13 Festive Dishes for a Vegetarian Christmas Dinner
Feeding vegetarians at Christmas dinner? These special-occasion recipes will be big hits with omnivores, too.
Annabelle Breakey
Annabelle Breakey
Christmas may be coming, and the proverbial goose may be getting fat … but that doesn’t mean you have to eat it. Meatless holidays are becoming more and more popular, especially at Christmas, where the menu isn’t as carved in stone as the turkey/stuffing/pumpkin pie combo that’s become canon at Thanksgiving.
While it’s easy to feel that Christmas dinner has to revolve around a goose, or a turkey, or a slab of roasted red meat, really the essence of a holiday feast is that the centerpiece be a dish large and hearty enough to share. Any of the recipes below will fit that bill. If you’re normally a meat-eater and worried that “vegetarian” really means “Spartan and unsatisfying,” cast those fears aside because these recipes are full of delicious goodness. (Also butter and cream, although there are always tricks and swaps you can implement to keep flavor levels high while cutting the richness a little.)
The holidays are an over-the-top time of year, so no matter what holiday you’re observing, serve your vegetarian guests a decadent feast worth celebrating.
Great Vegetarian Dishes to Anchor Your Holiday Meal
Mushroom and Fresh Herb Lasagna
It takes a little time to cook the rich béchamel (white sauce), concentrate the flavors in the mushrooms, and assemble the lasagna, but the results are worth it.
Recipe: Mushroom and Fresh Herb Lasagna
Ultimate Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Typically macaroni and cheese is made with milk but here we’re using wine instead. You’ll love the creamy fondue-like sauce that results. Buttery breadcrumbs add just the right amount of crunch.
Recipe: Ultimate Mac ‘n’ Cheese
Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi
There’s a hefty amount of spinach in these gnocchi—which for us justifies the indulgent brown-butter sauce. Shape and freeze the gnocchi ahead, so at dinnertime you can just boil them and make the sauce.
Recipe: Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi
Whole-Wheat Lasagna with Butternut Squash and Kale
Bags of pre-cubed and peeled butternut squash are a great short-cut for this hearty dish.
Giant Butternut Squash Ravioli
Use sheets of fresh pasta to make these meltingly delicious yet healthy ravioli from cookbook author Martha Rose Shulman.
Recipe: Giant Butternut Sqaush Ravioli
Sweet-Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Spinach
This spectacular main dish will impress discerning vegetarians and omnivores alike.
Lentil Stew with Winter Vegetables
This hearty vegetarian stew is so satisfying that even the most devout of carnivores won’t miss the meat.
Flageolet Beans with Rosemary and Thyme
It takes just a few minutes to prep the ingredients for this flavorful pot of beans, then they simmer to tenderness in a slow-cooker.
Roasted Fall Vegetables with Lentils and Spices
This vegetarian dish is fragrant with garam masala, an Indian spice blend that typically includes black pepper and a mix of sweet and savory spices.
Sweet Potato and Gouda Gratin
This brilliant side dish (or vegetarian main, if made with vegetable broth) is a colorful version of scalloped potatoes. For richest flavor and color, look for deep-orange-fleshed sweet potatoes with skin that’s burnt orange to dark red. A food processor’s shredding disc and 2-mm. slicing blade make quick work of the cheese, sweet potatoes, and shallot.
Recipe: Sweet Potato and Gouda Gratin
Mustard Green and Fontina Filo Pie
Reminiscent of Greek spanakopita pastries, but with no individual shaping, this big filo pie is a snap to prepare. Cook down a big batch of mustard greens, layer them with robust cheese in between sheets of filo dough, and bake until golden and crisp.
Rainbow Chard with Chanterelles and Walnuts
Chanterelles accent the vibrant, knee-high chard in this recipe.
Turnips Anna
Pommes Anna, a classic French dish of thinly sliced potatoes, takes on an appealing sharpness in this turnip version. Although you can use any pie pans, metal ones brown the turnips most evenly; you’ll also need a handheld slicer.
Recipes: Turnips Anna
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