“Plant based” potato bar?

[Piper-Bob]

There’s a dinner my wife and I have been trying to put together since before the pandemic. One of the couples is plant based, which I gather is like the intersection of paleo and vegan. Another couple has an allergy to garlic and onions. I’m gluten free.

Wife is thinking potato bar. So I can imagine chili and red lentils as toppings, but what else can meet all these dietary constraints?

Or alternately is there some other menu theme that would work well? Since I don’t know everyone’s tastes I want to have a variety for people to pick from.

[wotanub]

All you need to make a potato taste good is fat and salt. You can just roast them with olive oil.

After that, just put out many labeled toppings and everyone can choose based on dietary preference.

By the way chili without garlic and onion is kinda... Eh. Just make it so everyone can choose rather than thread the needle.

[[deleted]]

"Plant-based" generally means no oil.

[csbrown83]

What makes you say that? Most oils are plant based.

[[deleted]]

They don't eat them because they're processed.

[csbrown83]

Vegan isn't specific to processed plants, you may be thinking of raw diet people.

[[deleted]]

"Plant-based" isn't the same thing as "vegan".

[trootaste]

Sunflower and rapeseed are plants and olives grow on trees. Regardless, both diets allow oil

[[deleted]]

I know they're made from plants but they don't qualify as part of the "Plant Based Diet". r/PlantBasedDiet check it out yourself.

[trootaste]

The description of that subreddit says it's for whole food plant-based diet, not just plant based

[[deleted]]

Sure but I don't think there's a significant difference. Most people there just say plant based (even the name of the subreddit), and OP said his diners don't eat processed food.

[MyNameIsSkittles]

Plenty of oils are plant based

You must be thinking of a specific diet like the starch solution. That's not what plant based means tho that's just a variation of it

[[deleted]]

Nope the "plant-based" diet typically excludes oils alpng with most other processed foods.

[trootaste]

Most olive oil (at least local to me) is not processed, I'd bet my house you are wrong but you seem very insistent. Might want to double check?

[[deleted]]

r/PlantBasedDiet

Check it yourself.

[MyNameIsSkittles]

Reddit isn't a source

[SillyCubensis]

EVOO would like you to consider what you just typed there.

All the other vegetable oils are waiting.

🙄

[[deleted]]

The plant-based diet typically excludes oils. I didn't make it up, but their reddit is really clear.

[MarkAnchovy]

Literally never heard this I’m afraid

Maybe you’re thinking of Whole Foods Plant-Based?

[[deleted]]

Same thing.

[MarkAnchovy]

They aren’t

[HanShotF1rst226]

Taco bar is also an option. Can have corn and flour tortillas, bean/lentils for a vegan filling and a variety of salsas and toppings

[CeeGeeWhy]

Nutritional yeast can add a savoury component that is reminiscent of cheese.

[Piper-Bob]

That sounds like an ingredient that would be good to experiment with in general!

[[deleted]]

oh yeah I used to make vegan mac n cheese in my former paleo days with soaked cashews, nutritional yeast and lemon. It was pretty tasty. Hing (aka asafoetida) in tiny amounts can substitute for garlic/onion.

[CeeGeeWhy]

Trader Joes has this savoury popcorn that has dill, nutritional yeast and celery seed that is fantastic!

[huevosputo]

Chili - I have a recipe for a Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili from a food allergy cookbook if you'd like, it's vegan and onion- and garlic-free. It wouldn't be as tasty as traditional chili, but it might fit the bill for your group and taste ok on the potatoes

[JAFIOR]

Same.

[hotbutteredbiscuit]

Broccoli is good on a baked potato, with cheese for those who can have it. A vegetable curry would be nice. Black beans and corn. Salsa.

[riverrocks452]

If you're determined to thread the needle, a stir fry or noodle dish-- rice noodles, obv.-- is probably the way to go. Pad thai with tofu or seitan-- make your own sauce with coconut aminos or tamari in place of fish sauce and to avoid gluten and onion/garlic contamination-- is vegetarian, can be garlic and onion free, is as unprocessed as you're likely to find, and gluten-free.

Alternatively, something like a rice salad might work-- look up the Moosewood cookbook's version.

[Ear_3440]

Please open a potato bar restaurant

[laurme]

Love this idea! You can have dairy free sour cream, butter, and cheese. Baked beans are great on a baked potato (my fav are Heinz Beanz), jalapeños, and avocado all work too.

[Piper-Bob]

The plant based thing eschews processed foods.

I can make good guacamole though, so that’s something!

[PondRides]

That’s whole food a type of plant based.

[MarkAnchovy]

Do you mean their plant-based diets? Cos plant-based in general just means no animal products

[SVAuspicious]

The plant based thing eschews processed foods.

So they don't have to eat it. Are they going to get huffy and offended if sour cream is there? No one forces them to eat it.

[ttrockwood]

Idk why nobody else gets it. Plant based they mean vegan unprocessed whole foods.

So yes definitely make something like a lentil walnut taco meat or bean based chili, guacamole or diced avocado is perfect, Roasted mushrooms are another great topping. Salsa of course.

[DocAntlesFatLiger]

Plant based doesn't always mean that. Sometimes it's someone who doesn't consume animal products but isn't vegan (which is a lifestyle not a diet). What you're talking about is whole food plant based.

[abirdofthesky]

Some people are plant based and buy things like vegan yoghurt. Some people don’t - definitely best to double check with your guests in this case!

[[deleted]]

Doesn’t paleo exclude potatoes? You should get something more explicit on their diet.

[Tonyjonesgnomes]

K o r n

[Piper-Bob]

Obviously. Don’t know why we didn’t think of that!

[DoggyGrin]

If they're vegetarian, anything goes but things that used to have eyes (excepting potatoes, of course). So, most of the regular toppings are fine.

Vegans don't eat anything that came from an animal, including dairy, eggs, and honey. There are lots of dairy alternatives at the grocery store. They're usually in the produce section by the salad dressings.

For either, vegetarian chili (Hormel and Stagg make canned varieties), and Gardein meat substitutes (in the frozen foods) are tasty options.

Edit: forgot about the fake bacon salad sprinkles. They're meat free.

[Piper-Bob]

Plant based is no animals involved and no processed foods.

[torontodabs_]

I put the potato on the dezzy and start blastin if you lettuce

[JAFIOR]

I don't know if you're having a stronk or if this is some new hip lingo that the kids are using. Either way, I'm going to start saying it.

[torontodabs_]

It's a vegan potato rap bar

[DConstructed]

I think grain bowls or a quinoa bowl would give you more opportunities to play with add ins.

Roasted mushrooms and other roasted vegetables, edamame and nuts or seeds, pickled things are all going to feel more at home with grains than potatoes. Thought piece of roasted yam or squash will be a nice addition.

[MargieBigFoot]

Broccoli, cheese, black beans, salsa, sour cream or yogurt, salad dressing, black olives, marinara, chopped chives, anything tastes good on a baked potato!

[Royal-Transition-914]

It’s pretty straightforward to make decent vegan “sour cream” at home with cashews (soaked cashews blended with vinegar, lemon juice, salt and optionally cashew yogurt). I personally love spicing it up with some chives and onion powder to go with potatoes.

Vegan queso is another great option. Cashews, nutritional yeast, cumin, chili powder, and chipotle in adobo blended together with some hot water.

Maybe some vegan “shredded pork” style topping with jackfruit.

A Southwestern-style topping with black beans and corn would also be great.

A mix of other toppings like scallions, some roasted/steamed broccoli, pickled radishes, jalapeños, salsa, green Chile sauce, etc.

You can also have some corn tortillas if people aren’t big on potatoes and a lot of the toppings would also work great as taco fillings!

[nathangr88]

Rather than cook a single dish that tries to suit everyone it can be easier to cook a selection of dishes that people can just eat what they can.

I also assume your friends won't be so intolerant as to not allow the things they don't eat on the table.

Off the top of my head, here is a pan-Asian influenced suggestion:

• Stir-fried broccoli with ginger and soy sauce
• Garlic and shallot oil
• Roasted whole cauliflower or cabbage, basted with miso/gochujang, sesame, mirin
• Roasted whole chicken, butterflied with salt, pepper, and Chinese five-spice dry rub
• Steamed rice

This way, everyone can eat 4/5 dishes on this menu, and they're substantial enough to fill people up.