{"id":876,"date":"2019-05-23T16:32:14","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T16:32:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/?post_type=food&p=876"},"modified":"2023-01-26T14:35:04","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T14:35:04","slug":"vegan-christmas-dinner","status":"publish","type":"food","link":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/food-drink\/vegan-christmas-dinner\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plan a Vegan Christmas Dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ChristmasFor many in the UK and around the world, Christmas is a time packed with excess: eating, drinking and general celebration make up the essence of the festivities for many people.\u00a0If you have a vegan or two coming round for Christmas this year, you are following a plant-based diet yourself and hoping to have a 100% vegan Christmas, or simply want some inspiration to make a few changes to your regular Christmas menu, we\u2019ve got everything you need right here.<\/p>\n

As more and more people adopt a plant-based diet, be that for ethical<\/a> reasons, concern about the environment<\/a> or the health benefits<\/a> of a vegan diet, the idea of what makes a good Christmas dinner has begun to change. We\u2019ve also got a general guide to hosting a vegan Christmas, as well as links to loads of great recipes. So, Merry Christmas \u2013 let\u2019s celebrate to excess, eat, drink and be merry without the guilt and without any animals suffering!<\/p>\n

Jump To:<\/strong> Drinks<\/a> | Mains<\/a> | Gravy<\/a> | Potatoes<\/a> | Stuffing<\/a> | Sides<\/a> | Starters<\/a> | Desserts<\/a> | Chocolate<\/a><\/p>\n

Vegan Christmas Drinks<\/h2>\n

\"Festive<\/p>\n

Drinking (alcohol) is apparently bad for your health, which is annoying because it can also be great fun and, given some of the events in the world, it also sometimes offers a welcome distraction from the many negative news stories we hear about. Anyway, always drink in moderation, blah, blah, blah\u2026 oh, come on, it\u2019s Christmas!<\/p>\n

Spirits, Wine, Beer & Cider<\/h3>\n

We\u2019re starting here with drinks because, thankfully, this is one area where hosting a vegan Christmas should be quite easy. Also, lest this isn\u2019t yet clear, we like to raise the odd glass ourselves. If you\u2019re wondering why we need such a section at all, and had assumed that all or most drinks were vegan, then you need to read our features that answers the question whether spirits<\/a>, wine<\/a>,\u00a0beer<\/a> and\u00a0cider<\/a> and are vegan-friendly. But to sum it up for you here quickly\u00a0\u2013 some alcoholic drinks are not vegan, for a range of reasons.<\/p>\n

Some of those reasons are more obvious than others.\u00a0Some drinks might clearly include honey<\/a>, whilst others, for example, a certain festive Irish whiskey-based liqueur, are fairly open about the fact they include cream or other dairy products. Other drinks wear their non-vegan credentials in more opaque ways that usually relate to filtration or what is called fining in the industry. A whole range of animal nasties, from dried fish innards to milk, eggs or even blood are used to fine beers, ciders and wines.<\/p>\n

Luckily, there are loads and loads of great vegan wines, beers and other drinks to choose from. Most spirits are vegan and there are even vegan versions of Baileys, including their own product, Baileys Almande, as well as other similar drinks.<\/p>\n

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to which alcoholic drinks are vegan and which are not. However, in general, modern craft beers and ciders tend to be vegan, as often these are unfined. Similarly, wines from newer producers are more likely to be vegan friendly, as are natural wines. With all these products, if they say they are unfiltered and unfined, they are probably vegan, although unless it clearly states as such, it is always best to check with the manufacturer or retailer.<\/p>\n

Champagne<\/h3>\n

Now, when it comes to Christmas, there is one drink that is a must-have on the big day \u2013 and, ideally, on all 12 days of Christmas! A celebration calls for Champagne and luckily some of the best around are vegan friendly, including all the ones we list below (and many others):<\/p>\n

Vegan Friendly Champagne<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Champagne<\/th>\nNotes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Krug<\/td>\nIf you can afford it, take your pick: the whole range is vegan friendly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dom Perignon<\/td>\nIt\u2019s alright for some and again, all products are vegan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Moet & Chandon<\/td>\nOnce again, all vegan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laurent-Perrier<\/td>\nAll vegan, including the popular ros\u00e9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Perrier-Jou\u00ebt<\/td>\nVegan apart from the Grand Brut (possibly, as there is some dispute!)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Veuve Clicquot<\/td>\nAnother mainstream brand that is all vegan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Indeed, most Champagne is vegan friendly, including those budget bottles produced for major supermarkets. There are exceptions though, with Bollinger and Champagne Billecart-Salmon among the more popular options that are not vegan friendly. Of course, as with all info on the site, this is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change.<\/p>\n

Port<\/h3>\n

Another drink that many like at Christmas is Port<\/a>, and whether you drink it by itself or with food, it must, of course, be vegan. We love port at Christmas because it pairs really well with spices and orange flavours, both of which are common in festive desserts, including, of course, mince pies and Christmas pudding.<\/p>\n

When it comes to Port, the usual rules apply. Some ports are vegan and some are not and you are best checking with the maker. A little confusingly, some of the major brands we are familiar with in the UK, such as Graham\u2019s, Warre\u2019s and Taylor\u2019s, offer some vegan ports and some that are not vegan, so it definitely pays to be cautious.<\/p>\n

Soft Drinks<\/h3>\n

If, like us, you like to start the festivities early on Christmas Day, you\u2019ll want some orange juice to go with the Champers to begin the day with an in-bed Buck\u2019s Fizz. Having selected your vegan Christmas Champagne, don\u2019t let the side down with the OJ.<\/p>\n

Beware Store Bought OJ<\/h4>\n

Freshly squeezed is the way to go if you\u2019re really pushing the boat out, but if your butler\/partner isn\u2019t up to that then make sure you get juice that doesn\u2019t contain animal products. You might be wondering if we\u2019re mad and that surely squashed oranges have to be vegan friendly. But some orange juice is fortified with vitamin D<\/a> produced using \u201csheep grease\u201d and we\u2019ve even heard of some that have fish oil added!<\/p>\n

Avoid Bright Red Drinks<\/h4>\n

Speaking of strange things, apparently there are some people who might want to drink soft drinks without alcohol! Anyway, whilst many soft drinks are vegan friendly, once again, if you\u2019re doing vegan Christmas, you might as well do it properly. Look out for bright red drinks, that may contain cochineal<\/a> insects, fortified beverages and filtered drinks (such as apple juice) that may have used animal fining agents.<\/p>\n

Grab a Vegan Energy Drink<\/h4>\n

If you\u2019re flagging as the evening wears on (though at least you\u2019ll have avoided the sleep-inducing tryptophan hit of turkey that will be downing most of the rest of the country), then fear not. You can probably grab a vegan energy drink<\/a>. If you aren\u2019t scared of the massive sugar load, dodgy E numbers and strange additives, at least you can rest easy, assured that the taurine<\/a> is almost certainly vegan.<\/p>\n

Vegan Christmas Mains: Best Turkey Substitutes<\/h2>\n
\"Vegan
Vegan Wellington with Mushrooms, Veg & Beans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You and your guests are now well lubricated on a fine array of vegan beverages but what about Christmas dinner? What is the best vegan turkey substitute to serve as the centre piece for your main meal on Christmas day?<\/p>\n

Well, if you are cooking for people who are used to a roast meat of some sort, the truth is that they may feel whatever you pull out of your vegan bag of tricks falls a little way short of the mark. There are some vegan roast substitutes and these don\u2019t actually do a bad job for a casual Sunday dinner. Quorn\u2019s<\/a> vegan fillets or seitan<\/a> can be used to decent effect but they won\u2019t pass muster at Christmas in our eyes.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll have to simply wow your normally meat-eating guests with the taste, colour and visual appearance of your vegan Christmas show-stopper. It won\u2019t be a turkey or ham and it won\u2019t be much like a roast dinner but it will be delicious and it will look more spectacular than a carcass.<\/p>\n

Nut Roast<\/h3>\n

There are loads of options to choose from and some variation on a nut roast is probably a good place to start. It might sound like a bit of a vegan or vegetarian clich\u00e9 but done well it packs in so much flavour and it is relatively easy too. It isn\u2019t as visually appealing as some of our other options but is definitely a very doable option for a less confident chef.<\/p>\n

Once you get to grips with a basic recipe you can alter it to your own tastes. Using different nuts adds a range of nutrients, whilst using classic Christmas flavours like cranberry, chestnuts, raisins, sage and cinnamon will make the dish feel more festive and familiar.<\/p>\n

Pastry Based Pies, Tarts & Wellingtons<\/h3>\n

Another great option that also has the added benefit of familiarity is a pie. Obviously, you\u2019ll need to use a vegan pastry<\/a> but then, once again, you can be really creative with the fillings. Staples, such as squash, beetroot, celeriac, carrots, chard and lentils make great fillings.<\/p>\n

Other pastry-based options include some form of Wellington, a tart or, one of our favourites, a shaped wreath, packed with nuts, veg and tofu. Whatever you chose to serve, presentation is one way you can score easy bonus points and get any sceptics onside from the first glance.<\/p>\n

Using large amounts of rosemary, sage or other herbs to garnish your serving platter adds colour and vibrancy. Cranberries are like bright red jewels whilst a few slices of orange, lime and lemon also lift the plate. Check out five of our favourite vegan Christmas dinners below, along with links to the recipes so you make them for yourself and really show your guests just how impressive vegan cooking can be.<\/p>\n

Vegan Christmas Side Dishes<\/h2>\n
\"Quinoa
Quinoa & kale salad with cranberries & almonds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Okay, so you\u2019ve got your guest-pleasing centrepiece but now you need the 23 different types of veg, four potato variants and 17 sauces and sides that make Christmas, Christmas. Or, was it just our family that went way, way overboard with the veggies?<\/p>\n

We won\u2019t actually go over the top with the vegetable dishes as the vast majority of these are \u201cnaturally\u201d vegan. You probably have a range of vegan-friendly favourites, whilst most side dishes and veg in the millions of celebrity cookbooks are also already suitable for those on a plant-based diet.<\/p>\n

However, what we will do in more detail is look at some of the most common Christmas accompaniments that might need a slight tweak to be at home on a vegan Christmas table. One huge hunk of dead flesh isn\u2019t enough for many a Christmas chef but we have some great vegan alternatives that should keep even the meatiest of eaters more than happy.<\/p>\n

Vegan Christmas Gravy<\/h3>\n

\"Gravy\"There are many vegan gravies available in supermarkets and specialist vegan and health food shops. At the top end, you can buy freshly made refrigerated products that will pack in bags of flavour. If you want a cheaper alternative, there are a whole assortment of other options, such as granules, and these can be pimped up a bit so your guests will probably be begging for the recipe for your secret homemade vegan gravy (that said, this isn\u2019t a competition, so why not just tell people you went for a pre-made option so you could spend more time looking after them?).<\/p>\n

Adding a little vegan wine<\/a> to your gravy granule mix is one option, whilst we would also recommend using some of the water from any veg you choose to steam instead of just tap water. Frying some onions, mushrooms and garlic is a great way to start your mix too. You can then add the granules to this before adding your vegetable water and wine and whatever fresh herbs you like.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re happy with a chunky gravy, then serve as is, or, just pass through a sieve to remove the onions and mushrooms (celery, carrots and celeriac are other good options that lend a nice depth of flavour). Depending which main you opt to make for your centrepiece there may also be some juices created from that and these should also be added to the sauce for that final extra kick of deliciousness.<\/p>\n

If you do decide you want to make your gravy from scratch, then you can still make things easy for yourself by making this a day or two in advance. It will keep fine in the fridge and can then just be heated up on the day, either in a pan or using a microwave. What\u2019s more, a day or so in the fridge actually enhances the flavour as it develops nicely and becomes more intense. If you opt for this route, once again, add any extra bit of flavour created on the day, such as water from steaming or boiling or any juices and unctuous sticky bits.<\/p>\n

\n

Best Vegan Gravy Recipe<\/h3>\n

The recipe below makes around 800ml of delicious vegan gravy. Depending on how much your guests are \u201cgravy people\u201d, between 50ml and 125ml per person of gravy should be enough, so this is a good amount for around eight people we would say but you can easily scale the recipe up.<\/p>\n

As with most of the recipes we offer, this gravy is an art, not a science, so feel free to make changes here and there to adapt it to your taste and don\u2019t worry if you don\u2019t have the exact ingredients or quantities.<\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/h4>\n