Work Xmas buffet lunch - Advice needed please!
So every year at my hospital my department has an Xmas lunch where everyone brings in a dish that they have made / bought. It is one of the highlights of the year at work and I love taking part. My work colleagues are great and always let me know exactly what is in each dish and there's usually plenty I can eat. And they're always very interested in what I have made.
So this is where I need help.....I always end up making sweet dishes, and this year will be no exception. There have already been requests for my brownies (they even changed the date of the dinner because I was on annual leave on the original date).
But this year I would like to take a savoury dish as well, but have no idea what I want to make.
It needs to be something that I can make the evening before and take in tupperware - we have microwaves in the tea room so it can be reheated if necessary.
I'd rather not make a curry or Indian type dish - just because the department is primarily asian and there'll already be tons of Indian dishes.
I don't think a chili or anything sloppy like that would go down well as it's a buffett type of thing.
Any ideas from you guys would be greatly appreciated!
What about something like the outstanding cheezy potato bake or some kind of tofurky or seiten roast?
i made a simple potato salad for my coworkers and they gobbed it down. they had no idea it was vegan. mwahaha. but that was quite a low key potluck. nothing special. what about an appetizer, like tess' phyllo wrapped asparagus with a nice ginger peanut dipping sauce.
I would bring this Rice and Lentil Salad. http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=18137.0
LA created it and its AWESOME....it makes a ton and I took it to a potluck with rave reviews...several non vegans asked for the recipe even. Also it tastes even better the next day and can be served warm or cold. Good stuff.
Actually, I might make this today...haven't had it in a while...yum!
thanks for the adcive so far! Much appreciated :)
Wayne - I am concerned that the cheesy potato bake might be too vegan - if that makes sense! I love love love it but I'm not sure for a group of non-vegans. And unfortunately I can't make seitan as I can't get hold of vital wheat gluten in the UK :(
Kelsi, I had thought of potato salad, but I think someone else has put that down as their dish.
VS - so far I think you're winning with the lentil rice salad. Looks interesting!
How about the vegan green bean casserole? It's a classic. Keep some of the onion rings aside so they won't get soggy and add them when serving.
Or a sweet potato casserole. Some friends of mine make a grated sweet potato casserole with tequila. THAT will get the party going.
Or vegan sweet and sour meatballs. Or Swedish. Make them with a vegan mushroom gravy that you've added vegan sour cream and a little allspice to.
Maybe a type of lentil loaf or nut-based "meat"loaf? The ingredients are simple and non-vegans will probably have them on hand if they want to make it themselves. You could make it the night before and slice it so that you will only need to heat it in the microwave before serving.
I say go with the Rice and Lentil Salad, a Black Bean and Corn Salad, hummus and pita bread triangles or Thai spring rolls. Easy to make and carry. Don't need to be reheated.
Avoid any vegan "cheese" or "meat" dishes. They may taste great to us. But you will be competing with omnivorous dishes and it will be hard to win over the meat and dairy eaters when they have more familiar options.
Yeah, I think I'm going to try the lentil and rice salad. I'll try it this weekend first, and if it's good I'll go with that.
Just a quck question, LAs salad uses red wine vinegar....does anyone know if I could use another type, such as cider vinegar just because that happens to be what I keep in my cupboard.
Don't know if I'm too late to answer this, but according to Cook's Thesaurus you may substitute apple cider vinegar for red wine vinegar. I've always used white wine vinegar in LA's lentil salad.
thanks, veggydog and no not too late. I'm going to do the trial run this week and then the Xmas lunch is next week.
Last few things I've taken to my "food day" at work:
"taco lasagna" -- an invention I've made. Basically everything you need for tacos put in a 13x9 pan and baked. Then put shredded lettuce, salsa, what have you on top.. nom nom nom. Especially with jalapenos baked on top. nom nom.
the incredible pot pie recipe from this site
veggie chili - onion, peppers, tomatos, beans, veggie broth...
these were all gobbled up super fast and got tons of complements. :)