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Vegetarian Christmas Entertaining Ideas


Whether you observe Christmas or another religious or cultural holiday, or just an opportunity to take some time off work, this is a season for celebrating family, friends and — of course — food. With cherished traditional recipes and tantalizing displays of elegant dishes and treats, food plays an important role in our observance of Christmas, from a special family breakfast through to the snacks passed around during the day, and finally to a memorable dinner.

Over the years I've created treats and meals for my own loved ones at Christmas, and I'm so happy that they have become as cherished to themselves as to me. Friends and families of vegetarians such as myself often have to forgo or add to earlier Christmas food traditions out of necessity, but one of the purposes of my cooking for friends and family has been to show them that vegetarian food can be just as rewarding an experience on special occasions as it is for everyday eating. One of my greatest rewards is to find that they themselves have discovered that Christmas traditions can grow and change through time without any loss of flavor or delight.

I cannot serve my treats and dishes to you, my readers, as much as I would like to. But I hope that sharing the recipes with you will provide you with inspirations and ideas that will add to your own Christmas eating and entertaining experiences, and make your holidays a time of sharing wonderful food as much as sharing time with the most important people in your life. Most of all, I hope that each and everyone one of you have a very warm and blessed Christmas.

Treats & Desserts | Breakfast | Appetizers | Dinner Ideas

Check out these and other menu ideas on vegetarian Christmas menu ideas and in my 12 Make-Ahead Vegan Christmas Sweets



        Treats & Desserts

Nigella Lawson's Christmas Pavlova
Nigella's Christmas Pavlova

Like an enormous roasted marshmallow with a thick crispy caramelized-sugar exterior surrounding a light and creamy meringue, pavlovas have the same lumpy and carefree charm of appearance, sweetness and ease … or a charm that is actually improved by a jaunty slathering of whipped cream and a reckless scattering of fruit on top.

Christmas Rum Balls
Christmas Rum Balls

A Christmas classic, these rum balls disappear in moments once they're served. Somewhat like truffles, but with a smooth chocolate interior flavoured with crushed vanilla wafers and — of course — rum. A dark Jamaican rum will add extra intensity to the taste. Crushed hazelnuts or macadamias can be substituted for the vanilla wafers for a nuttier sensation.

Tropical Fruit Christmas Fruitcake
Tropical Christmas Fruitcake

Dark, rich, chewy and moist, this may be the best Christmas fruitcake you've ever had. Dried pineapples, lychees, mangoes, golden raisins and coconut, fresh cut citrus peels, and a splash of island rum — this fruitcake only improves with age. This year you can pass around a fresh and beautiful fruitcake instead of all the usual fruitcake jokes.

Tropical Christmas Steamed Pudding
Tropical Christmas Steamed Pudding

The plumpness and fresh vibrant flavors of dried tropical fruits are the star qualities of this steamed Christmas pudding. Any kind of dried fruit that strikes your fancy can be used, but a mixture of tropical fruits — mangoes, papayas, pineapples and bananas — will let you imagine you and your family are sitting on a sandy island beach at Christmas-time surrounded by warm tropical breezes.

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Filling and Ganache
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Filling and Ganache

Christmas cakes don't have to be made with dried fruits. Start a new tradition with this moist, rich and delicious layered chocolate cake with chocolate filling and ganache — and it's vegan too!

Santa's Panforte
Santa's Panforte

These little sweet and chewy bites of dried fruit and nut candy are a delicious addition to your holiday entertaining platter. Best of all this wholesome treat can be prepared weeks or even months ahead of time, as long as you can keep out of them yourself before Christmas.

Vegan Lemon Tart
Vegan Lemon Tart

This has become one of my all-time favorite go-to desserts to serve with almost any meal, just as elegant, pretty, smooth, custardy and lemony as a traditional French-style lemon tart but made entirely without eggs or dairy—and ridiculously easy to make.

Raw Cocoa Gingerbread Brownies
Raw Cocoa Gingerbread Brownies

If you're looking to get into the Christmas gingerbread spirit but don't want to over-indulge, these rich fudgy cocoa no-cook brownies made with fresh ginger and cinnamon are so good that you won't believe that they're healthy!

Fresh Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Icing
Fresh Gingerbread Cake with Lemon Icing

Gingerbread is a classic Christmas treat, and this delicious, sticky and moist gingerbread cake made with fresh ginger has plenty of zing to satisfy the traditionalists in the family while adding a modern sweet lemon icing for the bolder and more adventurous crowd.

Guinness Gingerbread Cake
Guinness Gingerbread Cake

This is another take on the classic gingerbread, this time a rich, moist, flavorful and not-too-sweet cake made with fresh ginger and dark Guinness stout!

Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart with Mixed Berries
Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart with Mixed Berries

This beautiful rich dark chocolate and berry tart is actually easy to make and features a soft nutty teff flour crust that sets off the chocolate and berries wonderfully — a crowning touch to any fine meal.

Olive Oil Almond Cake
Olive Oil Almond Cake

An olive oil and almond tea cake is a light and non-too-sweet alternative to the heavier, richer and sweeter desserts that are often found on the Christmas sideboard — simple, delicious and not too filling.

Not-So-Guilty Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
Not-So-Guilty Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Just as advertised, these sweet peanut butter and rice krispie balls coated with dark chocolate are not only an addictive reminder of the holiday treats you enjoyed as a child, but they're updated with quality ingredients to make them a guilt-free treat for adults.

Tahini Freezer Fudge
Tahini Freezer Fudge

Four ingredients, a saucepan and a wooden spoon are all you need to make this extraordinary fudge that tastes like a dark chocolate halva or, as my husband says, the best chocolate bar you'll ever eat. This is so good your guests will think you spent money at the most expensive chocolatier in town.

Vegan Chocolate-Coconut Butter Fudge with Dried Cherries
Vegan Chocolate-Coconut Butter Fudge with Dried Cherries

Maybe even less of a guilty treat, these pieces of refrigerator fudge made with coconut butter and Brain Octane oil are rich, creamy and healthy.

Creamy Chickpea Flour Peanut Butter Maple Fudge
Creamy Chickpea Flour Peanut Butter Maple Fudge

Another simple and healthy fudge idea for your side table — rich and creamy vegan maple fudge with the nutty flavors of toasted chickpea flour and sesame seeds.

4 Ingredient Raw Peanut Butter Chocolate Cups
4 Ingredient Raw Peanut Butter Chocolate Cups

Speaking of chocolate and peanut butter — and good-for-you ingredients — these peanut butter "cups" are far tastier than store-bought, but with only four ingredients they're almost as easy to make as to buy.

Cocoa Fruit Treats
Cocoa Fruit Treats

Naturally sweet, these no-bake cocoa treats with pistachios, dried fruit and a hint of chili are entirely guilt-free and incredibly easy to make. A great Christmas treat for when you think you've been over-indulging but can't resist the festive platter.

Italian Lemon Cornmeal Shortbread
Italian Lemon Cornmeal Shortbread

Kick up the classic holiday shortbread a few notches with this soft, melt-in-your-mouth lemony shortbread made with cornmeal and almond flour.

Miso Sesame Shortbread Cookies
Miso Sesame Shortbread Cookies

Sesame seeds on the outside of these light, soft and flaky sweet buttery cookies add an attractive contrast, and a touch of miso adds a hint of saltiness that actually enhances the sweetness of the maple syrup-sweetened shortbread.

Ginger Cashew Cookies
Ginger Cashew Cookies

Everyone loves ginger cookies at Christmas, and you'll love these moist, egg-free and flourless ones too, not least because they're so easy to make with only five healthy ingredients.

Quick & Easy Healthy Peanut Butter Balls
Quick & Easy Healthy Peanut Butter Balls

These no-bake and guilt-free little peanut butter balls are so easy to prepare that you can make them over and over again over the holidays, and you may need to once you see them flying off the plate.

Dark Chocolate Beetroot Fudge
Dark Chocolate Beetroot Fudge

There's usually no shortage of fudge around at Christmas for a quick treat, but there's no need to buy sugary storebought fudge when you can make your own healthy rich chocolate and walnut refrigerator fudge sweetened with dates and beets.


Eggnog & Rum Winter Spiced French Toast
Eggnog & Rum Winter Spiced French Toast

The perfect wake-up on a Christmas morning, the scent of eggnog combined with the gentle hints of rum and winter spices wafting through the kitchen might just give these breakfast treats priority over the presents under the tree this year.

Ginger Molasses Pancakes with Mixed Dried Fruit
Ginger Molasses Pancakes with Mixed Dried Fruit

These simple pancakes have the same festive flair as Christmas fruitcakes but with a much lighter, fluffier and fresher taste and texture. Perfect for serving up on a Christmas morning with some warmed maple syrup without having to wait around for the store-bought treats to be set out.

Rum & Ricotta Fritters
Rum & Ricotta Fritters

Christmas mornings are the perfect time to put on a pot of hot coffee and stir up a batch of these simple little rum and ricotta fritters — like little pieces of the fluffiest and most delectable pancakes you can imagine. Dusted with icing sugar or dipped in maple syrup or a warm spiced chocolate sauce, the memory of the scents and flavors will linger gloriously in your nose and mouth for hours.

Spiced Pumpkin Waffles
Spiced Pumpkin Waffles

These light and fluffy waffles practically spring out of the waffle iron and onto the plate. The heavenly aroma of baked pumpkin and spices dressed with a little warmed maple syrup makes the most fragrant and delicious Christmas breakfast imaginable. Best of all, the aroma lingers through the house for hours to keep the festive cheer in the air.

Apfelpfannkuchen (Baked German Apple Pancake)
Baked Apple Pancake

This soft and sweet baked apple pancake feels like a soufflé in the mouth with the wonderful flavors and aromas of brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. A delicious start to the day with a mug of hot coffee, it's good enough to serve as dessert or as a late-night treat with a mug of hot chocolate instead.

Indian-Style Fried Egg and Potato Cake
Indian-Style Fried Egg and Potato Cake

For hungry people who want a filling and nourishing breakfast to last them through the day until dinner, this hearty savory fried egg and potato cake with Indian seasonings will do just the trick. And the delicious aroma will linger in your kitchen for hours and keep you hungry for more.

Indian-Style Baked Eggs Florentine
Indian-Style Baked Eggs Florentine

An Indian-style update on the classic Eggs Florentine with homemade spiced creamed spinach, this is a simple, stunning and extraordinarily delicious breakfast.

Indian-Style Egg-Free Masala French Toast
Indian-Style Egg-Free Masala French Toast

If you have vegans to entertain for Christmas breakfast, they're sure to love this unique twist on classic French toast made with chickpea flour and seasoned with Indian masala spices — in fact, anyone vegan or otherwise will like this.

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Muffins
Gluten-Free Gingerbread Muffins

Bring the classic Christmas dessert flavor to the breakfast table with these simple, moist and gluten-free gingerbread muffins loaded with spice flavor.


Olive Cheese Balls
Olive Cheese Balls

Guests love little bites or nibbles in anticipation of the main course, and these plump green olives baked in a slightly spicy and crispy cheese pastry are perfect for this and any occasion.

Coleslaw Bites with Jalapeño Dip
Coleslaw Bites with Jalapeño Dip

How often do you see coleslaw on the Christmas dinner table? Elevate this ordinary offering with these sweet and savory golden fried coleslaw balls served with a creamy, tangy and zesty yogurt and jalapeño dip.

Herbed Marinated Mushrooms
Herbed Marinated Mushrooms

Anyone who likes mushrooms will love this mix of tender succulent mushrooms marinated in a delicious oil and vinegar marinade with fresh herbs — a terrific appetizer at any time of year!

Potato Patties Stuffed with Spiced Green Peas
Potato Patties Stuffed with Spiced Green Peas

Or "Aloo Matar Tikki", these soft mashed potato patties stuffed with spiced green peas and fried until golden brown are like the best savory appetizer you've ever had at an Indian restaurant, but better!

Vegetarian Samosa Cakes with Tamarind Chutney
Vegetarian Samosa Cakes with Tamarind Chutney

Or if those aren't the best savory potato appetizers you've ever had, these soft, savory fried potato and vegetable "samosa" cakes just might be!

Samosa-Style Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Samosa-Style Stuffed Baked Potatoes

If you want the flavor and sensation of samosas without the trouble of making pastry, try serving these spicy vegetable "samosas" baked in potato skins instead of deep-fried pastry.

Savory Indian Potato Cakes
Savory Indian Potato Cakes

For another delicious Indian potato appetizer experience, these little cakes are made with spiced mashed potatoes coated with chickpea flour and fried to a crispy golden crust.

Roasted Cauliflower Bites with Sriracha Sauce
Roasted Cauliflower Bites with Sriracha Sauce

For those of you with guests accustomed to watching the game with a platter of buffalo wings, let them try these roasted pieces of cauliflower tossed in a spicy sriracha and vinegar "buffalo" sauce.

Hot Popovers
Hot Popovers

Simple light and fluffy "egg-y" popovers are a single serving size version of the classic British Christmas Yorkshire Pudding bread. Slather with butter and sprinkle salt and pepper on top of a hot fresh cooked popover for an absolutely delicious dinner roll that will fly off the table — better make a couple of batches at least.

        Christmas Dinner Ideas

Mushroom Nut Roast in Golden Puff Pastry
Mushroom Nut Roast in Golden Puff Pastry

Rich, hearty, earthy and delicious, this gorgeous mushroom nut roast wrapped in a golden puff pastry is the centerpiece of any Christmas dinner, vegetarian or otherwise. Loaded with quinoa, different kinds of mushrooms and nuts, sun-dried tomatoes and plenty of spices and seasonings, it's extraordinarily nourishing and hearty as well.

Mushroom Bourguignon

It is often said that mushrooms are the meat of vegetarians, and after eating this mushroom bourguignon you just might be convinced yourself. Tender chunks of plump portobellos and chewy dried lobster mushrooms are simmered into a rich, thick and fragrant sauce highlighted by a robust red wine and served over a bed of steaming egg noodles. Even your carnivorous guests won't miss a thing.

Spicy Lentil Quinoa Nut Roast
Lentil Quinoa Nut Roast

This curried "meatloaf" made with lentils, quinoa, mushrooms and cashews is not only an attractive centerpiece for a vegetarian Christmas dinner, it's hearty enough to satisfy any appetite, vegetarian or otherwise. It might also be the healthiest and most nourishing Christmas dinner you've ever had.

Wild Rice and Kidney Bean No-Meat Loaf
Wild Rice and Kidney Bean No-Meat Loaf

This is another hearty no-meat "meatloaf" that will tantalize your guests with the aromas of baked red kidney beans, wild rice, sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, walnuts and herbs and spices, and fill them up too.

Savory Chickpea Loaf with Barbecue Glaze
Savory Chickpea Loaf with Barbecue Glaze

This hearty and nourishing chickpea loaf with rice, vegetables and mushrooms is a little more modern if your tastes in Christmas dining might run to a more contemporary feeling as it is glazed with a delicious tangy homemade barbecue sauce.

Indian-Style Samosa Potpie
Indian-Style Samosa Potpie

Savory pies on the holiday table are a terrific way to make an impression on the eyes, and this rich pie stuffed with a samosa-style potato, chickpea, spinach and vegetable filling in a flaky butter pie crust will make an amazed impression on the taste buds — and none of your guests will leave the table hungry.

Aloo Palak Paneer Pie
Aloo Palak Paneer Pie

Another savory centerpiece pie, this open pie combines classic spicy and tangy Indian flavors in a modern take on "aloo palak paneer" by baking a spiced spinach and paneer cheese filling in a mashed potato crust — this will disappear as soon as people see it.

Curried Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie with Portobello Mushroom Sauce
Curried Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie with Portobello Mushroom Sauce

A vegetarian take on the classic shepherd's pie comfort food made with lentils, vegetables, spinach and a light handful of curry seasonings topped with a light fluffy golden brown potato and sweet potato mash, all served with a savory portobello mushroom gravy.

Vegetarian Middle Eastern Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Vegetarian Middle Eastern Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

A no-meat take on traditional cabbage rolls, but stuffed with a Middle Eastern sytle mixture of lentils, rice, spices and herbs and cooked in a rich homemade tomato sauce.

Mushroom and Spinach Lasagne
Mushroom and Spinach Lasagne

Classic dishes and flavors, this time from Italy, this rich and sumptuous lasagne with creamy ricotta cheese, spinach and a zesty homemade tomato mushroom sauce may not be traditional for Christmas but makes a fine crowd pleaser at any time of year.

Scalloped Potatoes with Best-Ever Mushroom Sauce
Scalloped Potatoes with Best-Ever Mushroom Sauce

Scalloped potatoes are a tradition at many Christmas tables, and these soft, creamy and buttery potatoes get a special treatment worthy of the occasion with generous layers of a tangy and aromatic mushroom sauce that I maintain is simply the "best ever".

Cheese Potato Puff with Dried Mushrooms
Cheese Potato Puff with Dried Mushrooms

Everyone loves having mashed potatoes at the holiday dinner table, or at least my guests do. But even more they love mashed potatoes baked with cheese and mushrooms into a soft, rich and savory golden brown potato puff!

Brussels Sprouts and Mushroom Gratin with a Dijon Mornay Sauce
Brussels Sprouts and Mushroom Gratin with a Dijon Mornay Sauce

Don't just serve plain Brussels sprouts this Christmas — smother them in a rich, luscious Cheddar and Parmesan Mornay sauce with Dijon mustard and bake them into a delicious an unforgettable gratin.

Saffron Rice with Nuts and Dried Fruit
Saffron Rice with Nuts and Dried Fruit

In India, they call this "royal rice" and reserve it for holidays. And it deserves the name "royal" too. Although simple to make, it's an attractive and colorful saffron rice dish with aromatic spices and an assortment of dried fruits and nuts, and a centerpiece for a Christmas meal.

Chickpeas with White and Wild Rice, Cranberries and Spices
Chickpeas with White and Wild Rice, Cranberries and Spices

If you're looking for an elegant vegetarian salad for this year's dinner, you don't have to go any farther than this stunning warm salad of chickpeas, white and wild rice with spices and dried cranberries.

Bulgar Wheat with Mixed Mushrooms and Cilantro Chutney
Bulgar Wheat with Mixed Mushrooms and Cilantro Chutney

Contemporary Christmas dining tables will be graced with this simple but attractive and heavenly aromatic bulgur wheat and mushroom pilaf with an Indian cilantro chutney.

Tuscan Bean and Pasta Soup with Rosemary
Tuscan Bean and Pasta Soup with Rosemary

Fragrant and colorful, this simple but rich and flavorful bean and pasta soup will satisfy your guests in so many ways, from pleasing their tastes and filling their stomachs, to warming their bodies and cheering their souls. This soup is always a winner.

Roasted Butternut Squash & Cannellini Bean Soup with Spices and Toasted Pistachios
Roasted Butternut Squash & Cannellini Bean Soup

Butternut squash is a seasonal winter favorite, and this simple, warm and creamy soup made with sweet roasted butternut squash soup and puréed cannellini beans is spiced and then topped with toasted pistachios for a hearty, delicious and colorful starter for a lovely Christmas meal.

Classic Mulligatawny Soup
Classic Mulligatawny Soup

Around my house, a classic holiday soup is a classic Indian mulligatawny soup — light, hot, sweet and sour, I think this is an Indian dish that I've perfected, and my guests agree.

Quinoa Soup with Beets and Fresh Dill
Quinoa Soup with Beets and Fresh Dill

This seasonal and spicy beetroot and quinoa soup has all the colors of Christmas, especially if you top off a warm bowl with a dollop of sour cream. Warming, nourishing and earthy, this soup will set the stage for a gorgeous and satisfying meal.

Cassoulet with Bread Topping
Vegetarian Cassoulet with Bread Topping

An updated vegetarian take on a classic French winter staple, this rich and savory baked bean and vegetable casserole with dried herbs and a baked bread and Parmesan cheese topping makes for a delicious side dish but is also filling and hearty enough for a main course.

Homemade Creamed Corn
Homemade Creamed Corn

Another fixture of holiday meals, creamed corn is so much creamier and tastier when you make it yourself at home, and it's very easy too.

Curried Indian Vegetable Soup
Curried Vegetable Soup

This Indian-style vegetable soup has long been one of my very favorite soups to serve to friends and families on special occasions. Healthy, but most importantly delicious, cooked fresh vegetables seasoned with Indian spices bursts with an astonishing array of flavors in one bowl. Your guests may just want to fill up on this before even starting the main course.

Thai-Style Coconut and Roasted Carrot Soup
Thai-Style Coconut and Roasted Carrot Soup

A Thai-style soup might be a little unusual at the Christmas table but this creamy soup takes advantage of the sweet flavor of roasted carrots and combines this with fragrant Thai seasonings.

Saag Aloo (Spinach and Potato Curry)
Saag Aloo (Spinach and Potato Curry)

Potatoes gently baked and pan-fried until golden, then simmered with aromatic spices, lemon, tomato and luscious fresh spinach. This classic curry is one of my most popular recipes year round, but it makes an especially tantalizing potato side dish in a large Indian-themed festive dinner.

Mango Lime Chili Salad
Mango Lime Chili Salad

This might seem like a different kind of salad to serve at Christmas, but if you are entertaining with spicy foods, then nothing can beat this cooling, refreshing and simple side salad of sweet chunks of fresh mango tossed with tart lime juice — it's a very attractive salad to serve as well.

Curried Red Kidney Beans with Paneer (Paneer Rajma)
Curried Red Kidney Beans with Paneer

Looking for a spectacular Indian main course to try for a change this Christmas? This colorful red kidney bean chili-style curry served with tender pieces of fried paneer cheese is rich, earthy, spicy and incredibly flavorful, and never fails to blow people away.

6 comments:

  1. Oh, just reading this makes me hungry - and so ready for Christmas lunch! :)

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  2. The mushroom nut roast would make a beautiful Christmas centrepiece, I think we'll try it for ours!

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  3. I am drooling! This is really comfort food! I will try them all...Thanks!

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  4. Lovely post of so much generous sentiment and good food - hope your festive season will be full of warmth and light, of good food and good company

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  5. Every item looks so wonderful that I want to try them; thank you for sharing these.
    Rita

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  6. Great blog post! Great blog! Wonderful ideas! Nice pics, too!

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