This is a list of 10 + Inspirational Vegan Festive Mains to make on Christmas and Thanksgiving that I hope it will make your job to decide what to bring on your cruelty free table easy and fun!
Is it your first Holiday on a vegan diet and you are lacking of ideas for your festive meals?
Do not worry, in this post you'll find exactly what you are looking for.
Either if you are a first time vegan or a vegan veteran looking for new inspiration, here's a list of 10 gorgeous main dishes that will make your festive table really special this year!
Most of them are also gluten free; you can easily spot because they carry this symbol "*" next to the title.
Hope you enjoy!
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1. Ultimate Vegan Gammon Roast
This vegan gammon roast, or ham, if you like makes the perfect main course for a special occasion like Thanksgiving, Christmas or for a great Sunday roast. Believe me when I say this beast will undoubtedly be the star of your table!
Made out of wheat gluten and pea protein, this meaty vegan loaf is layered with fat and carries a chewy see-through fatty top.
2. Homemade Vegan Wellington
If you live in the UK, you know that Wellington is a must on a festive table.
This is my take on the Traditional Beef Wellington made out of seitan, and flavoured with natural ingredients like spices and beetroot.
Alternatively, you can make it with Vegan Gammon (also seitan based), or Gluten Free Vegan Turkey for a gf version (make sure to also purchase gluten free puff pastry!).
If you are looking to impress your guests with a vegan meat substitute during the holidays, this is definitely the dish you should bring on the table!
3. Roasted Cauliflower Wellington*
If you love Wellington but you want to bring something a bit different and original, you cannot go wrong with this Roasted Cauliflower Wellington. Absolutely flaky, aromatic and gorgeous, it can be also made gluten free for the guests that cannot have seitan. Just purchase pre-rolled gluten free puff pastry and use it instead of the regular. I'm sure everyone will come for seconds!
4. Stuffed Butternut Squash Wellington
Another low processed Wellington recipe with a wonderful vegetable instead of a meat-free alternative is this Stuffed Butternut Squash Wellington.
We love how simple and delicious this meat-free alternative wellington is. In the modern-day, it’s so easy to find alternatives to meat for use during big meals: you don’t need to miss out on a celebration just because you’ve gone vegan or plant-based!
5. Turkey(less) Roast*
You are not ready to give up the tradition. I understand completely.
Well, even in this case you don't need at all! This unbelievable Turkey(less) Roast cannot be left out of this list of 10 Vegan Festive Mains! This is the proof you can both enjoy a vegan meal whilst still following the tradition.
Almost forgot. This is also completely gluten free, which makes it even more special because it is suitable for all guests (it can also be made soy free and, if someone is allergic to peas but not soy, they can swap the pea protein with soya one).
6. Mushroom & Shallot Pies*
I personally think that you can NEVER go wrong with a good old pie.
These individual Mushroom & Shallot Pies are definitely worth making! Filled with brown button mushrooms, mini shallots and a rich red wine sauce, they are such a lovely and comforting treat to serve as a main on your festive table. They can also be made gluten free!
7. Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash*
Another centrepiece you can present on your table is without any doubt this gorgeous Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash.
Sweet and herby roasted squash filled with a generous and fragrant plant mince, accompanied by a flavourful sage and white wine gravy, will be the absolute star of your Thanksgiving or Christmas table.
8. Vegan Tofu Roulade (with plant-based ham and sage filling)
This vegan tofu roulade has a very soft mild taste, almost like that of chicken. This is absolutely perfect as it allows you to be quite free with any other flavours you like. It does not taste of tofu either. Our gentle seasoning has masked that profile taste leaving us with a perfect protein packed centrepiece for a gorgeous British roast dinner.
9. Cheezy Vegan Meatloaf*
How about a good old vegan meatloaf?
This Italian inspired Cheesy Oozing Vegan Meatloaf is so easy to make and it's so darn good!
All you need to do is to stock up on your favourite plant based burgers, whip up the cheese sauce, sauté some spinach, assemble and bake!
10. Black Bean Meatballs with Cranberries*
Not only vegan, but also gluten free, these Festive Black Bean Meatballs feature sweet cranberry bits and are served in a mouth-watering rich & creamy gravy sauce.
A real comforting treat that you can serve both as a main, an appetizer or a part of a vegan buffet.
Play around with the size and enjoy these easy and delicious meat free balls that come together in no time!
11. Vegan Salmon Steaks (with Caper and Parsley "Salsa Verde")
Coming from a seaside town, it comes without saying that I basically grew up eating fish. Fish has always actually won over meat back when I was an omni, and at my parent’s home every Christmas the menu was 100% about seafood.
One of the second courses on our Christmas Eve dinner would be either oven baked fish parcels or some pan fried salmon filets with caper & parsley "salsa verde" sauce.
If you too prefer some fish alternatives over meat this year, you MUST give this recipe a try!
12. Butternut Squash, Brussels and Cranberries Lasagna*
This vegan Butternut Squash, Brussel Sprout and Cranberry Lasagna is literally the best of the festive production into a main dish that is hearty, warm and absolutely mouth-watering!
As an Italian, I couldn't help but suggesting in this list of vegan festive mains a typical pasta dish that is largely enjoyed throughout the country especially on Santo Stefano day (the 26th of December).
This festive lasagna is filled with roasted veggies enriched with walnuts and cranberries and cooked in a generous butternut squash sauce, topped with ground pistachios.
This dish will make everybody happy around your table and nobody will be missing the “meat” or the “cheese" I promise. This is your chance to impress even the most sceptical ones!
13. Veggie Lasagna with Pesto and Mozzarella Sauce*
Are you looking for a more Mediterranean flavoured lasagna?
Packed with flavours and different textures, this veggie lasagna with pesto and vegan mozzarella white sauce is an absolute perfect comfort food for the holiday table!
Layers of pasta sheets (you can use dry or fresh, as long as they are egg free) with roasted vegetables and vegan mince, basil flavoured tomato sauce and a cheesy plant based mozzarella white sauce. All topped with generous tablespoons of dairy free pesto.
Your taste buds will literally party on every mouthful.
14. Creamy Vegan Salmon Risotto*
For gluten free guests (and not only!) this wonderfully creamy and fishy cruelty-free risotto is another great alternative to present to your loved ones.
Thanks to a large selection of brands, it is nowadays possible for us vegans to indulge into extremely decent (and scarily close looking) meat free alternatives. Actually fish free in this case but just as wonderful.
It might not be the healthiest alternative out there and yes I can hear you thinking so. In this case though it is most definitely worth it as a treat from time to time, especially when it is this good.
Be careful though if you’re gluten free, as these alternatives are often likely to contain gluten (wheat) as well as pea or soy protein.
If you cannot find vegan salmon, you are gluten free or you do not use processed food, you can substitute it with this tofu salmon or with carrot salmon (for a smoked version).
15. Pull Apart Brioche Bread Tree
Do you seriously want to impress? Make this stunning Pull Apart Brioche Bread shaped into a tree!
Gorgeous and buttery homemade brioche pastry, filled with store bought vegan meatball for a shortcut and sautéed spinach. It's definitely a fun centrepiece to share and to accompany with a rich sauce like this Red Wine, Shiitake and Onion Gravy, ready from scratch in as little as 15 minutes!
Hope this 10+ festive vegan mains list gave you some sort of inspiration for the upcoming holiday season.
Even though this year will be a bit stranger and rather difficult than usual due to the pandemic emergency that we are all facing, I really want to wish you a serene holidays with the sincere hope that we can all be back to normal soon enough and just check out from this very surreal chapter of our lives.
Have a lovely and happy holidays you all!
with love,
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