Fancy Vegan Recipes That Are Perfect For Dinner Parties

By Lora O’Brien

Here’s a hard to admit fact: the reality is that when people are invited over to a vegan’s place for dinner, most of them are expecting something nasty. Maybe a dry old nut roast, or basic lentils and rice, with a dusty cake or applesauce for dessert. How sad. And how very wrong!

The reality is that even top rated chefs around the world are embracing gourmet vegan food, and it’s more exciting than ever: think vegetable ‘foams’ accompanying mains; all kinds of plant-based subs for meat, and vegan sauces made creamy by coconut milk or avocado cream.

Whether you’re looking to make hors d’oeuvres to serve up as guests pop in and out, or you’re putting on a full on spread, I’ve got some pretty fancy vegan recipes that will make your dinner table look super elegant, no matter what the occasion.

1. Beluga Lentils Caviar

It doesn’t get fancier than caviar, but if the thought of eating fish reproductive units doesn’t really appeal to you, you can still recreate the texture of the popular dish by using lentils. Serve these as an appetizer to a meal and I guarantee your guests will be suitably impressed.

Get the recipe here.

2. Vegan Mini Blinis with Carrot Lox

The popular Russian canape normally features caviar, cream cheese o salmon, but this recipe is a vegan version: carrot lox! It’s made all the more delicious by the use of fresh herbs.

Get the recipe here.

3. Celeriac and Potato Rostis

These delightful canapes are bite sized perfection; grilled sourdough rounds topped with caper berries and blue ‘cheese’. And if you can’t get your hands on some vegan friendly cheese, you could always make your own with this recipe.

Get the recipe here.

4. Sweet Potato Canapes with BBQ Mung Bean Sprouts

These little babies are take from little Indian snacks called chaat which are often a cracker of puffed rice mixed with beans or lentils that are tossed with onions, tomatoes and various chutneys. The BBQ sauce really works well with the onions, tomatoes and cilantro here.

Get the recipe here.

5. Spinach Mini Vegan Quiches

Utterly cute and totally fabulous for parties, the thick pastry of your typical quiche is replaced with a lighter phyllo shell. These are filled with spinach, but of course you could use anything you fancy.

Get the recipe here.

6. Chocolate & Balsamic Roasted Beets

I know you’re probably thinking beets and…chocolate?! Yes! They go sooooo well together! In fact, you can even make red velvet cake using roasted beets! But as a side dish, this recipe is something out of the ordinary that will get your guests ohh-ing and ahh-ing with delight.

Get the recipe here.

7. Vegan Paté

There’s nothing nicer than some warm bread or crackers with a little pate smeared on top, and this pate will be a real crowd-pleaser, even with non-vegans. Make it even more elegant by garnishing with pine nuts or some herbs.

Get the recipe here.

8. Epic Vegan Cheese Board

Whether you’re having a social gathering or looking to bestow a food gift on someone you love, this vegan cheese board will be a real treat. Add some homemade crackers to it alongside some fruit and you’ve got a super fancy appetizer, all homemade!

Get the recipe here.

9. Mediterranean Vegetable Napoleons

This recipe would make the perfect starter due to the lightness of it. The beetroot apple mille -euille has a delicious beetroot marinade, and once constructed, some cashew horseradish cream is added to give the dish both depth and a burst of spicy flavour. Not only that, but it looks picture perfect, too!

Get the recipe here.

10. Roasted Balsamic Beets & Rutabaga

In keeping with the theme of beets, this dish turns humble veggies into a fun and vibrant dish. It may take some time to plan as it’s a little time consuming spiralizing and layered the veggies, but once done you’ll be so happy you persevered when you see how fabulous this dish looks. The rutabaga and the red and golden beets are then coated in a mixture of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and thyme, before being placed in the oven to bake. Then all that’s left to do is to set this down on the dinner table and watch your guests go gaga over it!

Get the recipe here.

11. Mushroom Bruschetta

Mmm! Garlicky crostini bites are topped with a mixture of caramelized scallions and savory mushrooms that are then glazed with balsamic vinegar. Quick and easy to make, yet this recipe is bursting with flavour – your guests will likely be back for seconds.

Get the recipe here.

12. Avocado Gazpacho Soup

We tend to favour a lighter dish as a started if we’re attending a dinner party, and gazpacho is a brilliant recipe to serve. It’s wonderfully refreshing and cleansing on the palette, and is light enough that your guests will still be hungry for the dishes to follow. This recipe is packed with flavour from the juicy heirloom tomatoes, the basil, cilantro, tarragon and garlic and then the lime juice finishes it off nicely.

Get the recipe here.

13. Warm Spinach Salad with Figs & Butternut Squash

This dish works so well with its sweet-and-savoury combo. Plus this is a great recipe as it’s a warm salad, making it perfect for those winter months. The figs are caramelized and juicy alongside roasted butternut squash. Serve this as a side or a main – either way it’s truly decadent.

Get the recipe here.

14. Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

These are easy to make, and yet they look insanely elaborate! They’re great as either finger food (you could use smaller mushrooms for these) or main – just use a bigger mushroom, such a Portobello, and serve alongside a salad. This recipe is packed with herbs, garlic and citrus fruits making it a mouth watering combo!

Get the recipe here.

15. Sweet Onion Tarts with Cream Cheeze & Thyme

Seriously though; who else is drooling looking at these delicious tarts? Sweet onions are slow cooked and then added to vegan cream cheeze. The tarts are then topped with a balsamic glaze and lots of thyme. The end result is a flaky tart that oozes deliciousness with every bite.

Get the recipe here.

16. Miso Glazed Eggplant Scallops

These ‘scallops’ are actually made from king oyster mushrooms and brushed with an umami glaze. They’re the perfect dish to serve up if you’re holding a fancy dinner party anytime soon.

Get the recipe here.

17. Ravioli with Beetroot Filling

The bright pink hue of this pasta is from beetroot, and the colour and sweet-yet-savoury flavour will truly surprise your guests as they bite into these. These also happen to be gluten free, which is great if you’re catering for those with gluten allergies.

Get the recipe here.

18. Mediterranean Polenta Nests

It’s funny – at one point, in Italy, polenta was considered ‘peasant food’ – but now it’s served on the most elegant dinner tables around the world. This recipe is not only rich in texture and flavour, but looks lovely when served in individual ‘nests’.

Get the recipe here.

19. Pasta with Heirloom Tomato Sauce & Lobster Mushrooms

Lobster pasta is a popular dish, and now you can recreate it in a totally vegan fashion. Lobster mushrooms actually look very much like the seafood, so it makes a great substitute for dishes like this. The noodles are coated in an olive oil and garlic dressing, and once the dish is constructed your guests will feel like they’re dining out.

Get the recipe here.

20. Portobello Steaks with Avocado Chimichurri

If you’re serving hardcore carnivores who doubt vegan food’s deliciousness, mushrooms make a really great meat substitute due to the fact they have the same kind of texture – and this recipe tops the ‘shrooms off with a classic, spicy sauce that’s often served on Argentine beef: chimichurri!

Get the recipe here.

21. Shiitake Nigiri

It may still have a feel of the ’90s to it, but in my mind, sushi is still a super-elegant food to serve at dinner parties. It’s actually not all that difficult to make, either! Here, the fish is replaced by super-healthy shiitake mushrooms.

Get the recipe here.

22. Black Eyed Sweet Potato Sliders

Burgers can be damn right messy to eat, which is why these tiny little sliders are perfect for fancy dinner parties. They’re super small and cute, and can easily be munched from a napkin.

Get the recipe here.

23. Bacon Wrapped Scallops with Paprika Cream Sauce

Whether your guests are vegan or not, I guarantee they’re going to lap up these vegan scallops wrapped in bacon! King oyster mushroom stems work perfectly as the ‘scallop’ and is then wrapped in smoky tempeh strips that act as the bacon. A pinch of paprika is added at the end, and you’ve got a succulent, smoky dish!

Get the recipe here.

24. Carrot Lox Stuffed + Fried Ravioli

Ravioli is delicious, but this fried recipe is taking it to a new and wonderful level. The outside is breaded and crispy, whilst the lemon ‘ricotta’ inside works really well against the brininess of the carrot lox. You could either serve these as a meal, or bring them out on a place with dipping pots of sauce for a fabulous appetizer.

Get the recipe here.

25. Roasted Asparagus with Pistachio Puree

If you’re really looking to impress your guests, then this roasted asparagus recipe sitting atop a bed of pistachio puree will really wow them. Not only is it packed full of delicious flavours such as lemon juice, garlic, salt and cumin, but it looks pretty darn fancy, too!

Get the recipe here.

26. Tofu & Shiitake Stack with Bok Choy

This stack may look pretty fancy, but it’s actually easy to construct. Marinated tofu is stacked between shiitake mushrooms and then pureed bok choy and ginger is drizzled over the top to give it both a pop of colour and a burst of flavour.

Get the recipe here.

27. Roasted Tofu Lollipops with Pesto

These are super easy to make, and are quite an innovative dish. Tofu cubes are roasted and then topped with a dollop of pesto. Pierce them with a bamboo skewer and these make a really great appetizer to serve guests with zero mess!

Get the recipe here.

28. 7 Ingredient Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

Serving potatoes as a main for a dinner party is something most of us would never dream of. But when you behold the beauty that is this sweet potato recipe, your mind will change. The sweetness of the spuds and pomegranate is offset by the tartness of the cilantro and creaminess of the avocado.

Get the recipe here.

29. Blueberry & Vanilla Posset

This posset recipe is made the same way a raw cheesecake would be, but is blended until very smooth. You can make these and then leave in the fridge for when guests arrive so you don’t have to worry about making them when you’ve got people over.

Get the recipe here.

30. Figs & Cashew Cream

The creaminess of the cashew cream pairs so well with the sweet and tanginess of the jolly fig. This is a wonderfully rich dessert to serve to guests, and one they’ll devour in minutes! The flavours all work perfectly together, and who doesn’t love a fresh fig?!

Get the recipe here.

31. Vegan Crème Brulee

Perhaps the ultimate fancy dessert is that French classic, the crème brulee. Yet, normally full of cream and eggs, you may be asking: how is a vegan version possible? And the answer to that, my friends, is: coconut milk and pumpkin puree.

Get the recipe here.