Need vegetarian menu suggestions for casual dinner party

[Anonymous]

We're having 4 couples over for a very casual get together, one of whom is vegetarian and I'd like to serve something that can be mostly prepared in advance. We are all good friends and will probably stand around and eat and drink...not sit at a formal table. Last time this group was over I made a delicious vegetarian chili, garlic bread and a green salad. Went over great. Any good ideas?

[Anonymous]

eggplant lasagna

[Anonymous]

Thanks. That sounds super labor intensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks. That sounds super labor intensive.

It really isn't. I make it in advance all the time. Stick it in either the fridge or freezer and then pop in the oven. Using the no bake lasagna sheets really saves time too.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a panini press? We had a wonderful gathering recently and put out a panini press and an array of breads, spreads, cheeses and other items like roasted red peppers, spinach etc. People loved making their own paninis.

Mexican also has gone over well - make a few types of enchiladas, guacamole with chips and salsa, margaritas, mexican rice, spoon corn bread etc.

[Anonymous]

Assemble your own Chipotle style Burrito bowls. That way the non-veg people can have meat if they choose. I place bowls of the following out:

-seasoned black beans
-guac
-sour cream
-pico
-cheese
-rice with cilantro
-sautéed pepper and onions
-roasted corn and jalapeno
-lettuce
-pork carnitas or if I'm lazy pulled rotisserie chicken tossed in the skillet with tack seasoning and some water.

[Anonymous]

A taco bar allows everyone to pick and choose. I'd serve both refried beans and black beans sauteed in olive oil with onion, garlic, and spices.

[Anonymous]

I make a Mediterranean style stew from Sonia Uvezian's cookbook.
Take a few potatoes (I use the thin white skinned ones without peeling, or use whole baby potatoes), a few plum tomatoes, a yellow squash, a zucchini, a red onion and a few cloves of garlic. Chop the vegetables into chunks, add salt, pepper, thyme and good olive oil. Place in a Dutch oven and roast uncovered ( I think at 400-450) till the veggies are done to your liking. I serve it with Lebanese-style rice and yogurt dip, but its also great with crusty bread.

[Anonymous]

Budget Bytes has a delicious recipe for Chipotle Black Bean Burgers - you can make them/assemble them ahead of time and just oven bake them for 25 minutes before you need them. Honestly super easy and delicious. We are not vegetarians but are addicted to them with some sliced avocado.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Budget Bytes has a delicious recipe for Chipotle Black Bean Burgers - you can make them/assemble them ahead of time and just oven bake them for 25 minutes before you need them. Honestly super easy and delicious. We are not vegetarians but are addicted to them with some sliced avocado.

Recipe pl.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make a Mediterranean style stew from Sonia Uvezian's cookbook.
Take a few potatoes (I use the thin white skinned ones without peeling, or use whole baby potatoes), a few plum tomatoes, a yellow squash, a zucchini, a red onion and a few cloves of garlic. Chop the vegetables into chunks, add salt, pepper, thyme and good olive oil. Place in a Dutch oven and roast uncovered ( I think at 400-450) till the veggies are done to your liking. I serve it with Lebanese-style rice and yogurt dip, but its also great with crusty bread.

But there's no protein source, except I guess for the yogurt dip. But that doesn't seem like much.

I think the taco bar is a better option.

Or something with rice and beans. LOVE rice and beans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I make a Mediterranean style stew from Sonia Uvezian's cookbook.
Take a few potatoes (I use the thin white skinned ones without peeling, or use whole baby potatoes), a few plum tomatoes, a yellow squash, a zucchini, a red onion and a few cloves of garlic. Chop the vegetables into chunks, add salt, pepper, thyme and good olive oil. Place in a Dutch oven and roast uncovered ( I think at 400-450) till the veggies are done to your liking. I serve it with Lebanese-style rice and yogurt dip, but its also great with crusty bread.

But there's no protein source, except I guess for the yogurt dip. But that doesn't seem like much.

I think the taco bar is a better option.

Or something with rice and beans. LOVE rice and beans.

I didn't know every dish had to have protein in it. This is a substantial stew on its own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Assemble your own Chipotle style Burrito bowls. That way the non-veg people can have meat if they choose. I place bowls of the following out:

-seasoned black beans
-guac
-sour cream
-pico
-cheese
-rice with cilantro
-sautéed pepper and onions
-roasted corn and jalapeno
-lettuce
-pork carnitas or if I'm lazy pulled rotisserie chicken tossed in the skillet with tack seasoning and some water.

Yummy! Love this idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I make a Mediterranean style stew from Sonia Uvezian's cookbook.
Take a few potatoes (I use the thin white skinned ones without peeling, or use whole baby potatoes), a few plum tomatoes, a yellow squash, a zucchini, a red onion and a few cloves of garlic. Chop the vegetables into chunks, add salt, pepper, thyme and good olive oil. Place in a Dutch oven and roast uncovered ( I think at 400-450) till the veggies are done to your liking. I serve it with Lebanese-style rice and yogurt dip, but its also great with crusty bread.

But there's no protein source, except I guess for the yogurt dip. But that doesn't seem like much.

I think the taco bar is a better option.

Or something with rice and beans. LOVE rice and beans.

I didn't know every dish had to have protein in it. This is a substantial stew on its own.

I am a vegetarian and I'd be pretty hungry if I didn't have protein at dinner.

[Anonymous]

I posted this recipe for lentil barley stew in another thread. This is a good recipe that can be an entree for a vegetarian (my omnivorous family had this for dinner a couple of nights ago) or a side for the omnivorous along with a meat entree: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/360688.page#4673557

For the person looking for a protein source, barley has a fair amount of protein.