Vegan Food Substitutes for the Holidays

What follows is a hypothetical holiday conversation between Olivia the omnivore and Victor the vegan: Victor entered his in-law’s home expecting the regular questions non-vegans ask of vegans.

He wasn’t disappointed when the conversation inevitably turned to his veganism when Olivia asked, “I know you won’t eat turkey or ham, but what about gravy or stuffing?” “Well,” Victor patiently began, “the gravy was made with turkey giblets and drippings and the stuffing has butter, eggs and chicken broth in it, so no, I’ll pass on the gravy and stuffing, thanks.”

“Hmmm,” murmured Olivia, “what about cranberry jelly, green bean casserole and mac and cheese? I know you can eat those, right?” Victor sighed and stated, “The cranberry jelly is canned, so it surely has aspic in it, which is sometimes referred to as ‘meat jelly.’ The green bean casserole includes cream of mushroom soup which has cream in it, which is a dairy product and the mac and cheese has, well, cheese in it, also a dairy product.”

Olivia began to become a bit worried and more than a little agitated with her new son-in-law. “Well, I do have some steamed broccoli and there’s pumpkin and apple pie for dessert, so you can at least eat something I’ve prepared.” Victor shuffled his feet a bit and smiled. “We’re good with the broccoli, but I’m sure you used butter in your pie crusts, right?” “Yes,” Olivia replied through gritted teeth. “Again, butter is dairy so I’m afraid I’ll pass on the pies also. But don’t worry, your daughter brought plenty of vegan dishes for me to eat, so it’s all good.”

Being an away-from-home vegan can be difficult at times, especially during the holidays and the above conversation happens in numerous homes during this time of year. If you are hosting a vegan, remember that vegans do not eat ANYTHING that includes an animal product, to include dairy, eggs, aspic or gelatin, honey, whey, omega-3 fatty acids, most dressings, anything fried in animal fat, egg-based pastas…get the idea?

If you are hosting a vegan do NOT assume that what you are preparing is suitable. Read the ingredients of every item you use and if you are unsure if something is vegan-friendly or not, such as casein, shellac, or L-cysteine, Google it.

If you are a vegan or are hosting a vegan, below are several recipes that you can use to substitute for popular holiday favorites…

• Vegan turkey roast that is made from firm tofu, wheat gluten, yeast, white miso paste, vegetable broth powder and any spices you might want to add…or, you can just purchase one from a local Whole Foods. Check out the recipe  And here’s the recipe for some awesome vegan mushroom gravy, smooth and chunky.
• Vegan ham created with tofu, vital wheat gluten or seitan, ketchup, vegetable stock, liquid smoke and maple syrup. Here’s the delicious recipe.
• Best damn vegan mashed potatoes recipe that include potatoes (obviously), roasted garlic, vegan butter, sea salt, black pepper, chives and plain, ole water. Explore this recipe here.
• Vegan green bean casserole recipe that sound better than the non-vegan version can be found here. It simply substitutes vegan butter and soy or almond milk for the non-vegan versions. The mushrooms, shallots and garlic included in this recipe make it sound sublime.
• A vegan stuffing recipe that omits the eggs, butter and chicken broth can be perused here. Its primary ingredient is, as expected, bread, but it’s the herbs, thyme, garlic, rosemary and sage that make this recipe stand out.
• How about a delicious vegan apple pie recipe that simply subs vegan butter for non-vegan? What makes this recipe sound so intriguing is its inclusion of coconut oil, lemon juice and lemon zest. Why not give this a try even if you’re not a vegan?
• Here’s a recipe for vegan pumpkin pie that only includes nine ingredients and they include coconut milk and pumpkin purée.
• Lastly, here’s a recipe for a flakey vegan pie crust if you’re feeling ambitious. Pre-made vegan crusts are out there…just sayin’. This recipe uses vegan butter (a ton!) of course and just a splash of cider vinegar. A perfect partner for your apple and pumpkin pie fillings.

So, there you have it, several vegan options for you or your vegan friends out there so you can avoid the awkward conversation that I opened this blog with. Happy cooking!