Veggie main for Christmas Day - ideas needed

[monkeyonthetable]

I know it's early, but because this year has been so tough, I want to make Christmas very special so want to practise any new recipes a few times.

DS (18) is veggie, the rest of us aren't. We love traditional Christmas dinner and he loves all the veg but I want him to have something really good to replace the turkey.

There will be
roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots
sprouts and braised red cabbage
veggie stuffing balls made with apricots, walnuts, shallots and fresh sage
veggie cumberland chipolatas
veggie red wine and garlic gravy

I don't really want anything too bulky like pie as he loves all the veggie bits. And I don't want him to be stuck with some processed quorn thing - he gets a lot of that sort of thing every time we have meat or fish.

What would go well with the traditional veg and be a really delicious veggie treat?

I see you're sorted for Christmas Day but I opened the thread to say this is great. It's a fair bit of work to assemble, but not hard, and you can tweak the recipe a lot to leave out some bits, use ready-made hummus, etc etc. www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/moroccan-spiced-pie

I take issue with the blurb that says it works well with the standard Christmas veg etc as I can't see how it would work with gravy, and gravy is crucial to my Christmas dinner. But it would make a lovely centrepiece for (say) New Year, or any other celebration.

This thread has quite cheered me up, as I have local lockdown blues.
I think I will browse some Christmas food sites and dream of mince pies

I've had over 30 years of being the sole veggie at numerous Christmas dinners!

Everyone has their preferences - either taste or principle - but my suggestions are :

Nut cutlets - a small portion option rather than a full nut roast, most supermarkets do very nice ones these days, or you could make your own or make a nut roast and slice and freeze leftovers

Veggie wellingtons -

There are lots for sale and loads of recipes but again can be too much for one veggie unless you attempt mini ones and freeze the leftovers?

Filo parcels - not a favourite of mine with a roast but I know veggies who love them, either bought or make your own and fill with his favourite filling

Pastry "slices" or en croute options - a bit lighter than a full pie

Terrines - my favourite is one I've made over many years but long lost the "recipe" mushroom, spinach and butternut squash base for each layer, though I've varied at times

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/parsnip-cranberry-chestnut-loaf

This is my default vegetarian alternative. I usually make it on the 24th (sometimes the 23rd) and pop it in the fridge overnight/2 nights. It's easy to make, plus it's a 'straight swap' for turkey - all the standard side dishes still go well with it. Some of the non-veggies take it too, and we polish the remains off on Boxing Day usually. I used to try different things every other year, but eventually decided this is the best so have stuck with it ever since.

It’s my mum Purple, she just won’t eat pastry

Was it you who recommended the tarte to me? It’s brilliant and when I’ve served it for other things mum’s picked them beetroot off and eaten that but I need to deliver something where she can enjoy the whole thing. No pastry, no potatoes... I searched high and low last year and the end result was just a bit disappointing and shit despite considerable effort. I love nut roast and she’d eat it if I could make a decent vegan version.

It’s my mum Purple, she just won’t eat pastry

Go no contact immediately!
It may well have been me who recommended the beetroot tarte tatin. It’s one of my favourite things.

no potatoes is worse...

My very carniverous friend loved the plant food kievs from M&S. She prefers then to the chicken ones! I loved them too.

Oh, how lovely to find some new festive recipe ideas here. (I've been veggie for ages, but my 21-year-old has just joined me and has rejuvenated my interest in trying new ideas.)

One tried and trusted rec from me is this gravy, which is the absolute best: lovingitvegan.com/vegan-gravy/