Vegetarian Dinner Party Menu Ideas

Vegetarian Dinner Party Menu Ideas
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Vegetarian dinner party menus ideas are a snap when you pick an ethnic or holiday theme. For instance, select a cuisine like Mexican or have a Memorial Day party. This party planning method conveniently narrows down the choice of dishes you prepare and makes it easier to select complementary flavors. Create healthier recipes by using organic ingredients, lean proteins and whole grains.

East Asian Menu

Create an East Asian dinner party menu for your vegetarian guests, inspired by recipes from the American Diabetes Association. Start your meal in the living room with mini-spring rolls appetizers accompanied by a spicy Thai peanut sauce made from a blend of peanut-butter, ginger, honey and soy sauce. Come to the table for a second course of freshly shredded cabbage and carrot salad tossed with chopped scallions, sesame seeds and an Asian vinaigrette. Serve a main course of vegetable lo mein, a stir-fry dish with noodles and vegetables. Be creative and choose any mixture of vegetables and soy products you desire. Dessert for this dinner party includes chocolate-covered crystallized ginger, fresh orange wedges and a cup of hot oolong tea.

French Bread Pizza

Make your own French bread pizza is an interactive vegetarian dinner party menu idea, inspired by a recipe from "Yoga Journal." This recipe is great for family nights and parties where kids are present; however, children should not operate the oven. Place a large basket of French bread sliced into pizza-sized portions on a table, surrounded by vegetarian toppings. Include an assortment of cheeses like parmesan, ricotta and mozzarella, along with sauces such as marinara and pesto. Vegans can omit the cheese or eat dairy-free cheese without casein, a milk protein. Put out several kinds of mock meat, including taco-flavored crumbles, soy sausage and tempeh bacon. Broccoli, olives, chopped onion and other vegetables round out the topping options for this vegetarian dinner. Heat the oven to 375 degrees, and bake the pizzas for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve with an easy dessert of soy ice cream, topped with chocolate syrup and sliced bananas.

Barbeque

Host an outdoor vegetarian barbeque. This vegetarian dinner party, inspired by a recipe from the American Dietetic Association, looks like a classic Fourth of July meal. Serve tofu hot dogs and mock-meat hamburgers with all the fixings. Skewer marinated chunks of fresh vegetables and roast them on the barbeque to make kabobs. Classic recipes for macaroni and potato salads are already vegetarian and do not require modifications. Make them vegan by using vegan mayonnaise in place of conventional mayonnaise. Place bowls filled with your favorite potato and corn chips on the table. An assortment of vegan and vegetarian dessert options top off the barbecue. Brownies, cupcakes or a fresh fruit salad with a dairy-free soy-yogurt dressing finish off this vegetarian feast.

References

Article reviewed by Paula Martinac Last updated on: Aug 11, 2011

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