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How to convince your meat loving relatives to opt for a vegetarian Christmas
Is the old pork roast, the ham and the turkey at Christmas lunch putting your off a bit? Here are 11 tricks that turn most meat lovers to veggie enthusiasts!
Are you trying to find exciting green alternatives? Are you sick of just eating potatoes and gravy throughout Christmas? Do you end up in endless discussions with uncle John, who argues it’s no Christmas without turkey? Or is it the other way around? You are happy to cook some vegetarian dishes for you dear (although fussy) family members but don’t know where to start? No drama, this year Christmas lunch can be a feast for everyone!
Be inspired by our vegetarian and vegan Christmas favourites below, and dish up a greener Christmas buffet that EVERYONE will enjoy, meat lovers as well as vegetarians and vegans. You’ll find the recipes on internet, but most dishes can be created after one’s own preferences.
1. Kale pie with blue cheese and walnuts
To make a vegan pie, leave out the blue cheese and make a vegan omelette base (recipe below).
2. Avocado and pomegranate salad
Use your favourite lettuce variety and mix with creamy avocado and crispy pomegranate for a delicious salad. Sprinkle with oil and salt flakes.
3. Falafel instead of meatballs
Those who love cooking will obviously make their own falafel, but there are really good ready-made alternatives to buy.
4. Rice pudding
Rice pudding is already vegetarian, and becomes vegan with oat or soy milk instead of cow’s milk.
5. Spanish tortilla
Simply a thick potato omelette, preferably made in a deep oven tray. For extra Christmas flavours – chop up and blend kale or red cabbage into the egg mixture.
6. Beetroot salad with walnuts, honey, green apple and goat curd
Make it vegan with oat based creme fraiche with horseradish, nuts and other goodies. Let the chef decide!
7. Kale pizza with chili and lemon
Read our lips! Google this recipe and don’t wait until Christmas – make it now! You will love it! You’re making the pizza with vegan cheese, needless to say.
8. Kale chips
Kale chips have been on everyone’s lips since 2013, so why change a winning concept? Tear apart the kale in mouth size pieces. Toss the kale in olive oil and put it on an oven tray. Sprinkle over salt flakes and in the oven it goes. Cook at 200 degrees until crisp. It usually takes about 10 minutes.
9. Brussel sprouts and orange salad
Pan fry halved Brussel sprouts in oil or butter until soft. Add diced apple and some honey and continue to cook for a couple of minutes. Serve warm with skinned orange segments. Yum.
10. Fried black cabbage with garlic and hazelnuts
Quickly fry black cabbage and garlic in butter or oil in a hot frying pan. Move to a bowl and sprinkle over hazelnuts to your liking. Place one bowl with shredded parmesan and one with diced green apple next to the black cabbage and people can combine their own salad at the dining table.
11. Sautéed mini carrots
Sauté is a fancy word for frying something quickly on high heat, heating the produce without losing crispiness. You can basically sauté any crispy vegetable. We like sautéed carrots for their sweetness, and sugar snaps and haricot vertes are delicious to sauté too.
Vegan omelette – recipe
(Can also be used for pie filling or gratins)
- 1 cup oat cream
- ¼ cup oat milk
- 4 tbs flour
- Salt, pepper and ground paprika
Wisk together wet ingredients, then mix in dry ingredients and pour into oven safe dish. Shovel it into the oven and just wait until this gorgeousness has a golden colour. Bon appétit!