How to Cook for Vegetarian Relatives

If you have not experimented a great deal with different types of cooking, such as international cuisines or vegetarian cooking, then you may not feel prepared to handle your vegetarian relatives as they turn up on your doorstep. A "meat and potatoes" cook will feel secure in their sphere of expertise and there is nothing wrong with that. But when you have vegetarian relatives visiting, it would be kind on your part if you learned a few new cooking techniques that will help to avoid any awkwardness and accommodate their vegetarian lifestyle.

How to Cook for Vegetarian Relatives: Buy a vegetarian cookbook

You can buy a good vegetarian cookbook from any book shop in advance and allow yourself time to read through it. Then try to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques. Try to master a handful of recipes before your relatives arrive. Or if you would prefer, look online, where you will find a great variety of helpful tips and vegetarian recipes to choose from. Try Food Network as one research tool and search for vegetarian recipes.

How to Cook for Vegetarian Relatives: Use vegetarian substitutes for traditional favourites

Vegetarian cooking has come a long way from salads and more salad. Now, there are many vegetarian products on the market that will provide an easy substitute for meals that are traditionally focused around meat. Experiment with tofu, tempeh and soya to see what you can come up with. A particularly good vegetarian brand is Smart Brand original, which is a meatless, fat-free veggie crumble protein mix. It also has zero cholesterol, 350mg of potassium per serving and 3g of fibre. Just 2 cups of Smart Ground is equivalent to 1lb of browned, drained minced beef. That means it can be used as a beef or turkey substitute when making chili, spaghetti bolognese, lasagne and many other meals that call for meat.

How to Cook for Vegetarian Relatives: Find out what your relatives like to eat

Just because your relatives are vegetarian does not mean they will like to eat anything that you prepare for them. So unless you already have a fair good idea of what to cook, call them and find out. Are there any particular vegetables they would like to eat during their visit? How do they like their vegetables cooked? Some people may like their broccoli and cauliflower mashed up and served in the same way as mashed potatoes, whereas others may prefer their vegetables to be stir fried or steamed. Remember too that vegetarians differ in what they will and will not eat. Some will occasionally consume some poultry. Others may eat dairy produce, while others will avoid it altogether and adopt a stricter, vegan diet. So do not assume that all vegetarians share the exact same values.

How to Cook for Vegetarian Relatives: Ask for cooking tips when your relatives arrive

One way that you can help to ease the pressure is to ask your relatives to help you out in the kitchen when they arrive. Ask them to show you how they like to cook and seek their advice on vegetarian cooking tips. Most people are only to happy to help educate others about their vegetarian lifestyle and build greater awareness of their dietary preferences.

Cooking for vegetarian relatives will be so much simpler if you take the time to educate yourself and put forth the effort to accommodate the dietary requirements of your relatives. They will thank you for it.