[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

I'm hosting christmas lunch for seven this year, and was planning on doing the standard meats and side dishes (undecided whether I'm doing hot or cold). Only problem is, my sister decided two weeks ago to become a vegetarian

I don't really know what to offer as an option. I was thinking some sort of frittata or quiche? She also doesn't eat pasta which reduces my options. I'd like to do something that everyone can share.

Anyone got any good vego recipes they can send my way?

[Interrobang]

If you are doing the meats + salad/vegies option, then I would go for a 'meatier' (for want of a better word) option that she can then have with the regular sides.

Maybe field mushrooms stuffed with ricotta, parsley, parmesan and breadcrumbs? You could stuff them with risotto too, or do arancini balls. Or maybe zucchini or eggplant strips rolled up with goat cheese and roasted capsicum?

[steppy]

Yes, a stuffed butternut pumpkin or capsicum or such would be suitable, and then just serve with other vegies as normal. Some people do a nutloaf.

[Citizen V]

If you want to do a share dish, then quiche is a good idea.

I usually make a lasagne - instead of mince I use veggies (eggplant and mushrooms are especially yum) and a can of beans - usually borlotti beans - with a tomato sauce and assemble as usual.

Nutloaf is another great idea.

Perhaps ask her what she would like?

This post has been edited by Madame Catty: 15/11/2012, 12:17 PM

[blue4me]

I am a vegetarian and alongside the chicken and turkey for everyone else, I usually make a sweet potato suffle and some ricotta and fetta stuffed zucchini flowers.

I am a particularly non picky vegetarian and have spent many years at other occasions just eating the salad and a bread roll, it doesn't bother me at all. A frittata / roast vegies / quiche / substantial salad etc would be quick and easy.

This post has been edited by blue4me: 15/11/2012, 12:18 PM

[Luci]

I would tend towards a nice quiche, ie roast sweet potato, carmelised onion & feta or something like that. You can make it in advance (or even buy it ready made) then it just needs to be popped into the oven to reheat. Leftovers will keep well, and you will probably find it is popular with some of the meat eaters as well.

There are loads of quiche recipes on taste.com.au

Luci

[80'sKnickerb...]

Vegie lasagne. Just layer pasta sheets (best to soak in water for 10 mins first) with mashed potato mixed into a nice tomato-based sauce (I cheat and use a big jar of Dolmio), as well as fried onion, fried mushrooms and baby spinach leaves.
Oh and let's not forget cheese sauce layering in there too (2 cups milk bought to boil with 2 tblspns butter then add 2 tblspns plain flour, stir, and a cup of cheese added with salt and pepper). Add shredded parmesan at the top and Wa la! Even the meat eaters will be going back for seconds - at least they do in my house!
ETA: I'm with the previous poster. I'm a vegetarian but am happy to just eat the salads and bread rolls at gatherings, rather than expect a vegie dish to be on offer. DH is the same, we're very easy going. Maybe your sis will be same?

This post has been edited by Half Baked: 15/11/2012, 01:31 PM

[Rexit]

We have 4 vegetarians in the family, and usually there is a quiche option and they just have the normal salad/roast vege sides (they are very cruisy though).

This year at ours we have decided to forgo the traditional roast because it just seems ridiculous for a Queensland Christmas in our tiny house with so many people. We're having a Tapas Christmas instead! Maybe you could do some Tappas sides as well?

Plenty of options on Taste. Good luck

[Z-girls rock]

we are doing a few things, as you said most of the meat eating people will want to have a bit of the vegie one too so you need to make sure that there is enough without having to hover over it saying 'YOU cant eat that! it is for <sisters name>' because that will make her feel bad. hahaha (been in that situation - as the vego)

we are doing:

caramalised onion and goats cheese tart (it is just caramalised onions and cheese on puff pastry so v easy) : http://tlt-thelittlethings.com/2012/03/25/...cheese-or-feta/
you can make one big one on a tray and cut it into slices

Also these Cheese and spinach filo pies (in a muffin tin) http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/23598/spin...heese+filo+pies

I am also thinking about these spiced cauliflower patties:
http://twospoons.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/...flower-patties/

we have done all of the above for BBQ's in the past. very easy and they go like hotcakes for vegetarians and meat eaters alike.

also remember to make sure there a vegetarian salads. Obvious point probably haha. But sometimes people just chuck ham or bacon into a salad and then the vegetarian person cant eat it. they seem to then forget that and say to the vego person "and there are heaps of salads..."
hehehe

This post has been edited by Z-girls rock: 15/11/2012, 01:37 PM

[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

Thanks everyone Some good ideas and recipes for me to look at.
She seems pretty laid back about the whole thing at the moment. She's literally just started on the whole vego thing so I don't think she really knows herself what she likes as far as non meat options.

I like the idea of a frittata or something because I know I'd at least want to eat some, and chances are everyone else would want to try some too. There'll be lots of sides so she should be ok. She's also not at all bothered by others eating meat around her, so that's a bonus.