need vegetarian menu for meat eaters
I'm a vegetarian in a family full of meat eaters. I'll be staying with them for 3 days this weekend. The meat eaters are very understanding and always make sure I have something to eat, but if I leave it up to them, I know I'll be eating pasta for 3 days straight.
I offered to cook one lunch or dinner for them while I'm there to "thank them for having me stay with them". (Really, I just want to make sure that I have at least one healthy and creative meal). I'm hoping to use this as a chance to show them that a vegetarian meal doesn't have to include pasta, or gobs of cheese, or a simple green salad. To introduce them to a new ingredient or two.
Problem is, I need help creating the menu! It should be simple and homey - there are just 4 of us and I'm not looking do something showy. I don't want to scare them with tofu or seitan... maybe some quinoa? Help please!
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20 Comments:
What about something with beans - mexican maybe? They're delicious, let people make them as they wish (you can avoid serving meat anyways, but offer beans, maybe tofu, etc).
I make a deconstructed burrito with quinoa, beans, tomato, corn, grated carrot (I like the crunch and color), burriton seasoning. You can throw in avocado, etc too if you wish.
Good luck!
thinkingincrayons at 8:08PM on 05/19/09
What's the weather like where you are? If it's still temperate, you might try something in the stew realm: I've had good luck serving West African groundnut stew (Moosewood recipe, tweaked) to meat eaters; vegetarian chili can also work well, as can Brazilian black bean soup/stew, or even just a really good beans-and-rice dish. If it's more summery, you may want to avoid things so warm and heavy. You could try a Middle Eastern spread--hummus, falafel, tabbouleh, and so on. A make-your-own burrito bar could also be fun: just warm up some tortillas, cook some black or pinto beans, and make other obvious accoutrements available. Or go Asian and do a vegetable stir-fry; if your family really is scared of tofu, you could add nuts (as is or as sauce) to up the protein. If you do Asian, you could also have people make their own summer rolls--really quite easy, and very fun.
Whatever you do, I'd recommend not trying to substitute for meat. In my opinion, the main reason non-vegetarians think they hate vegetarian food is that the only vegetarian food they've been exposed to tries--and inevitably fails, often miserably--to mimic non-vegetarian food.
annatr at 8:18PM on 05/19/09
I'm a meat eater who eats a lot of vegetarian meals, and I looove this one...it involves quinoa too: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2008/09/black-bean-tomato-quinoa-healthy-delicious-recipe.html
I tend to prefer it with 3 tablespoons of olive oil instead of the butter/vegetable oil.
Here's a tasty rice recipe that you could probably substitute quinoa in: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/side-dish/recipe-saffron-rice-with-peas-and-cashews-044095
I know you said you wanted to show them something other than pasta and cheese, but there's so much more to this dish besides those ingredients that I figured I'd suggest it anyway: http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/main-dish/recipe-pasta-with-butternut-squash-sage-and-pine-nuts-064966
cycorider at 8:21PM on 05/19/09
Anything sweet potato! I also love bean tacos-soft shell tortilla, any mix of beans (usually black), taco sauce, onion, tomatoes, sour cream, lettuce all rolled up and toasted in the toaster oven.
xwafflesx at 8:32PM on 05/19/09
When I was a vegetarian I was really surprised as to how filling and meat-like mushrooms could be. How about grilling huge portabello mushrooms and making burgers out of them; what's better than a mushroom patty?
PumpkinBear at 8:48PM on 05/19/09
Another vote for portabello mushroom burgers. Marinate in something teriyaki-like and serve on nice grainy buns with melted asiago cheese, sliced onions, lettuce, tomato and mayo or aioli. So good!
mendicity at 9:05PM on 05/19/09
If you have access to a food processor and a good pan for frying, do falafel! Eggplant parmesan can be a little involved, but super good, filling, and satisfying. Black bean/sweet potato shepard's pie is also pretty good. Also, smitten kitchen's mushroom bourguignon is good (go for mashed potatoes instead of pasta to avoid pasta). I know you're trying to get away from pasta, but jumbo shells stuffed with ricotta/cottage cheese/spinach/mushrooms is probably a pretty safe thing to feed meat-eaters new to vegetarian fare. Also, quiche/frittata for lunch would be good, especially for lunch. I'm going to second annatr's suggestion to steer clear of anything that is a meat substitute.
joyyy at 9:10PM on 05/19/09
Thanks! so many good ideas - i think i have to combine a few, and save some of them for next time!
I think what I'll do is mexican-ish - the quinoa with black beans and tomatos. Need something to pair that with (that would be a full meal for me, but I should make more than that for others..) - so, going with the mushroom theme, what if i did a grilled (rather than fried) chili relleno, stuffed with mushrooms, and a little cheese? Top it all with a salsa or chili type sauce?
Does make make for a complete meal that a meat eater would find substantial enough?
nalega at 10:04PM on 05/19/09
I think that sounds awesome, nalega. I don't know how the chili relleno would work on the grill, though. Well actually, I'm sure it'll work great if you don't use any batter. Good luck!
PumpkinBear at 12:34AM on 05/20/09
Mark Bittman's bulgur chili, in How To Cook Everything Vegetarian. Hot, filling, easy (though time-consuming). Makes a lot. Books.google.com turns it up on p. 557 - here's a shortened link:
http://bit.ly/sbe6
gentlyferal at 3:29AM on 05/20/09
Portobello mushrooms marinated in wine, with a pesto cream topping, wrapped in puff pastry and baked. A 'Portobello Wellington' as it were. Par-grill them first, and don't skimp on the butter. It works really well.
NotAmerican at 6:56AM on 05/20/09
cool - i actually got the grilled chili relleno idea from bittmans how to cook everything vegetarian (yes, unbreaded). I'm looking forward to trying all of these - especially the middle eastern inspired falafel etc menus.
nalega at 8:05AM on 05/20/09
Seconding, thirding, fourthing etc. vegetarian chili. I am in the same situation as you, and I made chili for my parents this weekend. It had chickpeas, carrots, zucchini, peppers, onions, tomato, lots of cumin & some cinnamon, served with shredded cheese and sour cream. My dad, who is one of the biggest meat-n-potatoes guys I know, said very enthusiastically that it was delicious!
Vegetarianka at 10:11AM on 05/20/09
I was going to recommend the quinoa and black beans route too. I made a great salad last night that was cooked quinoa tossed with black beans, chick peas, tomatoes, poblano and yellow bell peppers, and scallions with garlic, cumin and lime juice. It was very tasty and will probably feed us for a few days!
Amandarama at 10:22AM on 05/20/09
Well, beef stew sounds about right.
Grumpy Old Man at 12:01PM on 05/20/09
I was a vegetarian for 13 years, so I totally get it.
Prepare a wild mushroom tart, or quiche (use a frozen crust if time and space are an issue), and serve it with a lovely salad. Your total prep should be less than 20 minutes, and the results... homey and satisfying.
Also, I recently posted a nice vegetarian Hearts of Palm Salad as part of the SE Cook and Tell Feature that my carnivorous husband absolutely LOVED. It was also quite satisfying, and healthy, too! Oh, and it also takes only a few short minutes to prepare.
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 3:28PM on 05/20/09
I also second the quiche - you COULD use a bacon-like tofu product crumbled up in such a thing and it could provide that smokey background that many folks love in quiche (although, I too am not a fan of "fake meat"). Eggplant parm is also high on my list of carnivore friendly foods. Chili is also a place to use TVP. Good luck - this sounds like a fun challenge!
Maureen at 3:55PM on 05/20/09
I totally hear you... but I am guilty of loving pasta and gooey cheese. But here are a few alternatives you and your family might like:
Chayotes - Stuff them with rice and vegetables or stew them and serve them over whole-grain rice
French-inspired can be somewhat fancy if you want to impress - how about a Salade Nicoise with croque monsieur sandwiches or Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts
Lasagnas are easy to make - I make a vegan one with spinach and almonds that tastes like its full of gooey cheese, and the other day I tried a Mexican version using corn tortillas and a roasted tomatillo salsa.
You asked about side dishes to accompany the mexican quinoa... if you have access to ripe plantains... bake them in their skins orbake them sprinkled with a bit of vanilla and cinammon... yumm.
Madelyn
KarmaFreeCooking
MadelynRodriguez at 6:29PM on 05/20/09
@Madelyn - Brilliant! I decided on the main course and side, but needed a simple dessert... I'm totally doing the plantains...
(and finally bookmarking your website, which i've been meaning to do for a while....)
nalega at 9:01PM on 05/20/09
Yeah portobello mushroom burgers
with a lentil & bean salad
Or asparagus & mushroom rissotto
Robinfood at 11:58AM on 05/21/09