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Vegetarian Christmas Dinner Ideas
Mains, sides and desserts for a meat-free Christmas table, with notes on what to make ahead.
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If you're cooking for a vegetarian guest, or you are the vegetarian, plan around dishes that can be made in advance, so Christmas Day isn't spent at the stove. Eat Simply says most of its vegetarian Christmas dinner recipes can be made ahead. One caution on cheese: for the Parmesan in some Woman & Home recipes, strict vegetarians should leave it out or use a vegetarian cheese. The list starts with mains and tarts, then sides, then desserts, and it assumes a sit-down dinner. It gives no recipes; the sources link to full recipes.
Why these items are on the list
- Nut roast. Listed in more than one roundup. One version comes with veggie gravy.
- Mushroom Wellington. Oh My Veggies calls it a little work but totally worth it for a special occasion, and plant based.
- Roasted butternut squash Wellington. Eat Simply lists it as the easy roasted butternut squash veggie Wellington among its ten Christmas dinner recipes.
- Chestnut, mushroom and cider pie. A main for vegetarians, with chestnuts, mushrooms and cider in the filling.
- Red onion tarte tatin. Woman & Home: cook the onions the day before, add pastry, and chill until baking.
- Vegetable and truffle tart. Woman & Home says it takes 45 minutes, most of it cooking time. Make it a day ahead and reheat.
- Spinach and mushroom filo tart. Woman & Home says prepare ahead and warm on the day; strict vegetarians should skip Parmesan.
- Lentil roast. Eat Simply's roundup of ten dishes says most can be made in advance.
- Wild mushroom and spinach lasagne. Woman & Home suggests it for Christmas Eve dinner, with a crisp green salad and garlic bread.
- Leek and dolcelatte tart. Woman & Home calls it the perfect Boxing Day lunch, equally good hot or at room temperature.
- Cauliflower cheese. Works as a side with the traditional trimmings, or on its own.
- Roasted Sicilian potatoes. Oh My Veggies says herbs, garlic, olives and raisins instead of plain mash give the potatoes more importance.
- Brussels sprout wild rice pilaf. Sliced sprouts, dried cherries and a sage dressing. Oh My Veggies calls it surprisingly simple.
- Browned butter mashed sweet potatoes. Oh My Veggies tops it with oat-pecan granola instead of the tired marshmallow.
- Herbed quinoa with roasted mushrooms. Volunteer to bring it. Oh My Veggies mentions fresh herbs, juicy mushrooms and crunchy pumpkin seeds.
- Goats' cheese, walnut and beetroot salad. No cooking required, so it leaves the oven free.
- Roasted chestnuts. Oh My Veggies calls it a forgotten tradition worth resurrecting; its simple recipe gets good results.
- Cranberry bread. Oh My Veggies uses a whole cup of leftover cranberry sauce.
- Vegan chocolate layer cake. Lisa's Kitchen says Christmas cakes needn't use dried fruit; this has chocolate filling and ganache, and is vegan.
- Olive oil almond cake. Lisa's Kitchen calls it a light, not-too-sweet alternative to the heavier desserts on the Christmas sideboard.
- Dark chocolate truffle tart. Mixed berries on a nutty teff flour crust. Lisa's Kitchen calls it easy to make.
- Make-ahead panforte. Chewy fruit and nut bites; Lisa's Kitchen says they can be prepared weeks or even months ahead.
Tick the main first, then the sides, and watch the make-ahead dishes drop off the list as you go. Share it with whoever's cooking alongside you so nobody brings the same dish twice.
When to use it
Useful in the weeks before Christmas, when you're settling the menu for a table with at least one vegetarian.