Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - are you trying to make something impressive/unusual or just something tasty and filling?

I'm a vegetarian who loves Tex Mex and if it's the latter, you have a zillion options.

The latter - something everyone enjoys and eats. It’s a pool dinner with kids so fancy is not required.

In that case I would make a huge thing of black bean nachos or burritos. It's so easy and tasty. Add a bunch of tomatoes, corn, red peppers, avocado to healthy it up.

Bring a quinoa salad, too, if you want to - but vegetarians love beans and cheese, mixed with a salty carb. At least this vegetarian loves that.

Another vegetarian who would do bean and cheese burritos or make your own burritos.

If you’re able to keep the entree warm, you could do either bean chili or tortilla soup. Alison Roman’s tortilla soup recipe is excellent - I can’t remember if it calls for chicken but you can leave it out and sub quinoa.

Otherwise, a huge salad with black beans, corn, quinoa, diced peppers, green onion, pico de gallo, avocado, and cheddar or cotija cheese. Dress it with a lime or cider vinaigrette.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - are you trying to make something impressive/unusual or just something tasty and filling?

I'm a vegetarian who loves Tex Mex and if it's the latter, you have a zillion options.

The latter - something everyone enjoys and eats. It’s a pool dinner with kids so fancy is not required.

So why does it have to be Tex Mex? Just take a veg pasta salad or something.

OP here: that’s the theme for this week. I’ll be back on Italian night to ask about pasta salad :)

In advance: ziti, halved cherry tomatoes, black olive slices, red onion, artichoke hearts, pepperoncini, mozzerella, Italian viniagrette, and some shredded basil.

Trader joes soyrizo is great- better than pork chorizo! Would be good with potatoes/sweet potatoes for tacos or a queso dip.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yuck. I hate potluck dinners.

OP here, I am not a big but kids love it and great for building community

The best way to do a Tex Mex potluck is to bring components rather than distinct dishes.

People sign up to bring:
rice
tortilla chips
tortillas
refried beans
taco meat
grated cheese
lettuce
tomato
onions
salsa
etc.

Then people layer their plates with whatever combination they want. This also solves any problems with dietary restrictions.

That's a good idea - make your own tacos or make your own burritos.

Anonymous wrote:Will there be other veg dishes or is this the only? In the fall/winter I like to do black bean and sweet potato enchiladas, but that's seems heavy for a pool party. Quinoa bake is a good idea. This time of year I love a black bean salad with red peppers, tomato, corn, avocado, lime dressing. But if it's the only veg dish maybe it's more of a side.

Mine will be 1 of 4 entrees.

Chipotle burrito bowl
Chickpeas curry with naan
Sauted tofu in garlic and soy sauce
Beans patties (black beans sauteed with green peppers and onions, mashed and shallow fried)

Beans and rice with toppings. So basically a burrito bowl bar.

Toppings:
Cheese
Lettuce
Tomato
Olives
sour Cream
avocado.

Or a taco salad with those ingredients.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yuck. I hate potluck dinners.

OP here, I am not a big but kids love it and great for building community

The best way to do a Tex Mex potluck is to bring components rather than distinct dishes.

People sign up to bring:
rice
tortilla chips
tortillas
refried beans
taco meat
grated cheese
lettuce
tomato
onions
salsa
etc.

Then people layer their plates with whatever combination they want. This also solves any problems with dietary restrictions.

Walking tacos would be fun. You could put out the bags of Fritos and a wide selection of toppings so everyone can choose what they like and avoid what they don’t. Beans/veggies/rice or quinoa for vegetarians, meat for people who want it, all the usual taco toppings.

Who is recommending quesadillas to bring to a potluck? The cheese will be nasty and congealed before you even get there.