Recommendations for an easy vegetarian entree?

[Laurie4b]

I need something for a luncheon tomorrow at church where there are enough entrees for meat eaters, but we need something for vegetarians. I don't have a lot of time today to fuss with cooking. My first preference would be something cold, because I will have to take it in in the early morning. If I could skip getting it warmed up, that would be good. Second preference, something that is forgiving about being warmed up (ie doesn't dry out too badly).

Any suggestions?

I do have one dish I make that fits my criteria, but I'd like to hear from vegetarians as to whether you would feel "taken care of" if this was the main entree (there will be salads and dessert as well)
Black bean salad: black beans, corn, tomatoes (about equal portions, but heavier on the beans, green chiles, italian dressing.) It tastes really good, but I think of it as more of a side dish. Would you consider this an entree?

Thanks!

[MomOfOneFunOne]

Hello from a very long time vegetarian!

First of all, I would be delighted that anyone thought about me at all. I never expect it and if I'm going to an event where I will not be bringing my own, I always fortifly myself with a good, long-lasting snack b/f I go. That way, if there is nothing or very little, I'm still okay. If there is plenty there for me, I still get to have some good food and it's easy to eat moderately.

So, if you brought the bean dish, which sounds yummy to me, I'd be happy. Also, I am more than accustomed to making meals from dishes otherwise known as side-dishes.

If you want to make something else, I'll give you a couple of super-simple ideas. If you have a rice steamer (or, I hear, a pressure cooker) this is truly just about as simple as it gets. Traipse on down to Whole Foods or similar store and buy a couple of Taste of India boxed entrees. The eggplant and chickpeas look nice on a platter but the spinach does not. choose one entree for the platter, not two! Put on a big pot of rice (I go twice in my rice steamer). Lay out all of the rice on a platter, spreading it out almost to the edges. Heat the entree you chose, and put it in the center of the rice, spreading it out an inch or two from the edge of the rice. Sprinkle it with something (chopped parsley, papprika, et c) and serve. I did that once and got great reviews. Little did they know how easy it was!

Sooooooo easy! Cous cous is pasta. In a large pot, saute some onion and garlic in olive oil. Add canned, drained and rinsed chick peas and a thawed veggie (I suggest a thawed frozen veggie b/c it will cook faster and keep up with the cous cous). If I'm serving a small group, I use asparagus. Large crowds get broccoli or some such. After sauteing the asparagus with the oil/garlic/onion/ckpea mixtiure for a bit, add cous cous and water and cook following the pkg directions. After the cous cous mixture reaches room temp, stir in freshly grated parmesan. Pour onto a platter and spread out nicely. Sprinkle liberally with diced fresh tomatoes (canned won't do!) and place lemon quarters all around the edges. PPl love this and it is cheap and simple! Oh, you'll need to salt to taste when you stir in the cheese and. The idea is to take a serving of cous cous and lemon and squeeze the lemon over your own serving. You could skip that and sprinkle a bit of lemon over the whole thing if you want.

I'll just add one thing more: People *always* say, "Oh! I could NEVER be a vegetarian!" The truth is, though, that the first dishes to disappear at a pot-luck are always the vegetarian (as long as you don't call them vegetaerian!). When we go to pot-lucks and pizza parties, it is always the vegetarian entree or the cheese pizza that disappears first. I'm not kidding.

Anyway, on behalf of all vegetarians, thanks for thinking of these folks!

[momee]

Hi, hijacking. Is there any chance you have some more of these super easy, simple ingredient vegetarian main meals?

DH is veg, the rest of us are not. I love posts like this and would LOVE to hear some things you cook/make for your meals.

[MomOfOneFunOne]

I do and I'll post some later, promise! For now, have a peek at this website. What I like is that many of the recipes are reviewed so you can see if ppl really thought they were good.

www.vegweb.com (http://www.vegweb.com)

I'll send you some more of my favorite **easy, few ingredient** recipes later!

[Laurie4b]

Thanks very much. I can't give you rep right now. :(