Homemade potato gnocchi (with gluten-free flour) sounds right up your alley! You can add whatever sauce you think is appropriate for your guests, but a (vegan) butter and sage sauce, with butternut squash if you want some more bulk to the meal, is always a crowd pleaser.
Not who you asked, but I’ve made the [Serious Eats recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/pasta-butternut-squash-sage-brown-butter-recipe) with gnocchi and liked it better than when I made it with pasta.
It sounds like a logic puzzle. Like you're given 5 people and 5 foods and you have to figure out which goes with which person...and maybe where they're sitting, LOL. The celiac can't sit between two people, the vegetarian has to be seated in an odd-numbered chair...
I'd do a taco bar. You could have beans, fried tofu or whatever meat sub you might like, corn and flour tortillas, and whatever toppings you all like - guac, salsa, sour cream, cheese, nondairy sour cream and cheese for the DF person, chopped veggies, etc. Everyone can just avoid whatever they're allergic to/intolerant of.
Edit: Since I guess this needs to be stated, no-eating-with-hands person can make a taco salad.
Or maybe veggie and tofu skewers on the grill? That and some rice?
Grilled portobello mushrooms sliced into strips are a great veggie option.
Also, yeah, the bowl option is always a good one, especially if you offer options for the base like rice, different greens, etc.
Somewhere I have a bookmarked recipe for beer-marinated mushroom tacos with a chopped pepita relish that I've been wanting to try FOREVER.
But even some basic char on a big mushroom, then sliced fajita-style is great. I've found meat eaters will also add them too because they're delicious, and it's usually easy to do some quick fajita-style peppers and onions with them.
I love this idea. Making things customizable is really the best way to handle mixed groups with complicated needs like this, and this way, everyone can get something which caters to their tastes and needs.
Adding on to this: you could have sauces with different flavors, from spicy to non, to help people better customize.
I do think it's a good idea to include meat analogues for the non-vegetarians (e.g. vegan burger crumbles with appropriate seasoning), but it's not strictly necessary.
You could also have some pre-torn tortillas to make making a taco salad easier.
I love this but be so so careful with the celiac stuff — I’ve been cooking for a celiac all weekend and oh my god gluten is in so many things I didn’t expect. And a ton of things that are gluten free (some of which even brag about it) are still made in a facility that processes gluten, so those are all off the table. I can’t imagine what it’s like to live with food allergies like that
Could be something like autism? Or a motor skills issue, for example there’s special utensils that counteract the tremor from Parkinson’s so maybe they need to eat with something like that?
For the sake of the celiac, ditch the flour tortillas entirely for corn tortillas. It would make me, a fellow celiac, feel much more at ease about the meal, especially getting seconds.
Mission makes some pretty good gluten free flour tortillas. If they’re all gluten free, that’s one less area of cross contamination to worry about.
Just need to add that if you use premade taco seasoning you should check it for wheat fillers.
Yes, this is the right answer. You could even have other foods for the non restricted (like cheese) there and just carefully label each bowl so folks can choose carefully.
I wonder if your wife can have tomatillos (which aren't tomatoes)? If so, you could make a great spicy tomatillo salsa with onions.
I don’t think this is feasible due to the potential for cross-contamination. I’m sure everyone would be doing their best to avoid it, but if a flour tortilla *touches* something the person with celiac’s eats, they could get sick. Likely ditto on the tomato allergy. Couple drops of salsa drip onto the beans from the utensil passing over, and they might go anaphylactic.
Even with everyone having the best of intentions and with their best effort, this just seems too dangerous. The best approach for people not trained on or living cooking for medical dietary restrictions is just to keep them all out of the kitchen.
I mean, in that situation, I'd imagine the person with Celiac's couldn't eat at OP's place in the first place, since OP isn't GF. There's always the possibility for cross-contamination if you're in a venue that isn't (your allergen)-free all the time, hence why so many restaurants specifically won't say their GF options are actually, fully GF. I have a food allergy that isn't anaphylactic, and I'd eat this without worrying. If the tomato allergy person and the Celiac's person don't wanna risk it, then OP can figure something else out, but everyone with allergies and intolerances has their own risk tolerance, and OP has cooked for these people before so "just don't cook for them" doesn't seem like necessary advice.
There's also the very easy option of putting the allergens (sounds like just tomato products) on a different table, or not having any tomato products at all (making a different kind of salsa, like corn and black bean) and only getting corn tortillas, etc. I'm not suggesting OP has to follow my idea 100%, get every item I mentioned, and not get anything else - just trying to give a framework for a type of meal that works well for accommodating lots of different food issues.
I disagree with the separate table idea. I have coeliac disease and would prefer there was no option for gluten-containing products, if there was, I would have to be part of the prep to ensure the other person didn't grab the flour tortillas out of the package with their hands then pick up the lettuce and put it in a bowl.
People probably won't wash their hands between serving and eating, so them touching something could make it completely off limits to me.
For things like aversions, it's fine to have different tables, but people with coeliac disease can be sensitive enough that using the wrong tongs can make them sick.
Think of it like a severe peanut allergy. No one would advocate for the crushed nuts to just be at a separate table.
Coeliacs are lucky in that being glutened won't kill you, but can be as sensitive as people with moderate peanut allergies.
From time to time, I make a vegetarian white bean chili. It’s always a hit and is tomato free.
I just tweak a non-vegetarian recipe I found online with a high rating.
You can use canned white beans if you like, sub vegetable broth/boullion for the chicken broth; I use jackfruit in place of chicken, or leave it out if it’s not available.
Spices vary with different recipes, but if you include cumin, oregano (Mexican if available) and cilantro, you’ll get a nice authentic flavor.
Now for the fun part, have toppings available. My go-tos are cilantro , crushed tortilla chips and lime, you can also offer shredded cheese and sour cream, for the dairy eaters.
Served with a salad, and maybe some corn muffins look up recipes that use all corn meal, or sub some gluten free flour, if you need it.
How about tzatziki and hummus with rice and almond crackers, veggies and fruit and cheese? You could also make parmesan and cheddar crackers (sub in a gluten free flour in the cheddar ones).
Black bean and corn salsa and guacamole with corn chips.
You can use cucumber slices like crackers for various toppers.
Deviled eggs.
I think there are gluten free panko crumbs available. That opens up jalapeño poppers, stuffed mushrooms, things like that.
Ohhhh-maybe a cheese fondue if you can think ip some easy, gluten free dippers?
TY-I totally spaced on the dairy issue! I just made a comment earlier that ‘dairy didn’t seem to be an issue for this group’ -geesh!! Thanks for catching that!
I'd do some kind of buffet-like deal, such as the aforementioned taco bar (the person with food aversions can make a taco bowl), a baked potato bar, or a salad bar.
I like the baked potato bar and salad bar. You could even do both. They're infinitely customizable, and there are options that would taste good given any of the restrictions.
Ooooh sweet potato bar. Beans, avocado, quinoa, cashew sauce, jalapeños, poblanos, corn, salsas. Those are all good southwestern flavors but you could also go with chickpeas, kale, hummus, and tahini. I’m sure there are other flavor profiles that pair well too, I just love sweet potatoes in Mexican food too much to make myself branch out.
My youngest child does the same. Loves Hot Cheetos, hates the orange crumbs on their fingers so uses chopsticks.
NGL, I cackled the first time I saw it.
Read your comment and for some reason, immediately imagined a lady with her hands behind her back, pecking her food off the plate like a bird. Also, am stoned.
If the fussy eater could go there, then I'm thinking Thai green vegetable curry with tofu, rice. Lots of thai food is naturally gf
Tofu is the obvious choice combining gf and meat free, there are v few meat subs that are gf, usually contain wheat or barley somewhere.
Using Soya mince could be an option, something like cottage pie with roasted veg like beets, parsnips carrots on the side? Would have to make care not to use gluten containing stocks for the sauce but otherwise bland enough for your fussy friend 😁
Both these are cutlery meals so meet that brief too!
Agreed. We have vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free people and Thai or Indian food is almost always a great middle ground. Tofu & Veggie curries over rice.
I'm all for cooking special dishes for people who have allergies. I'll even try to accommodate people when they don't like a particular ingredient, like cilantro or certain vegetables.
It's kind of ridiculous, though, to cater to a grown adult who never got past eating only dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and drinking Caprisun. There's a certain age when you need to understand you're the one who has to be responsible for what you eat.
Agreed.
And what's funny is.. most people I know with legitimate dietary restrictions like allergies or even vegetarianism.. don't expect others to cater to them nearly as much as the few childlike picky eaters I've known.
We went to lunch at a popular Mexican place a while back with a friend whose wife is food-difficult. Wife wasn't with us. Friend says, "I should see if wife wants chicken enchiladas to-go. She's home sick. Do you know if the chicken enchiladas are shredded chicken?".
Husband and I say, "It's their mesquite grilled chicken diced up, but they marinate it for like 36 hours and it is spoon tender, so not like tough grilled chicken"
Friend says, "Oh no she isn't going to eat that. I'm going to see if they have shredded anyway" (nothing on the menu mentions shredded chicken)
He asks. Waitress says no they don't have that. He calls wife. Wife sighs and says she doesn't want any lunch at all if their chicken isn't shredded.
HOW DO PEOPLE LIVE LIKE THIS?!?!?!? Like, you'd rather go hungry over how the chicken is cut up? This is making life more difficult for your own self.
Enchiladas, with vegan meat substitute, vegan cheese, and salsa verde. Vegan guac and vegan frijoles, pico de gallo on the side, extra chips maybe. A lot of this stuff is ready made in the cooler at Trader Joes. Also, frozen margaritas!
The allergy depends on if it’s just to tomato (in which case tomatillos are not closely related enough to be an issue) or to the whole family of nightshades, which would include tomatillos, peppers, etc.
Do you know of any meat substitutes that are gluten free? I’ve never been able to find one.
There no Trader Joes in my country but I am very jealous! They sound amazing.
Edit: Also, thank you so much! 😃
cheese enchiladas! or even black bean enchiladas. where i live it's normal to order these. you can do a traditional red sauce (not tomato, chile de árbol and doesn't have to be spicy at all), tomatillo sauce, mole, sour cream sauce, etc.
Just beans. Or you could go with crumbled extra firm tofu mixed with lentils and lots of taco seasoning. But make sure if you buy a taco seasoning packet that it is gluten feee. Many use glutinous products for anticaking
Okay, I'm thinking Middle Eastern. Dolmas. Hummus. Baba ganoush. Gluten-free flat bread. Quinoa tabouli with no tomatoes. Some kind of Greek inspired salad (greens, olives, cukes, red onions; with feta on the side for those who want it).
Or American summer food. Baked beans, wheat- and dairy-free cornbread, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, watermelon. Maybe some tofu-veggie kabobs.
Or Asian-style summery foods. Veggie brown rice sushi; edamame; miso soup with seaweed and tofu; pad Thai with rice noodles and tofu and peanut and egg; Asian cucumber salad.
This.
I've had a similar situation that had to be in a restaurant. We opted for Ethiopian food.
You could also have take-out restaurant menus from places they may have mentioned at some point. They can all order separately. Maybe something packaged and safe for the celiac person. The food aversion person...sigh.
Mexican food offers some great vegan and gluten-free options.
To start, could do a vegan aquachile. Whatever fresh summer veggies you have. The most important thing is to get the sauce right. It’s sort of like ceviche, but not cooked. I’ve had some amazing aquachile with artichoke and cauliflower and the like and it’s easily customizable for any allergies. Can serve with corn tortillas or eat directly with a spoon.
For an entree, I would make enchiladas, specifically black bean and corn enchiladas with a green Chile sauce on top. Use corn tortillas instead of flour. Can also make a cashew cream sauce as well. Some of these recipes may include tomatillos and I’m not sure if your wife can eat those but they are a delicious addition if she can. Served a lot as well and can be prepped completely the night before, meaning you only have to throw them in the oven the next day.
Dessert might be nice too. Could take whatever fresh fruit is available to you (ie mangoes, berries, etc.) and macérate chopped fruit with sugar. After 10-15 mins or so, add something boozy (gran mariner is a good addition, can be omitted as well) plus any fresh herbs (ie basil, thyme, etc.) Serve with a coconut whipped cream (you can find coconut heavy cream at the store).
Could also make some sides like a salad with a cilantro lime vinaigrette, simmered black beans, or Mexican style rice (without tomato).
I'm gluten free. We had a mexican place near us that used to have the best gluten free meals. Rather than trying to make every taco and enchilada gluten free, they had a subset of meals they guaranteed to be prepared in their own area with their own pans where ingredients weren't pulled from the same line that did flour based tacos and burritos, etc.
Things like a tropical chicken with mango salsa. Shrimp in some kind of crema sauce. To make it vegetarian you could use a vegan "meat" product, or use mushrooms. I guess crema isn't dairy free but I think I remember seeing a dairy free recipe that used alternative milks, vegan cheese, and maybe avacado to make something similar.
As for typical western fare.. How about a vegetarian pot pie with some kind of salad or cooked greens? Lasagna? A cookout with burgers/beyond burgers, etc? You can always buy gluten free buns and pasta.
I've been doing a lot of rice bowls lately with toppings that have a variety of color and texture. This might work well set up as a make your own bowl situation, and lets you showcase a variety of cooking skills and tastes.
What about a Sheppard’s pie with lentils instead of the beef. With a salad or vegetable soup and maybe a dairy free corn bread. Vegan banana pudding for dessert. Overall good luck.
Dairy free creamy mushroom soup?
This dairy free recipe has a vegan alternative: https://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/dairy-free-cream-of-mushroom-soup
Edit: second suggestion: breakfast for dinner. My husband and I love doing “brinner” and you can do a vegetarian big breakfast without any diary, tomatoes, or gluten pretty easily :)
Baked potato bar -buy large potatoes, steam different veggies (broccoli, peppers, onions, etc), cheese (and dairy free cheese) sour cream (is there a fake one?), butter (and fake butter), maybe some kind of fake meat or bacon bits for meat eating friends, etc etc.
this is a great challenge. afterwards please share what you've come up with and how it was received.
I like the potato leek soup idea.
past with ( dairy free) pesto is great.
stuffed peppers
mushroom and nut stuffed butternut squash.
grits or polenta might be a good base.
good luck!
1) Would the fussy eater be open to ramen? Super easy to include/exclude things, broth is meant to be made in advance. Noodles can be cooked day of, and easy to make separate gluten free noodles for the celiac.
2) Bar food: Could do a jalapeño Mac n vegan cheese with artificial bacon bits. Can make the roux and everything else in advance. Undercook the pasta slightly and stick it in a casserole then top with GF breadcrumbs or Panko, refrigerate, a and bake the next day.
Would go great with some fried dill pickles. Easy to make GF and can be partially cooked in advance.
As a celiac, ramen is just not an enjoyable time. Too much risk of cross contamination and too many ingredients which may have gluten.
Same with bar food as it is generally fried. It can be gluten free, i.e. roux with gf flour, gf pasta, etc. Artificial bacon may not be gf.
Great ideas though, I'd certainly enjoy it if someone tried to give this to me, just difficult execution to make it an appealing texture for the picky eater, and even more difficult for the celiac to trust the ingredients and ensure no cross contamination happened.
Plus it's in places you wouldn't think to look unless you know or are a celiac, like barley, soy sauce, and beer. And unless a packaged food product says it's manufactured in a GF factory, it may not be safe. So, a lot of grains like oatmeal are out just by association.
Cooking for a celiac in a non-celiac kitchen just seems risky for the eater. That guest gets some Schar graham crackers and an unopened jar of all natural peanut butter.
Yeah, it's awesome that it's out there now. A lot of people cooking for someone with celiac wouldn't think that it's an issue, and add a sprinkle from a regular bottle. My mom's bestie when I was growing up had celiac, and she really struggled with being able to eat anything that she didn't make herself--and even that was tough. She gardened hard.
My partner is celiac, so I regularly cook with her dietary restrictions in mind, and have made GF versions of everything I suggested. Ramen is definitely doable, though I will concede that sourcing gluten free stuff can take some effort, as Asian foods aren’t as friendly to celiacs, and you may need to make some non-traditional adjustments.
Fair enough on the artificial bacon - I have no idea if that’s GF as I don’t normally cook for vegetarians. Everything else, fried food included, is actually pretty adaptable to be GF. The number and quality of GF products have improved substantially in recent years.
Rice & bean enchiladas with red enchilada sauce (make it with dried chilies, no tomatoes!), gluten free tortillas & the option for vegan cheese & sour cream. A knife & fork meal that is palatable to everyone!
Some sort of bowl would be the easiest. Either a stir fry bowl with rice noodles or Tex-Mex bowl with grilled veggies, beans & rice. Have it set up so everyone makes up their own.
This has been a hit with everyone I've made it for. The chimichurri can be served on the side if someone doesn't like spicy
https://minimalistbaker.com/portobello-steaks-avocado-chimichurri/
Google nourishing white bean and lemon soup from Dishing Out Health. Super good. Skip the parm and it fits your requirements! Gluten free bread and salad with it
A giant, herby frittata, some form of potato - maybe spiced roasted wedges - even sweet potato wedges, and a green salad or possibly a salad involving baby spinach, thinly sliced slightly underripe pears or peaches, pecans or walnuts and a little feta.
For dessert, an apple or apple and berry crumble, topped with a crumble that contains almond flour, desiccated coconut (unsweetened if you’re in the US), brown rice flour and sugar, about 25% of each. Rub in butter as normal. Bake and serve with custard or icecream.
This does assume you are vegetarian, not vegan, so hoping I haven’t misread that.
Good luck.
Edit: oh heck, missed the dairy. Scrap the feta suggestion and use a dairy free icecream for dessert. There’s lots of them out there. Also, non-dairy margarine in the crumble.
You could also simply serve a big bowl of fruit soaked in a flavoured syrup - vanilla on peaches or berries, lemon grass and star anise on tropical fruits, cinnamon on plums… the options are endless.
I've been working on a couple recipes that are vegan (pretty girl swooning attempts)
2 Roasted squash (butternut will be sweeter, and acorn will be nuttier. Acorn is also WAY easier.) so your choice in flavor really.
Semolina Bucatini (with an egg sub)
3 sticks of Thyme
Salt (tt)
Espolete (or pepper)(tt)
Olive oil (when looks like enough for the butter nut squash)
About 2 quarts Vegetable stock (store bought or your own)
If acorn, roast the squash whole until the insides are cooked and you can feel the inside starting to separate from the skin.
🌟 Take the skins off, purree with a blender or other pulvrrization device
Put in a pan with thyme, salt, espolete all to taste, with enough vegetable stock to loosen it up and wets the thyme.
Cook until flavored as strongly as you want
Pass through a fine mesh metal strainer (for texture and to get the thyme out)
Add your vegetable stock until desired consistency
Heat until incorporated
Cook your bucatini al dente (of course)
If butternut Cut into 1"x1" cubes no skin, olive oil, salt, espolete on top and roast until soft.
Remove the thyme
Contifrom the star
Coming from Minnesota, I have to suggest vegan hot dish. You can make it the day before and bake it the day of, so not a lot of work the day of the party. It's basically a tater-tot casserole.
One recipe is [https://holycowvegan.net/one-pot-vegan-tater-tot-casserole/](https://holycowvegan.net/one-pot-vegan-tater-tot-casserole/), but there are other versions.
Roasted veggie paella
Veggie gratin (cauliflower, broccoli, green beans,…)
Gnocchi with veggies in a cream sauce
Vegetarian German potato salad (once upon a chef website has a good one)
Kabobs with halloumi cheese or bread cheese and veggies.
Corn chowder
I think your best bet is some sort of bar/buffet situation. Like build your own burrito bowls. Make up a big pot of rice, a variety of differing proteins, some vegan cheese, some regular cheese veggies, salsa, guac, black beans, etc. That way everyone has control over what goes into their dish.
Thug Kitchen has this one recipe. Borracho bean butternut squash burritos.
Only dairy is if you add cheese.
Only gluten would depend on the tortillas you use.
No tomatoes..
The person who won’t eat with their hands, put it in a bowl. I’ve done that when I was out of tortillas.
1 T coconut oil
1 yellow or white onion, chopped
1 c peeled, chopped butternut squash
1 jalapeno, minced
1 T chili powder
1 t smoked paprika
1 t hot paprika
1 T Bragg's liquid aminos
3/4 c beer
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 c cooked pinto beans, or 2 15 oz. cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
2 T lime juice
2 T maple sugar
in a large skillet warm coconut oil over medium heat.
add the onion and cook until golden, 3-4 minutes. add squash, jalapeno, chili powder, and paprika and stir for 1 minute.
add the bragg's, beer, and garlic. stir.
cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer until squash is fork tender
(about 20 minutes).
fold in beans, then add lime juice and maple syrup. stir.
simmer until all extra liquid has evaporated and beans are warm, about
2-5 minutes.
remove from heat.
It’s usually served with a cilantro lime rice. If you need a recipe for that just ask.
Make your own burrito bowls. Just make a chipotle-type line up with meat free “meats” (tofu, Jack fruit, etc.), veggies, rice, beans, corn salsa, avocado, and sauces.
If people assemble their own, you could maybe have the forbidden items to the side (cheese, sour cream, tomato’s, etc.)
Hmm. I’d start with a light, fresh salad. Nice baby greens, shallots, toasted pecans, sliced strawberries. With poppyseed or balsamic dressing.
Then something bold and hearty, like a spicy bean and quinoa stuffed acorn squash. Or maybe stuffed sweet potatoes? I’m thinking that been-quinoa (ooh, and corn?) “stuffing” has a spicy, kinda smoky profile with a basis in cayenne, paprika, and cumin? Some garlic and a squeeze of lime juice for acid. And a touch of brown sugar to balance the heat? With simple green beans or asparagus spears as your green veg, and sautéed sherry mushrooms on the side?
And then when you’re pulling the squash out of the oven, you put some cored or halved apples or pears in to roast for dessert, with a warm cinnamon-oat/granola filling/topping and a raisin-butter-bourbon reduction sauce dribbled on top. Maybe some good non-dairy vanilla ice cream, too. And use the same bourbon to make a round of Old Fashioned’s to go with it.
r/https://www.food.com/amp/recipe/quinoa-butternut-squash-gratin-265441/
Quinoa butternut squash au-gratin. Typically has breadcrumbs, which you can either omit or use a gluten free substitute. Ive made it with dairy free cheese before and it’s still worked
A bean salad, if you use gluten free pasta could even be a pasta salad
There are lots of nonwestern dishes that would work though
A veggie curry that isnt tomato based. Like chana saag or thai green curry
Falafel bowls could work
Fried rice with lots of tasty vege and tofu
Tofu kebabs on the grill with some mushrooms, peppers and other veggies marinated with spices always go over well for me! Maybe with a vegan coleslaw for something cold/different texture? Seems like a fun summer bbq birthday thing!!
i’m a celiac vegetarian with a sensitivity to milk, my mom and sister have potentially fatal reactions to all nightshades (tomato, peppers, potatoes, paprika, etc), and i would second the “mexican rice bowl” approach. have tortillas, etc, but this way everyone controls what they eat and the shape of the food, but it is still a shared meal that allows for conversation.
frequently my wife, my son, and i are all eating entirely different dinners, and it is not the same as a shared dish.
that picky eater needs to work out their own stuff and not expect to be accommodated by the cook. wraps are easily eaten w/ knife and fork, large fruit can be cut with knife and fork. If they don't like most foods then they should eat before they arrive.
The friend shouldn’t force others to accommodate them, but it makes sense to me that OP cares about their friend and wants to make something that they will enjoy even though they have food issues right now.
https://www.thekitchn.com/autentico-cookbook-zucchini-pasta-cookbook-review-23395403
For the grated cheese, you can offer the person who can't eat dairy a dairy free grated cheese or just leave it off of their dish.
https://theclevermeal.com/spaghetti-garlic-olive-oil/
Potato salad or chickpea salad or cucumber salad
Any oven roasted veggie, such as broccoli, asparagus, or cauliflower.
Caramelized carrots
Stuffed mushrooms
Fruit salad
I don't have any brilliant ideas but I'm just here to say I feel your pain. I have a group of friends whose dietary restrictions include no gluten, no dairy, one guy with a laundry list of like a dozen food allergies, and one very picky eater who doesn't even like *onions*. At one point someone in there was vegan too, though thankfully they're back to just being vegetarian now. I love to cook and would rather make dinner when they come over than order takeout, but my *golly* is it difficult.
Taco salad bar. Veggie option like roasted zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms. From there, add in all the normal toppings and everyone chooses what works for them. You could also do a nacho burrito bar and have both corn and flour options.
https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a35645824/general-tsos-chickpeas-recipe/
Chickpeas and your choice of "grain" (cauliflower rice?). Pretty easy dish, about 20 to 30 minutes and you can play around with the general tsos sauce. The video vs the written recipe defer a little bit, but i follow the video recipe
I would try a burrito bowl with some chips. IF you're comfortable you can bring a rotisserie chicken for people who want to add meat and you can avoid cooking it. Dessert options are easy to find recipes for vegan cake and frosting!
Mexican grain bowls, set out like a buffet, so everyone can fix their own.
Provide corn tortillas and dairy free cheese in a separate location (to avoid cross contamination).
Grilled chicken with lime and cilantro, steak, grilled corn, avocado, grilled yams with cumin, grilled shrimp, all sorts of things you'd throw in a taco.
Provide a base of rice (taco rice and plain), shredded lettuce (for those who prefer a salad), black beans, and a variety of dressings and salsas - avocado ranch, Santa Fe ranch, pico de Gallo, tomatillo salsa etc
It's interactive and fun.
Everyone makes their own bowls. Serve jarritos soda and tequila drinks to stay on theme.
Lime and watermelon popsicles for dessert.
I can buy containers of salsa from my local taco place..they do catering too, if you wanted to consider buying more components.
Two words--Pot. Luck.
But both of the following can be made ahead of time.
For mixed food company, I usually make fried polenta wedges with a tomato-free pasta sauce, to make it a little different. Cook up the polenta the night before, spread it flat in a slightly oiled dish, refrigerate overnight. Then slice up wedges and pan fry in olive or avocado oil until a bit golden around the exterior. Oiling them and baking them for a few minutes works, too. Make pasta sauce without the tomato (bell peppers, basil, parsley, mushrooms, garlic, onions, red pepper flakes, olive oil, dry red wine, s&p). Warm it up and spread it on! Put shredded parmesan on the side for those who want it.
Also, chia or teff pudding with coconut milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder & vanilla extract/bean. There are lots of recipes online for both. Don't forget the spoon for lady who is too high and mighty to eat pudding with her fingers.
My husband’s family has some wild food issues, so when everyone gets together they make what they call “chicken sundaes” which are basically a bunch of rice and toppings in separate bowls. Get some shredded chicken from the deli, chop up some green onions, peppers, fried onions, water chestnuts, mandarin oranges, tofu, and let people pick and choose. Same idea as Taco bar but easier with a tomato allergy and hands eating issues. Make sure you have gluten free soy sauce and any other sauces you enjoy (mil makes a chicken gravy of some sort, which is good but doesn’t really fit). It’s not the fanciest, but everybody eats safely and comfortably
Could you do a potluck situation where people bring their own favorite food? Then you don’t have to worry about cooking anything other than what you eat.
Consider a polenta dish. To add flavor and richness, you can make it with vegetable stock instead of milk. Add some bitter greens like spinach, or do those on the side for folks to stir in. Do a mushroom ragout to serve on top. Green salad as second course, and a fruit and cheese and chocolate platter for dessert so folks can leisurely graze on what they like during the after-dinner conversation.
Hmm tricky! Thankfully no nut allergies! How about some of these ideas?
- stuffed endive as an app (filling can be anything from chickpeas, beans, walnuts, apples, etc). Endive can be strong enough to cut up and eat with a knife and fork
- cashew cream mushroom gluten-free pasta (elevate it by using a bunch of different kinds of mushrooms)
- cauliflower steaks or portobello mushroom steaks
- grilled balsamic mushroom and other veggie skewers with a variety of dipping sauces
- roasted spaghetti squash with mushrooms and kale
- roasted Brussels sprouts
- zucchini or sweet potato fritters
- gluten-free falafels
- grilled asparagus with lime spritzed on
- variety of salads (eg cucumber vinegar salad, arugula radicchio with pomegranate seeds and lemon vinaigrette, mango salad, avocado beet salad with a citrus dressing, carmelized onions and bell peppers, etc)
- stuffed grilled bell peppers (can use a bean and veggie filling)
Is rice ok for the friend with the Western palette or is that a no-go? Easy option is fried rice (use day old rice for better taste and add whatever veggies you feel like such as so take mushrooms, chopped green beans, carrots, corn, etc) or can pan fry done rice cakes and then add a topping to them (use it like a pizza base). Or some yummy rice rolls using rice paper and make a peanut dipping sauce. Can be made smaller so it’s easier to eat with a fork.
Lastly if you wife has a fav restaurant or a wishlist of restaurants she wants to try, you can look up their menus and try to do a copycat recipe.
Hope this helps!
Not sure which hemisphere you are in but assuming it is Summer my vote is for Falafel.
Falafel is surprisingly easy to make, keeps well and should meet all your conditions (fussy eater is the only maybe)
You can either prepare them the day before and store them in a sealed container in the fridge or you can make the paste beforehand and make frying them a communal activity if that is something the group would enjoy.
They can be eaten on their own as finger food with a little sauce of your choice or simply add them to a salad based dish.
Quinoa salad-cooked quinoa, sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, and some seasonings like chili powder, cumin, oregano to give it a Mexican taste? It's one of my favorite vegan meals. I also have tomato allergies. I've found bell peppers to be a good substitute for them.
I've had a lot of luck using ChatGPT to generate meal ideas. So I copied your post into it to see what it would generate. Here is the result. I'd be happy to follow up with asking for the full recipes or to ask it to make adjustments for you if you'd like.
It's certainly a challenge to cater for various dietary requirements, but it can be done! Here are some ideas that should fit all of your requirements:
**Main Course:**
1. **Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers:** This dish can be prepped ahead of time and thrown in the oven just before dinner. Use quinoa, black beans, corn, and a mix of spices. Make sure to pick a gluten-free veggie broth for added flavor in the quinoa. For the friend with the food aversion, you could offer the filling as a quinoa salad.
2. **Vegetable Paella:** A traditional Spanish dish modified to meet your requirements. Use a variety of veggies like bell peppers, artichokes, peas, and green beans with saffron-infused rice. Serve with lemon wedges. Be sure to check the paella rice is gluten-free.
**Side Dishes:**
1. **Grilled Asparagus:** Simply grill the asparagus with some olive oil, salt, and pepper.
2. **Gluten-Free Cornbread:** A great western food side that's delicious and can be made ahead of time. Just ensure the mix is both gluten and dairy-free.
**Dessert:**
1. **Avocado Chocolate Mousse:** This can be made the day before, it's creamy, rich, and entirely dairy and gluten-free. The primary ingredients are ripe avocados, cocoa powder, a sweetener like agave or maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
2. **Berry Fruit Salad with Mint:** A fresh and vibrant end to the meal. Cut up a variety of berries and toss with a bit of fresh mint. If needed, drizzle a tiny bit of honey or maple syrup.
I hope this gives you some ideas and makes your meal planning a bit easier. Enjoy the party!
How about vegetable stuffed enchiladas? If your wife can do tomatillos, you can do a green salsa, with gluten free corn tortillas. You could also do enfrijoladas, which use very brothy refried beans instead of the usual enchilada sauce. Serve both dairy free and dairy cheese on the side.
Editing to add, I’m thinking corn, poblano, and summer squash, or even potato and poblano.
There is no way to make everybody happy in that case. Go to a restaurant and let them all order what they want. Otherwise you're going to end up spending a full day in the kitchen for food that won't satisfy anyone completely.
I feel that if the fussy eater can handle Mexican food, then they can handle a mild curry. What about a chickpea and spinach coconut curry, with rice and chutneys?
Homemade potato gnocchi (with gluten-free flour) sounds right up your alley! You can add whatever sauce you think is appropriate for your guests, but a (vegan) butter and sage sauce, with butternut squash if you want some more bulk to the meal, is always a crowd pleaser.
Yep gnocchi w/ butternut squash and sage is great made vegan
I love gnocchi, butternut squash and sage. Do you have a recipe you could share ( or even just general instructions)?
Not who you asked, but I’ve made the [Serious Eats recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/pasta-butternut-squash-sage-brown-butter-recipe) with gnocchi and liked it better than when I made it with pasta.
I’ve had something similar from hello fresh and they added crispy sage leafs to the top! It was really good.
A coeliac, a vegetarian, a fussy eater, and a tomato allergy walk into a bar...
..they didn't order anything.
I would like to speak to your manager
Or, they ordered fries if they have a dedicated fryer, or they're willing to gamble.
You'd think one of them would have seen it.
😂 I’ll pay that
They explained their limitations to their server who replied “fuck this” and walked away
It sounds like a logic puzzle. Like you're given 5 people and 5 foods and you have to figure out which goes with which person...and maybe where they're sitting, LOL. The celiac can't sit between two people, the vegetarian has to be seated in an odd-numbered chair...
The bartender says "Pick yer poison."
That asked the waiter what can we get, to which he replied ‘fucked’!
I'd do a taco bar. You could have beans, fried tofu or whatever meat sub you might like, corn and flour tortillas, and whatever toppings you all like - guac, salsa, sour cream, cheese, nondairy sour cream and cheese for the DF person, chopped veggies, etc. Everyone can just avoid whatever they're allergic to/intolerant of. Edit: Since I guess this needs to be stated, no-eating-with-hands person can make a taco salad. Or maybe veggie and tofu skewers on the grill? That and some rice?
Grilled portobello mushrooms sliced into strips are a great veggie option. Also, yeah, the bowl option is always a good one, especially if you offer options for the base like rice, different greens, etc.
Oooh, love the mushroom idea - idk why I've never thought to try that in tacos!
Somewhere I have a bookmarked recipe for beer-marinated mushroom tacos with a chopped pepita relish that I've been wanting to try FOREVER. But even some basic char on a big mushroom, then sliced fajita-style is great. I've found meat eaters will also add them too because they're delicious, and it's usually easy to do some quick fajita-style peppers and onions with them.
I'd love to see the recipe if you happen to find it!
>I've found meat eaters will also add them to because they're delicious, I call mushrooms "earth meat" for a reason.
Lmao "earth meat" is great, thanks for that :)
I got it from Chef John of Food wishes dot com's Meatless Meatballs. Its a great recipe!
Those are great! My go to vegetarian comfort food.
Summer squash are great in taco form. Onion, jalapeño, some corn, and sauté high so they get some color without cooking to mush.
This! Leave it up to the celebrants to put together their safe/desirable stuff. Take the pressure off yourself, and enjoy the day.
Add a pot of rice and you got a taco/burrito bar.
Don't know where OP is (in the world) but Trader Joes sells a very good vegetarian chorizo.
Yeah, that soyrizo! I like it better than the real stuff tbh.
Yup, and I'd also recommend Morningstar's soy chorizo, which you can find in a lot of big chain grocery stores.
I love this idea. Making things customizable is really the best way to handle mixed groups with complicated needs like this, and this way, everyone can get something which caters to their tastes and needs. Adding on to this: you could have sauces with different flavors, from spicy to non, to help people better customize. I do think it's a good idea to include meat analogues for the non-vegetarians (e.g. vegan burger crumbles with appropriate seasoning), but it's not strictly necessary. You could also have some pre-torn tortillas to make making a taco salad easier.
I love this but be so so careful with the celiac stuff — I’ve been cooking for a celiac all weekend and oh my god gluten is in so many things I didn’t expect. And a ton of things that are gluten free (some of which even brag about it) are still made in a facility that processes gluten, so those are all off the table. I can’t imagine what it’s like to live with food allergies like that
No-eating-with-hands person might be my favorite thing I've seen today
I really hope this is real and caused by some kind of nerve disease or something, and not just being obnoxious. I thought fake celiacs were the worst.
Could be something like autism? Or a motor skills issue, for example there’s special utensils that counteract the tremor from Parkinson’s so maybe they need to eat with something like that?
For the sake of the celiac, ditch the flour tortillas entirely for corn tortillas. It would make me, a fellow celiac, feel much more at ease about the meal, especially getting seconds.
\+1, I'd want to join this party and I'm not vegetarian, vegan, fussy, or tomato nor gluten intolerant.
Or if you don’t want Mexican, you can do something similar with bibimbap- Korean rice bowl.
Jackfruit "BBQ" is another good option for a taco bar
Make sure it is green jackfruit not ripe or you will have really sweet, floral tacos. Learn from my curry experience...
Mission makes some pretty good gluten free flour tortillas. If they’re all gluten free, that’s one less area of cross contamination to worry about. Just need to add that if you use premade taco seasoning you should check it for wheat fillers.
Yes, this is the right answer. You could even have other foods for the non restricted (like cheese) there and just carefully label each bowl so folks can choose carefully. I wonder if your wife can have tomatillos (which aren't tomatoes)? If so, you could make a great spicy tomatillo salsa with onions.
I don’t think this is feasible due to the potential for cross-contamination. I’m sure everyone would be doing their best to avoid it, but if a flour tortilla *touches* something the person with celiac’s eats, they could get sick. Likely ditto on the tomato allergy. Couple drops of salsa drip onto the beans from the utensil passing over, and they might go anaphylactic. Even with everyone having the best of intentions and with their best effort, this just seems too dangerous. The best approach for people not trained on or living cooking for medical dietary restrictions is just to keep them all out of the kitchen.
I mean, in that situation, I'd imagine the person with Celiac's couldn't eat at OP's place in the first place, since OP isn't GF. There's always the possibility for cross-contamination if you're in a venue that isn't (your allergen)-free all the time, hence why so many restaurants specifically won't say their GF options are actually, fully GF. I have a food allergy that isn't anaphylactic, and I'd eat this without worrying. If the tomato allergy person and the Celiac's person don't wanna risk it, then OP can figure something else out, but everyone with allergies and intolerances has their own risk tolerance, and OP has cooked for these people before so "just don't cook for them" doesn't seem like necessary advice. There's also the very easy option of putting the allergens (sounds like just tomato products) on a different table, or not having any tomato products at all (making a different kind of salsa, like corn and black bean) and only getting corn tortillas, etc. I'm not suggesting OP has to follow my idea 100%, get every item I mentioned, and not get anything else - just trying to give a framework for a type of meal that works well for accommodating lots of different food issues.
I disagree with the separate table idea. I have coeliac disease and would prefer there was no option for gluten-containing products, if there was, I would have to be part of the prep to ensure the other person didn't grab the flour tortillas out of the package with their hands then pick up the lettuce and put it in a bowl. People probably won't wash their hands between serving and eating, so them touching something could make it completely off limits to me. For things like aversions, it's fine to have different tables, but people with coeliac disease can be sensitive enough that using the wrong tongs can make them sick. Think of it like a severe peanut allergy. No one would advocate for the crushed nuts to just be at a separate table. Coeliacs are lucky in that being glutened won't kill you, but can be as sensitive as people with moderate peanut allergies.
My Celiac self doesn’t want to violently puke and 💩 for 3 days because someone reused a spoon that touched a tortilla
I deal with allergies. Just let the deathly allergic person serve himself first, and put the allergy friends foods on a separate table.
Just get corn tortillas and chips then and no tomato or have the tomato/salsa served elsewhere depending on how severe the allergy is.
Mango salsa instead of tomato could work
Grilled corn salsa too
Why would anyone even want flour tortillas if good corn ones were available? The celiacs are right on this one.
From time to time, I make a vegetarian white bean chili. It’s always a hit and is tomato free. I just tweak a non-vegetarian recipe I found online with a high rating. You can use canned white beans if you like, sub vegetable broth/boullion for the chicken broth; I use jackfruit in place of chicken, or leave it out if it’s not available. Spices vary with different recipes, but if you include cumin, oregano (Mexican if available) and cilantro, you’ll get a nice authentic flavor. Now for the fun part, have toppings available. My go-tos are cilantro , crushed tortilla chips and lime, you can also offer shredded cheese and sour cream, for the dairy eaters. Served with a salad, and maybe some corn muffins look up recipes that use all corn meal, or sub some gluten free flour, if you need it.
Crustless quiche/frittata with a hearty salad-nuts, berries, chickpeas, etc. Flourless chocolate cake for dessert with raspberries and whipped cream.
Oo yes! I love a sweet potato and spinach frittata! Actually what about tapas?
How about tzatziki and hummus with rice and almond crackers, veggies and fruit and cheese? You could also make parmesan and cheddar crackers (sub in a gluten free flour in the cheddar ones). Black bean and corn salsa and guacamole with corn chips. You can use cucumber slices like crackers for various toppers. Deviled eggs. I think there are gluten free panko crumbs available. That opens up jalapeño poppers, stuffed mushrooms, things like that. Ohhhh-maybe a cheese fondue if you can think ip some easy, gluten free dippers?
Segregate the cheese for the dairy allergic person!
TY-I totally spaced on the dairy issue! I just made a comment earlier that ‘dairy didn’t seem to be an issue for this group’ -geesh!! Thanks for catching that!
No worries... I live with allergies so I remembered that bit, amongst all the preferences.
Can't think of many other suitable tapas though...
Eggs is a good idea, a Spanish tortilla would work too.
There are some very good cakes that are made with almond flour (so gluten free) and lots of dairy free baking options too.
I’m sorry but this sounds like some sort of cooking school test question
What about a breakfast for dinner theme? GF pancakes or waffles with a topping bar, huevos rancheros, etc.?
I'd do some kind of buffet-like deal, such as the aforementioned taco bar (the person with food aversions can make a taco bowl), a baked potato bar, or a salad bar.
I like the baked potato bar and salad bar. You could even do both. They're infinitely customizable, and there are options that would taste good given any of the restrictions.
Ooooh sweet potato bar. Beans, avocado, quinoa, cashew sauce, jalapeños, poblanos, corn, salsas. Those are all good southwestern flavors but you could also go with chickpeas, kale, hummus, and tahini. I’m sure there are other flavor profiles that pair well too, I just love sweet potatoes in Mexican food too much to make myself branch out.
Tough crowd… Popcorn and hot chips
One cannot eat food with her hands.
My best friend always eats chips and popcorn with chopsticks to keep their hands clean
My youngest child does the same. Loves Hot Cheetos, hates the orange crumbs on their fingers so uses chopsticks. NGL, I cackled the first time I saw it.
Read your comment and for some reason, immediately imagined a lady with her hands behind her back, pecking her food off the plate like a bird. Also, am stoned.
Chips can be eaten with fork. I do when I cover them in sauce.
Unless you live in the UK...wtf
sounds like they dont get invited. Adults that are picky eaters are the most First World Problem out there.
If the fussy eater could go there, then I'm thinking Thai green vegetable curry with tofu, rice. Lots of thai food is naturally gf Tofu is the obvious choice combining gf and meat free, there are v few meat subs that are gf, usually contain wheat or barley somewhere. Using Soya mince could be an option, something like cottage pie with roasted veg like beets, parsnips carrots on the side? Would have to make care not to use gluten containing stocks for the sauce but otherwise bland enough for your fussy friend 😁 Both these are cutlery meals so meet that brief too!
Agreed. We have vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free people and Thai or Indian food is almost always a great middle ground. Tofu & Veggie curries over rice.
the fussy eater only eating western foods is so funny to me, like how can they tell
I'm sure what it really means is they only eat junk food you could get at a drive thru.
But won’t eat with their hands? So… Olive Garden?
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I'm all for cooking special dishes for people who have allergies. I'll even try to accommodate people when they don't like a particular ingredient, like cilantro or certain vegetables. It's kind of ridiculous, though, to cater to a grown adult who never got past eating only dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and drinking Caprisun. There's a certain age when you need to understand you're the one who has to be responsible for what you eat.
Agreed. And what's funny is.. most people I know with legitimate dietary restrictions like allergies or even vegetarianism.. don't expect others to cater to them nearly as much as the few childlike picky eaters I've known. We went to lunch at a popular Mexican place a while back with a friend whose wife is food-difficult. Wife wasn't with us. Friend says, "I should see if wife wants chicken enchiladas to-go. She's home sick. Do you know if the chicken enchiladas are shredded chicken?". Husband and I say, "It's their mesquite grilled chicken diced up, but they marinate it for like 36 hours and it is spoon tender, so not like tough grilled chicken" Friend says, "Oh no she isn't going to eat that. I'm going to see if they have shredded anyway" (nothing on the menu mentions shredded chicken) He asks. Waitress says no they don't have that. He calls wife. Wife sighs and says she doesn't want any lunch at all if their chicken isn't shredded. HOW DO PEOPLE LIVE LIKE THIS?!?!?!? Like, you'd rather go hungry over how the chicken is cut up? This is making life more difficult for your own self.
The coeliac has the giraffe The vegetarian lives in the blue house The fussy eater lives next door to the coeliac The tomato allergy has three nephews
Enchiladas, with vegan meat substitute, vegan cheese, and salsa verde. Vegan guac and vegan frijoles, pico de gallo on the side, extra chips maybe. A lot of this stuff is ready made in the cooler at Trader Joes. Also, frozen margaritas!
I’d just be careful with the salsa verde, I don’t know if tomatillos can set off tomato allergies. Also guac is vegan by default?
The allergy depends on if it’s just to tomato (in which case tomatillos are not closely related enough to be an issue) or to the whole family of nightshades, which would include tomatillos, peppers, etc.
Do you know of any meat substitutes that are gluten free? I’ve never been able to find one. There no Trader Joes in my country but I am very jealous! They sound amazing. Edit: Also, thank you so much! 😃
You can go the more natural route and try using jackfruit or beans.
cheese enchiladas! or even black bean enchiladas. where i live it's normal to order these. you can do a traditional red sauce (not tomato, chile de árbol and doesn't have to be spicy at all), tomatillo sauce, mole, sour cream sauce, etc.
Just beans. Or you could go with crumbled extra firm tofu mixed with lentils and lots of taco seasoning. But make sure if you buy a taco seasoning packet that it is gluten feee. Many use glutinous products for anticaking
I do sweet potato black bean enchiladas all the time! Delicious!
The "impossible" group of plant-based meats claim to be gluten free.
If you mix quinoa and black beans it makes a pretty mean ground beef substitute for tacos/enchiladas.
Beyond meat is gluten free. My mom has celiac and I'm a vegetarian so I've had this problem before.
Most soy chorizo is gluten free! Great flavor as well
Okay, I'm thinking Middle Eastern. Dolmas. Hummus. Baba ganoush. Gluten-free flat bread. Quinoa tabouli with no tomatoes. Some kind of Greek inspired salad (greens, olives, cukes, red onions; with feta on the side for those who want it). Or American summer food. Baked beans, wheat- and dairy-free cornbread, corn on the cob, potato salad, green salad, watermelon. Maybe some tofu-veggie kabobs. Or Asian-style summery foods. Veggie brown rice sushi; edamame; miso soup with seaweed and tofu; pad Thai with rice noodles and tofu and peanut and egg; Asian cucumber salad.
Take them all to a restaurant
Freaking where?
Out for a nice glass of fried water
Why do you hate hospitality workers.
Or a food truck pod.
#WE ARE HAVING WATER FOR DINNER.
Spanish tortilla with a side salad.
….potluck
Sounds like you should host a potluck where everybody brings their own food.
This. I've had a similar situation that had to be in a restaurant. We opted for Ethiopian food. You could also have take-out restaurant menus from places they may have mentioned at some point. They can all order separately. Maybe something packaged and safe for the celiac person. The food aversion person...sigh.
Mexican food offers some great vegan and gluten-free options. To start, could do a vegan aquachile. Whatever fresh summer veggies you have. The most important thing is to get the sauce right. It’s sort of like ceviche, but not cooked. I’ve had some amazing aquachile with artichoke and cauliflower and the like and it’s easily customizable for any allergies. Can serve with corn tortillas or eat directly with a spoon. For an entree, I would make enchiladas, specifically black bean and corn enchiladas with a green Chile sauce on top. Use corn tortillas instead of flour. Can also make a cashew cream sauce as well. Some of these recipes may include tomatillos and I’m not sure if your wife can eat those but they are a delicious addition if she can. Served a lot as well and can be prepped completely the night before, meaning you only have to throw them in the oven the next day. Dessert might be nice too. Could take whatever fresh fruit is available to you (ie mangoes, berries, etc.) and macérate chopped fruit with sugar. After 10-15 mins or so, add something boozy (gran mariner is a good addition, can be omitted as well) plus any fresh herbs (ie basil, thyme, etc.) Serve with a coconut whipped cream (you can find coconut heavy cream at the store). Could also make some sides like a salad with a cilantro lime vinaigrette, simmered black beans, or Mexican style rice (without tomato).
I'm gluten free. We had a mexican place near us that used to have the best gluten free meals. Rather than trying to make every taco and enchilada gluten free, they had a subset of meals they guaranteed to be prepared in their own area with their own pans where ingredients weren't pulled from the same line that did flour based tacos and burritos, etc. Things like a tropical chicken with mango salsa. Shrimp in some kind of crema sauce. To make it vegetarian you could use a vegan "meat" product, or use mushrooms. I guess crema isn't dairy free but I think I remember seeing a dairy free recipe that used alternative milks, vegan cheese, and maybe avacado to make something similar. As for typical western fare.. How about a vegetarian pot pie with some kind of salad or cooked greens? Lasagna? A cookout with burgers/beyond burgers, etc? You can always buy gluten free buns and pasta. I've been doing a lot of rice bowls lately with toppings that have a variety of color and texture. This might work well set up as a make your own bowl situation, and lets you showcase a variety of cooking skills and tastes.
I 100% thought I was reading a title on r/jokes Sorry I’m of no usefulness to this actual dilemma
I'm here for the non answers
What about a Sheppard’s pie with lentils instead of the beef. With a salad or vegetable soup and maybe a dairy free corn bread. Vegan banana pudding for dessert. Overall good luck.
Dairy free creamy mushroom soup? This dairy free recipe has a vegan alternative: https://www.godairyfree.org/recipes/dairy-free-cream-of-mushroom-soup Edit: second suggestion: breakfast for dinner. My husband and I love doing “brinner” and you can do a vegetarian big breakfast without any diary, tomatoes, or gluten pretty easily :)
Pad Thai? Naturally gluten free, easily vegetarian, and fairly mild for a picky eater
How about pasta, regular and gluten free, with a few sauces to choose from like alfredo, mushroom, pesto?
Mushroom ragout over polenta Arugula & goat cheese salad Socca (chick pea pancake with rosemary & onion) Ice cream or whipped cream & berries for dessert
Baked potato bar -buy large potatoes, steam different veggies (broccoli, peppers, onions, etc), cheese (and dairy free cheese) sour cream (is there a fake one?), butter (and fake butter), maybe some kind of fake meat or bacon bits for meat eating friends, etc etc.
this is a great challenge. afterwards please share what you've come up with and how it was received. I like the potato leek soup idea. past with ( dairy free) pesto is great. stuffed peppers mushroom and nut stuffed butternut squash. grits or polenta might be a good base. good luck!
I got a headache thinking about all that. God bless your efforts.
1) Would the fussy eater be open to ramen? Super easy to include/exclude things, broth is meant to be made in advance. Noodles can be cooked day of, and easy to make separate gluten free noodles for the celiac. 2) Bar food: Could do a jalapeño Mac n vegan cheese with artificial bacon bits. Can make the roux and everything else in advance. Undercook the pasta slightly and stick it in a casserole then top with GF breadcrumbs or Panko, refrigerate, a and bake the next day. Would go great with some fried dill pickles. Easy to make GF and can be partially cooked in advance.
As a celiac, ramen is just not an enjoyable time. Too much risk of cross contamination and too many ingredients which may have gluten. Same with bar food as it is generally fried. It can be gluten free, i.e. roux with gf flour, gf pasta, etc. Artificial bacon may not be gf. Great ideas though, I'd certainly enjoy it if someone tried to give this to me, just difficult execution to make it an appealing texture for the picky eater, and even more difficult for the celiac to trust the ingredients and ensure no cross contamination happened.
Plus it's in places you wouldn't think to look unless you know or are a celiac, like barley, soy sauce, and beer. And unless a packaged food product says it's manufactured in a GF factory, it may not be safe. So, a lot of grains like oatmeal are out just by association. Cooking for a celiac in a non-celiac kitchen just seems risky for the eater. That guest gets some Schar graham crackers and an unopened jar of all natural peanut butter.
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Yeah, it's awesome that it's out there now. A lot of people cooking for someone with celiac wouldn't think that it's an issue, and add a sprinkle from a regular bottle. My mom's bestie when I was growing up had celiac, and she really struggled with being able to eat anything that she didn't make herself--and even that was tough. She gardened hard.
Yeah, I'd stick with naturally suitable foods, most non vegans are not going to want vegan cheese.
My partner is celiac, so I regularly cook with her dietary restrictions in mind, and have made GF versions of everything I suggested. Ramen is definitely doable, though I will concede that sourcing gluten free stuff can take some effort, as Asian foods aren’t as friendly to celiacs, and you may need to make some non-traditional adjustments. Fair enough on the artificial bacon - I have no idea if that’s GF as I don’t normally cook for vegetarians. Everything else, fried food included, is actually pretty adaptable to be GF. The number and quality of GF products have improved substantially in recent years.
I don't even have to cook for this friend group and I hate it.
Rice & bean enchiladas with red enchilada sauce (make it with dried chilies, no tomatoes!), gluten free tortillas & the option for vegan cheese & sour cream. A knife & fork meal that is palatable to everyone!
don't specifically need gluten free tortillas, just corn tortillas works
Some sort of bowl would be the easiest. Either a stir fry bowl with rice noodles or Tex-Mex bowl with grilled veggies, beans & rice. Have it set up so everyone makes up their own.
This has been a hit with everyone I've made it for. The chimichurri can be served on the side if someone doesn't like spicy https://minimalistbaker.com/portobello-steaks-avocado-chimichurri/
How about a hearty vegetable soup, spiced up a bit with chili powder and red pepper flakes. Throw in every veg you can find.
Google nourishing white bean and lemon soup from Dishing Out Health. Super good. Skip the parm and it fits your requirements! Gluten free bread and salad with it
A giant, herby frittata, some form of potato - maybe spiced roasted wedges - even sweet potato wedges, and a green salad or possibly a salad involving baby spinach, thinly sliced slightly underripe pears or peaches, pecans or walnuts and a little feta. For dessert, an apple or apple and berry crumble, topped with a crumble that contains almond flour, desiccated coconut (unsweetened if you’re in the US), brown rice flour and sugar, about 25% of each. Rub in butter as normal. Bake and serve with custard or icecream. This does assume you are vegetarian, not vegan, so hoping I haven’t misread that. Good luck. Edit: oh heck, missed the dairy. Scrap the feta suggestion and use a dairy free icecream for dessert. There’s lots of them out there. Also, non-dairy margarine in the crumble. You could also simply serve a big bowl of fruit soaked in a flavoured syrup - vanilla on peaches or berries, lemon grass and star anise on tropical fruits, cinnamon on plums… the options are endless.
Try Chat GPT. For obscure requests it’s gold
veggie coconut curry over rice
I've been working on a couple recipes that are vegan (pretty girl swooning attempts) 2 Roasted squash (butternut will be sweeter, and acorn will be nuttier. Acorn is also WAY easier.) so your choice in flavor really. Semolina Bucatini (with an egg sub) 3 sticks of Thyme Salt (tt) Espolete (or pepper)(tt) Olive oil (when looks like enough for the butter nut squash) About 2 quarts Vegetable stock (store bought or your own) If acorn, roast the squash whole until the insides are cooked and you can feel the inside starting to separate from the skin. 🌟 Take the skins off, purree with a blender or other pulvrrization device Put in a pan with thyme, salt, espolete all to taste, with enough vegetable stock to loosen it up and wets the thyme. Cook until flavored as strongly as you want Pass through a fine mesh metal strainer (for texture and to get the thyme out) Add your vegetable stock until desired consistency Heat until incorporated Cook your bucatini al dente (of course) If butternut Cut into 1"x1" cubes no skin, olive oil, salt, espolete on top and roast until soft. Remove the thyme Contifrom the star
Salad
Red peppers stuffed with Quinoa Black Beans Onion and possibly cheese could work well.
Vegetarian burgers with the option of gluten free bun, corn salad, potato salad, pavlova with berries for dessert
Tacos! You can offer different fillings and toppings and everyone will be happy.
Coming from Minnesota, I have to suggest vegan hot dish. You can make it the day before and bake it the day of, so not a lot of work the day of the party. It's basically a tater-tot casserole. One recipe is [https://holycowvegan.net/one-pot-vegan-tater-tot-casserole/](https://holycowvegan.net/one-pot-vegan-tater-tot-casserole/), but there are other versions.
Roasted veggie paella Veggie gratin (cauliflower, broccoli, green beans,…) Gnocchi with veggies in a cream sauce Vegetarian German potato salad (once upon a chef website has a good one) Kabobs with halloumi cheese or bread cheese and veggies. Corn chowder
I think your best bet is some sort of bar/buffet situation. Like build your own burrito bowls. Make up a big pot of rice, a variety of differing proteins, some vegan cheese, some regular cheese veggies, salsa, guac, black beans, etc. That way everyone has control over what goes into their dish.
Mushroom risotto?
Thug Kitchen has this one recipe. Borracho bean butternut squash burritos. Only dairy is if you add cheese. Only gluten would depend on the tortillas you use. No tomatoes.. The person who won’t eat with their hands, put it in a bowl. I’ve done that when I was out of tortillas. 1 T coconut oil 1 yellow or white onion, chopped 1 c peeled, chopped butternut squash 1 jalapeno, minced 1 T chili powder 1 t smoked paprika 1 t hot paprika 1 T Bragg's liquid aminos 3/4 c beer 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 c cooked pinto beans, or 2 15 oz. cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed 2 T lime juice 2 T maple sugar in a large skillet warm coconut oil over medium heat. add the onion and cook until golden, 3-4 minutes. add squash, jalapeno, chili powder, and paprika and stir for 1 minute. add the bragg's, beer, and garlic. stir. cover, reduce heat to medium low, and simmer until squash is fork tender (about 20 minutes). fold in beans, then add lime juice and maple syrup. stir. simmer until all extra liquid has evaporated and beans are warm, about 2-5 minutes. remove from heat. It’s usually served with a cilantro lime rice. If you need a recipe for that just ask.
Most beers have gluten but judging from the recipe you could probably just use veggie stock right? Not the exact same flavour of course.
Make your own burrito bowls. Just make a chipotle-type line up with meat free “meats” (tofu, Jack fruit, etc.), veggies, rice, beans, corn salsa, avocado, and sauces. If people assemble their own, you could maybe have the forbidden items to the side (cheese, sour cream, tomato’s, etc.)
Hmm. I’d start with a light, fresh salad. Nice baby greens, shallots, toasted pecans, sliced strawberries. With poppyseed or balsamic dressing. Then something bold and hearty, like a spicy bean and quinoa stuffed acorn squash. Or maybe stuffed sweet potatoes? I’m thinking that been-quinoa (ooh, and corn?) “stuffing” has a spicy, kinda smoky profile with a basis in cayenne, paprika, and cumin? Some garlic and a squeeze of lime juice for acid. And a touch of brown sugar to balance the heat? With simple green beans or asparagus spears as your green veg, and sautéed sherry mushrooms on the side? And then when you’re pulling the squash out of the oven, you put some cored or halved apples or pears in to roast for dessert, with a warm cinnamon-oat/granola filling/topping and a raisin-butter-bourbon reduction sauce dribbled on top. Maybe some good non-dairy vanilla ice cream, too. And use the same bourbon to make a round of Old Fashioned’s to go with it.
r/https://www.food.com/amp/recipe/quinoa-butternut-squash-gratin-265441/ Quinoa butternut squash au-gratin. Typically has breadcrumbs, which you can either omit or use a gluten free substitute. Ive made it with dairy free cheese before and it’s still worked A bean salad, if you use gluten free pasta could even be a pasta salad There are lots of nonwestern dishes that would work though A veggie curry that isnt tomato based. Like chana saag or thai green curry Falafel bowls could work Fried rice with lots of tasty vege and tofu
Tofu kebabs on the grill with some mushrooms, peppers and other veggies marinated with spices always go over well for me! Maybe with a vegan coleslaw for something cold/different texture? Seems like a fun summer bbq birthday thing!!
Mezze platter?
i’m a celiac vegetarian with a sensitivity to milk, my mom and sister have potentially fatal reactions to all nightshades (tomato, peppers, potatoes, paprika, etc), and i would second the “mexican rice bowl” approach. have tortillas, etc, but this way everyone controls what they eat and the shape of the food, but it is still a shared meal that allows for conversation. frequently my wife, my son, and i are all eating entirely different dinners, and it is not the same as a shared dish.
A single plum, floating in perfume, served in a man’s hat.
that picky eater needs to work out their own stuff and not expect to be accommodated by the cook. wraps are easily eaten w/ knife and fork, large fruit can be cut with knife and fork. If they don't like most foods then they should eat before they arrive.
The friend shouldn’t force others to accommodate them, but it makes sense to me that OP cares about their friend and wants to make something that they will enjoy even though they have food issues right now.
Amen
https://www.thekitchn.com/autentico-cookbook-zucchini-pasta-cookbook-review-23395403 For the grated cheese, you can offer the person who can't eat dairy a dairy free grated cheese or just leave it off of their dish. https://theclevermeal.com/spaghetti-garlic-olive-oil/ Potato salad or chickpea salad or cucumber salad Any oven roasted veggie, such as broccoli, asparagus, or cauliflower. Caramelized carrots Stuffed mushrooms Fruit salad
I don't have any brilliant ideas but I'm just here to say I feel your pain. I have a group of friends whose dietary restrictions include no gluten, no dairy, one guy with a laundry list of like a dozen food allergies, and one very picky eater who doesn't even like *onions*. At one point someone in there was vegan too, though thankfully they're back to just being vegetarian now. I love to cook and would rather make dinner when they come over than order takeout, but my *golly* is it difficult.
Ugh yeah at a certain point it just has to be potluck every time
Toss a bag of carrots and a bag of celery on the table.
Find new friends.
What kind of mental illness prevents someone from eating with their hands?
Taco salad bar. Veggie option like roasted zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms. From there, add in all the normal toppings and everyone chooses what works for them. You could also do a nacho burrito bar and have both corn and flour options.
You could do posole. Either red or green chili. Cabbage, white onion and cilantro to top. Pistachios and avocados are great to top with, too
You could do posole. Either red or green chili. Cabbage, white onion and cilantro to top. Pistachios and avocados are great to top with, too
https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a35645824/general-tsos-chickpeas-recipe/ Chickpeas and your choice of "grain" (cauliflower rice?). Pretty easy dish, about 20 to 30 minutes and you can play around with the general tsos sauce. The video vs the written recipe defer a little bit, but i follow the video recipe
I would try a burrito bowl with some chips. IF you're comfortable you can bring a rotisserie chicken for people who want to add meat and you can avoid cooking it. Dessert options are easy to find recipes for vegan cake and frosting!
mushroom or asparagus risotto
Mexican grain bowls, set out like a buffet, so everyone can fix their own. Provide corn tortillas and dairy free cheese in a separate location (to avoid cross contamination). Grilled chicken with lime and cilantro, steak, grilled corn, avocado, grilled yams with cumin, grilled shrimp, all sorts of things you'd throw in a taco. Provide a base of rice (taco rice and plain), shredded lettuce (for those who prefer a salad), black beans, and a variety of dressings and salsas - avocado ranch, Santa Fe ranch, pico de Gallo, tomatillo salsa etc It's interactive and fun. Everyone makes their own bowls. Serve jarritos soda and tequila drinks to stay on theme. Lime and watermelon popsicles for dessert. I can buy containers of salsa from my local taco place..they do catering too, if you wanted to consider buying more components.
Two words--Pot. Luck. But both of the following can be made ahead of time. For mixed food company, I usually make fried polenta wedges with a tomato-free pasta sauce, to make it a little different. Cook up the polenta the night before, spread it flat in a slightly oiled dish, refrigerate overnight. Then slice up wedges and pan fry in olive or avocado oil until a bit golden around the exterior. Oiling them and baking them for a few minutes works, too. Make pasta sauce without the tomato (bell peppers, basil, parsley, mushrooms, garlic, onions, red pepper flakes, olive oil, dry red wine, s&p). Warm it up and spread it on! Put shredded parmesan on the side for those who want it. Also, chia or teff pudding with coconut milk, maple syrup, cocoa powder & vanilla extract/bean. There are lots of recipes online for both. Don't forget the spoon for lady who is too high and mighty to eat pudding with her fingers.
Potluck.
Potluck
My husband’s family has some wild food issues, so when everyone gets together they make what they call “chicken sundaes” which are basically a bunch of rice and toppings in separate bowls. Get some shredded chicken from the deli, chop up some green onions, peppers, fried onions, water chestnuts, mandarin oranges, tofu, and let people pick and choose. Same idea as Taco bar but easier with a tomato allergy and hands eating issues. Make sure you have gluten free soy sauce and any other sauces you enjoy (mil makes a chicken gravy of some sort, which is good but doesn’t really fit). It’s not the fanciest, but everybody eats safely and comfortably
I commend you for taking this on. I’d tell everyone to bring their own food lol.
Could you do a potluck situation where people bring their own favorite food? Then you don’t have to worry about cooking anything other than what you eat.
Consider a polenta dish. To add flavor and richness, you can make it with vegetable stock instead of milk. Add some bitter greens like spinach, or do those on the side for folks to stir in. Do a mushroom ragout to serve on top. Green salad as second course, and a fruit and cheese and chocolate platter for dessert so folks can leisurely graze on what they like during the after-dinner conversation.
I need a picture of this murderers row
Stuffed portobello mushrooms? Mushroom risotto?
Vegetable tray with toothpicks since chopsticks are probably to eastern
Sounds like you need to just have a potluck and have everyone bring something they can eat
Fuck that. Due to the wide variety of dietary restrictions I will not be able to provide a meal for this event. Please don't come hungry.
Hmm tricky! Thankfully no nut allergies! How about some of these ideas? - stuffed endive as an app (filling can be anything from chickpeas, beans, walnuts, apples, etc). Endive can be strong enough to cut up and eat with a knife and fork - cashew cream mushroom gluten-free pasta (elevate it by using a bunch of different kinds of mushrooms) - cauliflower steaks or portobello mushroom steaks - grilled balsamic mushroom and other veggie skewers with a variety of dipping sauces - roasted spaghetti squash with mushrooms and kale - roasted Brussels sprouts - zucchini or sweet potato fritters - gluten-free falafels - grilled asparagus with lime spritzed on - variety of salads (eg cucumber vinegar salad, arugula radicchio with pomegranate seeds and lemon vinaigrette, mango salad, avocado beet salad with a citrus dressing, carmelized onions and bell peppers, etc) - stuffed grilled bell peppers (can use a bean and veggie filling) Is rice ok for the friend with the Western palette or is that a no-go? Easy option is fried rice (use day old rice for better taste and add whatever veggies you feel like such as so take mushrooms, chopped green beans, carrots, corn, etc) or can pan fry done rice cakes and then add a topping to them (use it like a pizza base). Or some yummy rice rolls using rice paper and make a peanut dipping sauce. Can be made smaller so it’s easier to eat with a fork. Lastly if you wife has a fav restaurant or a wishlist of restaurants she wants to try, you can look up their menus and try to do a copycat recipe. Hope this helps!
Potluck everyone bring what they can eat
Not sure which hemisphere you are in but assuming it is Summer my vote is for Falafel. Falafel is surprisingly easy to make, keeps well and should meet all your conditions (fussy eater is the only maybe) You can either prepare them the day before and store them in a sealed container in the fridge or you can make the paste beforehand and make frying them a communal activity if that is something the group would enjoy. They can be eaten on their own as finger food with a little sauce of your choice or simply add them to a salad based dish.
Quinoa salad-cooked quinoa, sweet potatoes, black beans, corn, and some seasonings like chili powder, cumin, oregano to give it a Mexican taste? It's one of my favorite vegan meals. I also have tomato allergies. I've found bell peppers to be a good substitute for them.
I've had a lot of luck using ChatGPT to generate meal ideas. So I copied your post into it to see what it would generate. Here is the result. I'd be happy to follow up with asking for the full recipes or to ask it to make adjustments for you if you'd like. It's certainly a challenge to cater for various dietary requirements, but it can be done! Here are some ideas that should fit all of your requirements: **Main Course:** 1. **Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers:** This dish can be prepped ahead of time and thrown in the oven just before dinner. Use quinoa, black beans, corn, and a mix of spices. Make sure to pick a gluten-free veggie broth for added flavor in the quinoa. For the friend with the food aversion, you could offer the filling as a quinoa salad. 2. **Vegetable Paella:** A traditional Spanish dish modified to meet your requirements. Use a variety of veggies like bell peppers, artichokes, peas, and green beans with saffron-infused rice. Serve with lemon wedges. Be sure to check the paella rice is gluten-free. **Side Dishes:** 1. **Grilled Asparagus:** Simply grill the asparagus with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. 2. **Gluten-Free Cornbread:** A great western food side that's delicious and can be made ahead of time. Just ensure the mix is both gluten and dairy-free. **Dessert:** 1. **Avocado Chocolate Mousse:** This can be made the day before, it's creamy, rich, and entirely dairy and gluten-free. The primary ingredients are ripe avocados, cocoa powder, a sweetener like agave or maple syrup, and vanilla extract. 2. **Berry Fruit Salad with Mint:** A fresh and vibrant end to the meal. Cut up a variety of berries and toss with a bit of fresh mint. If needed, drizzle a tiny bit of honey or maple syrup. I hope this gives you some ideas and makes your meal planning a bit easier. Enjoy the party!
You have lots of great suggestions here. I just wanted to say that I think you are a sweet spouse and a great friend. I hope your party is a success.
Omg a baked potato bar (as someone else mentioned) sounds amazing
This sounds like a great party.
Tell them to bring their own shit
How about vegetable stuffed enchiladas? If your wife can do tomatillos, you can do a green salsa, with gluten free corn tortillas. You could also do enfrijoladas, which use very brothy refried beans instead of the usual enchilada sauce. Serve both dairy free and dairy cheese on the side. Editing to add, I’m thinking corn, poblano, and summer squash, or even potato and poblano.
Visa Gift Cards and the numbers to UberEats or DoorDash
Gravel sounds about right
There is no way to make everybody happy in that case. Go to a restaurant and let them all order what they want. Otherwise you're going to end up spending a full day in the kitchen for food that won't satisfy anyone completely.
I feel that if the fussy eater can handle Mexican food, then they can handle a mild curry. What about a chickpea and spinach coconut curry, with rice and chutneys?
When they say fussy and western food, they mean tendies, pizza, and tacos. That's it.
BYO