I have friends coming over for dinner on Sunday. One of them is "Vegan"...no meat no dairy...I do not think she eats fish. I will figure out something for everyone who is non Vegan that is easy. But what can I fix for her that is a "main dish" other than a salad. Any ideas...thanks.

This website has some interesting recipes

http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/index.php

I would go with a either rice or quinoa as a casserole type concoction with vegetables and some kind of lentil, black bean or other bean addition for the protein. I really like the taste of red quinoa. I'm not vegetarian by the way, maybe a member who is will add more ideas.

It would be helpful to have an idea what you're planning for the meat-eaters, so that we don't provide recipes that require large amounts of work or ingredients aside from what else you're making. For example, I have a couple of good vegan stew recipes but if nothing overlaps with what you're making for the others, it would be a pain to do for one person.

Also, depending on your other main course, you might well be able to adapt for the vegan without making a whole separate meal.

Thanks for the ideas. I think I will try to keep it simple. I will do pasta with two sauces amd a salad. One meat sauce and one without meat. I will look for another side veggie dish. Any other ideas let me know. I was going to make two different dinners....and you are right that is too much work.

I often make a vegan "bolognese" sauce by adding finely chopped, sautéed cremini mushrooms & cooked lentils instead of meat & cheese. Should be made a day ahead though, so the flavors can develop for a while. Since lentils don't have much flavor, season liberally with herbs & a tiny pinch of red pepper flake.

I wouldn't hesitate to serve this to non-vegans along with a big bowl of Parmiggiano-Reggiano for them to put on top. If you make it nice & thick & flavorful, no one but the most confirmed carnivore will miss the meat.

Sautéed Italian green beans with caramelized shallots make a nice side for pasta with red sauce.

...or if there are some really confirmed carnivores, also fix some veal parmesan, or something similar..

Great idea Carol!

Or some balsamic grilled chicken, or meatballs...

Pasta certainly seems the best option!

Pasta might not be vegan - check the ingredients! Eggs are considered non grata for some vegans!

That's a good point, when we make fresh pasta we don't put eggs in the dough so I might not have thought of checking the ingredients. I just checked the ingredients on the Barilla box of both spaghetti and rigatoni and neither have eggs, nor does our bag of real Italian spaghetti from the import store, so I don't think you'll have an issue there. Gluten-free vegan would have you buying some kind of other than wheat based pasta but even that is readily available now a days.

We make a lot of our own pasta & we definitely use eggs but in our supermarket the only one with eggs is the $9 a box stuff! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Tonguea.gif" alt="" />

We make a lot of our own too but definitely don't use eggs! You can make great pasta without them and a lot of authentic italian pastas don't have them either (which is what inspired my husband to try it without one time and we've never gone back.) I'm not saying that you shouldn't use them if you want to but that good pasta can be made without them.

This is a little hands-on extensive (about 25 minutes of almost constant stirring) but the results are well worth the effort!
makes a good main dish (for the vegans) or side dish (for the meat eaters in your group)...
gluten free, if you use a gluten free veg. stock...
Mushroom Risotto

Oh you are right about the eggs. I will go to my local heath food store and see what they have. I am not up for making my own pasta. The mushroom risotto looks like a winner too.

You don't need to go to the health food store, Barilla pasta is most grocery stores, seriously, a lot of pasta does NOT have eggs!!!!!!! I'm not making this up! Check the ingredients on the boxes at your regular grocery store before making a special trip.

Chappy,
Some Vegans can be pretty picky. I would call her or her husband to see what dishes she likes. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

I've never seen Spaghetti, Linguini,or other similar pastas that are made with eggs in the ingredients.
Now Egg noodles are another story.

Wow, sail445, so long as the dish is really vegan, I don't see how she could complain too much??

I wish it was that easy..

I know some vegans who won't eat egg plant and some who won't have anything with peppers and others who won't eat from a kitchen that's prepping and cooking meat products.
Also the foods have to be 100% organic and no white pasta,rice or breads.

I guess they would go hungry the night they visited my house. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

Gee, if they are that picky, they probably should not accept anyone's invitation to dine at their house.

Orange Burst and Carol,
Some are totally unreasonable and some aren't.. It's a gamble and they're proud of being vegans like they're special and everyone should envy them. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />
I don't let it bother me, I just order a big juicy steak and a good bottle of wine. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

To me, it's a different situation when you are going out to a restaurant. I agree with you there, I order whatever I like and enjoy myself regardless. But if you are going to someone's house for a meal, you should show your host some common courtesy, which to me means, don't come to dinner at my house if you are going to be unreasonable.

I agree 100%.
Luckily most people go out to have fun and enjoyable evening

Seems as though being THAT picky would be a full-time job! It's one thing to eat healthy & take a stand about not eating animals, but it would be outrageously difficult AND expensive to maintain that stringent a diet.

The OP is probably worried! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> But I doubt most vegans would be that hard to please. No animal products should be just fine.

Thanks for clearing up the eggs in the pasta issue. I am sure my vegan dinner quest will appreciate the effort and pasta, salad and another veggie side dish will be just fine. You saved me a trip way across town to the health food store. Thanks again.

The grocery stores in Italy mostly stock Barilla pasta. Americans are the only ones willing to pay the price of the expensive brands!!

For most vegans it is a full time job especially in the Caribbean unless you hang out in the mountains with the Rastafarians.
I know a couple that Fed-ex cases of food a day before they arrive.
It's almost like being a Junkie.

Guess that's why every strict vegan I've ever known is pale & scrawny. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

The Night of the Living Dead <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />