Christmas Day - evening vegan snacks

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

We eat Christmas lunch mid afternoon. So Christmas Day evening we have a cheeseboard, turkey sandwiches for anyone who wants something a bit more substantial. Mince pies, Christmas cake and of course chocolate if people want something sweet. Grapes and satsumas (and other fruit) available as required.
We've invited a friend and her son to join us for Christmas Day evening. They declined lunch but happy to have company in the evening. He is vegan. Am thinking maybe a grazing table would work, could still have a small cheese platter as part of that (I believe vegan cheese isn't that great for crackers?)
Fruit ok anyway. I'm thinking dips which are naturally vegan (eg humus and crudités, aubergine or artichoke dips which I can make ahead) and things like cherry tomatoes - but how can I make it more substantial, whilst as easy as cheese and biscuits but vegan?
I'll make a vegan cake which can be eaten by all and keep the mince pies and Christmas cake for Boxing Day. I'll make sure we have some vegan chocolate (actually would probably be quite easy to make vegan Rocky road).
I'm not going to worry about drinks, I have a friend who is vegan and she's always happy to bring her own (but will happily drink any Prosecco without asking too many questions!)
I know it's still October but I have a heavy couple of months ahead so want to get my planning done while I have some free time.

Ideally, things which would appeal to everyone to reduce prep, and not embarrass vegan guest.
Thank you

Sainsbury’s. They have lots of vegan crisps made out of chick peas and vegetables which are pretty nice.

Veggie samosas and onion Bhajis. These still taste great once cold.

I’d go for a mezze type thing - falafels, stuffed sweet peppers, hummus, pitas, baba ganoush. You can buy it all ready made and just set it out on the day.

Nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, mini poppadoms, falafel, hummus, tortillas, carrot sticks?

Crisps, crudités and dips are all easily vegan. Then perhaps bread, crackers and a couple of vegan pâtés as an alternative to cheese. Vegan sausage rolls are everywhere at Christmas - or just go for Linda McCartney.

You can get vegan cheeses that work with crackers. Not the Violife plasticy types ones but often the nut based ones work well. I like Nutcrafter Creamery personally and could happily demolish with crackers.

I second Linda macartny sausage rolls they puff up best if you cook them directly on the oven rack.

We do crisps and strangely the wheat crunches in smoky bacon flavour are vegan.

Hummus and veg sticks plus flat bread dips.

Olives.

Good crusty bread with balsamic and olive oil.

Another thing that goes down well are vegan scones with vegan butter and jam.

I make blonde and dark brownies. Also vegan banana bread with thick brown sugar coating.

Sweet treats I make peanut brittle and if you throw in bicarbonate it goes fluffy before it sets.

Cheese straws made with vegan cheese are also nice as it can take the strong flavour.

I second onion Baji and vegan samosa.

Wow, so many suggestions already, thank you so much

Don't do a grazing table, as lots of people don't want different foods touching each other and it's a problem for people with allergies/intolerances/special diets like veganism.

If you want to make a vegan dip, this is lovely, easy and quick to make. Mushroom and walnut dip. itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/vegan-mushroom-walnut-pate/ Can be made well in advance and frozen.

Pate, not dip. Doh.

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g

Don't do a grazing table, as lots of people don't want different foods touching each other and it's a problem for people with allergies/intolerances/special diets like veganism.

If you want to make a vegan dip, this is lovely, easy and quick to make. Mushroom and walnut dip. itdoesnttastelikechicken.com/vegan-mushroom-walnut-pate/ Can be made well in advance and frozen.

That pate sounds lovely, thank you, and perfect for everyone.

I was thinking I'd do a vegan grazing table, with cheeses separated & different serving knives but good point.

We get our vegan cheese for Christmas from here lafauxmagerie.com/
Maybe get a couple of cheeses for crackers, then we'd have houmous, olives, stuffed vine leaves, posh crisps, maybe some vegan meatballs and sliced sausages.

Some of the vegan spreadable 'cheese' is fantastic on crackers or oatcakes, and there's an Applewood Smoked 'cheese' that I bought in Tesco that is absolutely gorgeous.

I second falafels, hummus and flatbreads, and fattoush is a salad that everyone (or nearly everyone!) would like. I can give you an easy recipe for that if you like.

Good luck, it's very kind of you to go to the effort - we're going to the ILs and I've been asked to bring my own food!

Plus - there are vegan mince pies! I'm eating one right now. This one is from Co-op but loads do them.

New potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and onions add a few cherry tomatoes and roast them.

Rather than dips for communal sharing, which I’d be wary of these days, I’d do things that were individual portions, things such as mini quiches, vegan cocktail sausages, falafel, vol au vents.

For fillings I’d use things such as caponata, aubergine purée, caramelised onions, sautéed leeks, sautéed mushrooms etc.

I might add a couple of hearty salads too, Waldorf or chickpea and beetroot or mixed bean salad.

Quite a lot of shop-bought pastry is vegan. Watch out for palm oil though. Booja booja chocolates are fantastic and they are vegan.

What a very kind and thoughtful and organised hostess you are!

Thank you all so much, really helpful

Rather than dips for communal sharing, which I’d be wary of these days, I’d do things that were individual portions, things such as mini quiches, vegan cocktail sausages, falafel, vol au vents.

I'd serve the dips in some toasted pitta rounds I think so individual. Quiche would be lovely, can you recommend any vegan versions please?

@Yummypumpkin

What a very kind and thoughtful and organised hostess you are!

Ah that's nice thank you but I've been 'doing' Christmas for several decades and my top tip is to plan early! As it happens I don't have much spare time over the next couple of months so the early organisation is essential, especially for a plant based supper . I am ok at cooking vegan meals, have a few vegan friends but our traditional Christmas cheeseboard vegan replacement is a bit of a challenge!

@CarrieMoonbeams

Some of the vegan spreadable 'cheese' is fantastic on crackers or oatcakes, and there's an Applewood Smoked 'cheese' that I bought in Tesco that is absolutely gorgeous.

I second falafels, hummus and flatbreads, and fattoush is a salad that everyone (or nearly everyone!) would like. I can give you an easy recipe for that if you like.

Good luck, it's very kind of you to go to the effort - we're going to the ILs and I've been asked to bring my own food!

Thank you - fattoush recipe would be great thanks.

I made this quiche last week at a buffet and it went down really well. I used caramelised onions under the quiche custard, and sliced tomatoes on the top. For the cheese I used violife mature and applewood avirtualvegan.com/vegan-quiche/

@RockingMyFiftiesNot, No worries. I adapted this myself from a BBC Good Food recipe and it's always well received.

Fattoush:
• Half a pack of cherry tomatoes, quartered
• Third of a large cucumber, de-seeded and sliced
• Half a red onion, chopped finely
• 2 Romaine lettuce, shredded
• Handful of fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
• Handful of fresh parsley leaves, roughly chopped
• Two Pitta breads, sprinkled with soy sauce (not very authentic but adds the right saltiness!), grilled and torn into little pieces.

For the dressing:
• Tsp of finely chopped garlic (I use frozen)
• 2 tbsp of red wine vinegar
• One tbsp of olive oil
• A good squeeze of lemon juice
• A pinch of chilli seeds

Mix everything from the first part together except the bread. Just before serving, add the dressing and the bread, mix well.

Thank you @CarrieMoonbeams

Be careful if you are thinking of ordering from Nutcrafter Creamery.

Last time I ordered from their website they didn’t send the order and didn’t reply to calls, emails or social media posts.