For most of us, the holiday season is full of traditions we associate with food. Whether it’s the cookies that grandma always bakes or the nostalgia of your family cooking dinner together, many of us have wonderful memories connected to this time of year.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite festive recipes to help you make the most of your celebrations this year. They’re perfect for multiple occasions. Whether you want a few smaller dishes to share or are cooking up an entire plant-based spread, we have you covered!
Whole Food, Plant-Based Holiday Recipes
Cauliflower Au Gratin
Bake up this delicious, creamy, low-fat vegan cauliflower au gratin for the perfect comfort dish the whole family will love.
Hearty Holiday Loaf
Hearty and packed with robust ingredients, this aromatic loaf carries enough flavor to deserve a spot at the center of any spread. Leftovers make great sandwiches!
Sweet Potato Cornbread
Cornbread is the perfect accompaniment to chili and so many other comforting dishes. This version puts a new spin on an old favorite with the addition of sweet potato.
Vegetable Curried Shepherd’s Pie
This mildly spiced version of the traditional dish from Ireland and the United Kingdom is as comforting as it is delicious. The warm curried vegetable filling is the perfect healthy accompaniment to the rich and creamy potatoes, especially on a chilly day.
Baked Turmeric Cauliflower With Fennel
This festive side dish is the perfect accompaniment to just about any meal. It’s fancy enough to hold its own at the holiday table, but it’s simple enough to prepare that it could be part of any healthy weeknight dinner.
Country Ranch Green Beans and Potatoes
If you’re craving comforting flavors, this dish of baby red-skinned potatoes, savory green beans, and hearty cannellini beans cooked to perfection in a delicious country ranch-flavored broth that is both hearty and satisfying is sure to do the trick.
Macaroni and No Cheese
This cheese-alternative sauce is butternut squash and cashew based, which gives it a slightly sweet flavor and makes it a kid-friendly recipe. Although the recipe calls for peas, you could add broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, or any veggies of your choice.
Portobello Pot Roast
This hearty, delicious pot roast replaces beef with portobello mushrooms but requires no sacrifice of flavor. As rich as any traditional pot roast but twice as fast to cook, this one-pot meal will satisfy everyone at the holiday table.
Cranberry Kale Pilaf
This dish makes a colorful addition to any holiday dinner table, whether as an entrée or a side. Kale and cranberries are a delightful culinary combo and equally well paired nutritionally.
Cauliflower Sweet Potato Mash
The combination of sweet potatoes and cauliflower is a nutrition powerhouse. This quick and easy recipe is creamy and savory with a touch of sweet.
Potato Carrot Latkes
Classic potato latkes are fried. This oil-free vegan latkes recipe is a healthy take on a classic Jewish tradition. Shredded potatoes, carrots, and onions come together with flax seeds and oats that serve as a healthy binder. Serve these for Hanukkah or enjoy as a tasty appetizer at any party.
Sweet Potato and Kale Sauté
What I’ve learned about cooked kale is that you need to make the perfect sauce. A lemon-mustard sauce with a touch of sweetness from diced sweet potatoes complements cooked kale nicely!
Port Wine Mushroom Gravy
Hearty mushrooms, shallots, and a subtle sweetness from Port wine come together in this satisfying vegan gravy.
Roasted Carrots, Potatoes and Onions
Roasting root vegetables is a classic food preparation method, and usually involves oil. However, avoiding oil has significant advantages, so I just substitute water , but you can also use veggie broth, beer or wine.
Easy Vegan Shakshouka
I tried vegan Shakshouka during a recent visit to Tel Aviv and it was delicious. This simplified plant-based version of the original is a perfect side or breakfast dish.
Cranberry Cherry Sauce
Why use jellied cranberry sauce from a can when you can make your own? Skip the refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup! This all-natural sauce is tangy, sweet, and easier to make than you think!
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