Vegetarian enchiladas and prep them in advance.

Vegetable fajitas and have all the veggies and accompaniments chopped or prepared in advance and roast at the last minute.

Shakshouka and make the tomato vegetable base in advance and reheat and cook eggs in it later. Might need two pans for 8 people. Salad and bread on the side.

I’m vegetarian and make this recipe with chickpeas. Just baking for less than the chicken and add them in later. You can have all vegetables chopped in advance. One sheet pan with chicken and one with chickpeas. Rice or quinoa to serve with it and maybe prepared dolmades and hummus plate for appetizers. https://www.budgetbytes.com/sheet-pan-greek-chicken-and-vegetables/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I was coming in to recommend Ottolenghi's recipes too.
On the website linked above, the eggplant with buttermilk sauce and the spicy mushroom lasagne are really good and could work for a starter, main course (add green salad).
The curried cauliflower cheese pie is great too but feels like more of a brunch dish.
He also has other divine recipes in his book Plenty. That was the first of the vegetarian cookbooks and still my favorite.

I actually have that cookbook but have mostly used it for side dishes. Hadn’t really seen things in there that worked well made ahead but I’ll check again. I really don’t have the time to be perusing tons of cookbooks which is why I came here asking for actual meal/dish recommendations.

The polenta with Taleggio and mushrooms is great, as is the winter vegetable couscous.
For a non-blah dish, the stuffed eggplant with curry and coconut dal from the book "Flavor" is delicious too.

I'm a picky eater with vegetarian relatives. We do pasta and salad, taco night, individual pizzas, soup, breakfast for dinner .... I think pasta is your best bet as it can be done elegantly.

Op - thanks. I don’t like eggplant parm so that’s out. I love eggplant but I find it always too blah.

Anonymous wrote:I’d love a great eggplant parm.

Then can just do meatballs & sauce all ahead. Buy fresh bread, good butter &/or evoo, chop Romain make or buy croutons, have fresh parmigian cheese. Buy the good Caesar bottle dressing (and olive oil & vinegar ) Boil pasta. Could buy cannoli or anything for dessert.

I’d love a great eggplant parm.

Op - I should’ve also said I have a soy allergy so I can’t do any tofu or other soy.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I was coming in to recommend Ottolenghi's recipes too.
On the website linked above, the eggplant with buttermilk sauce and the spicy mushroom lasagne are really good and could work for a starter, main course (add green salad).
The curried cauliflower cheese pie is great too but feels like more of a brunch dish.
He also has other divine recipes in his book Plenty. That was the first of the vegetarian cookbooks and still my favorite.

I actually have that cookbook but have mostly used it for side dishes. Hadn’t really seen things in there that worked well made ahead but I’ll check again. I really don’t have the time to be perusing tons of cookbooks which is why I came here asking for actual meal/dish recommendations.

This is so good. You could serve with roast veg and baked tofu. https://fountainavenuekitchen.com/green-rice/

Yes, I was coming in to recommend Ottolenghi's recipes too.
On the website linked above, the eggplant with buttermilk sauce and the spicy mushroom lasagne are really good and could work for a starter, main course (add green salad).
The curried cauliflower cheese pie is great too but feels like more of a brunch dish.
He also has other divine recipes in his book Plenty. That was the first of the vegetarian cookbooks and still my favorite.

Anonymous wrote:If you are a library person, go check out the cookbook section. Not being snarky. They have loads of high end vegetarian cookbooks.

I love oh she glows website and smitten kitchen has vegetarian recipes or ones you can tailor to veg. Vegetarian cooking is easy. You just leave out the meat. Truly. Think about what you like to eat and think about how to get that flavor without relying on steak or ground anything.

Take a look here https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/articles/ultimate-vegetarian-ottolenghi-recipes/

If you are a library person, go check out the cookbook section. Not being snarky. They have loads of high end vegetarian cookbooks.

I love oh she glows website and smitten kitchen has vegetarian recipes or ones you can tailor to veg. Vegetarian cooking is easy. You just leave out the meat. Truly. Think about what you like to eat and think about how to get that flavor without relying on steak or ground anything.

My sister, her husband and teenage daughter are coming for dinner next week. I have a 13, 10 & 8yo who are good eaters. My sister is a vegetarian so I want to do a vegetarian meal, but I also need something that can serve 8 easily and ideally be prepped earlier in the day. I could do a lasagne but I’d love other options. I don’t have a close relationship with my sister (she’s much older) and I want to do something nice.
Thanks for any ideas!