How To Cook For A Vegetarian Guest
Today’s feature is from Bohemian Revolution with Cooking for Vegetarian Guests:
As people get more aware of vegetarianism, and the various types of vegetarians/vegans or reasons for vegetarianism, I hear a lot of people expressing confusion or anxiety around how to make sure a vegetarian guest will be happy with a meal.
Quick Takeaways:
- Skip the bacon bits on salads, but feel free to serve on the side if you like
- Even though meat can be picked out of some dishes once cooked, the taste of meat will still be in the food and that’s not pleasant for your guest
- Feel free to request some recipes from your vegetarian guest ahead of time, or welcome them to bring a dish for everyone to try
- The choice not to eat meat is a personal one, “Why don’t you eat meat” might not be a great starter at a dinner party
Check out the site for all the tips and details, this really is a nice post to read if you’re shaky on how to make sure your non-meat eating friends will enjoy themselves at dinner.
Curious, does anyone not invite someone to dinner or out for lunch because that person is a vegetarian (because you aren’t sure how to accommodate them or aren’t comfortable eating meat in front of them)?
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Posted in Pantry | 
( 11 )
05 May 2008 at 2:00 pm
Picking the meat out isn’t really an option because the meat juices get all over the rest of the food. Cook it seperate. Also, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
Another tip is that geletain IS an anmial porduct. I was suprised at how few people realized this.
Mostly I cook an extra vegetable dish, and I always ask if the vegetarian guest eats dairy or is vegan.
05 May 2008 at 3:11 pm
If one is not comfortable eating meat in front of a non-meat eater then that person may have problems themselves with eating meat and may not know how to handle it. Guilt much?
05 May 2008 at 3:18 pm
I like to make a veggie quiche.. I don’t measure, but there aren’t too many rules here. Saute some zucchini, garlic, and onion, and slice some tomatoes. Mix this with your favorite chunked or crumbled, or shredded cheese - I like swiss and/or feta. If you like, add some cooked, chopped spinach or anything else you come up with. I like to add some oregano, salt, and peppet too but herbs are optional. The goal is to make enough veggies, cheese, and spices to fill the quiche or pie pans. Oil the pie or quiche pans with olive oil, or PAM and dump the mix into them. Now mix up some eggs, milk, and if you have it, sour cream. Make enough of this to fill up the pans to the brim. I usually use 4-5 eggs for a large quiche pan or 3 eggs for a pie pan, about 1/4 c or more of sour cream and I totally eyeball the milk, mixing to make a creamy mixture. Pour over veggies and cheese - bake at 400 for 40-45 min till set in center. Even the most die hard meat eater will like this one!
05 May 2008 at 5:06 pm
I don’t invite some vegetarians, especially vegans, to eat at my home because they are so self righteous about their choices that it’s just rude, and they are also obnoxiously picky about the amount of fat in foods. I wouldn’t go to their home and question every ingredient in the food and criticize their lifestyle choices. Bad manners. Accept hospitality graciously, including foods you don’t like or normally eat!
05 May 2008 at 5:41 pm
de,
Before going on about someone being “self-rightous” perhaps you should look in the mirror and read your own comment.
Just saying…
05 May 2008 at 8:13 pm
This is a great tip! I am vegetarian with a vegan bent and my son has allergies to milk, egg, peanuts & treenuts - hence my vegan tendencies. While I will absolutely insist on having safe choices for my son, I’m not so big on speaking up for my own choices. Friends seem to be much more receptive and supportive of my diet; family has a long way to go. I know that for myself, before becoming vegetarian and before my son’s allergies, I was always sensitive to everyone’s diet. We all need to respect each other.
05 May 2008 at 8:28 pm
I am not a vegetarian but have friends that are. A person who has been a vegetarian for a long time may actually feel nauseated or sick at the taste of meat. In a dish where a meat eater can’t taste the meat, a vegetarian can. After a long time without meat your stomach has trouble digesting it. You certainly don’t want a sick guest. It’s similar to cooking for an allergy. My mother is allergic to corn and dairy, which is in EVERYTHING, and she can’t hardly go out because people think she is exaggerating or “a little is ok, she won’t know it’s there.” Even if you think someone’s dietary needs are ridiculous, respect what they tell you. I don’t avoid inviting vegetarians, all you have to do is ask them what they need, they are accustomed to telling people.
06 May 2008 at 6:35 am
I agree with Christense. Vegetarian recipes are readily available on the internet, in the library, etc. Wouldn’t it be a culinary adventure for some to serve an all vegetarian meal? I think Americans eat way too much meat. I also think it’s kind of an adventure for anyone to eat at someone’s house anyway, so embrace it! I have been vegetarian for 20 years. Most of my invited guests are meat eaters. I don’t cook meat for them as it truly does nauseate me. When invited to dinner, I am usually able to find a meatless side dish. (I sometimes quietly ask the host/hostess ahead of time) I don’t expect special treatment. I don’t make any of this the topic of conversation at these meals because it is like discussing politics! Meat eaters and vegetarians alike need to accept hospitality graciously. Let’s all respect each other’s differences as Nikki said. I don’t think De’s experiences with vegan guests are the norm.
06 May 2008 at 9:06 am
I really enjoy cooking for vegetarians because it forces me to come up with good, meat-free ideas. I am not vegetarian, but I am always trying to add more vegetables into my diet. So now I’m getting used to cooking different veggie dishes that I can also enjoy. I don’t even offer a meat alternative when I cook a veggie dish; I just make the veggie dish good enough so that everyone will enjoy it.
08 May 2008 at 3:40 pm
My daughter decided to go vegetarian several years ago. I had to learn how to cook good meals so that her nurtrition did not fail. Often times it is very easy to whip up a easy and pleasing dish -
Try this one -
Spaghetti noodles cooked in salted water (wheat noodles are wonderful); then in a small amount of olive oil, saute’ all the types of vegis you can get your hands on,(zuchinni, summer squash, bell peppers, olives, brocolli, culiflower, mushrooms,) with some nice fresh garlic! Top it off with a little fresh diced tomatoe -
OR, if you prefer -
Make a thick zesty sauce by saute’ing garlic and chopped onions until the onions are nearly see through, add in diced peppers (I like different colors jsut for a pleaseing look) and mushrooms, continue to saute’ until mushrooms are nearly tender - then add in stewed tomatoes and italian seasonings. Simmer for about 15 - 20 minutes, add sliced black olives. If the sauce is too “soupie” add a small amount of tomatoe sauce. This quick sauce can top just about anything! - noodles, rice, bread, or if you are very creative, try some fried eggplant.
Both of these ideas go nicely with chicken for the meat eaters and still makes a nice meal for anyone to enjoy.
09 May 2008 at 11:52 am
I switched to a vegetarian diet two years ago when I developed sudden food allergies and digestive problems. My sister in law is also a recent convert and I have several friends who are also vegetarian for either health or social reasons.
I would never, not invite a person to a party or dinner out based on their diet choices. Everyone has a right to make their own choices without judgment.
My husband is a meat eater. I either cook separate meals for us or cook a veggie meal and add meat to his portion. It’s much easier than people think it is.
My fav recipe of the moment; Cut grape tomatoes, marinated artichoke hearts, sliced mushrooms, {or any fresh veggies you have on hand} pine nuts and sunflowers seeds, 2-3tblspns of toasted sesame oil and a bunch of fresh cooked pasta.
Stir fry veggies and oil and add pasta at the end to heat and your done. My husband adores it! and you can easily add chopped chicken or shrimp.