A vegetarian hosting meat eaters?

Question

I am a lifelong vegetarian, but I appreciate the fact that others eat meat. So I am having some people over for dinner next week who are meat eaters and I don’t know what to cook. I had them over once before and cooked Mediterranean chicken breasts separately to go with our bow tie pasta, salad, and bread. I really don’t want to do that again but I’m at a loss for other menus that would include a meat but not be the main dish. Help!

Answer 1

I'm a meat eater and I find it wonderful that you are trying to accomodate your guests preferences despite your own preferences. As a meat eater, I would do the same for you if you came to my house to eat. I would be careful to keep the meat separate (no casserole type things) from the other dishes I served in order to allow you to eat what you are used to. (Unannounced dinner guests would be a different story though) So often people think that vegetarians and meat eaters cannot sit at the same table, so to speak, and I am so excited to see your willingness!! Awesome!
With that said: Parmesan Chicken works great with most pasta's. You can use any cut of chicken and dredge it in a mixture of flour, parmesan, and a little pepper. This can be baked or pan-fried.

Depending on what part of the country you are from, changes meat preferences as well. But chicken is pretty standard no matter what. As far as your main dish remaining the pasta, don't worry about it. The main dish is whatever you place at the center of the table, typically the largest dish.

Again, thank you for willingness to appease all appetites. The world needs more people like you who are accepting of those who are different from one's self.

Answer 2

From a meat eatter to a vegetarian:

I occassionally just fix a totally non meat meal for my family for a change. I have made stir fry veggie dinners with nappa cabbage, onions, and carrots. Another one they like is carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, bean sprouts, bok choy or nappa cabbage, snow peas or frozen green peas (the canned ones don't work to well in this).

Also there are cauliflower and broccoli casseroles that are great to eat. Not to mention kiches (sp).

Potatoe soups.

Any of the last three I mentioned, I use the bacon bits in a jar from hormel if I feel the need to use the bacon in them. That way you don't have to buy the bacon to cook for it since you don't eat meat yourself.

Also, for the potatoe soup and the casseroles and kiches, add the bacon bits in at the very end before baking it. That way if you choose to have some without the meat you can pour some in a different dish to bake before adding the bacon bits.

Answer 3

When I visit people that I know are vegetarians, I don't expect them to cook me a meat meal. That said, if you want the meat dish to be in keeping with your pasta & salad theme, consider something like a chicken pasta salad.

Answer 4

I think you should cook them a nice Vegetarian Meal. They need to be more educated on the subject anyways. When you cook them your vegetarian meal, you will prove to them that being vegetarian doesn't mean going hungry, show them that you can make a nice hearty meal. Maybe some of them will convert from meat eaters to vegetarians!

Here's a vegetarian recipe you could try

Ingredients

2 cups Arborio rice
8 oz mushrooms, chopped (I use button but any kind will do)
1/2 cup dried shitake mushroom
1 pint vegetable broth
1 large white onion diced
1 clove garlic minced
olive oil
black truffle oil (optional but it really adds a lot)

Directions:

1) Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear.

2) Heat vegetable broth to a simmer, leave on burner on low heat.

3) Soak dried mushrooms in really hot water, set aside.

4) Saute mushrooms in olive oil over medium high heat until well cooked, set aside.

5) Saute onions in olive oil over medium high heat until translucent, add garlic and cook a minute more.

6) Add rinsed rice to oniongarlic mushroom and cook for 3-5 minutes over medium heat.

7) Add one ladleful of broth (about 1/2 cup or so) and stir constantly, when broth is absorbed repeat process adding only one ladleful at time. This will take about 20 minutes. If you run out of broth you can use hot water.

Cool Add all the mushrooms (cooked and soaked).

9) Season to taste.

10) Drizzle with truffle oil and serve.

I know there are a lot of steps but they are easy and it is so good. Sometimes I add sun dried tomatoes or asparagus or substitute other types of mushrooms. ENJOY!

Serves: 4-6

Preparation time: 20 prep, 22 cooking time

Have Fun and Good Luck!

Answer 5

Here is a recipe I make quite often even though I am a meat eater.

Stuffed Green Chilies

3 cans whole chilies, rinsed
1 can black beans, rinsed
1 can of chopped tomatoes
1 sm. yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1/2 C heavy cream
cheddar and Monterrey jack shredded chz
chopped fresh parley...about 1/4 cup

in sauce pan, cook onion a garlic in olive oil until soft. Add tomatoes, parsley, salt and pepper. Simmer for about 20 mins.

stuff chilies with beans and some cheese. place down center of baking dish. pour heavy cream over. spoon tomato mixture down center, sprinkle cheddar down one side, Monterrey down the other. Bake 350 for about 25 min.

Good served with spanish rice, guac and chips.


You might need to double the recipe depending on how many people. The chilies are small.

Answer 6

I would stick with what you know how to prepare well and enjoy making--although steer clear of ingredients that non-vegetarians might be a little skittish about (ie, tofu). I am not a vegetarian, although I rarely eat meat, and one of my favorite things to prepare for guests is vegetarian lasagna. It's a hearty dish full of fiber, so even if someone was hoping for a meat dish, it is likely that they will be completely satisfied. Good luck!

Answer 7

I'd say to bring out your best vegetarian dishes that even meat-eaters like. You don't HAVE to serve them meat, they probably get plenty. But I wouldn't give them all sorts of rice, lentils, beans and tofu, either.

How abotu:

++Eggplant Parmesan
++Pasta
++Garlic Bread
++Big Italian Salad w/ olives, parm chz, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, capers, what have you
++Tiramisu or Italian Cream Cake for dessert

They'll never miss the meat!

Answer 8

If you have been a life long vegetarian...then cook what you do best.....cook a vegetarian meal for them, they really would appreciate how well and tasty it can be done......I would say stick to the basics though, not everyone like a lot of the dishes vegetarians eat......good luck

Answer 9

I say introduce them to a nice vegetarian dish, you do not have to tell them you are vegetarian, just tell them you made a vegetarian dish.

Just do not do anything to strange sounding stay away from like tofu and soy in the name,people tend to think that is wiered or something.

I am sure you willl find something delicious and they (if they are openminded) will love to try a new type of quisine, just do not anger them (I doubt you would) by pushing anything on them just present it to them and talk about how you made it then kinda move on unless they wanna talk about. Its a good idea to do this because people think all us vegetarians/vegans are crazy peta terrorist who dress up in pig costumes and hold up pictures of dead cows.

Show them that the reality is a nice, delicious healthy diet.

Answer 10

i dont think you should cook them a dish with meat in it because they are meat eaters. give them a taste of a vegetarian dish. anyone could enjoy a vegetarian dish, no matter if they are a vegetarian or not. try that. they might like it.