Vegetarian meals to eat while watching Downton Abbey
April 21, 2018 11:33 AM Subscribe
Help me design some vegetarian meals for me to make for my wife and her friend for their weekly Downton Abbey watching party.
My wife and her friend have started a new tradition where a couple of times a month they attend a local political activism meeting and then come back to our house to eat and watch Downton Abbey (they're currently beginning Season Two, if that matters). The meeting starts before dinner, so they'll need to eat when they get back regardless, but I thought it would be fun to have something a little extravagant waiting for them when they arrive. I'm talking at least two courses, plus a dessert and maybe a cocktail.
They're both vegetarians, meaning no meat whatsover (including seafood), but they'll eat anything with butter and eggs in it, and my wife will eat any cheese that doesn't have real rennet. Given those restrictions, what should I make?
Generally speaking, it'd be great if the food suggestions were ones that are relatively easy to handle and to eat while sitting on a couch watching TV (so soups and stews are maybe not the best). It also might be fun if suggestions had some salience to the show (which I've never seen), but I'm open to any ideas. Also, I'll be wrestling two children in to bed right around the time they get home, so to the extent things can be prepped or made ahead of time that's also a plus.
I have access to a well-stocked American grocery store and a pretty solid Asian grocery store, as well as periodic access to a Trader Joe's. I'm a reasonably talented cook with a reasonably well-stocked kitchen.
Thanks!
My wife and her friend have started a new tradition where a couple of times a month they attend a local political activism meeting and then come back to our house to eat and watch Downton Abbey (they're currently beginning Season Two, if that matters). The meeting starts before dinner, so they'll need to eat when they get back regardless, but I thought it would be fun to have something a little extravagant waiting for them when they arrive. I'm talking at least two courses, plus a dessert and maybe a cocktail.
They're both vegetarians, meaning no meat whatsover (including seafood), but they'll eat anything with butter and eggs in it, and my wife will eat any cheese that doesn't have real rennet. Given those restrictions, what should I make?
Generally speaking, it'd be great if the food suggestions were ones that are relatively easy to handle and to eat while sitting on a couch watching TV (so soups and stews are maybe not the best). It also might be fun if suggestions had some salience to the show (which I've never seen), but I'm open to any ideas. Also, I'll be wrestling two children in to bed right around the time they get home, so to the extent things can be prepped or made ahead of time that's also a plus.
I have access to a well-stocked American grocery store and a pretty solid Asian grocery store, as well as periodic access to a Trader Joe's. I'm a reasonably talented cook with a reasonably well-stocked kitchen.
Thanks!
From what I remember of PBS's Manor House, most of the food from that era would be considered pretty disgusting today. But that doesn't mean you can't have some fun. Also media-inspired, in Gosford Park, the cook suggests offering a vegetarian Welsh Rarebit.
I'm thinking some sort of veggie croquette as a substitute for an original that I imagine to be fishy. Also, coddled eggs, because who coddles eggs anymore?
posted by SemiSalt at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm thinking some sort of veggie croquette as a substitute for an original that I imagine to be fishy. Also, coddled eggs, because who coddles eggs anymore?
posted by SemiSalt at 11:52 AM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is a super sweet idea. You might want to look up a vegetarian high tea menu for inspiration. Finger sandwiches should fit your bill, like these watercress sandwiches and egg sandwiches (ignore the prawn one), or make some with with fake meat. You can add scones and/or small cakes (Victoria sponge, sticky toffee pudding, etc., might go nicely with the Downton Abbey theme) for dessert, plus tea and prosecco or Pimm's/G&Ts for drinks.
posted by stillmoving at 12:07 PM on April 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by stillmoving at 12:07 PM on April 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
I was also going to say cucumber sandwiches. Other tea sandwiches like tomato cheddar, asparagus, curried egg, manchego and quince, pickle and cheese, would give you a variety of options. (The link has a lot of meat-oriented sandwiches but the veggie options sound great. More veggie options here.)
More ideas for afternoon/low tea - lots of sweets. (Low tea is lighter and more "refined," high tea is more like a full meal and generally involves meat - so "Low Tea" might be a term that gets you more veggie results.)
TJ's also has a lot of options that, while less in keeping with the theme, make it easy to put together something like this - frozen bird's nests (pop in the oven, serve with the sauce), hummus and pita chips, veggie frozen pizzas, random fruit w nuts and cheese .. a quick stroll through the frozen food section should give you lots of other ideas.
posted by bunderful at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2018
More ideas for afternoon/low tea - lots of sweets. (Low tea is lighter and more "refined," high tea is more like a full meal and generally involves meat - so "Low Tea" might be a term that gets you more veggie results.)
TJ's also has a lot of options that, while less in keeping with the theme, make it easy to put together something like this - frozen bird's nests (pop in the oven, serve with the sauce), hummus and pita chips, veggie frozen pizzas, random fruit w nuts and cheese .. a quick stroll through the frozen food section should give you lots of other ideas.
posted by bunderful at 12:27 PM on April 21, 2018
If you put the teeeeniest smear of Marmite or Vegemite into tea sandwiches (you can mix it into butter or cream cheese first if you're not used to the taste which is admittedly intense), you get a subtle umami kick that's quite delicious.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 2:10 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by pseudostrabismus at 2:10 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
What a sweet idea! Quiche or frittata or tortilla de patata are nice make ahead vegetarian dishes that feel fancy but will be quick to plate in the moment. With a salad of baby greens or a chopped salad on the side -- there's something about cutting everything tiny that makes it feels whimsical and fancy, and makes it easier to eat. I know you have concerns about soup, but if you make a first course of pureed soup in a tea cup with a small spoon (tomato, potato/leek, roasted apple and sweet potato, cream of broccoli) that will be both easy to make ahead and also easy to eat even while relaxing on the couch.
Also, vegetable croquettes, vegetable pakora, bite sized herb-and-cheese biscuits, falafel, black bean "meatballs" can all be fun and fancy -- put a little sauce/gravy in a ramekin, put the ramekin on a sandwich plate with 4 or so of the biscuits/falafel/croquettes and a couple toothpicks.
ETA: these are all from things my kid and I made when they were hosting a lot of vegetarian tea parties, but I don't know the show so don't know how on-theme they are.
posted by eafm at 2:48 PM on April 21, 2018
Also, vegetable croquettes, vegetable pakora, bite sized herb-and-cheese biscuits, falafel, black bean "meatballs" can all be fun and fancy -- put a little sauce/gravy in a ramekin, put the ramekin on a sandwich plate with 4 or so of the biscuits/falafel/croquettes and a couple toothpicks.
ETA: these are all from things my kid and I made when they were hosting a lot of vegetarian tea parties, but I don't know the show so don't know how on-theme they are.
posted by eafm at 2:48 PM on April 21, 2018
Oh She Glow's life affirming nacho dip comes to mind, no relevance to the show unfortunately: http://www.thewholetable.com/gallery/life-affirming-nacho-dip/. Can be made ahead and requires some prep (soaking the cashews).
posted by lafemma at 3:30 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by lafemma at 3:30 PM on April 21, 2018 [1 favorite]
Carrot, cottage or cressy soup and tea sandwiches (egg and olive? watercress or cucumber?)
posted by beccaj at 4:56 PM on April 21, 2018
posted by beccaj at 4:56 PM on April 21, 2018
A search for Edwardian vegetarian brought up this site with recipes from a 1915 vegetarian cookbook (scroll down). You may not want to use these exact recipes - they seem strange - but it may give you some inspiration.
posted by FencingGal at 6:47 PM on April 21, 2018
posted by FencingGal at 6:47 PM on April 21, 2018
On the very first ep of Downton Abbey, Mrs. Patmore made a Kedgeree (a riff of Indian cuisine created during the British occupation of India) that I nearly died over on screen. It was incidental, not highlighted- but so beautiful. I looked up Kedgeree recipes and devised my own version I have shared here before. We make it every Christmas Morning. It has flaked fish, but I'll adapt it here and make it vegetarian. Geezus fck, is it delicious and pretty. Enjoy!
I'm going to adapt this Epicurious Recipe because it is important to garnish with the chopped hard boiled egg and not use sliced semi-hard boiled egg in my version. 2 cups of cooked Basmati Rice + 2 Hard Boiled Chopped Eggs is fine for a 2 people dish. My addition is one large (or two small) cooked and diced Yukon Gold Potato(es.) The secret is lots of fresh squeezed Lemon Juice on top just before presentation.
- MY ADAPTATION FOR YOU IS TO MIX THROUGH THE RICE RECONSTITUTED DRIED WAKAME SEAWEED.
- An alternative is to garnish with those Seaweed Pearls that are a vegan stand-in for Caviar.
- The fresh chopped Parsley is KEY to this dish.
- Go easy on the Curry Powder. You can always add more.
Without further ado....
INGREDIENTS
2 cups hot cooked basmati rice
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 large or 2 small boiled & diced Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 large knob of melted butter
1 large or 2 small Shallots
1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
1 tablespoon Curry Powder
Dash Cayenne (optional!)
Chopped parsley
Fresh Lemon Juice
White or Black Pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon of crushed up and reconstituted Wakame Seaweed or 2 Tablespoons of Seaweed Pearls.
PREPARATION
-Get all of your ingredients prepped. Including a tablespoon of crushed up reconstituted (in H2O) Wakame Seaweed if you are going that way. Otherwise omit the Seaweed or Seaweed Caviar Pearls.
-Gently sweat the Shallots w/ the Curry Powder in Butter. Do not burn or brown the shallots. Add a splash of water or white wine or more butter if it's too dry.
-Mix in Salt, Pepper, and/or Cayenne.
-Remove from heat and GENTLY fold through the Basmati Rice + Diced Potatoes + any Seaweed + the chopped Parsley.
-Turn out into a fancy serving dish and garnish w/ Chopped Egg, more Chopped Parsley & squeeze Fresh Lemon Juice on top.
Enjoy!!!
posted by jbenben at 9:38 PM on April 21, 2018
I'm going to adapt this Epicurious Recipe because it is important to garnish with the chopped hard boiled egg and not use sliced semi-hard boiled egg in my version. 2 cups of cooked Basmati Rice + 2 Hard Boiled Chopped Eggs is fine for a 2 people dish. My addition is one large (or two small) cooked and diced Yukon Gold Potato(es.) The secret is lots of fresh squeezed Lemon Juice on top just before presentation.
- MY ADAPTATION FOR YOU IS TO MIX THROUGH THE RICE RECONSTITUTED DRIED WAKAME SEAWEED.
- An alternative is to garnish with those Seaweed Pearls that are a vegan stand-in for Caviar.
- The fresh chopped Parsley is KEY to this dish.
- Go easy on the Curry Powder. You can always add more.
Without further ado....
INGREDIENTS
2 cups hot cooked basmati rice
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 large or 2 small boiled & diced Yukon Gold Potatoes
1 large knob of melted butter
1 large or 2 small Shallots
1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
1 tablespoon Curry Powder
Dash Cayenne (optional!)
Chopped parsley
Fresh Lemon Juice
White or Black Pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon of crushed up and reconstituted Wakame Seaweed or 2 Tablespoons of Seaweed Pearls.
PREPARATION
-Get all of your ingredients prepped. Including a tablespoon of crushed up reconstituted (in H2O) Wakame Seaweed if you are going that way. Otherwise omit the Seaweed or Seaweed Caviar Pearls.
-Gently sweat the Shallots w/ the Curry Powder in Butter. Do not burn or brown the shallots. Add a splash of water or white wine or more butter if it's too dry.
-Mix in Salt, Pepper, and/or Cayenne.
-Remove from heat and GENTLY fold through the Basmati Rice + Diced Potatoes + any Seaweed + the chopped Parsley.
-Turn out into a fancy serving dish and garnish w/ Chopped Egg, more Chopped Parsley & squeeze Fresh Lemon Juice on top.
Enjoy!!!
posted by jbenben at 9:38 PM on April 21, 2018
Lemon Curd on baked British-y things. Yum.
posted by cross_impact at 12:18 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by cross_impact at 12:18 PM on April 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by bananana at 11:44 AM on April 21, 2018 [3 favorites]