10 Ways You Can Enjoy An Entirely Vegan Holiday Season

The winter holidays can be a rough time for vegans, as many holiday foods, treats, and traditional recipes consist of dairy and meat. This does not mean that the average vegan can't enjoy delicious food during this festive time of year, though. The world of vegan cuisine has changed so much over the last few years — from a wider range of meat and dairy alternatives to rethinking how traditional meals are made from a vegan's point of view. In fact, in a 2020 YouGov poll, a majority of Americans rated potatoes as their favorite holiday dish above meats like turkey and ham — both roasted and mashed.

New foods have been created and cooking replacements have been rediscovered that make vegan cooking much easier. Jackfruit, for example, has been found to be one of the top meat substitutes, according to BBC Good Food. Its texture and versatility in flavor make it a great alternative to replace shredded meat in dishes like tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, and more. There are even vegan replacements for eggs in baking, from applesauce and bananas all the way to aquafaba and xanthan gum. Essentially, there is more than one way to celebrate the winter season with food. Vegans deserve delicious dishes to treat themselves to while celebrating the end of the year.

Planning meals for the holiday season means figuring out what to serve as the main course. For vegans trying to replicate a traditional Christmas or holiday feast, this means coming up with a protein-rich dish. It's often thought that vegetables are not as protein-rich as meat, or that vegan diets are unbalanced. However, there are actually many plants that can fill the gaps that vegan diets remove.

According to Healthline, produce like beans, lentils, broccoli, spinach and many more are full of protein and vital nutrients. There are also products like seitan, a wheat gluten-based food that mimics the texture of meat while also being one of the highest sources of protein. As we've noted, the world of meat replacements has expanded quite a lot. Brands like Beyond Burger, Impossible Foods, MorningStar, and others create favored meat alternatives that are easy to use as meat replacements (via Pop Science). For any upcoming holiday festivities, the difficulty will be to decide what type of dish to make or replicate.

Though it is traditional to roast a large piece of meat for holiday feasts, an equally flavorful aspect of the meal are the vegetables. To fill your kitchen with delicious smells and incredible flavors, roasted vegetables are a great vegan alternative that can act as delicious sides or main courses.

For many vegetables, roasting in the oven or in a hot pan is a great way to make them taste 10 times as flavorful as regular steaming or boiling. The heat cooks the vegetables, caramelizes, and toasts the outside edges, all while keeping a majority of their vitamins and nutrients, according to dietician Sharon Palmer. The beauty of roasting vegetables is that this technique removes excess dairy products such as butter to get great flavor. Roasted Vegetable Panzanella is a recipe showcasing this by roasting squash, zucchini, and tomatoes to maximize flavor, just by using simple ingredients like olive oil, salt, and pepper.

There are also many vegetables that when used in recipes can often feel as filling or delicious as meat. Mushrooms, for instance, have great meaty flavor and texture and are a versatile ingredient with a distinct richness (via Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development). Cabbage steaks are also great when cooked on high heat on an open flame, rivaling steaks on the grill with great char flavor and flavorful seasonings. Roasting these can tie in a meat-type texture into your meal, with the ease and tastiness of just the vegetables and seasonings.

Anyone that loves hosting has seen or taken part in arranging a charcuterie board — whether it's full of smoked meats, sliced cheeses, or just a veggie platter. Many charcuterie boards include items that are inedible for vegans. With alternatives in mind and knowing the elements of an ideal arrangement, you can create a vegan charcuterie plate that will satisfy you and your guests and get the dining experience started.

According to Shannon Shipman, there are five crucial elements needed to create a balanced charcuterie board: cheese, sweet, savory, meat, and bread. There are many food brands making vegan cheeses and meat substitutes. Even some you can find at your local Aldi, according to Make It Dairy Free. These elements are also typically the biggest, anything from a circle or wedge of cashew cheddar or a link of vegan salami. On the plate, these items will be a focal point around which to arrange the other elements, including crackers or slices of bread.

To balance out the rest of the plate with the sweet and savory, this is where you can get creative with flavors, colors, and textures. To bring in the savory you can add a bowl of olives or dip. A shallow bowl of hummus or baba ganoush goes great with charcuterie elements and is delicious spread on bread and other dippable vegetables. For sweet, try your hand at making easy candied walnuts, which play up both sweet and savory flavors.

If you happen to be invited to a few holiday parties or potlucks this year, you'll want to have something tasty to bring. The best advice for vegans? Create delectable sides that stand out as much as the main course.

There are a few ways to go about choosing the best side dish to make. If you know what others are making, you can plan for your side to complete the meal or at least pair well. There are several elements to choosing the right side dish, according to Eat at Home. This might include adding some needed nutritional elements like vegetables, or something with a different texture than everything else at the table.

At your own feast, a stunning side that can easily be as tempting as a main is risotto. The creamy rice dish is a savory element to the meal but typically uses chicken broth, cheese, and butter. A vegan version of this rice dish calls for miso broth, which can elevate the flavor of the dish. Another great spin is sweet potatoes, typically baked in butter and sugar with marshmallows. For vegans, you can bake with olive oil or vegan butter, and for additional flavor, try spiking with a nutty liqueur such as Rivulet. This liqueur will add a subtle pecan flavor that will enhance the sweetness and flavor of the potatoes.

That's a real question — what's not to love about soup? According to McCaffrey's Food Markets, there's plenty to love about this meal, from its versatility in flavors and ingredients, how easy it is to make, to its durability in leftover form. Soups are also a great vehicle for eating vegetables — both vegetables that can be both aromatic elements and main ingredients. Making soup over the holidays is a great way to utilize lots of leftover vegetables or produce in your fridge, even if you're having a cozy hangout with friends or family. Vegans especially should take advantage of a meal that is excellent at adjusting for dietary restrictions.

Often, soups showcase lots of non-vegan ingredients, such as butter, cream, or animal products. However, there are plenty of recipes that are naturally vegan or have room to make adjustments. One replacement ingredient for something like milk or cream is coconut milk. A creamy pumpkin soup, for example, utilizes coconut milk and miso paste to create a thicker consistency. This recipe also encourages having this soup with some thick slices of bread for dipping, according to recipe developer Miriam Hahn. Another soup that isn't afraid to utilize all the extra veggies in your kitchen is a white bean and kale soup. To thicken the soup, the recipe calls to puree a few cups of the finished soup, then add the pureed mixture back in — another way to avoid dairy!

Making vegan food often means finding alternative ways to replace dairy or animal products in traditional recipes. With the right tips and tricks you can do the same thing with traditional holiday meals — or better yet, transform them into something delicious.

One way to transform your holiday meals for vegans is to reconceptualize the traditional elements into something new and different. Some of the most classic American Christmas dishes include turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole (via Instacart). While there are ways to substitute ingredients in these meals, a better way is to rethink these staple dishes. A vegan shepherd's pie is an excellent example — a combination of a casserole, "meat" gravy, and mashed potatoes all in one dish.

These dishes don't have to be the star either; side dishes are equally as beloved and offer plenty of space to experiment. A tart cranberry relish is a fun spin on a classic holiday side dish that is so easy to put together with the help of a food processor. The relish will complement other savory flavors perfectly.

Desserts seem to be the song of the season for the winter holidays. We all love to indulge in cookies and candies. For vegans with a sweet tooth, there are plenty of name brands that offer sugary treats within their dietary restrictions. Thrillist notes the Lindt 70% cacao bar is vegan, making it great for snacking or using in homemade desserts. There are also plenty of brands that offer vegan options over their wide array of products, from gummy or fruit candy to peanut butter cups and caramels (via Healthline). To get into the spirit of the season, however, sometimes the best food to enjoy is homemade.

Nothing says Christmas like sugar cookies, and for vegans, these seriously yummy sugar cookies are easier to substitute than you think. Regular butter can be subbed with a vegan version, and there are plenty of egg alternatives as mentioned previously. These cookies can either be rolled or cut out with cookie cutters and finished off with your topping of choice. An alternate cookie recipe that is a bit more adult is for homemade biscotti. The egg can be substituted with aquafaba, soy milk, or coconut oil, making the cookie delicious and perfect for dunking in your morning coffee or (vegan) hot cocoa.

Homemade gifts for the holiday season don't have to be difficult or tiresome. If you're trying to think of something to give or share, start in your kitchen. For vegans especially, a friendly treat that will make a lasting impression is homemade jelly or jam. Not only are most recipes easy to make, but you can also pair these with a delicious assortment of vegan-friendly bread and crackers — maybe even match it with a vegan charcuterie plate.

Chia seeds are a great vegan ingredient to achieve jam's ideal texture. As Miriam Hahn tells Mashed, chia seeds "offer fiber, plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids." In this recipe, any fruit can be used alongside the chia seeds, and you can alternate the citrus of choice to complement the fruit you choose. If you prefer butter without dairy, try making apple butter in a crockpot. The simple mixture of apples, brown sugar, and seasonings cook for hours in the slow cooker and you end up with a warm, comforting pot of goodness, able to be pureed and stowed in jars. This butter is great on toasted bread, which you can pair with the gift as long as the bread is vegan. Treehugger notes that there are many types of vegan bread, but it's best to look for sneaky ingredients such as casein, whey, ghee, and others that might be present.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of winter is that it hosts an array of holidays that are celebrated by different people and different cultures all around the world. With these different celebrations come a wide range of traditional dishes in an assortment of flavors. For vegans looking for a fun way to spruce up their holiday hosting, there are plenty of festive dishes that are dairy-free or prepared with meat alternatives.

Tamales are a celebratory addition to any meal and are popular during the holidays in countries like Costa Rica and Mexico. Every iteration can change just based on your family's recipe, according to Fluent in 3 Months. This treat can host any number of flavorful additions, some even without meat. While the traditional tamales de rajas does include cheese, there are many vegan cheese or cheese substitutes you can use to still make a tasty treat.

Some other crowd-friendly dishes are typically vegan friendly, including latkes which are often made during Hanukkah. This recipe offers a delicious snack that you can pair with a wide array of dips or toppings, from hummus and applesauce to soup and salad. And though it's often joked about the odd American creation of the fruitcake, there are even vegan-friendly ways of making holiday fruitcake, including tofu. Though this version might not have the durability to withstand years in the cabinet like a typical fruitcake.

There are several types of drinks to have during the winter season. Especially around the holidays, eggnog is a popular drink synonymous with Christmas. Coffee is known for its powerful caffeine and soothing, rich taste. However, unless you drink it black, oftentimes coffee is paired with a creamer of some type. During the winter holidays, an alternative to coffee that will satisfy both vegans and non-vegans is tea.

Tea is great to drink especially during the colder months because of its health benefits. Particularly with consistent intake, there are studies that show that tea can have lasting effects on the body, from boosting the immune and digestive systems to fighting off inflammation and lethargy (via Wise Ape Tea Co.). You can also gain boosts of energy from caffeine, though, unlike coffee, the caffeine in tea burns slowly. This means it lasts longer in the body, giving you energy throughout the day. Great for cold mornings with lots of snow to shovel.

There is a world of different teas to try, great for vegans especially as dairy products are mostly excluded. Many tea types also go well with citrus and honey, such as chamomile, which is great for flavor as well as essential vitamins (via NDTV Food). There are some exceptions, however, including teas like masala chai with delicious warm spices like cinnamon, clove, and cardamom. These are typically made with milk warmed in a pot with tea bags and spices, however, you can simply substitute with your dairy-free milk of choice.