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Help! Cheap Vegetarian Light Lunch
I really need your help!
PhillyBoy is planning this great event after church in the spring, and he asked me to head up the light lunch. Anyone who signs up in advance and pays $10 will be able to enjoy the light lunch during the program he is coordinating.
Here are the issues:
1. It has to be vegetarian since it’s during Lent.
2. I have to keep it as inexpensive as possible (not my strength at all).
3. It must be easy to make in big batches- we are looking to hopefully serve around 100 people.
4. It has to appeal to all ages.
I was thinking we could do a lentil dish of some sort, but not everyone likes lentils. Then I was thinking about grilled vegetable and mozzarella sandwiches, but I wonder how cost effective that could be. I was considering some sort of mezze plate with hummus, pita, tabouleh and vegetarian stuffed grape leaves but I don’t know if that will satisfy the “light lunch” term. I am leaning toward some sort of a grain salad that is filling and delicious with a clementine for dessert (as well as some donated desserts), but I am really not sure.
Don’t laugh- but I literally have woken up in the middle of the night the last 2 nights panicking over this luncheon! I think the reason why I’m nervous is the largest event I’ve done was for 50 people with a large budget, and this is for twice that with a teeny budget.
I want to make PhillyBoy proud…
Please help!
ETA: I just learned that it must actually be vegan, and note that it is feeding an Armenian crowd. Even more challenging!
47 Responses to “Help! Cheap Vegetarian Light Lunch”
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You could serve a nice frittata or veggie chili with cornbread and salad
@Lauren at KeepItSweet, I just learned it actually has to be vegan!!
@RhodeyGirlTests, Oh wow, that is definitely more challenging! Veggie chili is still an option I guess, but definitely no on the frittata.
I like the chili idea — I was going to suggest a soup/veggie stew of some sort 🙂
What about Imam Byaldi and a salad? The eggplant is meaty and satisfying and it will be truly vegetarian. Plus you can make it the day before and not have to do anything except dress the salad the day of…
@Alexis Demirjian, Do you have a recipe for that? That could definitely work!!!
I was just going to comment about that too! I think a grain salad would be great for this!
@Hangry Pants, Wheat berries are pretty inexpensive and would be great in a grain salad.
Pasta!!! Cheap and always feeds a crowd! My mom makes a Caprese pasta (similar to your caprese barley salad!) and it’s delicious. Best thing is you can serve it room temp, too! A nice big salad and some crusty bread and you’re good to go!
Some quinoa… pasta… obvi lots of veggies..
I’m going to scan a few and send them to you…I make the filling from one and prepare the eggplant from another.
Sabrina what about that caprese barley salad you have on your recipe page?? I made it last spring and remember it being few ingredients and pretty low maintenance, but still completely delicious. Although you could definitely always go the pasta route – like a pasta primavera (but cold). Ahh Id stress over this so much too but I’m sure whatever you make will be awesome 🙂
Any type of grain salad would be great – easy to make vegan and easy to make a TON.
Barley, couscous, quinoa, and wheatberries are great for those, and some are MUCH cheaper than others so you could definitely keep it low cost.
Since it’s still winter, my favorite combinations are:
grain of choice
roasted winter squash (butternut, acorn, kabocha, etc)
beans (chickpeas, cannellini, etc)
greens (lightly steamed or sauteed kale or spinach)
dried fruits
nuts
plus any type of easy dressing with oils, vinegars and spices/herbs. Could also do a hummus-type dressing.
Scanner not working….
This is my go to most of the time, from Treasured Armenian Recipes:
1 large eggplant or 2 small ones
1 green pepper, chopped
3 medium onions, cut length-wise
1 clove of garlice, cut fine
1/2 c. olive oil
1/4 bunch parsley, chopped
1 tomato cut into small pieces, or canned crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 T. tomato paste mixed w/ 1/2 c. water***if you use crushed tomatoes you can skip this ingredient
1. Cut eggplant length-wise into 6 pieces and sprinkle each piece with salt and let stand for 1 hour. Dry each piece with a towel. Brush well with olive oil and bake in a very hot oven 450 degrees until they are light brown.
2. Heat the olive oil and put all the remaining ingredients, except for the parsley and the tomatoes. Cook until they become soft, then add tomatoes and parsley and cook for a few minutes more.
3. Once eggplants have cooled a bit, split them with a knife from end to end and fill with the stuffing. Arrange in a baking pan, pour the tomato sauce over it and bake in oven at 375 degrees for 1/2 hour. Serve cold.
Play with it a little bit and I’m sure it would work well for a group, our church serves it at their Hye Cafe during Lent. If you get someone to help chop all the vegetables it shouldn’t take too much time to pull together.
I like the idea of a grains dish…what if you did quinoa or bulgur? Maybe put a Greek spin on it and included olives, tomatoes, herbs, spicy peppers, cucumber, etc? Feta obviously would be good too, but maybe not if they’re aiming for vegan. Tossed in a light Greek dressing, I think this qualifies as a light meal! Maybe served with pita bread and hummus on the side?
Vegetable and bean soup and a tossed salad with crusty bread for dipping
Have you tried asking Angela @ Oh She Glows? She’s very creative. 🙂
What about Snobby Joes? My boyfriend is not a fan of lentils but loves them. Good Luck!
lentil soup
Or mjedera
Hm I think it’d be easiest to do either a soup / salad or a big grain salad. I personally looove quinoa, you could mix it with veggies, chickpeas, etc. Maybe pick a few recipes and try them out? It’s be a fun little experiment and give us readers some inspiration too!
I don’t have a specific suggestion, but I am loving what others are suggesting because it’s giving me ideas for my own meals, haha.
Hummus Wraps, and Veggie Focaccia Bread would be cheap and good, also go good with soups and salads
A tomato based pasta sauce with lots of veggies, served on pasta, and garlic bread! Good luck!
Maybe a sandwich and salad bar? You could have hummus and other bean spreads available along with bread, veggies, etc. If you (or a friend) has access to a Costco or Sam’s you can probably do it pretty inexpensively.
What about a black beans and couscous salad? Beans are a must 🙂
Ummm I always like to make soups and homemade breads when we go to potlucks, what about a soup/salad and bread (you could make a couple different soups – I have a recipe for a tomato coconut soup it’s amaze!)
I know how hard Lent can be to plan for! Especially when feeding men; they like hearty!
Two thoughts:
– Grain salad with “meaty” tomatoes, eggplant and mushrooms with chick peas and walnuts. Paired with a lentil soup.
– Roasted eggplant stuffed with walnut/garlic filling; served with Hummus and syrian bread on the side.
Both are hearty, warm; but light enough to be considered a luncheon.
Just make sure there’s plenty of syrian bread (and coffee!) and you’re good to go 🙂
Good luck!
@Anne @ Your Kind of Salad,
Ok one more (I like a challenge!)
Caramelized Onion & Honey Flatbread (or tart).Using olive oil to caramelize the onions, tons of fresh herbs), served alongside a vegetable salad with vegetables, walnuts and pomegranates (or craisins if the poms are too labor intensive).
No promises I won’t post again with more random ideas 🙂
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I think a big pot of soup would be perfect! You could make one or two kinds (a butternut squash soup & a vegetable soup come to mind), plus bread & fruit.
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