Ideas To Help Your Guests Enjoy A Meatless Potluck Dinner
Serving meatless meals is becoming more and more popular. Most of us have heard of Meatless Monday, and many of us are participating in this trend. It should come as no surprise that people planning potluck dinners have jumped on this bandwagon. After all, the potluck meal is meant to please a wide variety of hungry folks, many of whom don't eat meat.
Sure, you could say there are plenty of salads at a potluck to satisfy the non-meat eaters, but that doesn't really seem fair. Shouldn't there be a healthy alternative besides some veggies and lettuce? Let's take a look at a few ideas for a well-rounded potluck menu for a meatless meal.
Beans
For those who omit meat from their diet, beans are a substantial source of protein. But, do you really want to just throw a few black beans in a pasta salad and call it good? That just looks like an after-thought, which won't gain any favor with your vegetarian friends.
When you look at the enormous variety of beans available, you can imagine the possibilities. Gather together as many beans as you can find and create a mixed bean soup, for instance. Use plenty of herbs, spices, and vegetables to fill out the pot. If you want the smoky flavor of ham in your bean soup without the ham, sprinkle in smoked paprika. Everyone, meat eater or not, can definitely appreciate this filling dish! Lentil dahl is another satisfying thick soup that is loaded with fragrant spices, making it a delight for everyone.
But, you don't have to stick with soup. Smash cooked black beans and mix with avocado (also high in protein), tomatoes, onion, and lots of spice to create a dip for crackers or bread that is out of this world. Whip up a variety of spreads like hummus using garbanzo beans, navy beans, or cannellini beans. Be sure to add lots of lime, lemon, cilantro, garlic, and spices. Use this spread to create classic pinwheels (filled tortillas, chilled, then sliced) or taquitos (tiny tortillas, filled and rolled up cigar-style).
A classic 3 Bean Salad can also be turned into a full-meal deal rather than a side dish. Again, you want as many varieties of beans as you can get. There are no rules or limits to this dish. Just make sure you include plenty of crunchy fresh vegetables to create not only a healthy dish but interesting textures and flavors. Dress the salad with light olive oil and vinegar, but go crazy with the seasonings and herbs for a truly unique offering on the potluck table.
Nuts
Little dishes of nuts scattered around the room is just wrong at a meatless potluck. The idea is to focus on the proteins, not use them as kibble. There are plenty of ways to create dishes that offer some nutty nutrition.
Add lots of crunch to a green bean casserole by adding nuts rather than the typical fried onion topping.
Almonds are a classic taste combination with beans, but any nuts will work. Combine several nuts for a surprising taste and texture and you are sure to please all your potluck guests - meatless or not.
Actually, using nuts for the crunchy texture in just about any potluck fare can work well. Make Thai inspired roll-ups using peanut butter and chopped peanuts, rolled in with cilantro, cucumbers, and bean sprouts or other greens. Are you making bean burgers or tofu burgers? Coat them with finely crushed nuts.
As a matter of fact, you can use finely crushed nuts as a substitute for coating for just about anything - oven fried mushrooms or other vegetables, for instance. Speaking of mushrooms, go ahead and stuff those big mushroom caps with crushed nuts and cheese and watch them disappear. And don't skimp on the pistachios when you add them to your fruit salad. As a matter of fact, turn the tables a little and make it a pistachio salad and sprinkle on some fruit!
Dairy
Many vegetarians still eat dairy products. If this is the case at your potluck meal, then you are free to explore the many possibilities of cheese, yogurt, milk, etc.
A plate of cheese and crackers is good, but a sizzling hot skillet of baked fontina cheese served with crusty bread is way, way better! The cheese is cubed and sprinkled with garlic, onion, and lots of fresh herbs, then put in an oiled cast iron skillet under a broiler until bubbling hot. Once melted, this cheese can be kept hot just by wrapping the skillet safely in aluminum foil and then in towels. You could also use individual broiler-proof dishes if you have them for an even more appealing meatless entree. You can make similar cheesy individual entrees in biscuit lined muffin tins.
Create cream based soups and casseroles using milk to make a white sauce, adding cheese when you desire. Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is high in protein and can be used to make salad dressings even healthier.
Vegetables
Then there are the vegetables. But, please skip the tired crudite tray of celery and carrots. Instead, opt for dishes that feature protein rich vegetables such as avocado, peas, asparagus, and dark leafy greens.
This may be the time to perfect your guacamole. But, don't just serve it as a dip, use it as a spread or a salad dressing. Sweet peas can take center stage in a cold salad mixed in with lots of cucumber, radishes, and onion. Grilled asparagus tossed with an oil and vinegar dressing, then mixed with walnuts, sweet onion, and hot pepper flakes makes a dazzling dish. Big bowls of greens dressed with hot sweet and sour sauce and covered in walnuts or pecans is also a lovely sight.
And don't forget the versatile zucchini and eggplant! These two vegetables can fill a casserole dish fast and create a rather impressive offering on a potluck table. Add layers of cheese, onions, and tomatoes and even the hungriest folks will be satisfied with this meatless dish.
You don't have to subject your non-meat eating friends to a boring arrangement of lettuce salads at your next potluck meal. Throw a meatless potluck and get everybody thinking about what splendid dishes they can offer that are filling, nutritious, and delicious, and without a bit of meat!
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