If you didn't know, it's because it's just not that big a deal. For us, it's a simply a lifestyle choice, not a moral decision or judgement on anyone else. But because vegetarians are usually in the minority at occasions and get-to-gethers, I worry about people fretting at the thought of having us over for dinner. Actually, I don't know any vegetarians who aren't concerned about making people feel awkward or inconvenienced by their diet.
Last week, my cousin mentioned she was having vegetarian houseguests and needed some meal ideas. That I can do. And if it helps other readers fret less before their vegetarian friends come over, I am happy to help!
Let me share some of our regularly scheduled meals:
(one of our new favorites- Ethiopian Miser Wat)
Easy Black Bean Soup-so simple, just a can or two of black beans pureed with 1/2-1 cup of salsa. Serve warmed with cornbread and orange slices.
Quiches-Spinach, Lorraine, Broccoli, or whatever veggies you have on hand. Just make sure your guests DO eat eggs, and dairy products. We love this warm meal in the winter with half a grapefruit or summer with tomatoes.
Breakfast for Dinner. Often on the weekends, we'll toast bagels with peanut butter & honey or whipped cream cheese and eat with homemade smoothies.
Soft Tacos-one of our new favorite ways to make tacos is with a baked or blackened tilapia with shredded cabbage sauteed in a little bit of e.v.o.o. and lime juice (I cheat and use the bagged shredded cabbage intended for cole slaw). Of course, we love tacos with any kind of bean, too-pinto, black, vegetarian refried, super easy and usually everyone can make their own the way they like them.
American feasts-spaghetti, lasagna, macaroni & cheese, and burgers (veggie or salmon) are also very big hits in our home, but we also love International meals-we have an Ethiopian grocer down the street from us, as well as some Indian and Tai places, with plenty of vegetarian choices.
I do hope these help! Anyone have any ideas to add?
I'm linking this up to Tasty Tuesday!
13 Creative People Had This To Say:
I'm a vegetarian as well (as of 1 year ago) and it freaks my mom out to have me over for dinner. I try to explain to her that there are so many things I can eat, but she literally panics! (and I am hardley invited over for dinner anymore for that very reason :( )
Ok, forgive me for saying this, but I thought for a moment that you were HAVING (eating) rabbits and needed something to serve non-rabbit eaters! AH! I'm very relieved that isn't the case. :)
Tif-ohmygoodness....i hope that title is more clear then that! oh, well, it got your attention, right?
Over here, we love to have Japanese dinners. We start with Miso soup (either from soy paste or powdered in a preprepared package). The second course is steamed Japanese rice (if you can find the authentic stuff!), scooped up with dried pieces of seaweed. Add some soy sauce if you like and it's super tasty. And don't forget the warm, steamed edamame on the side with lots of kosher salt! Yummy! This meal is great even in mixed company, because you can have grilled chicken or fish on the side as an add-in.
:-)
jen.
I would love to go completely vegetarian if I could. My family is not into that. They still like their meat on occasion but more and more we are leaning toward that.
Ruth
I'm a vegetarian, though the rest of my family isn't. However, I don't cook meat so we always freak out when we have meat-eaters over for dinner.
Sometimes, we let everyone make their own pizza (using dough from Trader Joe's) or set up a salad bar with tons of chopped veggies, nuts, cheese, etc. Such a feel-good meal...and yummy served with warm bread or naan.
Mexican food also has plenty of vegetarian recipes...enchiladas or chile rellanos. And it's super easy to do an Italian pasta without meat.
Love your bean soup recipe...I'll be stealing that one...
Perfect! Thanks so much! Gotta try that bean soup. Wish I started the kids on beans when they were younger. The older ones won't touch them if they can tell it's a bean. -- refried or pureed I can sometimes get away with! Tacos sound great too!
I really appreciate these. Thanks for sharing. I hope to see you at Crock Pot Wednesday on diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com. Thanks again for posting.
We are not vegetarian but have a very healthy diet based around wholefoods and I often cook vegetarian meals. My favourite vegetarian cookbook is 'The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook' which was published in Australia by Murdoch Books. I found it at a garage sale! It is loaded with uncomplicated recipes for all seasons such as a 'carrot pesto bake'. Rather than searching for specialist recipes it is often just a case of replacing the meat in a recipe with an alternative. I make a lentil bolognaise to serve with spaghetti from a NZ cookbook called 'The Destitute Gourmet'(google this.. I'm sure there will be a website)which is super easy and no mince to brown!
On the weekend I made a chicken, leek and potato pie in a wholemeal cheese and chive pastry. To turn it vegetarian you would simply omit the chicken and throw in extra veggies and use vegetable stock in place of chicken stock... too easy! My next post is on making healthier pastry (just done one on healthier scones!) and I'm going to share the recipe for the pie together with the vegetarian option.
Those sound yummy for meat eaters alike! I would rather have veggie soup without meat than with it anyday. Of course, I am like the world's worst meat eater. I'm not a big fan of it at all...
I have no ideas unfortunately, just wanted to say your title cracked me up! :)
We are vegetarian, too (well, Sean dose eat meat sometimes). It is amazing how people freak out at having you over. We eat lots of beans, pasta, soups, chowders, etc. I have found that www.vegetariantimes.com is a great resource for new ideas!
Awesome! I'm always looking for vegetarian meals for my in-laws. Thanks! :-)
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