Figuring out what to serve at holiday gatherings can be a daunting task, especially if you’re trying to accommodate guests following very different diets. If you’re worrying about what to serve vegan guests coming to your holiday party or dinner, try not to stress too much. Many traditional meals and spreads already include plenty that vegans can eat. However, a little planning and a few simple tweaks to the menu can help your vegan guests have a more satisfying and pleasant experience at your table.
Here are some helpful tips for planning a vegan-friendly gathering that all your guests can enjoy.
What to Serve Vegan Guests: Steps for Success
1. Take stock of what’s on the menu that’s already vegan
It’s likely a number of the foods you plan to serve are already vegan, as long as you’re mindful about choosing vegan ingredients, such as oil rather than butter if you’re sauteeing or roasting vegetables. Many breads are ‘accidentally vegan,’ made without dairy or eggs. Salads tend to be vegan-friendly, just be sure you don’t top them with cheese or chopped meat. Use toasted pumpkin seeds or vegan cheese crumbles instead.
If you’re putting out a crudité platter, all those veggies are obviously just fine. But your vegan guests will appreciate finding something a little more filling than rabbit food, so in addition to (or in place of) your standard dairy-based dips, be sure to include hummus and other plant-based options. Chips and salsa or guac are favorite noshes of vegans and nonvegans alike.
If you’re serving cheese and crackers, note that some crackers are made with milk, egg, or cheese, so you’ll want to look for vegan options. There are plenty to choose from!
Dairy-free ‘cheeses’ have come a long way in the last several years, and you’re likely to find some delicious options on your supermarket’s shelves. You can also whip up some of your own, like an herb cashew cheese spread. Or impress your guests with this festive vegan cheese ball.
Another fun possibility: Create a gorgeous vegan charcuterie board bursting with flavor. Artfully arranged gourmet olives, colorful fruits, savory nuts, and zesty roasted chickpeas make a beautiful display of tempting nibbles everyone can enjoy.
2. Try some easy vegan subs
If you have some favorite recipes you want to make, you can use vegan butter or plant-based milks to “veganize” them rather than having to try out entirely new recipes. For instance, if mashed potatoes are on the menu, you can easily make them vegan with these simple swaps. Stuffing can be made vegan as well; just set aside some of your stuffing ingredients and use vegan butter and vegetable stock in place of the animal products you’d typically use. Or try a yummy vegan stuffing recipe made with apples, walnuts and cranberries.
If soup is on the menu, use vegetable broth or vegan ‘no chicken’ broth in place of chicken stock. Try a savory vegan mushroom gravy in place of an animal-based one. This vegan green bean casserole recipe probably looks a lot like the one you’re used to.
If your sweet potatoes are normally topped with marshmallows, be sure to use vegan ones, as most marshmallows are made with gelatin.
Many wines and beers are made with animal products, so look for vegan drink options as well. Some will be labeled vegan, but others will require some research.
Here are some additional vegan pantry staples you might want to have on hand to make your vegan cooking efforts easier.
3. Include substantial vegan sides
If you’re serving a non-vegan main course, making sure that several side dishes are both vegan and hearty will ensure that your vegan guest has plenty to eat, too. This means using olive or avocado oil rather than butter, and choosing sides made without milk or cheese.
In addition to or instead of a green salad, make a flavorful grain salad featuring filling farro, bulgur, or quinoa and substantial vegetables like winter squash and roots. Try a buckwheat beet salad or a quinoa butternut squash salad. Stuffed squash makes a stunning side that vegans can enjoy as a main course.
Consider making a hearty casserole with legumes and wild rice or quinoa, like a cassoulet with creamy white beans or a quinoa veggie casserole. Or wow everyone at the table with this impressive vegetable Wellington.
A flavorful soup makes an excellent starter and the vegan soup possibilities are nearly endless. Try a vegan lentil soup or a creamy white bean potato soup with rosemary. Or lean into fall flavors with a creamy vegan pumpkin soup.
4. Don’t forget dessert!
Vegans sometimes have trouble finding desserts they can eat, since baked goods are so often made with butter, milk, or eggs (or all three). Plan to include sweets your vegan guests can eat, whether it’s homemade vegan truffles or a dairy-free cheesecake.
Just about any pie can be made vegan if you use a vegan butter substitute. Try a delicious vegan apple pie, sweet potato pie, or pecan pie. For a unique spin on traditional pies, try a crustless pear pie or pumpkin mousse tart.
5. Be sensitive to all your guests
Talking through menu plans with your vegan guests can help make things less stressful for everyone. They will likely enjoy sharing one of their favorite dishes, so invite them to contribute as well. Chances are they’ll appreciate the opportunity to let others sample the delicious possibilities of vegan cooking.
Thanksgiving can be especially hard for vegans, as whole turkeys tend to be the centerpiece of the meal. Vegans can find the experience of sitting at the table while a turkey is carved very painful and may find it helpful for that to take place out of sight.
The holidays are a time to celebrate togetherness, not obsess over other people’s food preferences. Vegans get questioned pretty often about the reasons for their choices, and forcing them to describe animal cruelty to diners digging into platefuls of meat isn’t going to make anyone feel very celebratory or comfortable. Though the benefits of a vegan diet are absolutely worth exploring, the meat-eaters at your table probably won’t relish feeling guilty about the food on their plates during your holiday celebration.
While you can make sure your vegan guest knows what’s on the menu for them, try not to make too much fuss about it. And if another guest insists on challenging them for their choices, do your best to steer the conversation in another direction so everyone can enjoy their meal.
If you’re a vegan hosting omnivores this holiday season, check out these helpful vegan holiday hosting tips.
Need some more delicious vegan recipe ideas for your holiday dinner? Be sure to check out the huge array on The Upside, starting with some of these tempting options:
