Please talk to me about a vegetarian Christmas

[misson]

Just that really. I admit that for me Christmas food does have meat and fish as a focal point. Will be doing all that plus vegetarian this year.

I would like to offer a meat free alternative to turkey that goes with all the (meat free) trimmings. Am also looking for meat free buffet ideas.

My main problem so far has been finding something that won't taste out of place with roasties, sprouts and breadsauce.

This is what we will be doing this year for veggie guests

www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/creamy-root-vegetable-and-chickpea-crumble/

And this
www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/gratin-of-potatoes-and-leeks-with-garlic-and-thyme/

Plus all the usual sides

Gin The Waitrose Wellington is a slice from a whole Wellington which is great when you only need to feed one person. You get two in the pack so in our house it's on the Sunday lunch rotation along with the cheese and leek plaits, country pies and occasionally a quorn roast.

Bumping this because it has loads of great ideas. Last Christmas I made the Quorn roast and a mushroom Wellington plus tonnes of veg side dishes etc and veg gravy. It was lush!

Last year I made a cauliflower cheese pithivier. The recipe was in the Tesco christmas magazine. I cheated loads, I used ready made pastry and cheese sauce. Even my meat loving FIL enjoyed it.
There is also a Nigel Slater recipe for roast butternut squash. You fry onions in butter and cinnamon then spread them over butternut quarters and roast the whole lot for about 45 minutes.

My DH is a life long vegetarian, the 'main' he requests every Christmas is homemade Yorkshire puddings. You can eat them with all the veg and trimmings and smother them in onion gravy!

Try BBC Good Food. There are lots of recipes on there that are vegetarian- www.bbcgoodfood.com

Also look in Sainsbury’s annual Christmas food catalog I think they have some decent vegetarian Christmas lunch and dinner options as well. It’s worth looking at all of the options.

I always do a creamy leek bake, it’s a Jamie Oliver recipe and is delicious. Anything by Delia is good too, love her veggie sausage rolls and caramelised onion and goat cheese tarts.
I have to say I absolutely hate mushrooms and it really is a pain as lots of veggie mains seem to be based around them. As long as you know your vegetarian likes them it’s fine, but just be certain because I simply couldn’t force them down, even at Christmas.

When I was vegetarian (for 13 years!) I always had meat substitutes like a Quorn roast with Linda McCartney sausages but if your guest doesn't like that then I noticed that M&S are offering a Mushroom Wellington; Parsnip and Camembert pithivier; Ricotta stacks; Butternut squash and sweet potato rosti- perhaps you could make your own version of one of those?!

It might be best to ask your sister for ideas of foods/meals that would suit? e.g. does your guest like blue/goat's cheese? mushrooms?

The COOK shop do a yummy frozen nut roast.

I know this is old & haven’t rtfl but friend of my DM has made a great parsnip & cashew nut loaf in the past- think it might be this one
Really good & I don’t even really like parsnips!!

@Thatwaslulu doesn't the onion go soggy?? I love the sound of that but can't find a recipe. :(

It's really great that you are thinking of your vegetarian relative! I love the thread :) Last year I made this vegan nut roast for Christmas dinner for my family (all veggies or semi-veggie) and will again this year: www.saga.co.uk/magazine/food/recipes/christmas/vegan-lentil-nutroast
It was easy and delicious. It is too much for one person, but the leftovers would be easy to store and reheat.

Lidl has really delicious but roasts.

Delia's parsnip roulade!

I'm a meat eater, but honestly wouldn't miss the meat in Christmas dinner. What sides do you usually make?