How to make a vegan/vegetarian Christmas dinner
Christmas is a time for family, friends, and of course, food. But if you’re vegan or vegetarian, it can sometimes feel like your dietary restrictions are putting a damper on the holiday festivities. Never fear! With a little bit of creativity (and some help from this guide), you can enjoy a delicious vegan or vegetarian Christmas dinner that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.
Main Course:
One of the best things about a vegan or vegetarian Christmas dinner is that there are so many different ways to do it. You could go the traditional route with a roasted turkey substitute like Tofurky, or get experimental with deep-fried seitan balls. No matter what you choose, we guarantee it’ll be tasty.
Vegan/Vegetarian Option 1: Tofurky Roast
Ingredients:
- 1 package of Tofurky roast
- 1 can of cranberry sauce
- 1/2 cup of vegan stuffing mix
- 1/4 cup of water
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the stuffing mix and water. Set aside.
3. Place the Tofurky roast in a baking dish and spread cranberry sauce over top.
4. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
5. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes before adding the stuffing mixture on top.
6. Bake, uncovered, for an additional 20 minutes.
7. Enjoy!
Vegetarian Option 2: Seitan Balls
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of wheat flour
- 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 1 cup of water
Instructions:
1. Preheat oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit in a deep fryer or large pot.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the wheat flour, nutritional yeast flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground black pepper. Slowly add in the water until the mixture is smooth.
3. Using your hands or a spoon, form the mixture into small balls (about 1-inch in diameter).
4. Carefully drop the balls into the hot oil and fry for 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown.
5. Remove from oil and let drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
6. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Dessert:
No Christmas dinner would be complete without dessert, and luckily, there are plenty of vegan and vegetarian-friendly options to choose from. If you’re looking for something classic, try a vegan version of pumpkin pie or apple crumble. Or, if you want to get a little bit festive, go for a gingerbread cake or peppermint fudge. No matter what you make, we guarantee it’ll be delicious.
Vegan/Vegetarian Option 1: Vegan Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients:
- 1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust
- 1 can of pumpkin puree
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
- 1 can of coconut milk
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the pumpkin puree, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Stir in the cornstarch and coconut milk until well combined.
3. Pour mixture into the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and continue baking for 45 minutes, or until the center is set.
4. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Vegetarian Option 2: Gingerbread Cake
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of vegan butter, softened
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1/4 cup of molasses
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
- 1/2 cup of water
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour an 8×8 inch cake pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the vegan butter, brown sugar, molasses, and vanilla extract.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until well combined.
4. Stir in the water and mix until everything is evenly combined.
5. Pour mixture into the prepared cake pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Remove from oven and let cool before serving. Enjoy!
Conclusion:
As you can see, there are plenty of delicious vegan and vegetarian-friendly options to choose from this holiday season. No matter what you make, we guarantee that your guests will be impressed. So, what are you waiting for? Get cooking!