I know, I know – you’re a vegetarian at Christmas and you don’t know what’s festive enough to eat when everyone else is chowing down on ham. Or worse – you’re a carnivore hosting a vegetarian and you don’t know what to do.
Relax.
I got some vegetarian Christmas meal ideas that don’t take long, aren’t fiddly, but are super-festive and full of flavour. Nobody will miss out on this special day, I promise. Well, except maybe Santa, I hear he’s on a diet.
Vegetarian Christmas Meal Ideas
The Main Event
If you want something (semi) seasonal that you can make in advance and just bung in the oven later, Pumpkin and Fennel Lasagne is your friend. Try adding rosemary instead of fennel for that real Christmas scent.
For regular lasagna (why not, it’s Christmas!) head right this way.
A tray of Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers is made even better with feta and cranberries. Make them as large or as little as you want for either a main or side.
Feta and Oregano Quinoa Burgers uh-huh, who says you can’t have a burger on Christmas? You could even add some roasted red pepper or semi-dried tomato to get the red-and-green colour scheme happening.
Really good vegetarian meatloaf. Really! REALLY. And if like me you are a traditionalist and want potatoes and gravy and roast pumpkin et. al, this is your guy.
Mixed Mushroom Risotto with Toasted Walnuts and Goat Cheese for an untraditional twist but it can feed a crowd and is fricken delicious.
The fan favourite – Briami! And with good reason too, this dish is bangin’.
Sideshow
Roasted Pumpkin, Kale, and Haloumi salad. So good! I can and do eat this as a main.
Pumpkin and Haloumi Salad with Honey-Jalapeno Dressing THE DRESSING OH MY GOD THE DRESSING.
ummm, see a pattern?!
Salad recipe here.
It’s definitely Christmas coloured, minty and fresh for hot weather, and can be dressed up or down as the occasion demands. I demand all of it. Now.
Festive Fun!
Rum Balls (hold the rum, please – blecch) (ok maybe I can be swayed if someone has a good recipe? But strictly for childhood traditions and nostalgic tastes, 100% of which I want at Christmas, these are the best.)
Brie and Cranberry Rolls make excellent starters, next-day lunches or for hungry appetiser eaters.
Way Too Good Garlic Bread It’s SO easy and can be made vegan *thumbs up*
Spinach and Mint Dip Again, chuck something red in there and get festive!
Roasted Pumpkin Hommus tis the season, and all that. Wait, no it’s not!
Sundried Tomato and Goat Cheese Mini Quiche Good to take to parties or directly to your mouth.
What’s your favourite Christmas go-to? I have to have roast veg and gravy…
The Plumbette says
December 16, 2014 at 8:32 amI’m not vegetarian but I’d happily eat any of these on Christmas Day. Nice spread. 🙂
Veggie Mama says
December 16, 2014 at 8:48 amThank you so much for reading although it wasn’t relevant to you. You’re the best, Bec! Hope all is well with you + the fam xo
The Plumbette says
December 17, 2014 at 5:54 pmAll is well with us. This Christmas we are heading to a restaurant so no cooking or cleaning up! It means no stress and more time playing with the new toys with our girls. 🙂
Veggie Mama says
December 22, 2014 at 11:37 amExcellent life choice!
rebecca says
December 16, 2014 at 10:48 amI SO agree on holding the rum and am going to eat haloumi only on christmas day as per VM instructions
Veggie Mama says
December 22, 2014 at 11:39 amYou won’t regret it, it’s the only way to party.
Lauren (Life at Number Five) says
December 16, 2014 at 11:11 amGood meal ideas!! I have ‘pretend vegetarians’ in my family which are the worst! They say they are vegetarians so we cater for them then we watch as they chow down on our chicken and beef… drives me insane! But these look yummy enough for everyone.
Veggie Mama says
December 22, 2014 at 11:39 amI love how you’ve written “our chicken and beef” like they’re not there for everyone haha
Rachel from Redcliffe Style says
December 17, 2014 at 12:23 pmYum! They all look amazing.
Veggie Mama says
December 22, 2014 at 11:38 amthanks gorgeous!
Vicki @ BoiledEggsandSoldiers says
December 17, 2014 at 2:51 pmThese all look delicious. Am a haloumi fan so would love any of the salads and am eyeing off that mushroom risotto too. Yum.
Veggie Mama says
December 22, 2014 at 11:38 amMerge the two…
Elizabeth@thebackyardlemontree says
December 18, 2014 at 12:02 pmI love a smorgasbord of salads. For years I used to make and elaborate Russian Salad, molded and decorated with egg, beetroot and roasted peppers as an integral part of the Christmas feast and of course spinach pie is always good.
http://thebackyardlemontree.com/2013/04/03/spanakopita-greek-feta-and-spinach-pie/
This one from Jill Dupleix is light and deliciously eggy and makes a nice centerpiece for a vegetarian feasting plate
Veggie Mama says
December 22, 2014 at 11:38 amNIce one! I’m away from home this Christmas, but i’ll pin it for next year. How good is Jill!
Emma's Garden Grows says
December 19, 2014 at 4:56 pmOh great now I want to host a vegetarian xmas feast…Dad won’t be happy…
Veggie Mama says
December 22, 2014 at 11:38 amHahah it always seem to be the dudes who kick up the most fuss
KirbyKerb says
December 22, 2014 at 1:41 amBrie & cranberry rolls!! drools…
Veggie Mama says
December 22, 2014 at 11:37 amThey are the shit.