Vegetarians, I Need a Soup Recipe that Carnivores Will Enjoy.

[tarheelmjfan]

We celebrate Christmas Eve with our extended family. Adult DS is the only vegetarian. He said he was fine with not eating, but I'm a Mom. I want to make sure he has something to eat. It would break my heart for him to feel excluded in the meal.

The menu is soup & appetizers. For lack of a better option, I'm planning to make spinach & artichoke dip for the app. I really need a soup idea that everyone will enjoy. I'm also open to other vegetarian appetizer suggestions.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We celebrate Christmas Eve with our extended family. Adult DS is the only vegetarian. He said he was fine with not eating, but I'm a Mom. I want to make sure he has something to eat. It would break my heart for him to feel excluded in the meal.

The menu is soup & appetizers. For lack of a better option, I'm planning to make spinach & artichoke dip for the app. I really need a soup idea that everyone will enjoy. I'm also open to other vegetarian appetizer suggestions.

Here is a list of vegetarian soup recipes: https://smittenkitchen.com/?format=photo&s=vegetarian soup
Every recipe I've tried from SK has turned out well.

This recipe from Marcella Hazan is wonderful -- simple and delicious: https://food52.com/recipes/51809-marcella-hazan-s-white-bean-soup-with-garlic-and-parsley
I've used canned beans with good results, but if you can make it with dried beans (Rancho Gordo's Marcella Beans = YUM!), all the better.

 

[AgentMama]

Butternut squash soup?

 

[neverlandsky]

Baked potato soup made with vegetable broth & cream cheese. Garnish with shredded cheese, green onions, & sour cream.

Veggie Chili. So many different variations of this.

Veggie appetizers: Southern Pimento Cheese Dip served with pretzels and veggies, dates stuffed with blue cheese, 7 layer taco dip with vegetarian beans, caprese salad, onion dip, deviled eggs, etc.

 

[barkley]

I really need a soup idea that everyone will enjoy.

you can take any traditional soup recipie that calls for ground beef and substitute 'crumbles' meat substitute (I like the morningstar farms brand). just make sure to also substitute any broth a recipie calls for with vegetable broth. it works really well and even die hard carnivores are hard pressed to realize the substitution. my kids went k-8th to a vegetarian school and I had to do allot of potlucks as well as provide a hot lunch for about 30 kids and staff a few times a year (parents took turns). I used crumbles in chili, spaghetti with 'meatless sauce', shepherds pie....allot of the kids were not vegetarian and they enjoyed it allot as well.

I like taco soup for a crowd. so easy to make and you can provide toppings like sour cream, cheese, salsa, guac and tortilla strips. the Yummly website has both a lasagna and a stuffed pepper soup that are easy and very tasty.

 

[leebee]

Make Olive Garden's pasta e fagioli using crumbles and veggie broth. That's DD's annual request for either Christmas eve or Christmas day dinner!
Corn chowder? Pea soup or 10-bean soup (not quite the same when you don't make it with a ham bone, but still good)? These can both be made with veggie broth.
I think the more veggies and beans you put in the soup, the less the carnivores will notice that you used crumbles and not real meat/

 

[HeatherC]

Broccoli and Cheddar is always a hit. That would be the one my family would want if we were not eating meat.

 

[jalapeno_pretzel]

https://www.cookingclassy.com/olive-garden-copycat-minestrone-soup-slow-cooker/
https://www.sweetandsavourypursuits.com/tomato-orzo-soup/
https://www.eatwell101.com/slow-cooker-split-pea-soup-recipe
https://www.theharvestkitchen.com/italian-lentil-soup/
https://www.simplyquinoa.com/slow-cooker-pumpkin-quinoa-chili/
https://www.cookingclassy.com/tuscan-tortellini-vegetable-soup/

Some of these call for chicken broth ... just use vegetable broth instead.

 

[barkley]

Make Olive Garden's pasta e fagioli using crumbles and veggie broth

their hot spinach artichoke dip is also really easy to make and a delicious warm appetizer.

 

[leebee]

https://www.cookingclassy.com/olive-garden-copycat-minestrone-soup-slow-cooker/

 

[T.G.I.Friday]

This broccoli cheese soup is easy and tasty and doesn’t get any attention for ‘weird’ ingredients from non-vegetarians.

I use more broth and less cheese, but that’s our family’s preference after making it tons of times. The standard recipe is very good.

Just substitute vegetable broth for the chicken or you can get the better than bouillon no chicken (I think this has more flavor and works better, but vegetable is still good, too).

https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a82790/slow-cooker-broccoli-cheese-soup/

https://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Bouillon-Chicken-Vegetarian/dp/B01G4FGCN8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_pp?crid=1QOGNB7P71XO6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.sA2Kto1pfLVl7sVOM702CXAPRbOOWC6Rrd-met3PqWhRySH2Ew6mVUxxgo6dpZR8I_msw8LlkApgGP2HmcgJEZZiLfliN8pSxz1QEco_kY6T3z20YeuJbNSzt-POI6J5ohXgzN-YoPjOSpT6FiQI4dk221XPHKdB-4Ks1kCJVQhWeRTan1RYAU5ywS4Om4kFm-Ey-7h3Qt0XuQPHIitj-w.Gig40sdxUDMg6Wyjj0KTMmss2AU6hLVnXFHVO-BRxLE&dib_tag=se&keywords=chickenless+bouillon&qid=1734871699&sprefix=chickenless,aps,134&sr=8-1

 

[TwoMisfits]

We celebrate Christmas Eve with our extended family. Adult DS is the only vegetarian. He said he was fine with not eating, but I'm a Mom. I want to make sure he has something to eat. It would break my heart for him to feel excluded in the meal.

The menu is soup & appetizers. For lack of a better option, I'm planning to make spinach & artichoke dip for the app. I really need a soup idea that everyone will enjoy. I'm also open to other vegetarian appetizer suggestions.

Just in case you have a vegan or other issues (like gluten free), I made this pumpkin sweet potato and black bean chili with wine (vs broth, but you can use broth and I adjust seasonings to taste, usually much higher) - it's all 8 allergies free, vegan, and delicious (and cheap), so you're covered in case anyone unexpected with issues also shows up...meat eaters really enjoy this b/c it's hearty and it's chili...it feels like it should have meat, even though it doesn't...and pumpkin is still the season

https://www.fitmittenkitchen.com/vegan-sweet-potato-black-bean-pumpkin-chili/

 

[TwoMisfits]

As for enjoyable vegetarian apps...

I'd do my normal fruit and veg trays. I'd make homemade hummus, homemade baba ghanouj, homemade guacamole, and a homemade lemon aoili and then I'd have veg galore - I've even done a cold roasted fingerling potato that was demolished by meat eaters with the lemon aoili.

Or if that's too much, just do a roasted Italian veg tray - olive oil and Italian seasonings grace bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and/or zucchini in a nice tray spread. The veg might even be nice topping some breads or soups...

And the fruit tray would have a dip - mine is always dairy free so I use coco whip, but a cream cheese one would be good - ideas are eggnog dip, gingerbread dip, or the Thanksgiving standby pumpkin dip...

PS - As above, all of these can be top 8 allergy free and vegan, depending, so if the son is not the only one with dietary needs (some folks just don't mention them and adults can gain new issues)...

 

[Travel60]

Tomato basil soup and really good grilled cheese sandwiches (good thick sourdough or other crusty bread with 2-3 deluxe cheeses). Cut the sandwiches into quarters to make them appetizer size.

Also vote for vegetarian chili with chunky roasted vegetables to provide "bite".

I'm personally not a fan of the fake meats.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Tomato basil soup and really good grilled cheese sandwiches (good thick sourdough or other crusty bread with 2-3 deluxe cheeses). Cut the sandwiches into quarters to make them appetizer size.

Also vote for vegetarian chili with chunky roasted vegetables to provide "bite".

I'm personally not a fan of the fake meats.

I 100% agree - that's why my posted chili used black beans for the protein and meatiness.

I don't know of any meat eater, especially male, who would happily eat fake meat at a party. So, if you use fake meat, expect only normal non-meat eaters to eat the item (and even then, many of them, depending on what fake meat is used, also won't eat it)...

 

[mjkacmom]

Just made tomato bisque last night, potato leek is a favorite here.

 

[CGB]

Make a cheesy potato soup and provide extra cheese and lots of bacon crumbles for a topper. Be sure to have some fresh-baked crusty bread to go with it and you won't hear one complaint!

I have a nephew who is a vegetarian so I've had some practice with adapting menus.

 

[happybaker]

I make this mushroom orzo soup. It's really easy, quick, and delicious. Most of the time I use vegetable broth instead of the chicken because I think it tastes better. You can easily make it for a group.

https://www.gumbo.kitchen/recipes/lemony-mushroom-orzo-soup-for-two

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thank you all for the suggestions & links. I really appreciate it. DS wants soup at lot this week, so I'll be trying several. For today, I decided to make broccoli cheddar soup. I know at least some of the extended family like that. It's currently in the crock pot. I've never tried it, so wish me luck. Spinach artichoke dip was the easiest appetizer recipe I could find to make in the limited time I have today, so I'm going with that. I'll try some of the others, when I don't have so many things to do with so little time.

 

[Wayland10]

Too late for Christmas Eve now, but this is our favorite!
Dan’s Cream of Red Pepper Soup (Christmas favorite!)
4 chopped roasted red peppers
2 tbsp butter
1 chopped onion
4 or so cloves of garlic
Rosemary sprigs, to taste (I like a lot!)
5 c vegetable stock
3 tbsp tomato puree
½ c heavy cream
Paprika, salt, black pepper

In stock pot, melt butter. Sauté onion, garlic, and red peppers. Add veggie stock. Bring to a boil. Add tomato paste and rosemary. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove rosemary. Put in a blender and blend until smooth. Add heavy cream and swirl. Serve immediately, with good bread and cheese.