When we think of a Christmas dinner, the first thing that pops into our minds isn’t the bowls upon bowls of juicy veg filling every empty space on the table, it’s the pigs in blankets, the meat gravy, and of course – the grand centre piece – the turkey. As a newly fledged vegan (9 months in the making), I have not yet had to think outside the box and create a Christmas meal that doesn’t involve turkey trimmings and thick meat gravy as far as the eye can see. For all of you veggies and vegans out there who are feeling a little down about the lack of shazam in your Christmas dinner, look no further.
Meat Substitute
This is the main prize, the reason we all sit down to Christmas dinner at three in the afternoon, ready to line our already boozed up stomachs. For vegetarians and vegans, however, the alternative is not always as striking. Quorn chicken nuggets are just not the same on Christmas Day as they are at four in the morning after a night out – but fear not! This year, more and more supermarkets are jumping on the bandwagon and offering exquisite meat alternatives so we don’t have to go hungry this Christmas. TESCO is a tough contender to beat with its vast vegan range. Incorporating Wicked and Plant Chef into its Christmas range this year, vegans can indulge in canapes, nibbles, and even a nut roast. Marks and Spencer is another supermarket chain eager to cater for its customers through their slightly more expensive yet utterly delicious vegan and vegetarian Christmas range. Whether you’re in the mood for a chocolate torte or a vegan festive wreath, the possibilities are endless!
Gravy
I’m a sucker for gravy; I cant seem to get enough of it. It goes on anything and everything. Sometimes the combinations go better together than others but we move. For many vegans however, Christmas can pose a slight problem when your family are bathing their Christmas dinner in turkey juices and you’re sat staring at a very dry plate full of sprouts and potatoes. Fear not, however; vegan alternatives are available and they are so easy to make! Bisto beef gravy granules are, believe it or not, vegan! Who would have thought! This is the gravy I absolutely swear by and is suitable for the whole family. If beef isn’t your favourite taste, why not try their onion gravy instead? Don’t sit by and let a delicious Christmas dinner go to waste, get creative.
Potatoes
Now, I ask this question every year and it still continues to baffle me. Why on earth do we always cook Christmas roast potatoes in duck fat, yet save ourselves the hassle the rest of the year? There is no need to spoil perfectly good potatoes when margarine offers the exact same effect (or near enough anyway). Lather your roasties in Flora, or any other vegan alternative, and get seasoning. Whether that’s garlic, rosemary, or the classic salt and pepper – the opportunities are endless. Potatoes can be completely vegan and still have your taste buds tingling.
Vegetables
Again, why do we feel the need to dust our Christmas veg in turkey trimmings or chopped bacon? What happened to luscious veg being baked in the oven and satisfying the taste buds with its natural crisp glow? As with potatoes, veg can also be cooked in vegan alternative butter to give it that juicy flavour without sounding the alarm bells in our stomachs. If you’re wanting to add a little spice to your veg this year, maple syrup or golden syrup is a widely used alternative to honey if you’re wanting a shiny glaze on your parsnips and carrots. This is the time to really get creative with your food choices, and why not, it is Christmas after all.
“Pigs in blankets”
Let’s be honest, this is the only reason why anyone agrees to cook Christmas dinner; the prospect of pigs in blankets sitting in all their glory in the middle of the table (or by gran’s plate because she’s a fiend for sausages). Now, with supermarkets expanding their vegan ranges instore, vegans can in fact recreate their own pigs in blankets. Grab yourself some meat-free sausages and fakey bacon and get artsy.
Christmas dinner for vegans doesn’t have to be a dull affair. It doesn’t have to be limited to dry veg and stodgy potatoes. Forget the turkey, forget the duck fat, and indulge in savoury plant goodness.
Written by Madeleine Raine
Image courtesy of Seb Mooze via Unsplash. This image has in no way been altered. Copyright license available here.