Veganism has certainly proved that it is no longer a niche fringe movement but a lifestyle choice that is here to stay. According to a survey by Finder, over two per cent of Britons are vegan.
This translates to around 1,100,000 people, and by the end of 2020, figures could increase two-fold to around 2,200,000.
Christmas is a time of indulgence. But that doesn’t mean people living on a plant-based diet can’t enjoy the best part of Christmas—Christmas dinner. Here, we’ll provide a how-to guide on how to make the perfect vegan Christmas dinner. We’ll show you the best vegan-friendly alternatives for the plant-based eaters in your household.
A vegan Christmas
You may have perfected your menu for vegetarians and those that have any dietary requirements in the past. But catering to vegans is a whole different ball game. Initially, most newly transitioned vegans or those cooking for vegans for the first time may falsely believe that they are limited with what can be eaten on a plant-based diet. They couldn’t be more wrong! There is a vegan alternative for almost everything these days.
The vegan main event
Take a vegan nut roast for example. This can serve between six and eight people and takes around two hours to make. If you have enough vegans in your household or support bubble, this could be the perfect dish to make and then serve separately. Simply combine root vegetables with mushrooms, grains, hazelnuts, and fresh herbs and then add parsnip crisps for a satisfying crunch.
For a lot of Christmas dishes—more of which are featured on the BBC website—you can make them from scratch. However, if you don’t have the time or want to simplify a busy day, you can buy vegan produce in most major supermarkets.
There are other vegan substitutes for those vegans who enjoy the taste of meat, such as vegan beef wellington and maple glazed vegan ham. Most supermarkets will unveil a festive range to enjoy a completely vegan Christmas dinner without compromising on the best bits.
Make sure to grab vegan gravy too—most gravies have animal products in and will be unsuitable for most plant-based eaters. Or, learn how to make your own here!
When it comes to snacks, the options are limitless, not limited. While carnivores will have typical nibbles like party sausages and pigs in blankets, vegan diets are easier to branch out into. Think wild mushroom palmiers with green olive and truffle tapenade, made with vegan puff pastry, or beetroot and red onion tarte Tatin.
Using vegan chocolate, you can create an incredible fudgy chocolate cake. This is something that every vegan will love to indulge in during the Christmas festivities. To be more convenient with ingredients and time spent preparing other desserts in the kitchen, you could keep this as your only Christmas chocolate cake dish as it will taste just as good as non-vegan options. Using avocado, soya milk, and muscovado sugar, no one will know the difference. This beautiful and rich cake will only take an hour to prepare and cook but will serve a whole household.
You want to make sure that your vegan choices appeal to the people who will be eating it, so if you’re not sure, ask them what they like. Then, see if you can create your own vegan spin on it!
