Vegetarians - I need a some ideas...

[Tesha]

Next Monday night my husband is bring a co-worker
for a quick dinner and then they're off to a meeting.

I've never met our guest but I understand that he is firmly
vegetarian and prefers not to have anything even pretending to be meat.

It can't be elaborate, or take time to consume.


:shrug: I'm at a loss - can anyone help?

[supernova]

1. Not strictly veggie but

Make sure you understand what his veggie boundaries are. My cousin, for instance, will not eat "anything with a face."

That said, there are things like butternut squash soup or ravioli. Goat cheese goes well with either of those.

Lately, I've loved herbs in my salad, dill and cilantro. It makes the salad a little more festive.

If you're up for it, Indian cuisine is fantastic with, all kinds of lentil burgers and veggies with mouthwatering sauces.

Agree with him about TVP masquerading as some kind of meat form. :puke:

Weathervane Cafe Butternut Squash Soup

Weathervane Restaurant's Famous Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

The soup:

4 cups of butternut squash (about 2 large) peeled, seeded and cubed
3 cups of sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 1/4 cups of vegetable stock
1 1/2 tablespoons of apple cider
1/3 cup of heavy cream
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
The Garnish

1/2 cup of sour cream
1 tablespoon of heavy cream
2 teaspoons of sugar
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
In a large pot over medium high heat, boil the vegetable stock, squash and sweet potatoes and cook until fork tender. Remove from heat and puree with an immersion blender or food processor until smooth. Add the apple cider, heavy cream, maple syrup and cinnamon.

For the garnish, mix together the sour cream, cinnamon and sugar. Add the heavy cream until the desired consistency has been reached

Pour the soup into your best bowls, add the garnish and love your lunch or dinner! There are many other
Southern Season" recipes online for you to try and enjoy. Let us know which ones become your favorites.

http://www.examiner.com/specialty-grocery-in-durham/a-southern-christmas-without-treats-from-a-southern-season-unthinkable?render=print

[Tesha]

2. that look really yummy...

I never thought of soup - as I usually add chicken broth.:think:

Do you think the veggie broth made with tomatoes?
I have some Better Than Bullion that seems to be tomao-ie.

and thank you for the recipe - its a keeper!

[beac]

3. As a vegetarian myself, I've found the best substitute for chicken broth to be

Imagine Foods "No-Chicken Broth"
http://www.imaginefoods.com/content/organic-no-chicken-broth


The Vegetarian and Vegan Forum on DU has a recipe thread as a stickie at the top. Lots of good ideas there.

supernova's suggestion of butternut squash ravioli is a good one. You can make a simple "sauce" by melting 1/2 butter and 1/2 olive oil and frizzling fine strips of fresh sage in it. The suggestion of dill and other herbs in salad is a good one too. Pomegranate seeds make a nice salad garnish and fancy things up a bit.

Here's a really simple recipe that I make a lot (it's too early in the season for zucchini blossoms, so substitute grated zucchini or a mix of grated zucchini and yellow squash for extra color):

Spaghetti with Zucchini Blossoms
(Serves 4 as a first course or 2 as an entree)

The unknown creator of this delicate and elegant recipe wrote
that he or she made it up "this evening" because of an
abundance of zucchini. The cooks notes, "The amounts for
various ingredients are only approximate, as I do not measure
anything but just go by instinct."

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 clove garlic, peeled
1 teaspoon dried chile flakes, grated
rind of 1 lemon, grated
16 to 20 large zucchini blossoms, trimmed of the stem and
stamen and cut into strips
salt
spaghetti, enough for four as a first course, cooked al dente
grated Grana Padano cheese (or substitute Parmigiano)

Preparation:

Gently melt the butter over the lowest flame in a nonstick
heavy-based frying pan (skillet). While the butter melts, cut
the garlic clove into chunks and add to the butter. Let it
infuse as the butter melts. Remove the garlic. (You can slice
it thinly if you like it left in, but it will overpower the
delicate flavor of the blossoms.) Add the dried chile flakes
and the grated lemon rind to the melted butter.

Stir around with a wooden spoon, then add the zucchini
blossoms. Stir around until the ingredients are amalgamated
and add a dash of salt and pepper to taste. Add the cooked and
well-drained spaghetti (should be just cooked and hot) and
toss in the pan until coated. Serve sprinkled with grated
Grana Padano.


Variation: After adding the blossoms, add ½ cup of milk to
the butter mixture. Simmer until thickened a little. Add in
¼ cup grated Parmigiano cheese and 2T fresh chopped basil.
Cook for a minute more, then pour over the spaghetti.

2nd variation: Add 1c grated zucchini along with the blossoms
and cook about 1-2 minutes before proceeding.


It's a simple dish, but the lemon makes it surprisingly fresh and elegant. That and a salad with goat cheese would be terrific and filling without being too heavy.
__________


If you want to make something well ahead and just heat & serve, you can substitute the meat layer in any lasagna recipe with a mixture of grated veggies(carrots, zucchini, yellow squash and red pepper is my fav mix) that's been sauteed in olive oil with a touch of butter and some minced garlic and chopped fresh basil. Drain the cooked mix well before layering it so you don't end up w/watery lasagna.



I would double-check and make sure he's just a vegetarian and not a vegan, b/c vegans, in addition to not eating meat and fish, don't eat eggs or dairy.


:hi:

[Tesha]

5. Zucchini Blossoms will have to wait for summer

but I'm keeping that recipe...

now the lasagna sounds not just do-able, but also like something we'd like anyway!

:hug: thank you! and I'll err to the side of vegan I guess - just to be sure.

[beac]

12. Good luck!

Let us know what you end up making! :hi:

[canetoad]

4. My suggestion is

A curry - maybe red lentil and potato. It can be made in advance and reheated before dinner. Serve with rice and a few vegie accompaniments such as nuts, apple, bananas, cilantro and mint, raita. There are dozens of things that can jazz up a curry and look stunning on the plate.

Can all be done without a drop of stock or animal produce. To flavour the curry use one of the good indian curry pastes (not sauces) and a can of coconut milk for liquid.

[Tesha]

9. We love Indian...

But I never make it from scratch because it always looks so complicated.
(oh geeze that sounds like whining - sorry...)


Is there a place you recommend for recipes?

[kurtzapril4]

29. this site is good.....

http://showmethecurry.com/

This one is good, too.

http://www.indiasnacks.com/

Also, check out the America's Test Kitchen website for indian recipes, including one for an excellent, restaurant worthy Chicken Tikka Masala.

[yellerpup]

6. How about stuffed portobello mushroom caps?

I make stuffed mushrooms often but don't have a hard and fast recipe that I follow. I start with the stems (tender stems or smaller mushrooms) and chop them fine, mix with garlic, onion (either or both) parsley, thyme (whatever herb you like with mushrooms), toss them with breadcrumbs and butter (or cheese, which I don't use because I can't tolerate it), maybe a shot of hot sauce and bake them at 350 for half an hour or so. Alternatively, I have made faux chicken fried steak using Portobello mushrooms and served them as you would a CF steak with mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy and your favorite market-fresh veggie.

Mac and cheese is always a hit with guests as are vegetarian enchiladas (filling of sauteed squash, red sweet pepper, onion & corn topped w/pepper jack cheese).

Whatever you make with be a knockout, I'm sure.

:hi:

ETA: smaller mushrooms

[Tesha]

10. stuffed mushroom sound great...

if he's vegan - I'd have to use oil - do you think that would work?

(oh - mac and cheese for the two of us next week too!):rofl:

Oh - I love coming here for advice - you folks are wonderful!

[yellerpup]

11. I'd miss the taste of butter but he's used to living

without it it would probably be just groovy. :hippie: I've been using coconut oil a lot lately. That would give it a boost of flavor--maybe a little too much (:wtf:) but olive oil is yummy on its own. Can't wait to hear how it turns out.

[grasswire]

7. spanikopita...

...or a strudel made with mushrooms and crumbs and nuts and cheese. Both of those are good options.

And my vegetarian guests always LOVE Emeril's savory bread pudding with spinach and artichokes. That dish is a star.

[Tesha]

8. oh - I wish I knew if he eats cheese...

oh - I'm going to put spanikopita on the list for next week!
Yummy!

and that bread pudding looks lucious... I am so hungry right now....:9

[beac]

13. I think I may have overly worried you about his being vegan. It's a MUCH smaller subset

of vegetarianism. Now that I think about it, if he bothered to tell your husband he doesn't like faux meat he surely would have been specific about being a vegan (if he was.)

I think you're good to go w/cheese, dairy & eggs. :)

[hippywife]

14. Since it needs to be something quick and easy

so they can make their meeting, why not a meatless stirfry? You don't have to limit it to just the standard stirfry veggies (for instance, I've even halved Brussels sprouts and used them) and you can even add some kinds of fruits to compliment them, even a nice garlic sauce, maybe, or a simple but tasty peanut sauce.

If you are going to be home in enough time to prep ahead, maybe get some wonton wraps and make some cream cheese wontons with some minced shallots and fresh minced garlic instead of crab.

Follow that with a nice refreshing and complementary granita.

Good luck, sweetie. Let us know what you decide and how it all works out. :hi:

[Tesha]

19. I don't know why I get so anxious...

the family always loves what I cook. Our daughters say they can't wait for
holiday dinners - a great excuse to drive this far - the summer Saturday
neighborhood drinks and appetizers in the garden leave everyone smiling...

Stir-fry... hmm - I do a really nice tofu stir-fry

Thank you HW...

:hug:

[pinto]

15. Simple, classic Italian family dish - pasta agli et olio (spaghetti with garlic and oil)

pasta
chi chi fava's (1 can fava beans,)
3 tbs olive oil
3-4 plump cloves garlic
red pepper flakes
bread crumbs or croutons

(grated sharp Parmesan cheese on the side)

Start the pasta to boil in salted water.

Saute the garlic, chopped, in a fast oil. When garlic gets soft add red pepper flakes. Continue 'till garlic is just browned...Should be just "toasted" and have a nutty aroma with the garlic and red pepper.

Add the fava beans and the water from the can. Stir. Once the sauce comes to a boil (it'll be quick)...remove from heat and set aside.

Drain pasta.

Toss with garlic/fava sauce, re-toss with bread crumbs or croutons. If mix is too soupy add more bread crumbs and toss again. (Top with grated sharp Parmesan and toss.)

(I've added spinach at the last sauce step with great results. Suppose any green would do. Dandelion was a suggested staple for this dish.)

Serve with a side of steamed Italian squash and a simple salad - greens and tomato or just sliced cucumber and red onion. Olives are always good on the side.

:hi:

[Tesha]

18. This sounds sooooo good!

Why haven't I ever tried beans on pasta?:9
Simple, quick, vegan -

I wonder how it would change if I used roasted garlic - they ARE going to a meeting after dinner :rofl:

This one might be the winner, Pinto - thank you!

[Coyote_Bandit]

16. I'd do Southwestern

Southwestern Bean Soup
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Southwestern-Bean-Soup-2

Served with a tossed salad, cornbread, and some variety of fruit desert.

Or maybe an avocado salad.
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/avocado-salad/Detail.aspx

Or maybe tortilla chips.

Or maybe some fry bread with berries for dessert.
http://www.recipegoldmine.com/swdess/fry-bread-seasonal-berries.html

[Tesha]

17. A true New Englander...

and never having been exposed to Southwestern foods(at least real ones) until quite recently, I'm always unsure of trying something like this for company.

BUT, I went to the first link and ... I already MAKE this except for the chili powder and hot sauce! :rofl:
that is an awesome idea! especially with the extras you suggest!

thanks!

[Coyote_Bandit]

20. It's

an easy to prepare menu that doesn't require a lot of prep time.

The seasonings could easily be adjusted to reflect those in your region if you are uncomfortable with Southwest seasonings.

Depending on what kind of salad you prepare, you might be able to prep some of the veggies ahead of time.

You could prepare a fruit crisp in advance. Or, if your guest partakes of dairy and egg products, you could prepare a fruit or yogurt parfait in advance. Or maybe a mocha latte parfait.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Mocha-Latte-Parfaits

Of course, I am assuming since this is a weeknight dinner guest that minimal prep time and the ability to do some advance prep might be desirable.

FWIW, I limit my meat consumption and eat a semi-vegetarian diet. Long ago I determined that I prefer dishes that don't require exotic ingredients and which utilize seasonings that I am accustomed to.

Please use seasonings that you are comfortable with and that your guest enjoys.

[Retrograde]

22. Or get a little Carribean

with Cristanos y Morros, or Cuban black beans and rice.

Or a black bean chili, with bowls of grated cheese, onions, cilantro, extra chiles, etc. so diners can add as they like. [when I make chili for crowds I make one pot with meat and one with just beans so people can mix as they like).

[trud]

21. vegetarian or vegan, have hubby ask

That makes a big difference.

[blaze]

23. So?

have you settled in on any particular recipe?

IMWK

[Tesha]

24. No - tomorrow we go shopping...

Apparently eggs and cheese are fine and they only have about 20 minutes in the house before they have to leave.

A very uncomplicated, one-dish meal I think.

Soup with bread
Veggie lasagna
Pasta with beans and spinach
Indian something over rice...

so many great ideas from everyone for one quick meal --- sigh

I'll post dinner w/pictures after they leave on Monday night - wish me luck!

[Tesha]

25. Dinner was a Winner!!!

Thank you everyone!!! Our guest had thirds!!!


Roasted Butternut Soup with Caramelized Onions
Spanikopita Triangles and Mushroom and BlueCheese Triangles
Fresh Veggie Plate
Belgian Waffles with Strawberries and Whipped Cream (no photos - the plates were licked clean)

[beac]

26. Yummy, well-balanced and fun too!

Brava! :applause:

[yellerpup]

27. Good work!

I'm sure your guest was extremely grateful to have such a healthful meal that was so well planned. It looks wonderful! :hug:

[trud]

28. yum, invite me to dinner please :-) n/t