A vegetarian may feel challenged when inviting guests who normally eat meat to a dinner party. The average vegetarian, who consumes dairy and eggs, is able to construct dinners that are perfectly friendly to the meat eater without serving meat. Most traditional marinara sauces are meatless, as are a number of quiche, fondue and lasagna meals. There’s no question that a completely meatless meal can satisfy most dinner guests, especially when cheese and eggs are permissible ingredients.
Rather than substituting meatlike products, a vegetarian could simply choose recipes that rely heavily on traditional proteins like those in dairy and eggs. Hosts of dinner parties should be sensitive to the needs of guests, and probably stay away from soy products, which for some people create indigestion. Instead of soy-based meat substitutes, consider all the fresh vegetable, fruit, egg and dairy ingredients available for making fantastic meals. Some of the best entrees in the world are vegetarian or easily converted to vegetarian standards and will be recognizable to and enjoyed by your guests.
For vegetarians who do not use dairy or eggs, creating meals that satisfy their own dietary restrictions may be a bit more challenging. So many recipes call for protein from either dairy, eggs, or meat products. While some guests may be fine with meat substitutes, it might be valuable to again look for familiar dishes that merely don’t contain meat. Meatless chili is quite simple to make, and the beans provide plenty of protein. Dishes like pasta and beans, or red beans and rice are also excellent.
Vegan meals based on Mediterranean cuisine can also be completely meat and dairy free, while still providing good amounts of protein. Consider warmed pita bread and dishes of hummus, dolmas, and tabbouleh, for an Eastern take on fajitas. Plenty of Asian dishes rely on very little meat. Vegetarian chow mein, and stir-fried vegetables can make for an excellent “Chinese” night.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with serving meat to dinner guests if your vegetarian ethics permit it. Just as the omnivorous host should be sensitive to vegetarian guests by providing some veggie alternatives or asking them to feel free to bring supplementary food, the vegetarian host should be open to allowing guests who really need that protein to supplement a meal with a meat based dish. Without such manners on both ends of the eating spectrum, guests may not be well-satisfied by a meal.
Ultimately, that is the goal of any host, vegetarian or not: to make sure guests leave the table satisfied. If meat entrees are not for you, consider allowing guests to bring one if they choose. Also provide lots of traditional vegetarian dishes that are high in protein and taste satisfaction. You might end up converting your guests to vegetarianism if your cooking skills are excellent.
