{"id":932,"date":"2019-06-25T14:57:04","date_gmt":"2019-06-25T14:57:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/?post_type=food&p=932"},"modified":"2019-07-31T18:22:48","modified_gmt":"2019-07-31T18:22:48","slug":"vegan-sunday-lunch","status":"publish","type":"food","link":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/food-drink\/vegan-sunday-lunch\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegan Roast Dinner"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Roasted
Roasted Cauliflower is a delicious plant-based option<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunday roast, Sunday lunch or Sunday dinner (call it what you will), this ubiquitous English Sunday meal originated as a post-church tradition centuries ago and is enjoyed weekly by friends and families aplenty. Typically the Sunday roast dinner would include some kind of roast meat, like beef, lamb, pork or chicken, with a range of vegetables and other accompaniments. But \u2013 with a little tweaking \u2013 vegan can easily enjoy a Sunday roast as well as any omnivore.<\/p>\n

Here we will give you all the information you need to make a vegan-friendly Sunday lunch that will be lapped up by vegans and non-vegans alike. We will go into a bit more detail about how to replace the various elements of the archetypal Sunday dinner further down, but first we will give a snapshot of some of the best vegan-friendly options available.<\/p>\n

Note that many elements of your average vegan Sunday lunch will be applicable when planning a vegan Christmas dinner<\/a>, although that will often require more in the way of vegan show-stopper recipes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Best Vegan Roast Dinner Alternatives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Traditional Sunday Lunch Food Items<\/th>\nVegan Alternatives<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Roast Beef<\/td>\nThere are numerous tasty vegan alternatives for roast beef that range from products that aim to imitate, to things that are really nothing like beef at all.<\/p>\n

Examples include: Nut Roast, Roasted Cauliflower, Celeriac Steaks, Soya\/Seitan\/Tempeh Steaks, Vegan Burgers, Vegan Sausages, Stuffed Butternut Squash (or other veg)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Roast Chicken<\/td>\nEssentially anything you might use as an alternative for beef will work as a replacement for any roast meat, but there are also some specific chicken\/turkey alternatives from a range of plant-based food producers, although check the label as some, e.g. the Quorn<\/a> Roast, contains milk and eggs.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pies, Puddings & Tarts<\/td>\nVegan Shepherd\u2019s Pie, Meat-Free Pies, Vegan Wellington; Linda McCartney Pies, Vegan Tarts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gravy<\/td>\nVegan Instant Gravy, Vegan Stock; Make your own vegan gravy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stuffing<\/td>\nThere\u2019s no reason stuffing has to be non-vegan and many of the best stuffing recipes are already plant-based, which makes this part fairly straightforward.<\/p>\n

You can either make your own vegan-friendly stuffing, or buy stuffing mix or readymade stuffing that is marked as suitable for vegans \u2013 there\u2019s it quite a lot around these days.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Yorkshire Pudding<\/td>\nNo need for eggs and milk \u2013 you can make your own using one of the many great vegan milk alternatives<\/strong>\u00a0instead of the dairy variety and aquafaba (or chickpea water!) in place of the eggs.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Condiments<\/td>\nMost mustards are already vegan friendly, and though horse radish sauce often contain eggs, there are vegan varieties available. There is also egg-free mayonnaise and many other sauces and condiments are fine for vegans (always check the label for confirmation).<\/p>\n

Of course, as always, you could just make your own vegan-friendly version of any of your favourite condiments.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Roast Potatoes<\/td>\nAs long as you cook the potatoes in oil that derives from plants as opposed to animals, you\u2019re good to go. Take your pick of olive oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil or even coconut oil \u2013 experiment and find out which gives you the crunch and flavour you desire.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Other Vegetables<\/td>\nNo alternatives required!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Vegan Sunday Lunch Alternatives for Meat<\/h2>\n

There are an increasing number of vegan-friendly meat alternatives<\/strong> available in UK supermarkets and from specialist plant-based food companies. This can come in handy whether you\u2019re planning a roast dinner, a vegan-friendly barbecue<\/a>, making a curry or anything else.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re focussing here on the readymade products that we\u2019ve sampled and that tantalise the taste buds sufficiently for us to recommend them for your next vegan roast dinner.<\/p>\n

Vegan Roast Beef Substitutes<\/h3>\n
\"Linda
Linda McCartney’s Vegetarian Beef Roast with Red Wine & Shallot Glaze<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Roast beef is perhaps the most traditional of the meats chosen for Sunday dinners in the UK. But more and more people are waking up to the environmental impact of beef farming (not to mention the ethical concerns in relation to the cows themselves!), so there is a growing market for alternatives to beef in general.<\/p>\n

One popular option for vegans is just to tuck into a couple of your favourite vegan-friendly burgers \u2013 many of which are becoming almost indistinguishable from the meat versions they seek to replace. There are also plenty of very good vegan sausages that can fill the gap left by the absence of roast beef.<\/p>\n

If you want something resembling the real thing, there are a growing number of passable vegan steak substitutes, while the vegan default of nut roast \u2013 whether pre-made or one you make yourself \u2013 ticks a lot of boxes. Here are some of our favourite beef alternatives for a Sunday roast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/th>\nBrand<\/th>\nWhere to Buy<\/th>\nInfo<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Cheatin’ Beef Style Roast<\/td>\nVbites<\/td>\nTheVeganKind Supermarket<\/td>\nThis seitan (wheat gluten)-based is a fine beef alternative from plant-based food pioneer VBites.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nut Roast<\/td>\nClive\u2019s<\/td>\nPlanet Organic<\/td>\n\u201cFree from\u201d food specialist Clive\u2019s have developed an appetising nut roast that saves you having to make your own.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vegetarian Beef Roast with Red Wine & Shallot Glaze<\/td>\nLinda McCartney<\/td>\nOcado<\/td>\nThe rather grand-sounding roast beef replacement from Linda McCartney certainly ticks the convenience box, and it tastes pretty good too.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Plant Based Sliced Steak<\/td>\nHarmless Foods<\/td>\nGreenBay Supermarket<\/td>\nThis vegan-friendly soya-based steak alternative is one of the better ones out there if you are seeking something resembling the real thing. Also it has decent protein and fibre stats.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vegetarian \u00bclb Burgers<\/td>\nLinda McCartney<\/td>\nMost Supermarkets<\/td>\nStill one of the best vegan-friendly burgers around, these tasty, nutritious soya-based burgers are great value.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vegan Mediterranean Sausages<\/td>\nCauldron<\/td>\nOcado<\/td>\nContaining red pepper, yellow pepper, courgette and haricot beans, these flavoursome sausage-substitutes add a little variety to your Sunday lunch.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Plant-Based Chicken\/Turkey Alternatives<\/h3>\n
\"VBites
VBites Cheatin’ Turkey Style Roast<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Food manufacturers have been less successful, in our view, when it comes to recreating the taste and texture of chicken or turkey with their vegan-friendly alternatives. Some people choose to use their favourite vegan chicken-style pieces to create some kind of casserole or coq au vin, while others just accept that it\u2019s really quite hard to imitate chicken and turkey and just pick an alternative that tastes nice in its own right. Here are some of the better options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/th>\nBrand<\/th>\nWhere to Buy<\/th>\nInfo<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Funky Chyck\u2019n Seitan<\/td>\nLove Seitan<\/td>\nTheVeganKind Supermarket<\/td>\nMade from wheat gluten (so not for those following GF diets!), this low-fat, high-protein seitan log can be used as a substitute for roast bird, especially if cooking for quite a few people as the logs weight a hefty 1kg.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roast with Herb Gravy<\/td>\nTofurky<\/td>\nOcado<\/td>\nThis attractive chicken-esque roast from Tofurky comes pre-stuffed with wild rice stuffing. Not to everyone\u2019s taste, but many people love it.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cheatin’ Turkey Style Roast<\/td>\nVBites<\/td>\nTheVeganKind Supermarket<\/td>\nBilled as a meat-free turkey-style roast, this is akin to the old school Bernard Matthews turkey rolls that were popular in the 1980s (without the need to kill any turkeys!). If you once liked those, you\u2019ll probably love this.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vegan Pieces<\/td>\nQuorn<\/td>\nMost supermarkets<\/td>\nOne of the oldest and still one of the best versions of chicken-style pieces, the Quorn Vegan Pieces are great in casseroles as they soak up flavours really well. (Be sure to check the label as Quorn also make non-vegan pieces.)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Vegan-Friendly Pies, Puddings & Tarts<\/h3>\n
\"Pieminster's
Pieminster’s “Kevin”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As you will see in our Is Pastry Vegan?<\/a> article, you can make most types of pastry using only vegan-friendly ingredients. Also many brands of ready-made pastry is vegan friendly, so if you don\u2019t have the time or inclination to make your own, it\u2019s very little hassle to buy it pre-rolled.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve made or purchased the vegan pastry, it\u2019s just a matter of deciding what filling you want for your pie or tart. The options are endless, so it\u2019s all a matter of trying out your own combinations or following your favourite vegan recipes<\/a>. Of course, if time is short and you just fancy buying something you can shove in the oven, there are loads of fantastic options available too. Here are some of our favourites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/th>\nBrand<\/th>\nWhere to Buy<\/th>\nInfo<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Kevin Pie<\/td>\nPieminister<\/td>\nOcado<\/td>\nStrange name, yes, but the Kevin Pie is a vegan treat containing mushrooms, tomatoes, red onion and even a splash of red wine.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aloo Gobi Pie<\/td>\nClive\u2019s<\/td>\nTheVeganKind Supermarket<\/td>\nPerfect if you fancy a little spice with your Sunday lunch, this cauliflower & veg pie is infused with ginger and a range of Indian spices.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lentil & Kale Ragout with Cranberry Tart<\/td>\nClive\u2019s<\/td>\nOcado<\/td>\nGood old Clive also has a nice range of vegan tarts, including this tasty offering that is well worth checking out.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Vegetarian Country Pies<\/td>\nLinda McCartney<\/td>\nMost Supermarkets<\/td>\nA fine, satisfying pie that is moist enough to ooze gravy when you cut into it without it going too soggy.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Vegan-Friendly Gravy<\/h3>\n
\"Vegan
9 Meals From Anarchy Vegan Stock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our Vegan Christmas Dinner<\/a> article contains a recipe for a very tasty vegan gravy recipe, but if you want something a little more instant, here are some of the best options available to you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/th>\nBrand<\/th>\nWhere to Buy<\/th>\nInfo<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Real Veg Stock<\/td>\n9 Meals From Annarchy<\/td>\nPlanet Organic<\/td>\nOne of the best veg stocks on the market from a company who grows their own organic veg & squishes them into their jars of stock.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Instant Gravy<\/td>\nMarigold<\/td>\nOcado<\/td>\nOne of the best of the instant vegan-friendly gravies we\u2019ve sampled is this one from Marigold \u2013 at least as good as any non-vegan instant gravy out there.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Vegan-Friendly Yorkshire Puddings<\/h3>\n
\"Isabel's
Isabel’s Vegan Yorkshire Puddings<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For many, especially those from the North, a Sunday lunch isn\u2019t complete without Yorkshire puddings. It\u2019s not all that complicated to just make your own vegan Yorkshires, using soya milk and vegetable oil, along with self-raising flour, a little baking powder and some warm water and\/or aquafaba.<\/p>\n

This is one product that food manufacturers are yet to really embrace, with even the dairy-free versions of Yorkshire puddings generally containing eggs. It therefore pays to just make them yourself, though there is one option that can assist, albeit being just a mix rather than pre-made Yorkshires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/th>\nBrand<\/th>\nWhere to Buy<\/th>\nInfo<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Yorkshire Pudding Mix<\/td>\nIsabel\u2019s<\/td>\nOcado<\/td>\nThe half-way house option is to buy vegan-friendly Yorkshire pudding mix and add soya milk & egg substitute. Isabel\u2019s mix works brilliantly to produce crispy puds with good rise.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Vegan-Friendly Stuffing<\/h3>\n

\"Vegan<\/p>\n

The good thing about stuffing is that there is really no need for it to contain meat at all and it\u2019s really not a difficult thing to make with any number of your favourite flavours and ingredients.<\/p>\n

Many of the best stuffing mix that is available to buy is already fine for vegans, such as the classic Paxo that you can find in your local high street supermarket.\u00a0Always check the label to be sure of course, but here are some that are definitely vegan friendly that you might like to sample.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/th>\nBrand<\/th>\nWhere to Buy<\/th>\nInfo<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Cranberry, Orange & Roast Chestnut Stuffing Mix<\/td>\nShropshire Spice Co<\/td>\nTheVeganKind Supermarket<\/td>\nThe Shropshire Spice Co have a range of great-tasting vegan stuffing mixes, of which this is our favourite.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sage & Onion Stuffing Mix<\/td>\nPaxo<\/td>\nMost Supermarkets<\/td>\nFor value and nostalgia, it\u2019s hard to beat this staple from Paxo. Not the tastiest on the market, but it certainly evokes memories of childhood Sunday dinners.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Vegan Roast Potatoes<\/h3>\n

\"Roast<\/p>\n

If you are going to the trouble of making a roast dinner, you should certainly be able to find the few minutes required to make your own roast spuds. Whether you use sunflower oil, olive oil or even coconut oil, your vegan-friendly roasties can be gloriously tasty.<\/p>\n

Vegan Sunday Roast: Almost Hassle-Free<\/h2>\n

As we have shown, there is no reason why a vegan-friendly Sunday roast cannot be tasty, satisfying and (almost) hassle-free. Whether you are inclined to buy pre-made products in place of the tradition meat centrepieces, or you would rather make your own from scratch, there are so many versatile and healthy options out there that will excite your taste buds and those of your guests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":933,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/food\/932"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/food"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/food"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/933"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.veganfriendly.org.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}