By Marrissa Ballard | Co-Editor-in-Chief
For vegetarians, the holiday season can present a unique challenge. If you think of the major holidays and the foods that we associate with them, the central piece is usually some sort of meat. As we get closer to Thanksgiving, vegans and vegetarians alike will probably have to sit at a table and stare at a giant cooked turkey. To make it even more awkward, Thanksgiving is pretty much a strictly food-based holiday; there are no presents or other elements to distract from the giant feast. Which makes sense, since the point of Thanksgiving seems to be to eat until you’re ready to explode and then dissolve into a food coma.
However, fret not fellow veggie-lovers because we have the internet, which is is full of recipes that can make Thanksgiving way more vegan and vegetarian friendly. Here is a list of dishes, videos, and recipes to use for your delicious and meat-free meal this holiday.
Thanksgiving Cauliflower
You may have seen this video floating around on Facebook the past few days, but just take another look at this gorgeous roast cauliflower. The recipe calls for butter, but if you’re dairy free you can easily substitute that for oil or even vegan butter. (I recommend Earth Balance, which is my favorite dairy-free spread.) The best thing about using cauliflower is that it really soaks up the flavors, and can taste quite a bit like chicken if cooked and seasoned correctly. If you’re looking for a new Thanksgiving centerpiece, this dish would be perfect for the table.
Green Bean Casserole
Alright, I’ll admit it here: when I stopped by Miley’s famous Thanksgiving dinner last week, I pretty much took half of the platter of green bean casserole. What can I say? It’s creamy, delicious, and has those addicting crunchy onions on top. I tend to avoid heavy creams just as a rule, but if you like using dairy you can feel free to make this with milk or cream of mushroom soup. If a recipe calls for chicken stock, just substitute that with veggie stock. If you’re a vegan, this can seem like a no-go dish for you, but there are recipes online on how to make a creamy, dairy-free version. You can check out the video below or the recipe here for the vegan version. As a bonus, this recipe is also perfect for anyone who is gluten-free.
Garlic Cheesy Mashed Potatoes
Now, we all know that mashed potatoes are a beloved classic. I actually will eat a potato in pretty much any way that it can be cooked, but maybe that’s just me. Unfortunately, this recipe is not for the vegans out there as it contains Parmesan cheese. For all the cheese lovers out there, this recipe will upgrade your potatoes from humble side dish to star of the show. Simply skip the cheese and use almond milk or vegan butter for a vegan version.
Vegan Thanksgiving Roast
This last one might seem difficult, but it’s the perfect dish to replace the giant turkey on the table. Stuffed with gravy, veggies, and spices, this roast will fulfill any holiday food craving. I’m linking another video here from hot for food, which is a vegan YouTube channel based in Canada. If you’re a vegan or vegetarian, I highly suggest follow them as their recipes are seriously amazing. This one might call for a more developed cook, but sometimes the best part of cooking is kind of stumbling through it until you reach something delicious. I would recommend tag-teaming this one with another chef if possible.
With these dishes on your table, no one can say your feast is lacking. I would recommend adding some other classics to the line-up, such as sweet potato mash, biscuits, salad, and mixed veggies. With all of that combined, you’ll have the perfect vegetarian (or vegan) Thanksgiving meal.
