in the supermarkets is rubbish and he uses Sheese that he buys on-line.  If nuts are not a problem, peanut butter - you could use that for the vegans too.

How about onion bhajis or vegetable pakoras for the vegans?  You might be able to pick these up from the Indian section of the supermarket.  Falafels are usually good too.  If  you can find a recipe online, you should be able to make them yourself the day before - look for ones that can be baked in the oven

Angri

I recently was asked (and accepted the challenge) to cater for a group of 18, for four evening meals, inluding vegans, vegetarians, omnivores and a couple of coeliacs (!)

I concluded that the optimum route was to prepare meals that met all the dietary restrictions, and yet would appeal to everyone.

An important part of this would be the presentation of the dishes (one always eats with the eyes first!)

With some research I was able to provide four days of three course evening meals, so as an exa mple, try something like:

(All vegan and gluten free)

Starters - Brushetta - GF Bread, pan scorched and dressed with garlic olive oil, and topped with chilled roasted tomato cubes, cucumber cubes, watermelon slivers, Moroccan black olives, capers and sitting on exotic Italian salad leaves, with Walnut and créme fraiche dressing

Mains - Roast Vegetables: - A HUGE pan of proper roast potatoes, roasted leeks, 24hr marinated onions, pan fried sliced brussels with chestnuts, roasted beetroot, marmalade carrots, poached asparagus, and petit pois coulis

Desert - Baked nut and maple syrup clusters, with medjool date and almond ganache, served with a small spoon of a good lemon sorbet on a square of quality dark chocolate.

Rosa_Damascena

Angri said:

I recently was asked (and accepted the challenge) to cater for a group of 18, for four evening meals, inluding vegans, vegetarians, omnivores and a couple of coeliacs (!)

That sounds like a lot of hard work!

BrassicWoman

Dessert: chia seeds in chocolate soya milk. Leave over night. Choc pudding.

pickledonionspaceraider

Rosa_Damascena said:

If you don't have a lot of prep time, I can predict salad will loom large on your menu. Why not do jacket potatoes with vegan and regular chilli? Plus a load of vegan salad. Otherwise a vegan curry with rice / couscous and garlic bread from the freezer aisle (most are inexpensive and vegan). You could do a vegan crumble and fruit salad for dessert, both are easy peasy.

If the buffet is not 100% vegan, I would highly recommend letting the vegans near the buffet first otherwise they may go without once omnivores have sampled a bit of everything!

You are so right. I remember before this exact thing happening - the sampling

pickledonionspaceraider

Thank you so much everyone
I think I am going to take the cheats way out and go with a lot of frozen party food.  Make a few sandwiches, throw a quiche in the oven type thing
It really is hard work, but the planning of such a thing can take even longer

thanks so much once again x

unrecordings

Rosa_Damascena said:

If the buffet is not 100% vegan, I would highly recommend letting the vegans near the buffet first otherwise they may go without once omnivores have sampled a bit of everything!

This. If you've a disparate group of guests, the gannets could easily wreck your plans - maybe keep a plate back (vegan or otherwise) to cater for any faux pas