Vegan Party Dishes

Many a host or hostess has obsessed over what party food to provide for their hungry guests. This process of picking out a menu can be made all the more difficult when you consider the many different types of food that may be off-limits to some. There is no need to create a separate dish for every party guest, however. Here are some great vegan party food ideas that everyone on the guest list is sure to love.

Vegan Party Dish Ideas: Dips and Chips

There are many types of dips that you can serve to vegans at your party. Homemade dips and homemade chips are sure to be a hit. Here are some options to consider:

Pita Chips and Hummus

Make your own pita chips by cutting pita bread into small wedges, brushing them with a mixture of olive oil, salt and garlic, and baking them in a 375⁰ oven for about 12 to 15 minutes. You can make hummus to go with the pita chips by blending chick peas, olive oil, salt and garlic together in a food processor to make a paste. You can dice roasted red peppers as a garnish. This is sure to be a hit with vegans and non-vegans alike.

Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Guacamole

Just like pita chips, tortilla chips can be made quickly before your party. Guests will appreciate the effort you took, and you can rest assured that your chips are fresh and preservative-free. Simply cut corn, flour, or wheat tortillas into wedges, sprinkle with salt, and bake in a 400⁰ oven for about 10 minutes. Squeeze some lime juice on the baked chips if you'd like.

Make salsa to go with your chips by combining diced tomatoes, onions and peppers together. If you want a thinner salsa, run the mixture through a food processor. Let your imagination run wild here: mix things up by putting in a variety of peppers, some lime juice, cilantro, or pieces of mango - whatever strikes your fancy!

Guacamole is also a great choice for a vegan party dish, and will go well with the other options. Simply scoop out the flesh from an avocado, mash it with a potato masher to the desired consistency, and combine it with chopped onions, jalapenos, cilantro, garlic and some diced tomatoes.

Vegan Party Dish Ideas: Sweets

If your vegan party guests have a sweet tooth, try these recipes:

Chocolate-covered Strawberries and Almonds

This recipe couldn't be simpler, and everyone will love it! First, you'll need to find vegan chocolate. This is easier than you might think. Just look for good quality dark chocolate that doesn't list milk, milk fat, or milk products on its ingredients list. You can find this type of chocolate in many stores that sell organic foods.

Spread wax paper on a cooking sheet and melt your chocolate on a low setting over a double boiler. Once your chocolate is melted, dip in your strawberries so that the chocolate goes halfway up the berry. Place your berries on the baking sheet, and allow them to cool. You can then throw some almonds into the chocolate, coat them, and place them on the same sheet to cool as well. This makes a great party snack for all of your guests.

Fruit Tartlets

Fruit tartlets are always a big hit at any party, and they can be made vegan in a snap. You can find many recipes for tartlets on line and in cookbooks, just make sure that they can be modified to suit your vegan guests. For this, you'll need mini tart pans, which can be purchased from many kitchen stores. Line the pans with a vegan pie crust (most pie crusts are vegan, but you'll want to double-check your recipe to make sure), and bake it until it is golden brown. Mix the fruit of your choice (pears and apricots work well) with sugar and flour, and pour the mixture into your crust. Return your tartlets to the oven and bake until they are bubbly. After you let the tartlets cool, you can glaze them with melted jam or jelly.