The Ultimate Vegan Christmas

As we start to prepare for the festive season, many of us will already be making our Christmas shopping lists. The usual items may be on there - turkey, brandy butter and pigs in blankets, but with more people choosing plant based or vegan diets, there are plenty of delicious treats and ideas to inspire you.

So whether you’re a full-time vegan, flexitarian or have friends and family who are, here are our top tips for a truly scrumptious Christmas.

Make your Christmas dinner stand out

In a survey carried out by Asda last Christmas, roast potatoes were voted the most popular food to have on the big day. These classic crispy accompaniments to your festive roast are loved by everyone and it’s really easy to make your vegan roast potatoes equally as crispy as the traditional ones.

We love this tried and tested recipe for the ultimate roast potatoes and they are just as good (or for some, arguably better!) with olive oil instead of fat and replacing plain four for white flour. Cook them a little longer to make them extra crispy, toss with roasted garlic and rosemary flakes.

Everything’s better with stuffing

Also up there on people’s favourite foods at the seasonal dinner table is stuffing, and just because there’s no meat, doesn’t mean that you should go without. In fact, there are so many different types we were spoilt for choice.

This vegan stuffing recipe combines the classic flavourings of sage and onion, with celery, garlic and crusty bread, helping to create a flavoursome vegan substitute. The key to making it really special for you and your vegan guests is to use fresh herbs if you can get hold of them (although dried herbs work well too). Our top tip is to add chestnuts for extra crunch!

No after-thoughts here

There used to be a time when vegans would be faced with a well thought-out but rather limited plate of vegetables. We’ve come a long way since then. In fact veganism and plant-based eating is so popular that some of our meat-eating friends have opted for the vegan choice at the Christmas party.

We love some of the recipe ideas on offer at Waitrose, such as lentil, chestnut and Guinness pot pies and nutty pithivier with watercress and pistachio pesto. There are even recipes for delicious and simple vegan gravy and Yorkshire puds.

Taking it easy

Although magical, we know that Christmas can be stressful, and you may not have time to cook to suit all tastes and dietary requirements. Luckily, vegan options are now widely available in the shops and require little effort to prepare.

There are some fabulous options at Marks & Spencer, and Waitrose also has some really special vegan Christmas items, including vegan party packs. These are perfect for your family Christmas tea around the fire, party hats skewwhiff trying to hear the Christmas TV special over Grandad’s snoring and the kids’ battery operated gifts.

Don’t forget the condiments

Luckily, most sauces - such as cranberry sauce, apple sauce and mint sauce - are naturally vegan, but it is always worth checking the label as some hidden ingredients can sneak in. It’s also good to have something a bit different around the table, too - hot sauces are always popular and if you are serving bread, it’s nice to have some fancy olive oil and balsamic vinegar handy. You can also use these to really add flavour to your vegetable options too.

Time for something sweet

It’s really special to make cookies and other sweet treats with the kids at Christmas and luckily there are plenty of vegan options. We love these irresistible vegan Christmas cookie recipes that you can make with the family.

When it comes to dessert, for traditional types, we love this yummy vegan mince pie recipe and can’t stop baking them. Vegan Christmas pudding and dairy-free ice cream are also available at most supermarkets.

Who’s for drinks?

Some people may be surprised to learn that many wines contain animal products, so it’s worth checking the label before you buy.

Fortunately, if you’re prepared, there’s plenty of choice for any wine lover. This vegan wine list is a great place to start and offers bags of choice depending on your preference - red, white or both.

Even seasonal classic, Baileys, is in on the action with this delicious dairy-free almond drink.

If you have any tempting vegan recipes to share ahead of the big day, tell us over on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels.