Host A Vegetarian Friendly Dinner

Faced with hosting a dinner party for a combination of omnivores and vegetarians? Follow a simple model to create an enjoyable evening for everyone, including you.

Hosting a dinner party of any size can be a daunting challenge for a home chef. Finding out that a vegetarian or vegan is on the invitation list can add additional complexity and stress to the event, especially for cooks with limited experience with vegetarian cuisine.

The following steps describe how to determine the needs of the guests and how to create a flawless meal while minimizing any extra work for the cook.

Understand is what the different “veg” terms mean

Vegetarians generally eat dairy and eggs, but be sure to ask.
Vegans do not eat any animal products (including honey).

Determine what the restrictions are and incorporate them

Don’t be afraid to ask guests what their dietary restriction are. Vegetarians are comfortable with explaining their restrictions and will be relieved that you are taking them into consideration. Once the restrictions are known, it is easy to tailor a meal to meet the needs of all of the guests.

At the same time, don’t make vegetarian guests feel uncomfortable by making a big deal out of the fact that they were taken into consideration. Avoid making a “special dish” just for them or pointing it out in front of the party. Simply incorporate them into the flow of dinner and avoid making a show of it.

Don’t go too far out of your “comfort zone” either. Don’t test a new vegan recipe that calls for unfamiliar ingredients. Stick with what familiar recipes, but be open to slight modifications.

The “Wheel Model”

An easy model to use for each course is to create a central item that meets the strictest needs, then build off of that by offering additional meat and dairy items. Think of each course as a wheel: the “hub” is the vegan or vegetarian dish, and the “spokes” are the meat and dairy items that can be added at serving time.

A sample dinner menu using the Wheel Model

Appetizers are fairly easy: start out with some fruits and vegetables as the central focus. Offer cheeses, meats, dips and pastries as accompaniments.

For salads, follow the same line of thinking: create a simple salad with vegetables, allowing guests to add their own toppings and dressing from separate bowls.

The main course might pasta cooked with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and lots of fresh vegetables. You might try a dish such as “ratatouille”, a simple vegan dish. (Click here for the recipe.) Serve additions such as cheese, sausage, chicken or meatballs on the side. Offering a dish such as a roast is fine as long as there is an entree that can be enjoyed by all.

Dessert can be a tricky proposition with vegan guests, since few traditional dessert items are vegan. A fruit salad will be a hit with all of the guests and can be served alongside more luscious desserts for more flexible diners.

A few more items to consider when preparing your meal

If using a stock for a soup or sauce, make sure that it is vegetarian, as most stocks are chicken or beef based. Vegetarian bullion and stock is available in most grocery stores.
Worcestershire sauce contains anchovies, which most vegetarians do not eat. Avoid using it as a flavoring.
Caesar salad dressing contains anchovies.
Be sure to read the ingredient list of any prepared foods that you are adding to ensure they are consistent with the restrictions.

Using the wheel metaphor allows you to create a pleasant experience for all of the guests without putting having to create two separate menus. Then all that is left is to relax and enjoy your dinner party!