Thanksgiving is a time for family gatherings, delicious food, and gratitude. Traditionally, Thanksgiving feasts are centered around a turkey, but with the growing popularity of vegan and vegetarian diets, many are looking for plant-based alternatives to celebrate the holiday. Whether you’re hosting a vegan or vegetarian guest or looking to incorporate more plant-based dishes into your Thanksgiving meal, here are some delicious and satisfying options that everyone will love.

Appetizers

Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms are a crowd-pleaser and can easily be made vegan or vegetarian. Fill them with a mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, spinach, and vegan cheese for a tasty bite-sized starter.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

A warm and comforting bowl of roasted butternut squash soup is perfect for starting your Thanksgiving meal. Enhance the flavor with coconut milk, sage, and a hint of nutmeg.

Main Dishes

Lentil Loaf

A hearty lentil loaf is an excellent alternative to turkey. Made with lentils, vegetables, oats, and spices, this dish is packed with protein and flavor. Top it with a tangy tomato glaze for a finishing touch.

Stuffed Acorn Squash

Stuffed acorn squash not only looks impressive but also tastes incredible. Fill the squash with a mixture of quinoa, cranberries, pecans, and herbs for a delightful combination of flavors and textures.

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

A vegan shepherd’s pie is a comforting and satisfying main dish. Use lentils or chickpeas as the base, and top with creamy mashed potatoes. Add vegetables like carrots, peas, and corn for extra nutrition and flavor.

Side Dishes

Green Bean Casserole

A vegan green bean casserole can be made using fresh green beans, a creamy mushroom sauce, and crispy fried onions. Opt for non-dairy milk and vegan butter to keep it plant-based.

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, and they can easily be made vegan by using plant-based milk and vegan butter. Pair them with a savory mushroom or onion gravy for a delicious side dish.

Cranberry Sauce

Homemade cranberry sauce is a simple yet essential part of any Thanksgiving meal. Simmer fresh cranberries with orange juice, maple syrup, and a pinch of cinnamon for a sweet and tangy sauce.

Desserts

Pumpkin Pie

No Thanksgiving meal is complete without pumpkin pie. Make a vegan version by using a flaxseed or chia seed egg replacer and coconut milk in the filling. Serve with a dollop of vegan whipped cream.

Apple Crisp

An apple crisp is a warm and comforting dessert that’s perfect for the holiday season. Use a mixture of apples, cinnamon, and oats for the filling, and top with a crumble made from vegan butter, flour, and sugar.

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

For a decadent yet healthy dessert, try a chocolate avocado mousse. Blend ripe avocados with cocoa powder, maple syrup, and a splash of vanilla extract for a rich and creamy treat.

Tips for a Successful Vegan and Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is key to a successful Thanksgiving meal. Make sure to have all the necessary ingredients on hand, and prepare some dishes in advance to save time on the day of the celebration.

Communicate with Guests

If you’re hosting a mixed-diet crowd, communicate with your guests to ensure everyone’s dietary needs are met. Consider labeling dishes as vegan or vegetarian to avoid any confusion.

Be Creative

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your recipes. There are plenty of plant-based alternatives available, so experiment with different flavors and ingredients to make your Thanksgiving meal unique and delicious.

Thanksgiving is all about sharing a meal with loved ones and being grateful for what we have. By incorporating vegan and vegetarian options into your feast, you can create a meal that’s inclusive, delicious, and full of holiday spirit. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is almost here. Got your turkey yet?

It is not too late to get ready and celebrate this warm festival with a traditional family dinner even if some of your family members are vegans/vegetarians. Well, the reality is we have to serve vegetarian options anyway, cause there are more and more people who choose not to eat meat. Maybe you are one of them.

So, what are the options?

Tofukey

Homemade Tofu Turkey

• 5 (14 oz or 400 grams) blocks firm/extra-firm tofu
• 2 tbsp fresh sage
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme
• 1 tbsp fresh rosemary
• 1 tbsp vegetable broth powder
• 2 tbsp poultry seasoning
• 1/4 cup (60ml) balsamic vinegar
• 1/3 cup (80ml) red wine
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 cups (300 grams) prepared vegetarian stuffing (of your choice)
  

  Instructions

  1. Process the tofu in a food processor or blender until smooth.
  2. Place the tofu to a large bowl. Add the minced and chopped sage, thyme, rosemary together with vegetable broth powder, and poultry seasoning. Stir well.
  3. Line a colander with a thin towel or cheesecloth. Put the tofu into the colander. Put a layer of a thin towel on top. Place a weight on top to gently press the tofu.
  4. Chill for at least 3 hours.
  5. Once chilled and firm, scoop out some of the tofu in the middle, creating a well. Leave about 1-2 inches of a tofu “shell” in the colander.
  6. Gently place your prepared in advance stuffing into the well. Press the remaining tofu on top.
  7. Preheat the oven to 350 F (or 180 C). Grease a baking sheet. Invert it on top of the colander. Flip it over so the colander is upside down on top of the baking sheet. Remove the colander and the towel or cheesecloth.
  8. Whisk together the red wine, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and Dijon mustard.
  9. Generously brush the mixture on the tofu.
  10. Bake for 90 minutes. Baste the tofu every 15 minutes.
  11. Serve and enjoy.

It is not that difficult, right? And you need not so many ingredients as one might have thought. You can use the same vegetable stuffing for a real and faux turkey. Anyway, it is nice to have extra option for your vegan guests.

If you are going to a Thanksgiving dinner, don’t forget getting a fall style gift to express gratitude. Check out Cheryl’s for awesome centerpieces, gift baskets, bouquets and gluten-free (and not only) sweets and pies.

Do you often feel left out as we mostly post meaty delicious meal recipes?

Today is the day for vegan diet followers and we have some amazingly easy (yet super tasty) recipes!

Sometimes it is not easy to keep things interesting in terms of food! Today we will give you our top three favorite vegan snack ideas. And you can cook all of them in no time!

Microwave Potato Chips

A very easy recipe to follow and a yummy result!

You will need potatoes and salt! Try to use potatoes of different colors, this way they will look more fun in your big snack bowl. Get them from your nearest supermarket or order with Walmart.

Next thing: slice the potatoes. Make sure the slices are quite thin. Place the potatoes on parchment paper and place in the microwave oven (make sure to get parchment and slicer beforehand at Tesco or any other shop). The potatoes should be evenly distributed throughout the paper (one layer of slices). You might need to repeat the process several times to fill in your bowl. But do not worry the process is very fast!

You will need only 2-3 minutes to make the slices baked and crunchy! Experiment! The timing depends on your microwave oven and its settings.

Take our the slices, snrinkle with salt and there you go!

Yummy!

Vegan Tortilla Pinwheels

Another quick recipe that will get you creative! Take any vegan-friendly paste (it can be hummus or guacamole sauce), veggies (we suggest spinach, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers) and tortilla.

Now start improvising! Good idea to make a special sauce or order an organic high quality sauce here. (They deliver in the US)

Take tortilla, spread the paste on it (by the way, you can make hummus or guacamole by yourself), place veggies to taste (do not forget to slice/chop them) and roll the tortilla as you would roll a yoga mat!

Cut into smaller pieces! Put into a container and you are ready to go!

Peanut Butter Apple Chips

And now for a dessert you can make chips in the same way as you did with potatoes (recipe #1)!

Take apples, slice them, place on a paper and bake in the microwave until crisp!

To make the chips even more delicious add some peanut butter (you can dip the chips right into the jar or put some butter on your plate). If you are not afraid of carbohydrates – add some jelly to it!

Enjoy!

For those of you, who are lazy (or too hard-working) to cook by themselves, here are two websited where you can order ready-to-eat vegan (and non-vegan) meal plans:

• VeginOut – delivers nationwide in the US!
• PlanetOrganic offers snacks and products for Keto, vegan, raw and other diets (UK and Europe)!
• WeightWatchers suggest a wide range of kitchen utensils and vegan and healthy snacks (US delivery).