To tell newly vegan guest to bring their own dish on Christmas Day?

[GunpowderGelatine]

I'm hosting Christmas day at my house this year, not something I've done in ages. There's ten of us, including the kids, which is a great number - my plan, like every year I cook, is to order M&S food and pick it up on Christmas Eve then just bung it all in the oven and make some homemade gravy. I usually get a pork joint as I'm not a turkey fan, but will also be getting a turkey joint for my guests. I'm not usually the type to stress about Christmas dinner (it's only a roast after all!) but I also want it to be as simple as possible. One of my guests has declared they are now vegan. Which is a bit of a PITA for dinner if I'm honest as I'll have to sort a vegan main, gravy, dessert etc. I also have a nut allergy sufferer in the group which excludes quite a lot of vegan options as mains.

WIBU to ask the newly vegan guest to bring their own dish on the day or is that really rude? I've kind of planned the food around the size of my oven/hob and could do without the added stuff having to go in it (don't mind warming something up though)?

OP, for the starter, forget about this tomato soup. When you’re in M&S, just buy some vegan mozzarella, basil leaves and figs. That’s it. Quarter the figs, slice the mozzarella and toss together with the basil leaves with a balsamic, olive oil and honey dressing and black pepper. Done. I’m not vegan, but I don’t know why people get so thrown by the the concept if “vegan food” No need for a hoo haa about this at all.

honey dressing

Honey isn't vegan.

Oh ok (is it not)? Well just use balsamic and olive oil then?

caranconnor thankyou

No, honey is a by product of bees. So not vegan.

I think that you have been given five weeks warning so I think you should at least try to cater for them.

to some vegan honey is taking bees belongings.

I don't think it's very nice. I think you could find something pre-prepared, just like you're doing for everyone else.

It seems a bit mean tbh. Maybe just tell this guest that you cba catering for them and hope they'll relieve you of a problem and go elsewhere?

The OP is going to cater for them.

To be honest I'd just buy some kind of vegan burger and bung it in the oven, wont take up much space

I used to assume that vegan desserts would be terrible but I've been getting a slice of various vegan cakes when visiting the local organic/low waste shop and its been bloody lovely every time.

And Christmas pud has to be served with decent custard made with eggs and cream.

It patently doesn’t. The vegan in our house has Birds custard made with soya milk and the rest of us have brandy butter. No way am I pissing about making custard from scratch on Christmas Day.

Buy her a ready meal. Ask her in advance what she would like.

Alpro soya custard is to die for.

Also, in M&S, you can buy roast potatoes done in olive oil ready to go, plus the ready made parsnips and carrots and vegan gravy. You could do roast sprouts with cranberries so they feel more substantial. I’m not vegan, but I’m vegetarian and I’d be absolutely fine with that. The veggies are the best bit. If you don’t eat meat, you don’t need a meat substitute.

A vegan stew is so bloody easy to do and will taste even better if you make it in advance. It can be a side dish for the meat eaters. A vegan desert is equally easy.....fruit? Say pears poached in red wine as an example or bananas cooked in orange juice and rum with a caramelised nutty topping, again the non vegans will probably love it. It is no big deal to cater for friends surely. Why invite a person if you are unwilling to provide a suitable meal?
This response comes from someone who thinks vegans are totally mad.

Serve vegan gravy and they can have all the vegetables, cranberry sauce, roast potatoes, etc. You can make Yorkshire puddings with soya milk, it tastes the same.

Christmas pudding with veggie suet and soya milk custard. Sorted.

You can make Yorkshire puddings with soya milk, it tastes the same.

Don’t they have egg in?

Just google “festive vegan desserts” - there will be thousands of things!

I think you need to cater for them. It will make them feel excluded if you ask them to bring their own.

@PurpleDaisies there are loads of vegan Yorkshire Pudding recipes without egg. I would have to say that I dont think theyvare quite as good as normal ones as they tend to be a bit denser but they are certainly acceptable.
My swert vegan pancake recipe on the other hand is nicer than regular ones. I used to make separate for my multi allergic chikd but the rest of the family now ask for the vegan version too.

I think you should be honest. 'I invited you for dinner but I don't want to make the effort to cook for you because it's too much of a pain in the arse for me.'

You probably won't see her at all, then. She'll find a more accommodating host or feast alone.

Can't the vegan have what you're having without the meat and a nut roast done in the microwave or whatever. I'm assuming the nut allergy is that bad it can't share space in the main oven? Regarding the pud. What you're having without cream/custard. Simples