With more and more folks eating for health and to reduce their carbon footprint there are more vegans out there than ever before it seems. Add to that the number of people who don’t consume milk due to allergies and sensitivities and you’ve got a lot of people at the holiday table who won’t want to eat things with any meat, milk, or cheese in the recipe. In my family we often have savory dishes that go well with cheese and then people can add some regular or vegan cheese on top. But, the 8 recipes below don’t even need any sort of special toppings because they simply are delicious as is. Make any of these tasty vegan recipes for the next potluck or holiday meal and watch as those with special diets delight in some tasty food they can actually enjoy.
8) Pumpkin Spice Sweet Potato Fries
Lots of people love sweet potatoes at the holidays, but that sweet casserole with the milk and the butter isn’t always the best option. These pumpkin pie sweet potato fries are coated in a sultry blend of pumpkin pie spice and cayenne pepper for an interesting and flavorful kick. Serve them with our pumpkin ketchup for even more zing (also vegan). Find the ketchup recipe here and the fries recipe here.
7) Easy Vegan Lemon Squares
Making tasty vegan baked goods can sometimes be a challenge, but this recipe comes out great, with a tangy and bright flavor supported by a rich crust. This is the type of lemon square you’d find at any bake sale or church supper, but vegan-ized. And, it’s so easy to make. Get the recipe here.
6) Julia Child’s Ratatouille
She was perhaps the greatest chef of the 20th century and brought the idea of international cooking to the average American. With all the beef, duck, chicken, and fish she regularly cooked (and sometimes butchered live) on TV, you might not expect that one of her most famous recipes is actually vegan. But, her ratatouille is basically just thinly sliced veggies arranged prettily in an herb tomato sauce. It’s hard to knock a dish that’s so simple and yet so classic. Get the recipe here.
5) Brown Sugar Poached Pears
Vegan desserts can be a real head scratcher, but they don’t have to be. Much like Julia Child’s ratatouille, this traditional poached pears recipe is not only a European staple dessert, but it’s also vegan. This one uses honey, which some vegans don’t eat. You can substitute maple syrup or simply double the amount of brown sugar and leave out the honey if you’re unsure if your vegan guests eat honey. Get the recipe here.
4) Extra Crispy Roasted Potatoes
When you want something that really satisfies there’s nothing quite like the crispy edges of a perfectly-cooked potato. Make a whole pan of these taters and you’ve got one happy family at the table. The magic is is cooking them twice. Get the recipe here.
3) 3-ingredient Almond Cookies
With so many complicated cookies and cakes floating around at the holidays, it’s lovely to bite into a very straightforward cookie like this one. Cripsy on the outside, what you taste is the pure flavor of almonds and sugar. Plus, this recipe only has 3 ingredients and is super easy to make. Get the recipe here.
2) No-knead Olive Bread
Listen, I’ve spent a fair amount of time with vegans and something that has always gone over well is a loaf of olive bread. The black olives keep it interesting and add flavor, while the egg- and dairy-free dough means no one has to feel guilty about a thing. Plus this bread comes out extra crusty on the outside, perfect for slicing. Serve with olive oil or vegan butter for the ultimate side starch. Get the recipe here.
1) Irish Potato and Onion Soup
When you want a good, plain, comforting soup this one serves well. You can add spices, or vegan cheese or sour cream to the top or enjoy as is. It’s almost got a creaminess thanks to a roux of olive oil and flour you make before the other ingredients go in. This one is fantastic with the olive bread above! Get the recipe here.
