If this is your first holiday season on a whole plant food exclusive lifestyle or even if you have been doing this for years, it’s always fun to see what other people make for their plant based holiday meals. I have over 20 recipes to share that are all vegan, gluten free, oil free, low sodium and sugar free. They are family approved, tried and true recipes that we make and serve for our family gatherings. These are awesome recipes to make when having company over. Even if they are not themselves vegan or whole food plant based, they will still enjoy these recipes. You may need to add some salt to the recipes or at the very least, offer them the salt shaker otherwise the food may taste flat to them if they are used to salty food.
We have been eating this way since 2013 and I remember that first holiday season and the first few times we had friends over for dinner – I didn’t have a clue about what to make. Things have changed over the years and I now have my favorite go to recipes which is what I want to share with you today. I think everyone would agree that the side dishes from our Standard American Diet holiday meals were always the most exciting part of the meal! Now we can enjoy them even more, knowing they are delicious as well as good for us. Blog post updated 4/16/22
Lentil Sheperd’s Pie Fruity Coleslaw Cranberry Chutney Apple Oat Crisp
These recipes are great for any type of celebration from Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve to anniversaries, birthdays, Easter, Father’s and Mother’s Day and the list goes on. Feel free to mix and match the recipes to create a menu to your liking. The Hearty Lentil Sheperd’s Pie has been a huge hit with our family as well as many of our blog followers. It is a comfort food casserole that even the non vegan family members can enjoy. You can keep the menu simple since the pie itself has lentils, vegetables, gravy and potatoes all in one dish.
Smoked Hickory Balsamic Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Garlic Mashed Potatoes This is an elegant meal perfect for New Year’s Eve, anniversaries or any time you feel like having a special meal at home.
Updated 4/16/22 These Vegan Ranch Twice Baked Potatoes are huge hit for your gatherings. They can be a main dish with a side salad or a side dish with your favorite lentil loaf, veggie burgers, soup or casserole.
Lentil Loaf with Date Glaze, Garlic Mashed Potatoes,
Cranberry Chutney Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Butternut Squash with a Pomegranate Glaze
This combination of recipes makes for a fabulous holiday meal spread. The lentil loaf slices and serves beautifully – it has a wonderful texture and flavor that will surprise you. All of the side dishes compliment each other and make for a lovely holiday plate of food.
Curry Ginger Butternut Squash Soup. Simple and easy to make but elegant enough to be served at a holiday meal. It is one of my favorite soups and I eat it all year round.
BBQ Lentil Muffins are a family favorite. They are baked in a muffin tin for perfect individual servings. Serve with mashed potatoes, a salad and your favorite green vegetable.
Oil free Oven Roasted Vegetables with Chickpeas is a flavorful side dish or it can be a main dish. Great to take to a pot luck.
Braised Cabbage with Apples is a simple yet elegant side dish that will add a pop of color to your table.
This Caesar Salad with Garlic Chickpea Croutons is a crowd pleaser. My no oil Caesar Dressing is an incredible healthier version of an old favorite. It will amaze you.
If your family prefers a Ranch Dressing I have you covered. This dressing will be a huge hit. It tastes like the real deal. It’s made with fresh herbs and I highly recommend making it the day before and letting it chill in the fridge over night to enjoy the full flavor. It really appeals to the men in our lives and has won many of them over to a vegan no oil dressing! Yes – it really is that good!
This Chopped Salad with Crispy Japanese Sweet Potato Croutons is a fall and winter favorite for us. With chopped apples, mandarin oranges, pomegranate seeds and the scrumptious air fried croutons – it has everything going for it! It makes for a beautiful presentation on a holiday table. In the Spring and Summer substitute fresh berries and corn cut fresh off the cob for a beautiful bowl of salad. You can choose to use a flavored Balsamic vinegar or the ever popular Creamy Vegan Ranch or Vegan Caesar Dressing.
This whimsical Turkey Fruit Tray is a hit with all ages! Let the little ones help you arrange it and watch everyone devour it! You can use this same idea to create an Easter Egg, Christmas Tree, Heart – let your creativity guide you.
These are the easiest Garlic Mashed Potatoes you will ever make. If you use Yukon Gold Potatoes you don’t even have to peel them. Make a double batch because they always want seconds!
Try this delicious Vegan Mushroom Gravy that is sure to please over mashed potatoes.
Our family loves this Mushroom Spinach Lasagna. From the littlest grandchildren to the oldest adults – it’s a home run for any holiday. Serve it with the Caesar Salad or a crisp green salad with the Vegan Ranch Dressing. Add a loaf of hot crusty bread and everyone is happy. We enjoy this meal for just about any reason we have for getting together. Break tradition like we do and have this for Christmas – why not? Pasta makes everyone happy and this recipe puts a smile on everyone’s face.
Yes you can have delicious desserts and treats on a whole food plant based lifestyle.
Great news – yes you can have amazing healthy vegan desserts for the holidays! This parfait pairs two of my favorite holiday recipes together. Cranberry Chutney layered with Fall Pudding.
If you prefer you can put the Fall Pudding in pretty dishes and top it with some low fat granola.
Apple Oat Crisp is often requested by our oldest granddaughter – she is five and she loves this dessert. I do too! We like to serve it a – la – mode with some banana mango soft serve we make in the blender or Champion Juicer. Pop it in the oven just before sitting down to eat and you will enjoy the lovely aroma while it bakes.
This Chocolate Chia Pudding Recipe is down right amazing! For the chocolate lovers I have several variations on this theme – each one is scrumptious! Enjoy. Updated 4/16/22
If chocolate is more your style you can’t go wrong with Chocolate Cherry Brownies. I love to bake them in a round pan so I can cut them in pie shapes. Of course they are even better if you make some Chocolate Nice Cream and hey it’s a holiday so serve double scoops!
You can take the same ingredients and turn them in to these incredible decadent Chocolate Brownie Parfaits.
Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Blondies with Peanut Butter Banana Nice Cream and a drizzle of Chocolate Sauce is one of my favorite desserts. Who knew a gluten free, no added sugar dessert could be incredibly delicious? Updated 4/16/22
Deluxe Chocolate Chip Cookies are a richer more calorie dense dessert for those who can eat nut butter and seeds. These really appeal to the adults but not so much to the younger children.
This Raw Berry Crisp from Whole Foods recipes is amazing! Serve it in individual ramekins by itself or use as a topping for Banana Nice Cream. So elegant but oh so easy. Updated 4/16/22
A steaming hot mug of vegan dairy free Hot Chocolate in front of the fireplace is a wonderful way to end the day. Or a wonderful treat to look forward to after playing in the snow.
We hope these menu ideas, recipes and tips help you enjoy your holiday gatherings. Remember the food isn’t the most important part of the gathering – it’s spending time with the people you love that fills the heart with joy and happiness.
From our hearts to your home – Happy Holidays!
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Tami Kramer’s Beautiful Chopped Salad Course includes a complete full color 40+ page recipe PDF eBook and 12 instructional videos.In the course Tami will teach you how to batch prep salads,what to shop for, and tips to ensure that your stored salads will last for a week. She will share different methods for chopping salads, and all the details about how she tops these beauties. Included are 25 different ways to top a chopped salad, 5 oil free salad dressings, gluten free croutons and crunchy toppings, hummus, salsa’s and more! Please enjoy the course videos at your own pace. There are approximately 2 1/2 hours of instruction spread over the 12 individual topic videos. When completed you will be well on your way to enjoying these beautiful, chopped salads as often as you wish, perhaps even daily as Tami does.
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