Your favorite fancy Vegetarian/Vegan main dish?

[ChocolateMouse]

Well I've gotten some people hooked on veggies with the rice and mushroom stuffed squash for sure. Everyone I knew loved it and my vegetarian sister cried a little. Cause it's the sorta holiday dinner our mom would make that she never has time for so I felt really gratified for that.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

For a Mexican flair, we love Haystacks! A lot like taco salad, only different! No meat, of course. And instead of mixing the ingredients into a giant salad, you serve it buffet style and everyone builds their own. You start with a big, excuse me, I meant to say BIG pot of pinto beans. I just make mine with salt, 1 tsp. per cup of dry beans, and cook em in a crockpot overnight.

Serve with any (or all!) of the following:

Ingredients:
Frito's corn chips, crushed Tostitos, or brown rice
Shredded iceberg lettuce
Chopped fresh tomatoes
Chopped onion
Sliced olives
Sour cream
Shredded Mexican or Colby-Jack cheese
Salsa, homemade, or purchased (we like Pace)
Jalapeños, habañeros, etc., if you are into that sort of thing!
Avocado, chopped fresh or mashed into guacamole.

Directions: just set everything out buffet-style , put bowls and forks or spoons on the table, and stand back! It's "build-your-own" time!

Caution: these things GROW as you build them! And they are addictive! The corn chips are the foundation, or the "hay" on which the "stack" is built. These are a good way to get kiddos to eat veggies, and much easier and neater than tacos because you eat them with a fork

Olé! Enjoy!

 

[Conan]

While soup may not be a traditional centerpiece, a butternut bisque (made with coconut milk) served in a roasted sweet pie pumpkin is not only incredibly tasty, but gorgeous as a centerpiece.
Use a braising pan, and pile up roasted Brussels sprouts around the base of the pumpkin, and you've got a beautiful offering.
I first made the roasted pumpkin thing as the pig in a pumpkin from Chef John's Food Wishes blog. Incredible. I then used the same concept for squash bisque. Presentation can't be beat!

This is not my photo, but honestly, mine looked just like this. It really is crazy pretty.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Eating a soup is going to be very challenging at this gathering. XD But heck that IS very pretty!

There's 20+ people in a small space. It's a bit chaotic.

 

[Conan]

Eating a soup is going to be very challenging at this gathering. XD But heck that IS very pretty!

There's 20+ people in a small space. It's a bit chaotic.

Serve it in punch cups!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I don't own any! But the sheer jostling would still be an issue.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I might steal the soup idea and just fill/bake multiple pumpkins. It IS gorgeous!

 

[Conan]

I don't own any! But the sheer jostling would still be an issue.

Soup shooters. Hah. Throat scalding all around.

 

[Conan]

I might steal the soup idea and just fill/bake multiple pumpkins. It IS gorgeous!

The video I followed for the original pig in a pumpkin said stuffing would be awesome too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Here's a couple of vegetarian dishes I like. Not necessarily "fancy holiday centerpieces" but they're filling and appropriate for a holiday spread and can take some ingredient adjustments to account for some allergies or dietary restrictions.

https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cheesy-brown-rice-gratin - My edits to the recipe shown are: I use leftover rice instead of cooking rice specifically to make this, and I sub in pine nuts sometimes instead of walnuts (but any meaty nut should work well). It's a very filling and satisfying dish.

https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/hummus-rice-fritters - Suitable as a side or as a main course (think crab cakes). Once again I use leftover rice instead of making rice specifically for it.

https://www.keyingredient.com/recipes/3625795033/pasta-bundt-loaf/ - Bake this in a fancy fluted bundt pan for a nice presentation. I usually bake it in a plain glass ring pan for easy clean up, but it doesn't show as nicely.