The Rise of Plant-Based Meat Alternatives for Christmas Dining: A Festive Feast for All

Image courtesy Movimiento Activate of Pixabay

As Christmas approaches, families across the UK begin to plan the festive feast that will bring everyone together. 

Traditionally, Christmas dinner has been centred around a rich, meaty main course—often turkey or roast beef. 

But as awareness grows around the benefits of plant-based eating for both health and the planet, the number of Britons looking to alternative, meat-free options is on the rise. 

According to recent studies, nearly half of British households are now open to adding plant-based dishes to their festive spread, with some planning fully meat-free Christmas dinners.

Why Go Plant-Based This Christmas?

Plant-based alternatives offer a unique combination of benefits that make them increasingly attractive during the holiday season. Here’s why:

Health Benefits: The Christmas period is often a time of indulgence, but adding plant-based options can provide a healthy twist. With less saturated fat and fewer calories than traditional meats, plant-based alternatives allow diners to enjoy a hearty meal without feeling overly heavy or sluggish.

Environmental Concerns: Many people are motivated by the positive environmental impact of reducing meat consumption. Producing plant-based proteins typically requires far fewer resources, including land and water, compared to traditional livestock farming. Choosing a plant-based option this Christmas is an opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint as well.

Inclusivity at the Table: With more people adopting vegetarian, vegan, or flexitarian lifestyles, offering plant-based dishes is a fantastic way to ensure that everyone feels included in the festive meal. Additionally, plant-based meat alternatives allow people who might still enjoy the taste of meat to partake without compromising their ethical or dietary choices.

The Plant-Based Alternatives on Offer for Christmas 2023

While the idea of swapping out the Christmas turkey or ham may have been a novelty a decade ago, there are now countless high-quality options available that rival the traditional centrepieces. Here are some of the standout plant-based meats that could grace your table this Christmas:

Vegan Roasts: Many companies offer plant-based roasts made from pea protein, seitan, or soy, with flavours that mimic the savoury richness of traditional meats. Brands such as Beyond Meat, Tofurky, and Quorn have developed festive options seasoned with herbs and spices like sage and thyme for a classic roast taste.

Mushroom and Lentil Wellington: For those looking for a less processed option, mushroom and lentil Wellington is a favourite. Packed with umami from mushrooms and the earthy richness of lentils, it’s a satisfying main course that delivers the depth of flavour we associate with holiday dining.

Nut Roasts: A long-standing staple of the meat-free Christmas table, nut roasts have evolved significantly. Modern recipes combine nuts, grains, vegetables, and herbs to create a festive dish that is full of flavour and texture.

Stuffed Squash and Aubergine: Another option is to use hearty vegetables such as squash or aubergine, stuffed with a delicious blend of grains, nuts, and cranberries. These make for a stunning, colourful main dish, ideal for a Christmas spread that truly celebrates plant-based ingredients.

Pairing Plant-Based Mains with Traditional Trimmings

One of the best parts of a traditional Christmas dinner is the abundance of sides: roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, stuffing, and the like. All these can be made vegan-friendly without losing their flavour. Plant-based gravies, mushroom-based sauces, and vegan Yorkshire puddings have also become popular, making it easier than ever to create a cohesive Christmas meal that everyone can enjoy.

Where to Find Plant-Based Christmas Products in the UK

Most major UK supermarkets now carry a range of plant-based Christmas foods, including ready-made vegan roasts, festive sides, and dessert options. From Morrisons, Waitrose and Tesco to M&S and Sainsbury’s, supermarkets have recognised the demand for plant-based alternatives and have expanded their holiday offerings. Many local markets also offer speciality vegan goods, providing unique and artisanal options for those looking to support smaller businesses this season.

Cooking Tips for a Perfect Plant-Based Christmas Dinner

If you’re trying your hand at cooking plant-based for the first time, here are a few tips to ensure a successful Christmas meal:

Season Generously: Don’t be afraid to use traditional Christmas spices and herbs like rosemary, thyme, sage, and nutmeg. These will give your dishes that familiar festive flavour.

Use High-Quality Oils: A drizzle of olive oil or vegan butter over your roast potatoes, Brussels sprouts, or roast veggies can add depth to the flavour and crispiness to the texture.

Experiment with Gravy: Try making a rich mushroom or red wine gravy to pair with your plant-based main. The gravy can elevate the meal and add the hearty, comforting touch we expect from Christmas dinners.

Embracing the Change

Plant-based alternatives aren’t just about filling in the gaps for vegetarians and vegans; they’re increasingly appreciated by meat-eaters looking to try something new. This Christmas, embracing plant-based options allows you to celebrate the season with an open mind, a spirit of sustainability, and a love of festive, inclusive food that brings everyone together.

With so many delicious options, why not make this a season to try something a little different? You may find that plant-based Christmas dining brings not only new flavours but also a new sense of holiday joy and connectedness.

Want to know which UK supermarket has the cheapest vegan Christmas dinner? Adventrum has the answer for you

The festive season is very much upon us, and the most prepared Brits out there will have already started planning for the big day and everything that comes with it, from the presents to the parties, and most importantly, the Christmas dinner.

With so many components to put together, it can be hard to know where the best one-stop shop is to get all your Christmas dinner ingredients. Particularly, if you are vegetarian, or are catering for a vegetarian.

While cutting expensive meat items such as pigs and blankets and a turkey crown can certainly help to cut costs, there remains a need to plan a budget, and sometimes it's less obvious how much veggie-friendly supplements will cost.

Thankfully, Adventrum has crunched the numbers and costed up the price of a veggie-friendly Christmas dinner at six of the UK’s top supermarkets. 

1. Aldi - £28.20

2. Tesco - £32.84

3. Asda - £33.22

4. Morrisons - £33.71

5. Sainsbury’s - £34.60

6. Waitrose - £53.24

There’s probably no surprise that Aldi comes in as the cheapest supermarket for a vegetarian Christmas dinner, with the total cost of the full meal being a mere £28.20. The cheapest vegetarian Christmas dinner component at Aldi is the 15-pack of Yorkshire Puddings priced at only £0.46.

In second place is Tesco, where a full vegetarian Christmas dinner came in at £32.84. For chocolate lovers, Tesco is the cheapest supermarket to pick up a Cadbury’s selection box, as they cost £1.50 with a Clubcard membership.

Not far behind in third place is Asda, where a full vegetarian Christmas dinner costs approximately £33.22. However, the Quorn Vegetarian Roast was cheaper at Asda than any other supermarket at just £3.00.

Morrisons placed fourth with a full cost of £33.71. However, this supermarket had one of the most expensive turkey crowns (£31.47), meaning the biggest savings are on offer for meat-eaters switching to the vegetarian option this Christmas.

Sainsbury’s placed fifth, as a vegetarian Christmas dinner from this supermarket was found to cost an estimated £34.60. 

Finally, Waitrose was the most expensive supermarket by some distance at £53.24. A big factor in Waitrose being so much more expensive was the vegetarian turkey supplement costing a massive £16.00. But it must be said that one surprise bargain to be found is that Maris Piper potatoes are 5p cheaper at Waitrose (£1.65) than they are at Aldi (£1.70).

The study used a Quorn Vegetarian Roast as the turkey supplement at Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. For Aldi and Waitrose, the home-brand products that most closely resembled the Quorn Vegetarian Roast were used, as the Quorn product was unavailable. 

That's Christmas would like to thank Adventrum for sharing their research data with us. You can check out Adventrum at https://adventrum.com. 

(Image courtesy of MM from Pixabay)

 

Want the perfect Christmas pudding? The Experts at DukesHill Share their secrets!

DukesHill's award-winning Christmas pudding is weighed, steamed and matured in-house, with an immense amount of passion and pride by the team.

For over four decades, DukesHill has remained committed to making Christmas puddings by hand to their traditional family recipe, with no commercial shortcuts in sight. 

Bursting with plump, vine-ripened fruits, cherries and free-range eggs, the team generously steep the puddings in the finest of French Brandy before allowing it to mature properly. This process allows the pudding to slowly absorb the rich aromas and develop a deeper taste profile.

And DukesHill's Christmas puddings uses butter in their recipe rather than of suet, which not only makes the puddings vegetarian, but also gives the pudding a much cleaner finish on the palate. The puddings are mixed in small batches to keep the texture light and prevent the fruit being crushed. 

Nicky Biddulph, Master Pudding Maker says, “A proper Christmas pudding is at the heart and soul of a Christmas feast, it's important to end the celebratory meal on a high note. Our team enjoys the cathartic process of making these puddings and we can't get enough of the rich, festive aromas in the air when it's Christmas pudding time. 

"Our recipe is time consuming to make and we only source the finest ingredients, but we know in our hearts that it's the closest way you can enjoy a genuine, traditional pudding, made in exactly the same way as you would at home.”

DukesHill Christmas Pudding weighs 454g and costs £14.50 available at www.dukeshill.co.uk/products/family-christmas-pudding 

Festive Feasts: Catering for Vegan Guests at Christmas

The Christmas season is a time for celebration, togetherness, and, of course, indulging in delicious food. While traditional Christmas feasts often centre around meat and dairy-heavy dishes, there's a growing trend towards accommodating diverse dietary preferences and needs, including veganism. 

Whether you have vegan guests joining your festivities or are simply looking to introduce more plant-based options to your holiday table, catering for vegans at Christmas can be a delightful and compassionate endeavour. In this blog post, we'll explore the world of vegan holiday cooking, offering tips and mouth-watering recipe ideas that will ensure everyone has a jolly time around the Christmas dinner table.

Communication is Key

Before you start planning your Christmas menu, it's important to communicate with your vegan guests. Find out their specific preferences and dietary restrictions. Some vegans may not consume any animal products, while others may be more flexible. This information will help you tailor your menu to their needs and preferences, making the holiday experience enjoyable for all.

Embrace Plant-Based Staples

To cater to your vegan guests, it's essential to incorporate plant-based staples into your dishes. Here are some vegan alternatives to traditional ingredients:

Use plant-based milk like almond, soy, or oat milk in place of cow's milk for creamy sauces, mashed potatoes, and desserts.

Substitute vegan butter or margarine for dairy butter in recipes.

Replace eggs with flax or chia seed "eggs" or commercial egg replacers in baking.

Utilise plant-based proteins such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, or legumes like chickpeas and lentils for main courses.

Vegan Appetisers

Begin your festive feast with delightful vegan appetizers that everyone will enjoy:

Roasted Vegetable Platter: Roast a variety of colourful vegetables with olive oil, herbs, and spices. Serve with a vegan dip like hummus or a tahini sauce.

Stuffed Mushrooms: Fill mushroom caps with a savoury mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, herbs, and vegan cheese.

Vegan Cheese Platter: Create a cheese platter featuring vegan cheeses made from nuts or soy, paired with fruits, nuts, and crackers.

The Main Event

For the centrepiece of your vegan Christmas dinner, consider these options:

Nut Roast: A well-seasoned mixture of nuts, grains, and vegetables, baked to perfection, and served with vegan gravy.

Stuffed Squash: Hollowed-out acorn or butternut squash filled with a delicious mixture of quinoa, cranberries, and herbs.

Vegan Wellington: Layers of roasted vegetables, mushrooms, and a savoury filling wrapped in flaky pastry.

Sides and Salads

Vegan side dishes and salads can be just as vibrant and flavourful as their non-vegan counterparts. Consider adding these to your Christmas spread:

Maple-Glazed Brussels Sprouts: Roasted Brussels sprouts drizzled with maple syrup for a sweet and savoury twist.

Vegan Green Bean Casserole: A creamy mushroom and green bean dish topped with crispy onions.

Winter Quinoa Salad: A hearty salad featuring quinoa, roasted winter vegetables, and a zesty vinaigrette.

Decadent Desserts

Don't forget the sweet treats! Vegan desserts are delicious and a wonderful way to end your Christmas meal:

Vegan Pumpkin Pie: A classic dessert with a vegan twist using coconut milk or cashew cream.

Chocolate Avocado Mousse: A rich and creamy dessert made with ripe avocados and cocoa powder.

Vegan Gingerbread Cookies: Adorable and flavourful cookies, perfect for decorating.

Catering for vegan guests at Christmas can be a delightful culinary adventure. By embracing plant-based staples, communicating with your vegan guests, and trying out creative vegan recipes, you can create a Christmas feast that delights everyone at the table. Remember, Christmas is about sharing and togetherness, so why not share the joy of delicious vegan dishes with your loved ones this year? Merry Christmas!

(Image courtesy of -Rita-👩‍🍳 und 📷 mit ❤ from Pixabay)

A Delicious Twist: Vegan Alternatives to the Traditional Christmas Dinner

Christmas is a time of joy, love, and feasting with our loved ones. For many, this often includes a traditional Christmas dinner, complete with succulent roast meats and rich, creamy sides. But what if you or your guests follow a vegan lifestyle, or you simply want to try something new this Christmas season? 

Fear not! There's a world of scrumptious vegan alternatives waiting to delight your taste buds. In this blog post, we'll explore some delectable options for a plant-based Christmas feast that can easily rival, if not surpass, the traditional spread.

Roasted Stuffed Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is the perfect candidate for a vegan main course. Roast it to perfection, then fill it with a flavourful stuffing made from quinoa, nuts, cranberries, and herbs. Drizzle with a balsamic glaze and watch your guests' eyes light up at this hearty, visually stunning dish.

Portobello Mushroom Wellington

Mushrooms are a vegan's best friend when it comes to crafting a rich, meaty flavour. Try a Portobello mushroom Wellington as the centrepiece of your holiday meal. Wrap the savoury mushrooms in puff pastry, along with spinach, caramelized onions, and a touch of garlic. Bake until golden brown, and voila – you have an impressive, satisfying entrée.

Lentil and Nut Roast

A lentil and nut roast is a classic vegan choice for Christmas dinner. Packed with protein, this dish combines lentils, nuts, breadcrumbs, and an array of seasonings. The result is a mouth-watering roast that can easily replace meat. Serve it with a generous helping of vegan gravy and all the traditional trimmings.

Vegan Nut Roast

Alternatively, consider a vegan nut roast. This delightful dish features a mixture of chopped nuts, seeds, and vegetables, held together with flax or chia seeds. The nut roast can be personalised with various herbs and spices, creating a festive, flavourful centrepiece for your Christmas dinner table.

Stuffed Peppers

For a light yet satisfying main course, stuffed peppers are an excellent option. Fill colourful bell peppers with a mixture of quinoa, black beans, corn, and a blend of spices. Roast until tender, and serve with a zesty tomato sauce. The vibrant presentation adds a splash of Christmas cheer to your meal.

Vegan Gravy

No Christmas dinner is complete without a tasty and hearty gravy. Swap the traditional meat-based gravy for a rich, flavoursome vegan version. You can make a delicious gravy using ingredients like vegetable broth, nutritional yeast, mushrooms, and various seasonings. Pour it generously over your vegan roast for a burst of flavour.

Creamy Vegan Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a Christmas dinner essential. To create a vegan-friendly version, simply replace butter and cream with plant-based alternatives like vegan butter and almond or soy milk. Add roasted garlic for a flavourful twist, and you'll have creamy, dreamy mashed potatoes that will please everyone at the table.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Roasted Brussels sprouts are a perfect side dish for any holiday meal. Toss them with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a touch of maple syrup, then roast until crispy and caramelised. Their unique, robust flavour is a delightful addition to your vegan Christmas feast. (As a fan of Brussel sprouts, I approve of this idea!)

Cranberry Sauce

Cranberry sauce is a Christmas dinner classic that's already vegan! Homemade cranberry sauce, sweetened with sugar or maple syrup, is a vibrant, tangy condiment that pairs wonderfully with your main dishes.

Vegan Desserts

For a sweet ending to your vegan Christmas dinner, indulge in vegan desserts like pumpkin pie with coconut whipped cream, vegan chocolate yule log, or gingerbread cookies. These treats are just as decadent and delicious as their non-vegan counterparts.

This Christmas, embrace the spirit of inclusivity and try something new by exploring these delectable vegan alternatives to the traditional Christmas dinner. From savoury main courses to mouth-watering sides and scrumptious desserts, there are plenty of options to satisfy the palate and share a compassionate, eco-friendly meal with your loved ones. Make this Christmas season one to remember with a vegan feast that celebrates delicious food and the spirit of togetherness.

Supermarkets such as Asda, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, the Co-Op, etc are offering an increasing range of vegetarian and vegan food so are well worth checking out.

(Image courtesy of Jana from Pixabay)

Run, run Rudolph all the way to his favourite Flapjackery Flapjack Box!

Nothing really says Christmas more than Rudolf or his box of favourite flapjacks! Each box will  include an utterly delicious assortment of fantastically festive gluten free flapjack flavours all of which are absolutely perfect for sharing with family, friends, guests and visitors. Just don't forget to leave one or two out for Rudolph and Santa on Christmas Eve.

It's a fantastic Christmas time Christmas for friends, family and colleagues and is an perfect addition to any festive food table, this scrumptious box of artisan baked flapjacks will be certain to go down a treat. The flapjacks in this box carry a shelf life of three months so you can happily and contentedly consume them throughout the festive period. (EDITOR: Our advice? To make sure you have enough left for the Christmas period double up your order to avoid any potential for a disgruntled reindeer or two!) 

A box of 3 costs £12.00; Box of 6 costs £24.00.

Flapjackery's Christmas Taster Flapjack Box ( from £35.00)

Flapjackery's Christmas Taster Flapjack Box includes a fantastically delicious assortment of brilliant festive gluten free flapjack flavours. The 16 half sizes are perfect for families to share together at Christmas or for taking to a party or a work Christmas function and enjoying with friends and colleagues or neighbours. 

This is a box cram-packed with the genuine tastes of Christmas. From decadent Ginger and Dark Chocolate Flapjack to Mince Pie to Orange and Cranberry flavours, each flapjack is handmade in Devon with the finest of British oats, locally sourced West Country butter and fairtrade brown sugar. The flapjacks are all gluten-free and suitable for vegetarians, too. They come individually wrapped and are suitable for home freezing.

Christmas Party Flapjack Box (£50)

Get the Christmas party really buzzing this year with an amazing flapjack festive party box. With a wide range of different gluten free flapjack flavours to taste, this is the absolutely perfect way to enjoy some of their best and most well-loved flapjacks.

Alongside traditional favourites such as their Clotted Cream Fudge Flapjack and Billionaire Flapjack, there's also an assortment of fantastically festive flapjack flavours  to try such as mince pie, burnt caramel and sea salt and chocolate orange tiffin. 

As we say, the flapjacks are all gluten-free and perfect for vegetarians. They are all individually wrapped and suitable for home freezing.

www.flapjackery.co.uk

Flapjackery is affiliated with AWIN.

(EDITOR: Those old enough to remember will have noticed my reference to the old Chuck Berry Christmastime song, Run, Rudolf, Run!) 

Wow! The perfect Christmas gift! Milky Plant

Milky Plant is a stunning and utterly brand new kitchen gadget. What does it do? It allows people to make plant based milk at home from nuts, seeds, cereals and just some water.

 It's an absolutely ideal gift for anyone who follows a plant based diet for allergy, health or lifestyle based reasons. And who wants a bit more out of life than mere shop-bought dairy alternatives.

The Milky Plant machine costs £290 (RRP) and it takes something like 180 uses to recoup the costs of the machine, depending which ingredients are used to make the milk. Making plant based milk at home saves approximately 30-90% per serving compared to buying it ready as made.

You can buy it at https://milkyplant.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/MilkyPlant/page/E09A263C-9DF6-4D3E-AD63-1C33C041AA6B?ref_=ast_bln

Selfridges London: https://www.selfridges.com/GB/en/cat/smartech-plant-milk-maker_R04161140/#colour=WHITE%20%26%20GREY

Users just add their chosen ingredients to the blender, fill the water tank and within three minutes a litre of plant based milk will be produced. 

It works by automatically grinding the raw ingredients super fine and then automatically blended with water. The mixture is then passed through a special filtration system which strains the milk and keeps the pulp in a separate compartment. 

But there's more! Because the pulp is nearly dry and the pulp can be used in recipes to make homemade granola or smoothie bowls, or even for composting.

As a result the lucky recipient of this machine has no more messy blenders or squeezing cheese cloths or nut bags, thus making it far simpler and easier to make your own plant based milk at home.

It's a fantastic and highly sustainable Christmas gift as making plant based milk at home also reduces the volume of Tetra Pak containers ending up in landfill (as these can't, as yet, be recyclable) nearly a300k per year. If placed end -to-end the line would stretch all the way from central London to Milton Keynes!

And what's even better, for every Milky Plant purchased, five tree are planted and 61kg of C02 is removed from the atmosphere annually.

Milky Plant milk is an even healthier alternative to supermarket bought non-dairy milks which contain preservatives, emulsifiers, seed oils and gums.

The machine achieves the exact right texture and consistency by automatically adjusting the water level by employing special in-built sensors. 

But the recipients can experiment with a thicker texture or different flavours by adding a teaspoon of coconut flakes, dates or rose water for a delicately sweet milk.