Menu Ideas
A Vegan Dinner Party
In the culinary world, vegans tend to get a bad rap. They're stereotyped as anemic zealots, ready to crash our dinner parties wielding stalks of celery as they try to force us to shun meat. In reality, vegan food can be a goldmine of adventurous flavors for even the most carnivorous amongst us.
Armed with this knowledge and a dose of healthy curiosity, we challenged ourselves to come up with an complete plant-based feast that celebrates vegetables in an entirely indulgent way.
First, we'll start with some appetizers...
Pain a l'Ancienne by thirschfeld 
Fig and Olive Tapenade by Kayb
Meg's Marinated Mushrooms by hardlikearmour
and a drink (of course).
Green with Envy by gingerroot
Then there's your requisite bowl of soup...
Paul Bertolli's Cauliflower Soup by Genius Recipes 
leading up to the main course...
Fregola Sarda with Caramelized Squash and Charmoula by porktopurslane 
which is accompanied by three lovely sides.
Pink Greens by Marissa Grace 
Beets and Herbs Salad by amanda
A Medley of Roasted Potatoes with Homemade Za'atar & Aleppo Pepper by onetribegourmet 
And we would never, ever leave you hanging when it comes to dessert.
Coconut Cajeta Chocolate Fondue by hardlikearmour
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Tags: vegan, dinner party, vegetarian, entertaining, menu ideas, menu, vegetables, dairy-free
Gabriella Paiella
With an Egyptian mother, an Italian father, and a last name that sounds all too similar to a certain Spanish rice dish, I had no choice but to grow up with an adventurous palate. I technically studied anthropology in college, but found a way to incorporate food into academics as much as possible: I focused my research on food as the intersection of culture, politics, economics, and the environment. Afterwards, I moved to New York to pursue a career in writing and editing (and eating). Most importantly, I am always on the search for the perfect french fry.
Comments (5)
about 1 year ago onetribegourmet
I recently became a vegetarian and am always looking for dinner ideas! Thank you for using my roasted potatoes with za'atar as an option!
about 1 year ago Umami
Yes, I agree with susan g. This would make a delicious dinner but the addition of some nuts, beans and pulses would be necessary for anyone who eats this way more than occasionally.
about 1 year ago Arathi
I love this! I've been wanting to have a dinner party for a vegan friend and I had a lot of different menu options but wasn't sure if they all want together. This is great!
about 1 year ago foodie-pretense
Glad to see a diverse spread of starches represented.
about 1 year ago susan g
I'd be happy to sit down to this meal -- colors, textures, flavors abound. In a vegan or vegetarian meal, the distinction between 'main course' and 'sides' breaks down. As you show, a variety of dishes can all contribute to make a complete 'whole.' I do, however, have to ask the classic question, where's the protein? While all whole foods are likely to have at least minimal amounts, I (veg since 1977) do look to my beans, grains, nuts and seeds for that balance. Protein requirements are often overstated, but let's keep it all in mind -- fruit & veg, good carbs, good fats and some more obvious protein too.