Celebrate a Vegan Holiday

Chances are, if you’re hosting a holiday feast this year, you’ll have at least one friend or family member who will be a little flustered by the feathered fowl at the center of the table. For either ethical or health reasons, many people are making the switch to a vegetarian or vegan (vegetarian minus the eggs, dairy products, and other animal products) diet. Although this is all well and good for them (and for turkeys), it can present a definite challenge for their carnivorous hosts.

These delicious recipes will please every palate and make it easier to give up the giblets, giving everyone—including animals—something to be thankful for this holiday season.

Photos: © Steve Lee Studios 

Appetizers and Snacks

• Vegetarian Pâté en Croûte
• Potato-Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms
• Hot Artichoke Dip
• Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
• ‘Sausage’ Rolls
• Spiced Party Nuts
• ‘Cheesy’ French Bread Hors d’Oeuvre

Soups and Salads

• Butternut Squash Soup
• Carrot Ginger Soup
• ‘Cream’ of Asparagus Soup
• Fragrant French Onion Soup
• Broccoli and Cauliflower Bisque
• Stuffed Vidalia Onion-Ring Salad With Fresh Greens and Tangy Yuzo Vinaigrette
• Spinach, Oranges, and Roasted Beets With Georgia-Peanut Vinaigrette

Entrées

• Sage- and Pumpkin Seed-Encrusted Seitan With Roasted Garlic-Pumpkin Sauce 
• Savory Pot Pie
• ‘Chicken’ and Dumplings
• Rosemary- and Hazelnut-Encrusted Seitan
• Wheatmeat Roulade With Chestnut ‘Sausage’ Stuffing
• Vegan Autumn Harvest Casserole
• Cashew Nut Roast
• Almost 'Beef' Wellington
• 'Chicken' & Mushroom Duxelle en Croûte

Side Dishes

• Best Ever Green Bean Bake 
• Cranberry Relish
• Cider Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Braised Rainbow Chard
• ‘Creamy’ Chive Mashed Potatoes
• Green Beans With Fresh Cranberries
• Herb Stuffing
• Rosemary-'Cheese' Biscuits
• Sweet Potato Biscuits

Gravies

• Red Wine and Shallot Gravy
• Brown Gravy
• Chickenless Gravy
• Apple Cider Gravy
• Roasted Garlic Gravy

Desserts

• Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
• Pumpkin Patch ‘Cheesecake’
• Apple Dumplings
• Chocolate ‘Bread Pudding’ With Rum Sauce
• Apple Bavarian Torte
• Black Forest Cake
• Carrot Cake
• Chocolate Fudge
• Orange-Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

In order to avoid ruffling any feathers this holiday season, PETA has dished up these handy tips:

• Serve any one of these tasty vegan turkeys instead of the traditional fowl.
• Make the holiday stuffing vegetarian-friendly by using vegetable broth instead of a meat-based broth.
• Great gravy is a cinch with canned Franco-American mushroom gravy or Hain instant vegan gravy, available in traditional brown or “chicken” flavors. Just add water and simmer.
• When baking the holiday bread, be sure to use an egg replacer and soy milk in place of eggs and milk.
• Swap the milk and butter with soy milk and margarine for vegan mashed potatoes that everyone will love. Try Earth Balance, or check out our shopping guide for more vegan margarines.
• Be sure to have a vegan dressing for the salad; our shopping guide has a list of vegan dressings that can be found at most grocery stores.
• Save time in the kitchen by having each of your guests bring a vegan dish to share. Our holiday recipe guide has loads of tempting dishes that will satisfy even the pickiest of palates.
• Still not sure about how to make a vegan cake or what to use in place of gelatin? Our handy substitution guide will answer all your vegan cooking questions.