From plant-based centrepieces to vegan gravy, read on for our comprehensive guide to all things veggie and vegan in the shops over the festive period.
Don’t get us wrong, there’s always room for a nut roast or two at the dinner table come 25 December, but gone are the days when this was the only option for those avoiding meat. Thankfully, in line with the meteoric rise of vegetarianism, veganism and flexitarianism in the UK in recent years – it’s thought almost one in five will be cooking up a meat-free Christmas this year – supermarkets have expanded their ranges and offerings accordingly, with this year’s meat-free morsels, in our opinion, being the best yet.
Supermarkets leading the way with veg-centric seasonal innovations include M&S, which has launched its first ‘full vegan roast dinner’, including a plant-based centrepiece, vegetables, roast potatoes, gravy, stuffing and even ‘no pigs in duvets’. In addition, Sainsbury’s has unveiled a ‘Taste The Difference No Beef Wellington’, made from popular plant-based protein seitan, alongside an eye-pleasing ‘Jewelled Root Vegetable Wreath’, loaded with cranberries, pumpkin seeds and butternut squash.
A brief word of warning though: while the abundance of veggie and vegan offerings in the shops makes preparing a festive feast or being a guest at this time of year all the more straightforward, veggies still need to be vigilant when it comes to traditional staples such as cheese, with varieties such as Parmesan containing animal rennet. We’ve also noticed a lot more jellied desserts on the market this year, so always make sure they’re clearly labelled vegetarian or vegan before you tuck in. The same goes for stuffing, gravy, and the all-important roast potatoes, which can sometimes be cooked in animal fat.
So, whether you’ve just turned vegan or veggie, or you’re hosting your first turkey-free Christmas, one thing’s for sure: it’s now more than possible to enjoy a merry and meat-free festive feast. Cheers to that!
To save you the time and effort, we’ve scoured the shops for the best meat-free Christmas offerings, so you don’t have to:
Tesco
To start:
Brie & Cranberry Garland, £5
This brie and cranberry-laden tear and share is perfect if you’re looking for an immersive starter to kick things off. For a tasty twist on tradition, why not place a couple on the dinner table and ask everyone to dig in? Available in store and online from 16 December.
The main event:
Tesco Finest Butternut, Mushroom & Chestnut Wreath, £4.50
Hand-filled with sweet butternut squash, mushrooms, chestnuts, white wine and brandy, this crisp, butternut squash pastry wreath would make a fantastic vegan main. Available in store and online from 16 December.
To wrap things up:
Tesco Finest Chocolate and Ganache Bites, £4
These vegan sweet treats are a must for any guest. With a sweet date base, rich chocolate ganache and chunky coconut crumb, they’re utterly moreish and guaranteed to go down well. Available in store and online from 11 December.
Anything else?
Don’t miss the Sticky Chilli Cauliflower (£1), Brussels Sprouts Bites (£3) and Mozzarella and Pesto Arancini Balls (£3) – they’re all ideal canapés to serve as your guests arrive.
M&S
To start:
Vegan Root Vegetable Tarte Tatin, £10
This earthy tarte tatin – featuring vegan rosemary shortcrust pastry loaded with glazed baby beetroot, caramelised red onions and Chantenay carrots – is a great way to begin any meal, and looks suitably Christmassy too.
The main event:
Plant Kitchen No Turkey Roast, £12
This plant-based centrepiece is ideal if you’re serving a crowd: it goes a long way, handily comes with gravy and sausages, and would also taste delicious in a Boxing Day leftovers sandwich. Don’t forget to serve it with some Plant Kitchen No Pork Pigs in Blankets (£3.50); wrapped in pastry, they’re wonderfully crisp and moreish.
To wrap things up:
Sticky Toffee Trifle, £12
Combining two classic desserts, the sticky toffee pudding and the traditional trifle, this playful hybrid is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, while the Plant Kitchen Chocolate and Cherry Dessert (£10) – dark chocolate ganache topped with a morello cherry compote – is a brilliant vegan alternative.
Anything else?
The vegan Mushroom Bao Buns (£7 for 12), bursting with a delicious mushroom, soy and hoisin filling, make for great canapés or appetisers, or you could even present them up as a starter. The vegan Plant Kitchen Nut Cracker sandwich (£3.30), layered with sweet potato, chestnut and cranberry roast, butternut squash, cranberry chutney, pistachios and pecans, is an ideal Boxing Day main, too.
Morrisons
To start:
The Best Korean Jackfruit Bao Buns, £3.50
Containing pulled jackfruit, mixed vegetables and a spicy gochujang sauce, these vegan steam-at-home buns make for a vibrant and tasty starter. In store from 11 December.
The main event:
The Best Vegetable Layered Tart, £4
This colourful vegan puff pastry tart is packed with layers of spiced beetroot, cranberry and onion chutney, butternut squash, spinach, onions and chestnuts – you’ll want one for each guest.
To wrap things up:
The Best Snowflake Tiffin, £9
With its edible bronze finish, this striking veggie-friendly chocolate dessert contains raisins, shortcake and salted caramel – something for everyone to nibble at the table. In store from 11 December.
Anything else?
The Best Salted Caramel Pavlova (£6) is another delicious dessert option for veggies, while the vegan Free From Mince Pies (£1.80) are a seasonal staple to stock up on.
Waitrose & Partners
To start:
Mushroom & Chestnut Pâté with Red Onion & Balsamic Chutney or Butternut, Pumpkin Seeds & Pine Nut Pâté with Tomato & Chilli Chutney, £2.50 each
Served alongside a generous hunk of bread, these vibrant pâtés are a great way to commence a lunch or dinner, while the Moroccan Mushroom & Chickpea Pittas are a warming appetiser to pique hunger.
The main event:
Vegan Root En Croute, £5.99 for two
These crisp puff pastry delights, housing roasted carrots marinated in smoky paprika and dill with a creamy spinach sauce, have the added benefit of also being vegan. For vegetarians, the Vegetarian Mushroom Cavolo Nero & Mascarpone Parcels (£6.99 for two) are also a worthy contender.
To wrap things up:
Vegan Elderflower, Raspberry & Blackcurrant Jelly, £4
If you’re after a light and refreshing dessert to round off your Christmas meal, look no further than this striking centrepiece. The subtle elderflower notes make it wonderfully light – and kids will love it too!
Anything else?
Waitrose is the place to head for all the trimmings this year, from crispy Vegan Roast Potatoes (£2.50 for 450g) to Vegan Streaky Slices, made from seitan, (£1.99) and a rich, porcini mushroom and port vegetarian gravy (£2.19).
Sainsbury’s
To start:
Taste the Difference Asian Festive Vegetable Selection, £4
Take inspiration from the East this Christmas by kicking off proceedings with Sainsbury’s Asian festive selection, and a bao bun selection (£4): deliciously different.
The main event:
by Sainsbury’s No Beef Wellington, £7
This tasty main contains a mushroom, parsnip and seitan loaf and a spinach and port filling encased in golden, crisp pastry. Don’t forget to serve with a side of by Sainsbury’s Pups in Blankets (£3).
To wrap things up:
by Sainsbury’s Raspberry and Clementine Snowflake Jelly, £4
This vegan jelly perfectly balances tartness and sweetness, and is a brilliant way to round off a generous lunch.
Anything else?
Sainsbury’s Jewelled Root Vegetable Wreath with a Mixed Berry Sauce (£7.50) is quite the Christmas showstopper. With cranberries, pomegranate seeds and pumpkin seeds sitting atop a chestnut, sweet potato and butternut squash base, it’s guaranteed to impress your guests no end.
More to explore…
For vegan pastry, head to Aldi. There you’ll find a Specially Selected Vegan Centrepiece, filled with chestnut mushrooms and butternut squash for just £3.99, as well as pastry crowns and parcels for £2.99 and vegan lattices for £1.49. Aldi is also selling vegan stuffing balls (choose between sage and onion or spiced apple and ruby port) for £2.49.
Highlights from Asda include vegan party food such as Bombay Potato Croquettes (£2), a Vegan Wellington with a red wine gravy, and for dessert, Extra Special Golden Vegan Swirls (£3) which contains a vegan caramel and chocolate mousse encased in a chocolate shell.
Lidl has a fun range of veggie-friendly desserts, including a Deluxe Chocolate Cottage (£6.99), featuring a chocolate mousse, salted caramel sauce, accompanied by a chocolate pouring sauce.
For festive finger food with a twist, don’t miss: Iceland’s No Bull Burger Sliders (£4) – mini plant-based cheeseburgers with pumpkin in place of cheese, and the No Duck Spring Rolls, which are loaded with jackfruit and hoisin sauce (£2).
