What vegetarian dishes do non-vegetarians really like?

Question

No tofu/'meat substitute' stuff. Just good, solid, hearty recipes that happen to have no meat. (Or fish. Eggs and dairy are fine, though -- vegetarian, not vegan.) I'm not thinking of anything too exotic, either -- more the sorts of things you might serve to meat-and-potatoes types if you didn't cook meat yourself.

Okay: I said no fish, no tofu. And Caesar salad isn't even vegetarian...

No wonder this is always so hard.

A good-quality scratch mac-and-cheese is good, yes. So is ratatouille (though that sort of thing isn't always a hit with the meat-n-potatoes-only sorts). More answers, please...!

Answer 1

CAESAR SALAD... maybe

You think this is not vegetarian... em , OK how about taking away the anchovy and add back some other vegetables

1 large head romaine lettuce
1 cup olive oil
3 cups French or Italian bread
2 large cloves garlic
8 anchovy filets
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoon lemon juice (fresh is best)
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon coarse ground salt
2 egg yolks for large eggs, at room temperature*
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved

Trim the romaine lettuce of bruised or browned leaves, then cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Wash and drain the lettuce, pat it dry and refrigerate for 30 minutes to crisp the leaves.

To make the croutons, cut the bread into cubes, heat the 1/2 cup olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Fry the bread cubes in the oil, tossing frequently, until they're crisp and golden. Drain the croutons on a paper towel until ready to use.

Peel the garlic cloves then put in a large wooden salad bowl. Mash the cloves against the sides of the bowl with the back of a wooden spoon. Rub the pieces against the bowl until they begin to disintegrate. Remove most of the mashed garlic from the bowl and discard (oil from the garlic will remain in the bowl and flavor the salad).

Add the anchovies and repeat the procedure you used with the garlic, but leave the anchovy pieces in the bowl. Now add the dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, black pepper, and egg yolks and blend well. Slowly drizzle in the remaining olive oil mixing with a wire whisk until a creamy mayonnaise type dressing forms.

Add the lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese and salt. Toss everything together and serve directly from the salad bowl!

*Note: The original recipe may have called for coddled whole eggs (warmed to 120F degrees, to coddle simmer in water 1 minute and cool in cold water) so they are soft and runny. Some chefs who make this salad today use the whole egg at room temperature.

Ref http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1715,134177-248192,00.html

This is another recipe from the NET called Vegetarian Caesar Salad but really sorry there's tofu http://www.care2.com/channels/solutions/food/932

... other answers might suit your better

Answer 2

Does vegetarian pizza count? Because it's my favourite kind. Oh, and mediterannean (which, I guess, is also vegetarian!)!

Vietnamese salad rolls are *amazing*. Great appetizer, and you can even let guests make their own! Just make the noodles and soften the paper before hand. I love them with hoisin sauce.

Pasta primavera. Just grilled or fried veggies tossed with pasta and olive oil. Some recipes cook the veggies with chicken stock (I think), but it's way better without it.

Hmm... what else? Oh, paninis! Well, not all of them, obviously, but my favourite is tomato, basil, and mozza (*real* mozza). You don't even have to grill it, although it is better when it's grilled and the cheese melts...

Vegetable quesadillas... a few kinds of cheese and some cooked peppers and onions tossed between two tortillas, then grill... *so* good. You can add black beans if you want more of a mexican flavour.

That's all I can think of right now. And wow, I'm hungry now. And a lot of my favourite dishes are vegetarian, I didn't even realize that! Still couldn't give up chicken, though...

Answer 3

Vegetable quiche
get a frozen pie crust and let it thaw.
Steam some veggies (like broccoli, carrots, spinach, etc) when cooked, put in the pie crust, add some cubed cheese if you want. Beat 4-5 eggs with a little halh&half and some fresh or dried herbs (i like fresh basil), pour in the crust, top with grated cheese, and bake about 45 minuted at 375-400 (to test readiness, poke with a fork). I also like to put some suated garlic and onions in there.
Any non-vegetarian will love it.
For a greek variation, use steamed spinach, onions, garlic, crumbled feta cheese, oregano, and top with a mild cheddar, or just some more feta cheese.

Answer 4

For something very simple to make and tasty at the same time, try a black bean burger. Take a can or two (depending upon how big you want your burgers) of black beans and smash them completely. Mix with an egg and your favorite spices (some of my favorites are Cumin, Garlic & Onion Powder). I also chop up fresh red and/or green peppers and add them to the mix. Form patties from the mixture and put on your stovetop grill. Grill until done. Add your favorite toppings.

Answer 5

I make a wild rice casserole that vegetarians and non-vegetarians both seem to really like. All it consists of is the following, in any quantity that you want to make:

Cooked brown and wild rice (packaged or homemade)
Peeled and diced apples (Jonathans are excellent)
Cheese (sharp Cheddar is particularly good, as is Monterey Jack)
Nuts (Cashews or almonds are nice)
Diced celery

Mix as much or as little of the ingredients together as you want, heat, and serve. You can vary the type of cheese and nuts, and you can substitute fresh pears, Madarin orange slices, or other fruits for the apples.

Answer 6

Try some stuffed manicotti. Cook manicotti pasta (large pasta tubes, about 1" diameter and 4" long) til almost done. Fill with a mixture of ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese. bake with your favorite Italian tomato sauce over the top.

Real good and hearty and no one will even think about the fact that it's meatless.

Answer 7

How about eggplant parmesan.
It is one of my favorite dishes simple and filling. You could also do a portebello mushroom lasagne with a alfredo sauce.
layer the mushrooms in where you would normally put your meat. Jazz it up with some color with spinach if you like.

Answer 8

Vegetarian Pasta

INGREDIENTS

* 1 (15.5 ounce) can great northern beans, rinsed and drained
* 2 cups hot cooked angel hair pasta
* 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
* 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
* 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan or Romano cheese
* 1 teaspoon Minced fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

1. Place beans in a microwave-safe dish; cover and microwave on high for 2 minutes or until heated through. Place pasta in a serving bowl. Add butter and garlic salt if desired; toss until butter is melted. Add beans and cheese; toss to coat. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately.
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Vegetarian Penne

INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups uncooked penne or medium tube pasta
* 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
* 1 small yellow summer squash, sliced
* 1 small zucchini, sliced
* 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
* 1 teaspoon minced garlic
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
* 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the onion, summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms and garlic in butter until tender.
2. In a bowl, whisk the flour, seasonings and cream until smooth; add to the skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Drain pasta and add to vegetable mixture. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.
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Vegetarian Quiche

INGREDIENTS

* 1 (9 inch) unbaked pastry shell
* 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
* 1 medium green pepper, chopped
* 1 cup chopped tomatoes
* 1/2 cup chopped zucchini
* 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
* 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
* 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 1 pinch Pinch ground cinnamon
* 5 eggs
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Line unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Reduce heat to 350 degrees F.
2. In a skillet, saute the onion, green pepper, tomatoes, zucchini and mushrooms in butter. Add the curry powder, salt, pepper and cinnamon; mix well. Spoon into crust.
3. In a bowl, beat eggs. Add the milk and cheese; mix well. Carefully pour over vegetables. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting.
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Hope I helped!
Good luck!

Answer 9

My mom makes a fantastic green bean casserole every Thanksgiving.

I also like various kinds of beans, and garlic mashed potatoes.

Answer 10

My favorite question of the day.

Answer: tofu that tastes like meat. OMG it is so good.

From the chinese restaurant, get Chinese Brocolli. It is flavored with brown sauce. It is quite tasty really.