10 Ways You Can Enjoy An Entirely Vegan Holiday Season

The winter holidays can be a rough time for vegans, as many holiday foods, treats, and traditional recipes consist of dairy and meat. This does not mean that the average vegan can't enjoy delicious food during this festive time of year, though. The world of vegan cuisine has changed so much over the last few years — from a wider range of meat and dairy alternatives to rethinking how traditional meals are made from a vegan's point of view. In fact, in a 2020 YouGov poll, a majority of Americans rated potatoes as their favorite holiday dish above meats like turkey and ham — both roasted and mashed.

New foods have been created and cooking replacements have been rediscovered that make vegan cooking much easier. Jackfruit, for example, has been found to be one of the top meat substitutes, according to BBC Good Food. Its texture and versatility in flavor make it a great alternative to replace shredded meat in dishes like tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, and more. There are even vegan replacements for eggs in baking, from applesauce and bananas all the way to aquafaba and xanthan gum. Essentially, there is more than one way to celebrate the winter season with food. Vegans deserve delicious dishes to treat themselves to while celebrating the end of the year.

Though it is traditional to roast a large piece of meat for holiday feasts, an equally flavorful aspect of the meal are the vegetables. To fill your kitchen with delicious smells and incredible flavors, roasted vegetables are a great vegan alternative that can act as delicious sides or main courses.

For many vegetables, roasting in the oven or in a hot pan is a great way to make them taste 10 times as flavorful as regular steaming or boiling. The heat cooks the vegetables, caramelizes, and toasts the outside edges, all while keeping a majority of their vitamins and nutrients, according to dietician Sharon Palmer. The beauty of roasting vegetables is that this technique removes excess dairy products such as butter to get great flavor. Roasted Vegetable Panzanella is a recipe showcasing this by roasting squash, zucchini, and tomatoes to maximize flavor, just by using simple ingredients like olive oil, salt, and pepper.

There are also many vegetables that when used in recipes can often feel as filling or delicious as meat. Mushrooms, for instance, have great meaty flavor and texture and are a versatile ingredient with a distinct richness (via Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development). Cabbage steaks are also great when cooked on high heat on an open flame, rivaling steaks on the grill with great char flavor and flavorful seasonings. Roasting these can tie in a meat-type texture into your meal, with the ease and tastiness of just the vegetables and seasonings.

If you happen to be invited to a few holiday parties or potlucks this year, you'll want to have something tasty to bring. The best advice for vegans? Create delectable sides that stand out as much as the main course.

There are a few ways to go about choosing the best side dish to make. If you know what others are making, you can plan for your side to complete the meal or at least pair well. There are several elements to choosing the right side dish, according to Eat at Home. This might include adding some needed nutritional elements like vegetables, or something with a different texture than everything else at the table.

At your own feast, a stunning side that can easily be as tempting as a main is risotto. The creamy rice dish is a savory element to the meal but typically uses chicken broth, cheese, and butter. A vegan version of this rice dish calls for miso broth, which can elevate the flavor of the dish. Another great spin is sweet potatoes, typically baked in butter and sugar with marshmallows. For vegans, you can bake with olive oil or vegan butter, and for additional flavor, try spiking with a nutty liqueur such as Rivulet. This liqueur will add a subtle pecan flavor that will enhance the sweetness and flavor of the potatoes.

Making vegan food often means finding alternative ways to replace dairy or animal products in traditional recipes. With the right tips and tricks you can do the same thing with traditional holiday meals — or better yet, transform them into something delicious.

One way to transform your holiday meals for vegans is to reconceptualize the traditional elements into something new and different. Some of the most classic American Christmas dishes include turkey, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole (via Instacart). While there are ways to substitute ingredients in these meals, a better way is to rethink these staple dishes. A vegan shepherd's pie is an excellent example — a combination of a casserole, "meat" gravy, and mashed potatoes all in one dish.

These dishes don't have to be the star either; side dishes are equally as beloved and offer plenty of space to experiment. A tart cranberry relish is a fun spin on a classic holiday side dish that is so easy to put together with the help of a food processor. The relish will complement other savory flavors perfectly.

Homemade gifts for the holiday season don't have to be difficult or tiresome. If you're trying to think of something to give or share, start in your kitchen. For vegans especially, a friendly treat that will make a lasting impression is homemade jelly or jam. Not only are most recipes easy to make, but you can also pair these with a delicious assortment of vegan-friendly bread and crackers — maybe even match it with a vegan charcuterie plate.

Chia seeds are a great vegan ingredient to achieve jam's ideal texture. As Miriam Hahn tells Mashed, chia seeds "offer fiber, plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids." In this recipe, any fruit can be used alongside the chia seeds, and you can alternate the citrus of choice to complement the fruit you choose. If you prefer butter without dairy, try making apple butter in a crockpot. The simple mixture of apples, brown sugar, and seasonings cook for hours in the slow cooker and you end up with a warm, comforting pot of goodness, able to be pureed and stowed in jars. This butter is great on toasted bread, which you can pair with the gift as long as the bread is vegan. Treehugger notes that there are many types of vegan bread, but it's best to look for sneaky ingredients such as casein, whey, ghee, and others that might be present.

There are several types of drinks to have during the winter season. Especially around the holidays, eggnog is a popular drink synonymous with Christmas. Coffee is known for its powerful caffeine and soothing, rich taste. However, unless you drink it black, oftentimes coffee is paired with a creamer of some type. During the winter holidays, an alternative to coffee that will satisfy both vegans and non-vegans is tea.

Tea is great to drink especially during the colder months because of its health benefits. Particularly with consistent intake, there are studies that show that tea can have lasting effects on the body, from boosting the immune and digestive systems to fighting off inflammation and lethargy (via Wise Ape Tea Co.). You can also gain boosts of energy from caffeine, though, unlike coffee, the caffeine in tea burns slowly. This means it lasts longer in the body, giving you energy throughout the day. Great for cold mornings with lots of snow to shovel.

There is a world of different teas to try, great for vegans especially as dairy products are mostly excluded. Many tea types also go well with citrus and honey, such as chamomile, which is great for flavor as well as essential vitamins (via NDTV Food). There are some exceptions, however, including teas like masala chai with delicious warm spices like cinnamon, clove, and cardamom. These are typically made with milk warmed in a pot with tea bags and spices, however, you can simply substitute with your dairy-free milk of choice.