Once upon a time, Christmas Dinner was all about the turkey. Vegans were unheard of. Vegetarians were served a plate of, well, vegetables (dry, if the gravy contained meat juices). Dessert was probably a satsuma. How times have changed! As someone who became vegetarian a few years ago, I’m always on the look-out for new and interesting meat-free meal ideas. There’s no shortage of recipe inspiration out there, but Christmas can feel a bit daunting for non-carnivores. Food plays such a key role during the festive season. And most people associate Christmas dinner with a roast, pigs in blankets and a (suet) Christmas Pudding.
However, I’m happy to report that there are a huge range of alternatives, all of which are delicious and filling. As regular readers will know, I love my food, love Christmas, and really enjoy spending time cooking in my kitchen. It’s important for me to feel that I’m not missing out, by missing out meat. I also want my guests to be well fed too. So read on to discover my favourite collection of stress-free, tried-and-tested vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas. I promise they’ve all gone down a storm with vegetarians and committed carnivores alike!
Walnut and pistachio nut roast
Nut roasts have been unfairly maligned in years gone by. I admit that some basic versions can be dry and bland. But this recipe, courtesy of the Vegetarian Society, is one of my most recommended Christmas dinner ideas. The combination of roasted walnuts and pistachios creates a satisfying crunchy texture. And the creamy rosemary sauce is so moreish I always make extra. This recipe requires around 25 minutes prep, and about an hour-and-a-half cooking time. But there are no tricky processes. You basically fry, stir – and perhaps enjoy a festive sherry while it bakes!
Top tip: This nut roast is hard to resist, but do let it cool before cutting, in order to get perfect slices to serve.
Vegan wellington
If you’re keen to experiment with more upscale, elegant Christmas dinner ideas, this Vegan Wellington is hard to beat. It’s an adaptation of a recipe by French chef Alexis Gauthier, head chef at Gauthier Soho, which reopened as a 100% vegan restaurant in June 2021. And it’s a real showstopper for any festive feast.
As you’d expect from a recipe created by a leading chef and restaurateur, this dish does require some time and TLC. But it looks amazing and tastes even better – the combination of tortillas and puff pastry sheets is genius. Serve with a rich vegetable jus and lots of leafy green veg.
Top tip: For best results, plan ahead and refrigerate your Wellington overnight. If time is tight, however, you can put it in the freezer for two hours instead.
Lentil and nut stuffing balls
I’ve always loved stuffing. But as it’s usually used to stuff a roast’s cavity, I stopped eating it when I became a vegetarian. Then I discovered Good Housekeeping’s recipe for Lentil and Nut Stuffing Balls, and I haven’t looked back since. It’s such a versatile addition to any collection of Christmas dinner ideas. To be honest, I’d happily eat a plate of this for lunch at any time of the year. It’s super easy to prep and takes just 25-30 minutes to bake.
Top tip: For a fruity twist, add some finely chopped dried cranberries to your lentil mixture.
Luxury shredded Brussels sprouts
Brussels sprouts are the Marmite of vegetables. I’m most definitely Team Sprout! If you are too, I promise you’ll want to add this dish to your collection of vegetarian Christmas dinner ides.
“Side dishes can just be as much of a showstopper as your main,” notes Maryanne Hall, from Viva!’s Vegan Recipe Club, the source of this deliciousness. “The best accompaniments don’t just elevate the look of your festive table to the next level, but create an exciting addition of different textures and flavours for your guests to enjoy.”
For this dish, you simply slice, chop, shred, then cook in a frying pan or wok. The combination of pine nuts, lemon zest and breadcrumbs adds flavour and texture, while the white wine adds a touch of indulgence that’s perfect for the festive season.
Top tip: Cooking sprouts on the hob like this is quick and easy – and a clever hack if you’ve run out of oven space.
Roast potatoes
No round-up of Christmas dinner ideas – vegetarian or otherwise – would be complete without roast potatoes. If you’re a purist, keep things simple. Par-boil, drain, then roast using rapeseed oil for about 45 minutes. If you’re keen to ring the changes however, do try these alternatives, courtesy of The Humane League. The first involves adding garlic and rosemary to the roasting tin. The second involves…Marmite. I was apprehensive too the first time I tried this. But as with so much in life, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!
Top tip: Don’t stint on the extra ingredients. I would suggest at least two cloves of garlic (ideally more) and a large spoonful of Marmite. Make sure you mix and coat ingredients thoroughly and evenly.
Roast carrots and parsnips
Vegetables are so versatile. They are also so easy to transform with just a couple of hero ingredients. Delicious magazine’s recipe for sticky roast carrots and parsnips is a prime example. Peel and quarter your vegetables lengthways, place in a roasting tin, and cook for 25 minutes. Then you simply add a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a spoonful of soft brown sugar, and return to the oven until sticky and golden. So easy and so good.
Top tip: Sprinkle with toasted hazelnuts to add some texture and crunch.
Cranberry sauce
Cranberry sauce has become a staple at the Christmas dinner table. Most people think of it as the perfect accompaniment to roast turkey, but it complements so many vegetarian mains too.
This particular version, from Good Housekeeping magazine, conceals a boozy secret ingredient. Gin lovers rejoice! This extra-special cranberry sauce combines tart cranberries with caster sugar. You need do little more than stir and season to be rewarded with a divine-tasting, jewel-coloured sauce that elevates anything and everything – especially leftovers.
Top tip: Why not save time on the big day and make this up to two days ahead? To serve, you can thaw it in the fridge
Gravy
My final suggestion for delicious vegetarian Christmas dinner ideas is gravy. This version works really well with the nut roast and vegan Wellington recipes I’ve sourced. Unlike meat-based gravy, vegetarian incarnations are low-effort and super speedy to prep. With the right ingredients, they are full of flavour, too.
Top tip: Strain through a fine sieve to ensure a silky smooth texture.
Worried about what to buy a loved one this Christmas? Head on over to my other blogs including my Christmas gift guide for fitness lovers for bags of ideas!
