Whether you’re new to plant-based eating or a seasoned pro, ProVeg has some great tips to make your festive meals sparkle. There’s no need to skip your favourite traditional dishes, especially with so many delicious plant-based alternatives now available! Check out this quick guide to festive favourites for some helpful tips to make your holiday celebration unforgettable. 

Starters

Switch out traditional smoked salmon for a tasty vegan lox, with this recipe for vegan salmon – or use commercial salmon alternatives. Pâté and crackers are another festive favourite that are super-easy to veganise. Make a plant-based pâté from lentils, mushrooms, or walnuts, and serve with crackers or fresh bread.

If you want a more conventional starter, try a simple bruschetta – toast your baguette and top with a mixture of tomatoes, basil, garlic, and balsamic vinegar for a light and fresh option. Or keep it quick and easy with a store-bought plant-based camembert, and serve with crudites or dough balls. Here is a great festive plant based cheese bundle from plant-based UK cheese manufacturer La Fauxmagerie .

Mains

Leave the birds in peace this year by swapping out your traditional goose, turkey, or chicken with one of the many plant-based meat alternatives rocking the market. If you’re in the UK, you could give This Isn’t Roast Plant Based Chicken & Stuffing a try or sample some of VBites’ huge range of festive alternatives. These roasted Heura chunks are also a great option, while most supermarkets now stock several versions of plant-based chicken. 

All of these products can be roasted with all your usual spices and veggies, and served up as a piping-hot feast for the family! If you’re feeling indulgent, why not try a classic nut roast? For something with a more traditional feel, this vegan roast Wellington is a great centrepiece, as is the ProVeg vegan Wellington recipe. For more festive meal ideas, check out our plant-based holiday season recipes.  This being South Africa, nothing is easier or more jovial than a vegan braai. 

The key thing to remember is that your festive table doesn’t have to be dominated by tofu or lentils (unless that’s what you want!). These days, supermarkets are exploding with alternative proteins – from spiced-chicken-style pieces to crispy nuggets, sumptuous roasts, delicious cold cuts, and more. If you’re not used to looking for these kinds of foods and are struggling to find them, ask a store assistant.  Sometimes these products are hiding in their own plant-based section.

Desserts

Most festive desserts can be easily veganised, either by adapting traditional home-baked recipes or opting for one of the convenient ‘free-from’ products available at your local supermarket. Popular choices include this silky vegan panna cotta and this sumptuous chocolate mousse topped with whipped cream, both of which offer a luxurious, plant-based alternative to classic desserts. Most supermarkets now offer a plant-based range of festive desserts. In the UK , for example, Waitrose’s festive selection includes plant-based Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and pies, and even chocolate yule logs. 

If you enjoy baking, it’s generally pretty easy to veganise traditional cookie recipes by substituting conventional butter with plant-based butter or margarine, and replacing eggs with alternatives such as cornstarch or applesauce. This recipe for a plant-based version of the Austrian Linzer cookies is a great example. Many stores now also offer a variety of pre-made vegan baking essentials, making it easier than ever to enjoy plant-based treats this festive season.

Around the dinner table

Festive dinners with family and friends should be moments of joy, but we understand that accommodating various dietary preferences can sometimes be challenging. But remember, that the dinner table is not a battleground – rather take it as an opportunity to gently introduce others to your perspective. Delicious food is always the most convincing argument – by offering a range of tasty and satisfying plant-based options on your festive dinner table, you’re introducing your loved ones to sustainable and flavourful food choices that might just inspire them to try something new. 

Remember, we’re all on this journey together, no matter where we stand. During festive meals, the most effective approach is to be an upbeat and inclusive ambassador for plant-based foods. Don’t feel pressured to win everyone over – simply take pride in making plant-based options accessible. And if it ever feels overwhelming, just take a deep breath and remember, Veganuary is right around the corner!

Moving to a plant-based diet doesn’t mean having to give up traditional holiday favourites. With a bit of planning, you can create a festive feast that the whole family can enjoy. And if you’re the only plant-based guest this year, take comfort in knowing that your meal could spark interest and curiosity in others. Happy holidays from all of us at ProVeg – we look forward to seeing you in the new year!