6 Tips to Create the Best Vegan Christmas Dinner for Newbies

It’s beginning to smell a lot like Vegan Christmas, and our excitement is already cooking in the oven! Whether you are hosting your first Christmas dinner as a vegan or are hosting vegan guests this year, the anticipation to get cooking is overwhelming.

While some vegans think they have a limited choice of Christmas dinner alternatives, you can tap into your creative culinary acumen to prepare exquisite plant-based dishes with all the festive flavours you love.

In light of the Christmas spirit, these tried and tested tips will help you prepare your very first festive dinner to share with your loved ones. We guarantee that everyone will be amazed, and no one has to go cold turkey.

1. The preparation starts early

Just because you’re having a vegan Christmas, it doesn’t mean that it has to be stripped of the festive elation that usually begins from 1^st December.

Advent calendars are a Christmas classic, and luckily, Cadbury and Galaxy aren’t the only manufacturers of this children’s favourite, and there are many options for vegans. From fair trade vegan chocolate advent calendars to a DIY one made with vegan treats and cute eco-friendly gifts, you are bound to savour the excitement.

While you’re in the Christmas mood, why not get a head start on your festive playlist, menu and shopping list planning, and perhaps send out cute invitations to your family? Christmas markets are perfect for preparing all of these, and you can find some irresistible delights to put on your Christmas table.

2. Start with the drinks

Once your guests enter your home, it’s time to quench their thirst with some homemade vegan drinks. While most alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, spirits, and cider are vegan-friendly, it’s best to either double-check their content or hop on the train of extraordinary drinks preparation. Plus, you’ll get bonus points for creativity right from the start.

Welcome drinks are a must, and this indulgent White Christmas Mojito punch will set the mood right. Alternatively, the vegan bourbon pecan milk punch is ideal for the bourbon-lovers and is the perfect replacement for Santa’s milk and cookies.

For those who wish to refrain from alcohol, why not prepare a plant-based alternative to the classic hot chocolate, such as this gingerbread hot cocoa? You can also prepare your tea blend using Christmas favourites like cinnamon, orange peels, cardamom, star aniseed, or apple. Sounds just like a mulled wine but without the wine, right?

3. Move onto the starters

Although starters are optional at Christmas given the runway of mouth-watering dishes, a heart-warming soup before the mains goes a long way towards satisfying your guests. When planning your starters, think seasonal and local: what are the best-quality vegetables you can source at the time?

Here is a hint: butternut squash, pumpkin, beetroot, and Brussels sprouts are beloved December classics. A simple yet incredibly flavoursome and vibrant starter you can serve is this vegan butternut squash soup made with coconut milk for extra creaminess.

If you are a fan of salads, you will love this vegan beetroot pear salad with walnuts which contains only four ingredients and is highly nutritional. Other lightweight but tasty starters you can make include roasted tomato soup, artichoke bruschetta, and luxury hummus.

4. It’s time for the mains

If you’re looking for a turkey replacement that doesn’t add more cooking time to your schedule, go for a pre-made vegan roast which you can get from the frozen section of most supermarkets.

However, if you’re feeling adventurous and really want to wow your guests with the main, “think tarts, roasts, pies, and wellingtons,” says Elena Orde from The Vegan Society. Again, these dishes can be simplified by getting vegan ready-made pastry from a supermarket. The good thing about these pastry options is that you can mix and match them as you please. For the pies, try different fillings, such as squash, carrots, chard, and lentils. A wreath-shaped pastry filled with nuts, veg, and tofu is also a great idea.

A classic vegan main dish is a nut roast. Start with the basic recipe, and once you get the hang of it, you will be able to diversify it by adding raisins, sage, cranberry, cinnamon, and different nuts.

5. Get on with the sides

The sides are where you have the most freedom to experiment and cater to everyone’s food preferences. Pretty much anything goes here as long as it carries the Christmas spirit and complements the centrepiece.

You probably already have a repertoire of vegetable dishes, so feel free to throw in a few of them. From roasted potatoes with rosemary to Brussels sprouts with seeds and maple-glazed carrots, the kitchen is yours.

If you’re looking for alternatives to the classic Christmas side dishes, try this vegan red wine gravy, which will give you a festive buzz. For the stuffing, you can opt for a vegan sage and onion stuffing – a replica of the original recipe – or venture into making a hazelnut, sage, and mushroom stuffing.

Add your favourite sauces and dive in!

6. Who said dessert?

Usually, the last bite of stuffing puts an end to our savoury feast, and the sweet one begins. Although our bellies are as full as Santa Claus’, we all know that dessert goes to our second stomach.

So for your vegan Christmas dinner, you can satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth with a few mince pie options. If your cooking battery is running low, you can get ready-made Christmas puddings or go for a homemade one. In terms of the mince pies, all you have to alter is the pastry since the filling is already vegan. Of course, you can always buy ready-made ones.

For a little twist, why not try this vegan cranberry cheesecake or satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth with this vegan chocolate mousse? It’s the perfect ending to your celebratory dinner!

A vegan Christmas dinner is as exciting as a traditional one, if not more! The indulgent dishes, the great company, and the festive spirit make for a jolly time, especially when it’s at no animal’s expense!