Faithr Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 My 23 yo son has become vegetarian. I am trying to think up something nice for him to eat while everyone else is chowing down on their duck or roast beef (I usually do one or the other for Christmas dinner). Any suggestions? He is not a vegan (yet). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 We have meatless baked ziti as an option, but spinach lasagna is also good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 We cook vegetarian fried noodles as the main dish. Then put the meat as side dishes (ingredients to pile on to the main dish). Cook any noodle/pasta Fry whatever vegetables you have in the house Add the cooked noodles Add soy sauce and any other seasoning you like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Cheese stuffed shells or veggie lasagna are hits here. I've made cheese ravioli or pirogues but probably wouldn't want to do that just for one person. But you can buy either frozen. Assuming there are side dishes he can eat, what about making some fancy appetizer to complement those? Like stuffed mushrooms or something. Pinterest should have lots of vegetarian appetizer ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 I like the mushroom idea plus maybe add another side dish. We've tried noodles as the veggie main dish at Thanksgiving and imo they didn't go well with traditional side dishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 (edited) all our sides are vegetarian, and many even vegan. We had several vegetarian guests for Thanksgiving and had roasted Brussel sprouts baked yams red cabbage celeriac root puree roasted beets and carrots salad Edited December 17, 2015 by regentrude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 I'd make homemade baked mac and cheese, and then make sure the other sides are all vegetarian. I'd also look at some way to work in nuts, like a salad with almonds, and some pine nuts on the roasted broccoli or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Honestly, I would just ask him. Carbs are a poor substitute for dinner in general. I can't really imagine being served Mac and cheese as an adult while others are having real food? I've been in that situation and found it really uncomfortable. Does he eat fish or seafood? Is there any reason the rest of the family can't join him? Will he feel singled out with a "special dish" just for him, or can you incorporate plenty of veggie friendly proteins into the rest of your dinner, served alongside your meat? If he's made this decision as an adult, he's not likely to feel left out of eating your meat dishes (he has strong enough reasons for going vegetarian, I assume). I always find it's better to offer many dishes both vegetarian and not and allow people to choose as they will, rather than single one person out. Hope that makes sense. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 I have done acorn squash baked with stuffing. You could add pine nuts for some protein. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 Eggplant parmigiana with side of pasta and salad 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 (edited) I recommended this as a main dish for my newly vegetarian friend... vegducken-best-vegetarian-thanksgiving-dish-article Edited December 17, 2015 by Sneezyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted December 17, 2015 Share Posted December 17, 2015 (edited) does he do butter/cheese/eggs? spanakopeta (greek spinach and egg "pie" in phyllo) . . . I took a meal to a woman who could *not* eat meat when she was pg. (it made her sick for some reason.). she absolutely loved it and wanted the recipe. I can eat it for every meal until it's gone. eta: to fix a grammar error. sigh. Edited December 18, 2015 by gardenmom5 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthyfamily Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 We're vegetarian and we've always had a Tofurky roast for every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted December 18, 2015 Author Share Posted December 18, 2015 Thanks everyone! I think I came up with something. My 23 yo is a pretty easy going guy so I don't think he'll begrudge everyone else if they get some meat while he chooses not to. I think I'll go with duck but then I'll make some nice mushroom stuffed tarts, put some nice cheeses out and make lots of mashed potatoes and roasted veggies. My problem is that most of the other kids (and my dh!) don't eat many veggies. And I have two that can't stand Italian tomato sauce-y things (unless pizza - for one; the other doesn't even like pizza!). Feeding my family is always like herding cats! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I make my dad a nut roast, with tomato sauce. Everybody (even the sworn meatatarians) love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I make my dad a nut roast, with tomato sauce. Everybody (even the sworn meatatarians) love it! I have no idea what that is but it sounds really good! How do you make it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I have done acorn squash baked with stuffing. You could add pine nuts for some protein. Yes, this can be both beautiful and filling. Using a hearty grain like barley or bulgar wheat or quinoa instead of bread helps make it substantial. I sauté mushrooms, garlic, and onions, add cooked grains (cooked in a broth), and then mix with some feta or parm cheese and fresh herbs. Bake the squash separately, scrape some out and add to the mixture, then stuff, put more cheese on top, and bake again briefly. Yum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerileanne99 Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 We're vegetarian and we've always had a Tofurky roast for every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Have you tried the British company Quorn's roast?! Gorgeous:) And all Quorn products for that matter, with the exception of the ready meals. It is mycoprotein rather than soy... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3sapphires Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Mushroom tarts and roasted veggies sound wonderful! What we usually do is baked beans out of the How To Cook Everything Vegetarian (Mark Bittman) cookbook and a Rice Salad out of the Still Life with Menu cookbook (Mollie Katzen). The rice salad calls for grapes, and we use both red and green to be festive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chocolatechip Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Cheese and spinach ravioli, eggplant parmesan, white lasagna, or something else Italian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Now I'm hungry. I should never have opened this thread! :D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livetoread Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Have you tried the British company Quorn's roast?! Gorgeous:) And all Quorn products for that matter, with the exception of the ready meals. It is mycoprotein rather than soy... I really like their stuff, especially since I like to eat soy closer to its original form and not in the concentrated form like in so many fake meat products. A little bit ago our grocery had all Quorn on sale for 50% off. I went for three days in a row and cleaned them out each time. My upright freezer is full of orange boxes😄 I haven't seen the roast though; I'll have to keep an eye out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerileanne99 Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I really like their stuff, especially since I like to eat soy closer to its original form and not in the concentrated form like in so many fake meat products. A little bit ago our grocery had all Quorn on sale for 50% off. I went for three days in a row and cleaned them out each time. My upright freezer is full of orange boxes😄 I haven't seen the roast though; I'll have to keep an eye out. 😄*snicker* My deep freeze is full for the same reason:) The roast is awesome...and if you can find the guerriere cheese cutlets, make room in that freezer for them! Along the British theme, Bisto gravy granules are one of life's little miracles for me. YEARS of horrid vegetarian gravy from packets at functions of all sorts before hubby introduced me to Bisto. I would have married him for that alone. Maybe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earthyfamily Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 Have you tried the British company Quorn's roast?! Gorgeous:) And all Quorn products for that matter, with the exception of the ready meals. It is mycoprotein rather than soy... We haven't tried it before. Something really icks me out knowing what it is, hehe. 😄*snicker* My deep freeze is full for the same reason:) The roast is awesome...and if you can find the guerriere cheese cutlets, make room in that freezer for them! Along the British theme, Bisto gravy granules are one of life's little miracles for me. YEARS of horrid vegetarian gravy from packets at functions of all sorts before hubby introduced me to Bisto. I would have married him for that alone. Maybe. I've never heard of Bisto gravy granules but I will definitely look for them! We eat A LOT of British foods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I'd just let him knock himself out with a plethora of side dishes unless he has a specific request. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I have no idea what that is but it sounds really good! How do you make it?PM'd you the recipe! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaelAldrich Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 PM'd you the recipe! and if the rest of wanted to know..... :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 (edited) and if the rest of wanted to know..... :DWell....This is the "original" recipe. I buy cashews or hazelnuts, usually without skin, but raw and unsalted, then I chop them in the food processor until they are like big breadcrumbs. Too much and you get butter, lol. I usually double or triple this recipe. I roast it in a Corelle casserole dish thing. I've seen people do it in a loaf pan and it's a tough crunchy mess. For the tomato sauce, I have been known to substitute a can of tomato soup and add sherry to it... Edited December 18, 2015 by arctic_bunny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RKWAcademy Posted December 18, 2015 Share Posted December 18, 2015 I make stuffed mushrooms a lot. Very filling. It's usually a side around here but could easily be part of a full meal with another substantial dish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted December 19, 2015 Share Posted December 19, 2015 I had a vegan shepherd's pie at work the other day. Maybe something to investigate for next time. I think it had lentils in it. Delicious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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