Someone who identifies as vegan does not eat any products that come from animals. This includes meat, fish, eggs, dairy, gelatin, and honey. But veganism is more than just a diet and can even be considered a lifestyle. According to The Vegan Society, vegans also avoid animal-derived materials (like leather and wool), products that are tested on animals, and places that use animals for entertainment. Some individuals who may not want to be completely vegan or vegetarian may adopt a plant-based diet which simply means they try to focus on eating food primarily from plants. They may eat meat, dairy, eggs, or other animal products occasionally, but most of their diet is derived from plants.
The holidays and other special events can be difficult for people with any dietary restrictions, especially when your friends or family may not have the same restrictions. Whether you are vegan or are trying to come up with recipes to make for a plant-based loved one coming over for the holidays, I have compiled a list of recipes from different sources for you to check out and try! I have included ideas for main dishes, sides, and desserts, as I believe everyone deserves something warm and delicious to eat during the holiday season. But even if you are not plant-based or vegan, these dishes may serve as wonderful new additions to your table this year. I even noted which of these recipes are gluten free, but they could also be made gluten free by changing the ingredients.
Main Dishes
1. Stuffed Acorn Squash (Gluten-free)
This stuffed acorn squash recipe is a great way to cook this seasonal vegetable. With dried cranberries and chopped nuts of your choice, it can be a wonderful sweet and savory main dish to wow your guests.
2. Vegan Wellington (Puff Pastry Lentil Loaf)
This is a recipe that is on the top of my list to make this holiday season as someone who loves flakey and buttery pastry. I think this is a clever take on the traditional beef wellington, and you could make it fall themed by adding a couple of leaf shaped pieces of puff pastry.
3. Homemade Tofurkey (Tofu Turkey) (Gluten-free)
This high protein dish uses extra-firm tofu and chickpea flour to make your own homemade tofurkey. I love that this recipe shows you how to make a stuffed tofu turkey, but you could also omit it if you prefer to make stuffing on the side.
4. Vegan Pot Pie with Chickpeas (Gluten-free)
One of my favorite childhood fall dishes is chicken pot pie, and my brother and I would beg our mom to buy the premade ones at the grocery store. Now as someone who is trying to eat more plant-based, I will make this recipe as the months get colder and will want something buttery and cozy to warm me up. If you do not like chickpeas but want another vegan alternative that has protein, I would recommend adding seitan instead!
Similar to pot pie, a shepherd’s pie can be an easy dish to make that is a classic crowd pleaser. With buttery and soft mashed potatoes on top of a bed of roasted vegetables, this is another cozy fall recipe. I love that this version includes seasonal vegetables such as parsnips and butternut squash, but shepherd’s pies are the perfect way to use up any vegetables you have.
Sides
1. Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples (Gluten-free)
Another sweet and savory mix, this roasted fennel with delicata squash and apples may be the perfect new side to add to your table this year. I think tart apples and pomegranate seeds can add some bright flavors to everyone’s plates.
2. One-Pot Creamy Vegan Greens (Gluten-free)
I have never had creamy greens like this for Thanksgiving or Christmas, but now I think I must as the estimated cooking time is only about 35 minutes and it can be made in just one pot! What most intrigues me about this recipe is that they use umeboshi (a fermented plum) paste to add a sweet, salty, and umami flavor. You may be able to find it at a local Asian grocery store, but if you cannot find it, you can also use white miso paste.
What is Thanksgiving or Christmas without stuffing! Stuffing is a great way to use any stale bread you may have and uses other items you may already have in the fridge such as celery, onions, garlic, as well as thyme and rosemary for those classic holiday flavors.
4. Vegan Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Miso Compound Butter (Gluten-free)
Tired of classic mashed potatoes and want to add some salty, umami, garlicy goodness? Then this garlic miso compound butter mashed potato recipe might be perfect for you. By mixing the butter, roasted garlic, and miso paste together to create the delicious, mouth-watering compound butter, each bite becomes packed with so much flavor.
While I never grew up eating many casseroles, I know that a green bean casserole is a must have dish for many households during this time of year. But if you are vegan and don’t want to lose that traditional dish, then this may be the recipe for you. This recipe even includes a way to make vegan cream of mushroom soup at home!
Desserts
1. Pumpkin Pie Pecan Bars (Gluten-free)
This recipe combines two classic holiday desserts and turns them into one gooey and delicious treat! Even just reading the recipe makes my mouth water. With a crust made of pecans, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, every bite will taste like autumn.
2. Pear Galette
Pears are personally one of my favorite fruits, and they are in season during the late summer, fall, and early winter months. The filling includes sliced pears, ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla, and this warm and spicy filling will go perfectly with non-dairy vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Galettes are also perfect to make if you don’t have a special pie pan as they can be made on a regular baking sheet.
Although cherries are a summer fruit, this recipe still works with frozen cherries or canned cherry pie filling. The tart filling may just refresh your guests after all the savory goodness from the main meal, and I think a cherry tart may be a great alternative for those who want something different than a traditional pumpkin, pecan, or apple pie. This gluten-free recipe uses a mix of almond and oat flour for the crust.
4. Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls
While this is in the dessert section, this might also make a wonderful Thanksgiving or Christmas morning treat. If you have any ripe bananas but are tired of making regular banana bread, then you must try this recipe. This recipe adds sliced bananas and chopped walnuts to the inside of the roll, but you could also add anything else you would add to banana bread like chocolate chips or raisins.
5. Red Velvet Cheesecake Bites
These red velvet cheesecake bites are perfect to bring to a holiday party as they are bite-sized and add a pop of red color to the table. You could even make each bite unique as this recipe calls for you to swirl in the red velvet to the cheesecake mix. I am going to make these and try to make hearts, snowflakes, and Christmas trees!
If you try any of these recipes, I hope you enjoy them with loved ones this holiday season (or on your couch watching cozy holiday movies)! I think these may be great additions to any Friendsgiving as well. Even if you are not vegan, vegetarian, or plant based, I hope this inspired you to try a new dish or that it showed you the wide possibilities of vegan cooking and baking. What are your favorite recipes to make for the holidays?