Vegetarian Dinner Party HELP!

[Joffrey]

I am helping a friend prepare a vegetarian dinner/debate party tonight and would like some suggestions of interesting meals we can make. She making alot of tacos so I am thinking of some interesting vegetarian tacos and other simple dishes. We're leaving to pick up stuff from Trader Joes at about 5:30pm so a few quick ideas would be much appreciated.

 

[DMcG]

If you have the time to roast some butternut squash I think that it works really well with black beans as a taco filling. Peel, halve, de-seed, and dice the squash. Season with with salt, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, and a little olive oil then stick it in an oven. You want it to be soft, but so that it doesn't just turn to mush. Heat up some black beans and mix it all together. Diced green chilies make a nice addition too. Diced jalapeños if you want some more heat. You can saute up some onion and bell-pepper too, but I like to keep it simple. Add some mexican cheese to top off the taco if you have some.

 

[kever]

I made a sandwich that would fall into this category for a dinner party once. I took a big, grainy loaf of bread, cut it lengthwise, topped it with portobello mushrooms sauteed in garlic butter, thinly sliced tomatoes, some olive oil and fresh ground pepper and oregano, and melted brie cheese. I'm sure someone could add to that and make it better, but it went over well when I made it. It helps if you can sautee the mushrooms and melt the brie right before serving.

 

[hossoso]

I am also attending/hosting a veggie debate party tonight. Go out and get some Quorn* fake chicken breasts and some taco seasoning. Put the veggie chicken breasts in the oven for about 10 minutes and then cut them into strips and them throw into a pan with the taco seasoning until they're done. It's all pretty intuitive with the seasoning and the oil/other spices. Put them in some tacos with the standard fare or burritos and everyone will love how veggie savvy you are. As a 14 year veteran of vegetarian cuisine and fake meats, this is my best suggestion for what you have requested. Don't forget to sautee some mushrooms with it.

*Quorn is not vegan and is pronounced as "corn".

 

[samblau]

Sauteed tofu with vegetables and srriacha (sp?) is quick and easy.

Various pasta dishes work.

 

[Tarmac]

stick to stuff which is vegetarian by origin. no fake meats.

Falafel
Pasta
Grilled vegetables
Indian food

 

[hossoso]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

stick to stuff which is vegetarian by origin. no fake meats.

I hate it when people say **** like this. It is just a point of reference! It is vegetarian by origin, obviously. He mentioned that the host was serving tacos so I offered advice on that theme.

 

[Tarmac]

I won't hold your overly-agressive dogmatic response against you. I know you just can't help it, you are vegetarian.

 

[GQgeek]

There's something wrong with being a vegetarian. It just ain't right.

 

[hossoso]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

I won't hold your overly-agressive dogmatic response against you. I know you just can't help it, you are vegetarian.

Sorry if that exclamation point got you upset, maybe it was just my rebute to the fake meat comment. I didn't mean it, I swear. You should relax. Go jerk off or something.

 

[JohnnyLaw]

If I'm having guests over, I often will prepare an Indian meal.

Just get a bunch of different curry pastes and stir-fry different vegetables with different curries. Dal is a staple and very easy (cook lentils and onions together until it becomes a paste, add spices). Get some chutney and naan/rice/bread and you're set. It's easier than it sounds.

There are tons of great Mexican dishes too, red pepper/cheese enchiladas and refried beans are some of my favourites. Put cilantro in anything and you're good to go.

 

[Tokyo Slim]

Might I suggest bacon?

 

[nicad2000]

Eggplant parmasean

 

[Fulcannelli]

Originally Posted by GQgeek

There's something wrong with being a vegetarian. It just ain't right.

I agree, im yet to eat a good vegetarian dish where i dont think something is missing (dead flesh)

I hope you served pasta as this the only thing I can think of that could surf without turf.

 

[sho'nuff]

tofu tofu tofu