Vegetarian meals for Xmas

[RosettaStormer]

I am having a bit of a meltdown trying to think of vegetarian meals to cook over Xmas that don't contain onions and aren't laboriously complicated to make. I have DD's boyfriend coming who I have never met. She is veggie and he doesn't eat onions! Help! He isn't arriving till the 27th so will have nut roast for Xmas lunch.

My DP is vegetarian and gave up eating onions a couple of years ago as it gives him acid reflux so I feel your pain. We still cook the same vegetarian meals we did before, we just leave the onions out. If you want to sub the onions for something (the onions enhance the flavour in my opinion, they aren't generally critical to a dish) you could sub with celeriac or celery as they are oniony. To be honest I've missed onions so much I've started sneakily adding onion granules of late to dishes and DP has not yet noticed! Unami stock is also a good way to get the same Unami flavour you'd get from an onion. You could crumble one in. Kallo do one or you can buy a paste.

We do cheesey veg pasta which goes perfect on xmas dinner.

If you want something 'festive' the Asda plant based roast wreath is very nice too.

It's not for Xmas lunch, more the period between and NY.

Mushroom Wellington , can be made in advance and frozen.

Does your dd prefer meat substitute type meals or veg based meals or both?

do what my family are doing and prepare as normal, people can just leave what they won’t eat 😂😂

That doesn't work does it? Are you suggesting I cook meat for the vegetarian and give the person who can't eat onions onions?

I’m a veggie and so are a lot of my family members. Some kind of veggie Wellington is always a good option- Last year I made a butternut squash and goats cheese one.

How about something Mexican like a black bean casserole with rice? Can easily leave onions out and I'm sure everyone would eat it. I've done it before in the instant pot for a big family get together at twixmas.

www.wellplated.com/instant-pot-mexican-casserole/

This is the recipe I use, but I'm sure it can be done stovetop as well.

I just leave out the meat!

Are leeks and garlic OK? I assume shallots and spring onions are out. I would miss the allium family enormously if I had to exclude all of the above.

Make Delia’s yummy parsnip and cheese roulade, but leave the onion out of the sage and onion stuffing layer.

Sorry trying to make a joke 😁

some people do exactly that…

I have been invited to christmas dinner. When dh asked what we were having was told Turkey, beef, trimmings, etc. when he asked what they were doing for me (veggie) and ds (dairy allergy) was told nothing extra, there’d be plenty what with all the veg etc.

Slow cooker veggie chilli? Peppers, tomatoes, courgette etc with some paprika, garlic if that works.

Macaroni cheese
Burgers
Nachos
Pizza
Tacos
Lentil bolagnaise (slow cooker)
Curry

Admittedly not exactly festive but that's what we are having.

Presuming they eat dairy there's some great halloumi recipes. I love it floured and fried and served gyros style in a pita with crunchy slaw. Chilli sauce and tomatoes

Also cauldrons marinated tofu chunks are great in a phad thai. Leave out the spring onion and fish sauce. Would be less palatable without garlic though if it's all alliums.

I would definitely try and do some meals that are veggie for everyone to eat. I think a lot of people get a bit 'meated out' at Christmas anyway.

Jamie Oliver's veggie chilli is lovely. Recipe online. Worth roasting the sweet potatoes as a 'topper', as the recipe suggests. Just leave out onions. Very handy dish as you can serve it with rice, or jacket potatoes or tortilla wraps or nachos. Can batch cook (keep in fridge for a day or two) and have it twice over the holiday served with different things. Meat eaters will also like it.

I would categorise this as laborious but I can’t have Xmas at any time of year without it. (I make 4 and freeze 2 for the summer. 😂)

I would also do a few easy lunches e.g. quiche (don't add onions) or pizza , both with salad. Jacket potatoes with cheese and beans. Macaroni cheese with some added broccoli?

Whatever you do, lots of nice bread and butter!

I am going to package up some brie and cranberry in puff pastry

I’m a low carb veggie who is allergic to dairy and tomatoes.

if you ever think this catering request is tricky, be glad you’re not catering for me!

I’m veggie and don’t eat onions.
Agree with PP celery will add a savoury hit to chilli and bolognese made with veg, beans and vegetarian mince - the supermarket own brands are usually good.
I add bouillon to everything too!
tinned mixed beans in taco/chilli sauce are super easy, try over tortilla crisps then adding cheese and melting under the grill, or in a wrap.

OnceAgainWithFeeling, absolutely! I made mine in November, it’s in the freezer ready for Christmas Eve. It takes me approx 1 and 1/2 hours of prep but is well worth it.

www.quorn.co.uk/products/vegetarian-roast