Vegetarian Meal Options

I'm not a vegetarian, but we are doing a butternut squash ravioli with sage cream sauce and candied pine nuts. I loved it so much at the tasting that I chose it as my meal!

Anything but yet another portobello mushroom

We did a seasonal gnocchi for our veggie option that went over well.

I'm a vegetarian and this was a huge issue in planning our menu. I wanted our menu to be vegetarian-friendly, while also satisfying our other guests. I made our venue come up with a list of suggestions for vegetarian meals because I didn't like most of what was already on their menu.

We ended up picking vegetable and tofu tempura with fried rice and black bean sauce for our main dish vegetarian item because it seemed unique and different compared to other wedding options. Other options they suggested were parmesan risotto with a roasted vegetable ratatouille, spinach pie, and a few different pasta dishes. I would have also liked to have seen a cauliflower steak or curried chickpea cake with vegetables.

There are lots of options for vegetarian main courses. Just make sure that it is filling and includes some kind of protein so people feel like they've had a meal.

FH is a vegetarian and also a bottomless pit, so his preference would be something like pasta or risotto that is really filling!

I'm not currently a vegetarian, but I was one in the past. I would want something that isn't pasta based. Every where you go the vegetarian option is pasta based and I don't enjoy meals that are pasta heavy. Our vegetarian option, which is also custom and not one of our meal choices, will be a layered vegetable dish (think lasagna without the noodles and heavy cheese).

Please do not pick the stuffed portobello mushroom or pepper that most hotels/caterers do for weddings; it's never executed well! Are you thinking a sit-down dinner, buffet, stations?

Pasta, veggie sliders, rissotto, lots of mexican type options (enchiladas, veggie/tofu tacos), spinach mushroom quesadillas....vegetarian is easy! Vegan is a bit more difficult, but not impossible.

Ours is easy, we're doing vegan (we have 2 vegans and 1 vegetarian) tacos: grilled peppers, zucchini, and maybe tofu, with cabbage, lime, cilantro.

If you're having buffet or plated style, maybe an eggplant dish? Eggplant parm, Eggplant in garlic sauce...

You could also do a polenta stuffed pepper, or something like that.

Your vegetarian options all sound great! I just don't want the vegetarians stuck with something less than appetizing or leave hungry! There are some good options out there. It sounds like there are some good vegetarian dishes to choose from. I have also been snooping epicurious for vegetarian ideas and I might need to try some of these recipes myself...

A mushroom risotto or ravioli would be great. A vegetarian pie or tart. Moussaka and ratatouille are (similar) veggie options that can be fancied up.

ETA - I'd be cautious with eggplant parm. Vegetarians get eggplant forced on them a lot, and it's a bit polarizing - a lot of people get turned off by the texture. Particularly if it's not well made.

Anais: Good point.

I'm new to enjoying eggplant myself, so it was something that was fresh in my mind.

These are all vegan, but can be modified to be vegetarian, so if you see something you think might work or be good for your guests, you can see if the venue can do it:

http://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/

We are doing a plated 4 course dinner. We are likely doing a braised beef short-rib for the main for non-vegetarians. I have at least 3 vegetarians invited and I do have 2 vegans but I have a feeling the vegans will not be coming. I will still have a plan in place in case they will attend.

I am glad I asked your help for this because the chef did mention he recently did a stuffed portobello mushroom but I was thinking that wouldn't be very good if done at a wedding.

Eep. I just came on here to share what my venue will be serving for the vegetarian meal (hint: it involves a portobello mushroom) but now I'm just going to leave quietly...

I'm a vegetarian. I'm having beef, chicken meals and for vegetarians I chose the eggplant stuffed with spinach. Simply delicious!!! Also, half of the hors d'oeuvres are vegetarian. I agree with others, no more mushroom dishes.

This may depend on your guests. Are any of your vegetarian guests vegan or have any other major allergies? I was a vegetarian for almost 15 years, but I'm allergic to soy so I couldn't eat tofu. I know I'll have 2 vegan guests and a few people with dairy allergies. We are doing a vegan pasta dish with lots of veggies as the non-meat option. If you have a gluten free vegetarian I would do something other than pasta. A chickpea patty or something like that sounds good. When I was a vegetarian it bummed me out to get a main meal without any protein in it!

Anything bean-and-rice is good since it's filling and usually still good! i.e., red beans and rice for a Cajun menu, black or pinto beans and rice for Mexican food, etc. We're having a fajita buffet so anyone vegetarian can load up on beans, rice, tomato, guac, etc. (But we only have one vegetarian invited... so if she doesn't come the caterer will probably add ham in with the beans!)

I agree with not having a whole mess of pasta. Also, grilled vegetable towers.

I feel like the minute I tell someone I'm vegetarian they think I want to eat quinoa on top of carrots and maybe a cardboard box on the side. I thoroughly enjoy pasta, cheese, pizza, tacos...vegetarian does not make me a rabbit

Yes to seasonal gnocchi! My favorites are pumpkin and chestnut.

A risotto can be made with cheese or vegan, and you can add any kind of veggies (asparagus, squash, peas, roasted tomato, mushroom, cauliflower, etc. etc.). I had the risotto option at a wedding a few years back and I was STUFFED!

Another filling option would be stuffed peppers with something like barley and sweet potatoes.

My vegetarian option is a vegetarian wellington with smoked gouda. It's fantastic, and I want some for myself. We had all kinds of options to choose from with our vendor.

Thanks for the link Yasminadlv! There are some great looking recipes!

Kellie, that Wellington sounds amazing, I love smoked Gouda!!!