How to Make Classic Holiday Dishes Vegan

Most people look forward to the holidays but special occasions that center around food can strike fear in the hearts of plant-based eaters.What will you eat? Will any of the food be free of animal products? What about all the classic holiday dishes you grew up with? Are they just a part of your past, never to be tasted again? Well, you can relax because it’s totally possible to make your favorite holiday dishes plant-based. It may sound impossible but it can be done. By making a few substitutions and using a bit of your imagination, you can sit and enjoy a big plant-based holiday meal with your loved ones.

Here are some tips on how to make classic holiday favorite dishes plant-based:

1. Make it Meatless

Holiday dishes, especially the entrees, tend to focus on meat but it’s certainly possible to celebrate with a compassionate spin on dinner. Forget the typical turkey, ham, brisket and roasts and choose a meatless menu instead. Rather than turkey, try these Gluten-Free Vegan “Turkey” Cutlets and the Unturkey Roast. You can still make “meaty” dishes like this Portobello Wellington, Seitan and Mushroom Bourguignon, Braised Seitan Short Ribs in Spicy Chile Sauce, and Seitan Pot Roast (which can also be made with this gluten-free version of seitan). No holiday goes by without me making my Tofu with Apple and Onion Relish or Moroccan Tofu in Lemon-Olive Sauce over Spaghetti.

If your holidays usually have a few seafood dishes, they can also be made without the fish. Make Tempeh “Fish” Fillets, Vegan Tofu Scallops, Tempeh “Crab” Cakes, and Tofu “Shrimp” Scampi.

For less “meaty” entrees, try this Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed with Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf, Lentil Loaf, or this Vegetable Lentil Shepherd’s Pie. When holidays call for dishes that can feed a crowd, casseroles and pasta dishes come to the rescue. Try this Creamy Pumpkin and Spinach Lasagna, Ooey-Gooey Baked Ziti, Pumpkin Gnocchi in Spiced Butter Sauce with Lemon Cashew Cream and this Butternut Squash, Portobello, and Spinach Casserole with Vegan Sausage

2. Ditch the Dairy

Holiday dishes are usually rich, creamy and decadent. Often that means using a lot of milk, cream and butter. This year, ditch the dairy and make your dishes just as amazing but a lot healthier. This year I made the most incredible Mashed Potatoes with Garlic Herb Butter that was completely vegan and more decadent than any I had ever made. First I made my own compound garlic herb butter by mashing a stick of vegan butter with a spatula in a bowl until it was creamy. Then I mixed in 1 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley, ¼ tsp. garlic powder, ¼ tsp. kosher salt and a pinch of ground nutmeg. I scraped the mixture onto a sheet of plastic wrap and formed it into a log. I wrapped it tightly and put it in the freezer overnight. The next day I took it out of the freezer, let it thaw a bit and then sliced it into rounds.

For the mashed potatoes, I did something different. Instead of cooking the potatoes in water as I usually do, I cooked them in non-dairy milk. I cubed 2 lbs. of russet potatoes (I don’t peel them) and put them in a medium saucepan with 3 cups non-dairy milk and 1 tsp. kosher salt. I cooked the potatoes at a simmer for 20 minutes until they were fork-tender and then drained them, saving the milk. The potatoes got mashed and I added the compound garlic herb butter and a few spoons of the drained milk into them. Taste for any seasoning adjustments and be ready to taste the creamiest, most delicious mashed potatoes you have ever eaten – no dairy needed! Check out how to make Homemade Vegan Butter and Non-Dairy Milk and use these plant-based versions in your classic holiday dishes.

3. Chuck the Cheese

Yes, we all love cheese and we can have our fill of it – vegan, of course. It’s easier than ever to buy really good vegan cheeses that melt, slice and spread. If you prefer making your own, there are dozens of recipes that will help you make your favorite cheeses right in your own kitchen. I make my own Tofu Feta Cheese and it’s fast and easy. Break 1 block of pressed and drained extra-firm tofu into little crumbles in a storage container with a lid. In a small bowl, combine ¼ cup red wine vinegar, the juice of ½ a lemon, 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil, 2 Tbs. water, 2 Tbs. nutritional yeast, 2 tsp. kosher salt, 2 tsp. dried basil, 1 tsp. dried oregano, ½ tsp. dried rosemary, and ½ tsp. black pepper. Whisk until it’s well combined. Pour the marinade over the tofu and toss it so it’s well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Garnish 2 Tbs. fresh chopped parsley before serving. I use my vegan feta in recipes such as Greek Spinach, Potato and Vegan Feta Latkes with Tzatziki Sauce, Cashew Coconut Cream Cheese, Spicy Pumpkin Penne with Soy Feta and Hazelnuts and Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Biscuits with Soy Feta. Get the recipes for These 10 Vegan Cheeses that will Make You Quit Dairy Forever and make all your traditional dishes with vegan cheese.

4. Erase the Eggs

So many holiday recipes contain eggs – the stuffing, the cakes, the cookies, and even the drinks like egg nog. It may seem like it would be impossible to make a holiday meal without them but it’s totally possible to skip the eggs. Learn How to Cook and Bake Without Eggs and How to Replace Eggs in All Your Favorite Dishes. Check out how to make your own vegan mayo. Even dishes where eggs are the main ingredient, such as frittatas, quiches and omelets, can be made with other ingredients and still be incredible. And egg nog? No problem. Try this Raw Vegan Egg Nog, Vegan “Egg” Nog, Carrot Nog, Healthy Holiday Nog, Spiced Pumpkin Egg Nog and this Egg Nog Milkshake.

5. Say No to Honey

Holidays usually mean lots of sweets but there’s no reason to use honey when there are so many alternative sweeteners available. Check out the 5 Best Alternatives to Honey and then make these Struffoli (Fried “Honey” Balls) and this Earl Grey “Honey” Loaf with Coconut Cream Glaze. If you loved the taste of honey mustard, make a vegan version by mixing ¼ cup each Dijon mustard and agave nectar, 1 Tbs. apple cider vinegar and a pinch of salt. This is perfect for salads or as a dip for Crispy Tofu Nuggets.

There is a vegan way to substitute almost every food. For a quick reference, see 10 Food Substitutions Every Plant-Based Eater Should Know. You don’t have to feel left out at holiday time when it’s so easy to make plant-based versions of all the classic dishes.

Lead Image Source: Healthy Holiday Nog