These Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes Are Ethical, Healthy, Festive, and—Above All—Delicious
Delicious dishes to satisfy vegans at Thanksgiving, from apps to mains to desserts.
Nicole Clausing and Sunset Staff
Thanksgiving, with its semi-set-in-stone menu, can seem like a daunting project to make vegan. Everything traditional, from the gelatinous cranberry sauce to pan-dripping gravy, oyster stuffing, and, of course, the canonical main dish of turkey all seem hopelessly meat-based.
There are two things to keep in mind when looking for vegan Thanksgiving options. The first is that many recipes can be made vegetarian or even vegan with a few simple swaps that don’t radically change the recipe. Vegetable or mushroom broth work just as well as chicken stock or beef bullion. (Just watch the salt—veggie broth tends to have a lot so you may have to adjust how much additional sodium you add.) Oil and vegetable shortening work just as well as butter, and with a few umami sources like mushrooms or caramelized onions, you won’t miss any richness.
The second thing to remember is that there are almost always alternative dishes you can serve. Don’t want oyster dressing? Try a mushroom-based one. Can’t see a way around bacon in the green beans? Try adding lemon and breadcrumbs. And as for the turkey? Yes, it’s traditional, but there’s no rule. Any hearty, tasty dish that can be made to feed a crowd will work. Thanksgiving is about sharing and appreciating what we have. All of the dishes below are so satisfying and rich in flavor that you’re sure to feel a real sense of bounty—and that’s definitely something to be thankful for. (And being able to host dinner for all your friends and family, regardless of their dietary choices? That’s priceless.)
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1 of 7Courtesy of Made In Cookware
Made In Cookware’s Blue Carbon Steel Roasting Pan
Cheaper than the competition and induction-burner-compatible.
2 of 7Courtesy of Willams Sonoma
Shun Classic Blonde 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Don’t bother with the single-purpose carving knife. Buy this chic, blonde, Pakawood-handled, Japanese-made chef’s knife that’s got all the ceremonial swagger but year-round usefulness.
3 of 7Courtesy of Sur la Table
John Boos Cutting Board
You’re going need that little juice groove. Made of antimicrobial maple, it’s handsome enough to use as a rustic serving platter.
4 of 7Courtesy of Filson
Filson Tin Cloth Apron
Sturdy and large enough to protect you from errant cranberry juice, spattering turkey fat, and spilled Pinot Noir.
5 of 7Courtesy of OXO
OXO 9-Inch Pie Plate with Lid
Slightly deeper than competition, this updated version of the classic glass pie plate also comes with a handy domed lid that’ll protect even the loftiest cream pies.
6 of 7Courtesy of Amazon
OXO Good Grips 4-Cup Fat Separator
Gotta love a fat separator for easily discarding the lipids while tidily reserving the drippings (which have about 10 times the flavor of the turkey itself). Plus it doubles as a measuring pitcher you can use the rest of the year.
7 of 7Courtesy of Anthropologie
How to Style Your Thanksgiving Table
The finishing touch your Thanksgiving feast needs might not be another pie—it might be one of these stylish and functional accessories.
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