Vegetarian Christmas Recipes- Karina's Picks

Vegetarian + Vegan Holidaze...

Winter Solstice will soon be a turning point. Daylight will stretch, inch by inch. Or is that minute by wintry minute? In spirit, I suspect, it is both. Christmas is almost here, and the season celebrating rebirth, Light, and sliding into credit card debt is in full swing. Carolers are caroling. Gift wrappers are gift wrapping. Egg noggers are nogging. Latkes are sizzling. The shiny New Year crouches right around the corner.

And recipes are flooding my in-box for... ham. Roast beef. Rack of lamb. Wait a duck fat glistening minute, here.

Where are the vegetarian Christmas recipes?

I can't be the only person not forking a slab of meat on Christmas day. I can't be the single solitary soul who doesn't treasure bacon fat like it's a princess tiara. I'm not alone in my imaginings of a fresh and lively meatless Christmas dinner--- am I? (See lovely and fresh Quinoa Salad with pears above.)

Okay. Okay. I get it.

I honestly do. I realize I'm in the minority here. That to most folks celebrating the winter holidays in all their myriad and nuanced diversity, meat is often the centerpiece of celebration. I acknowledge that. I even accept that. Just because I've been a vegetarian 78% of my life doesn't mean I bury my head in the sand of denial. I cope. I deal.

I go with the flow.

And here's ten maybe a dozen of my favorite vegetarian and vegan recipes for Christmas. With love.

From me to you.

Vegetarian Christmas + Winter Holiday Recipes

Easy, beautiful entrees for a vegetarian Christmas include elegant vegan soups, creative quinoa salads and homespun casseroles. For starters-- here's a couple of tasty gluten-free appetizers and vegan snacks to get the peace party rollin'.

Nibble.

Almond Salad Spread and Garlic Sesame Crackers

This raw almond spread some might call a not-tuna salad. But if the term not-tuna offends you to the core as it did one Gluten-Free Goddess reader (perhaps due to its deep sea swimming reference to canned Charlie himself), tell your vegan guests it's a light and fresh nutty pâté. The gluten-free crackers speak for themselves. There won't be a crumb left.

Herbed Vegan Cream Cheese Spread and Gluten-Free Hazelnut Crackers

I can't tell you how many times I've made this vegan cream cheese spread since learning I could indulge in soy again. Choose a brand that uses non-GMO soybeans for their cream cheese. (Dairy-veg folks can use classic cream cheese). The crackers are made with hazelnut flour (if you cannot find hazelnut flour, try almond flour).

Make soup.

 Vegan Potato Leek Soup

How about a bowl of snowy white soup to warm you on a Christmas day? We cook our vegan dairy-free potato leek soup in our trusty old Crock Pot. It doesn't get any easier. And it frees you to do more important things. Like lure a certain someone to the mistletoe.

Vegetarian Mulligatawny with Jasmine Rice

Serve an orange crush of gorgeous flavors when you ladle out this complex, spicy vegan soup. Mulligatawny is especially hearty when you add a scoop of hot cooked jasmine rice to the bowl. Top it all off with chopped red onion, fresh cilantro, a dab of vegan sour cream or crisp shredded apple.

Pair this with a loaf of my grainy Pueblo Bread and you have a satisfying meal.

Or try my earlier classic vegan Mulligatawny here. And my Winter Solstice favorite- Pumpkin Sweet Potato recipe here.

...to go with soup? Bread.

Rustic, gluten-free grainy Pueblo Bread is perfect with soup. Or a big mug of hot steaming chai, slathered with your favorite vegan buttery spread.

Cornbread is a versatile, crowd-pleasing gluten-free bread. You can bake it in an iron skillet with green chiles and a dash of cinnamon, or divide it into these tasty pumpkin corn muffins. You can spike it Santa Fe style like these spicy, yummalicious corn muffins. Or gussy up the classic for the holidays with vanilla. You can bake it up super golden and moist as a Sweet Potato Cornbread. The choice is yours. So get creative.

Quinoa

Quinoa Salad with Lime and Mint

When all is said and done, I don't believe any soul would turn down a well made quinoa dish- vegetarian or not. Quinoa is a complete vegan protein, and can handle any flavors you toss at it. Go light and refreshing- an attractive idea after all the holiday indulgences, no?- with this wonderful Lime + Mint Quinoa Salad, or get snazzy with this Gorgeous Red Quinoa and Butternut number studded with festive cranberries (pictured above). Find out how to cook quinoa in a rice cooker, worry-free, and cruise more quinoa recipes here.

Roasted Potatoes

Vegetarian Italian Style Roasted Potatoes

Christmas means roasted potatoes for many. But what if you're shunning the gravy inducing roast? How about this vegan toss-together combo of potatoes, onion, garlic, tomatoes, olives and raisins--- with some hot pepper flakes thrown in to kick it up Sicilian style? One of my spur of the moment inspirations that we love.

Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage

Quinoa Stuffed Cabbage

I know stuffed cabbage is old school. Like. Really old school. But there's a reason some folks don't celebrate Christmas without it. I can't think of that reason at the moment, but I'm sure it's a good one. Maybe it's because stuffed cabbage is a delicious make-ahead comfort food well suited for a dark and snowy night. No beef or rice filling here. I've put a twist on this classic recipe using quinoa and roasted sweet potato instead. Vegan deliciousness.

Green Chile Stacked Enchilada Bake

Green Chile Stacked Enchilada Bake

For our last recipe idea I'm offering this super easy layered enchilada casserole. It's too good not to share, and often overlooked because of it's humble, wallflower nature. You can make it ahead of time and free up your day to go play with your new presents. Or take the dog for a romp in the snow. I use vegan cream cheese in the filling (but dairy eating vegetarians could use real cream cheese). It makes for a delightfully light and fluffy center that cools the spicy fire of the roasted chile peppers (you can make it mild as well).

For Christmas sweets and happy endings see my Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake. And my Gluten-Free Cookie Recipes. And, as always, browse my personal favorites here.

Wishing you and your family

a warm + bright holiday!