These days, lots of people have turned towards vegetarian and vegan eating for different (and very good) reasons. This holiday season, you too can be the vegetarian host(ess) with the most(est)—without reinventing the wheel. So keep reading for our 5 tips on how to plan a vegetarian feast that won’t leave you frazzled, or any of your guests leaving hungry.
If you’ve got your hands full with holiday prep this year, here are some items you can pick up at Rachelle-Béry to make your holidays merrier, brighter, and a whole lot easier! Plus, they’re perfect for your vegetarian guests.
What is vegetarianism, exactly?
Vegetarianism is all about abstaining from animal meat, including fish, and instead using plants as a protein source. That said, there are different kinds of vegetarians out there:- Pescatarians: people who refrain from eating meat, but fish and seafood are fair game.
- Lacto-ovo vegetarians: folks who also don’t eat meat, but do consume dairy and eggs.
What are the benefits?
- A lower saturated fat and cholesterol intake
- A happier planet, since producing plant protein requires far fewer resources than meat production and there’s a lot less pollution involved
- Respect for animal life
1. Have ready-to-eat options on hand
No need to bend over backwards to provide friends with a vegetarian spread. If you’re low on time, you can always pick up ready-to-eat options. Rachelle-Béry has so many on offer, including Gusta’s Vegan Festive Loaf which, if we do say so ourselves, the turkey version has nothing on. The seitan-based loaf is a delectable vegetarian side dish and comes with its very own gravy. Just pop it in the oven, drizzle with sauce prior to serving, and you’re done!2. Lean into protein
All too often, when someone who is cooking vegetarian isn’t one themself, they forget to add protein, and probably because they aren’t aware of what’s available. Please know that there are 1,001 protein-packed ingredients that you can use in your holiday dishes! Tofu, legumes, nuts, Greek yogurt, cheese, and grains are just a few of the many options to choose from. Just pick the protein that works the best for the dish you’re featuring, and you’re set! For folks with less experience, a quick Google search can help you find one of the many delicious protein-filled veggie recipes out there—all you gotta do is stay open to culinary inspiration!
3. Get inspired by other cultures
Vegetarian cooking is widespread in other parts of the world, which means there’s a lot of variety recipe-wise. Some ideas to get you started: chickpea curry, coconut stir fry, and Asian-inspired tofu kebabs with caramelized onion. Yum!4. Veggify the classics
The holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in delicious food and fabulous company. To transform the yuletide classics into a vegetarian comfort food feast, simply switch out the traditional animal protein with a new plant-based alternative. Here are a few of our suggestions:- Vegan Lentil & Millet Tourtière
- Pudding au pain aux champignons
- Vegan Meatball Stew
- Kale Quiche with Millet Crust
5. Add visual appeal
Remember: we eat with our eyes, too! To get your guests’ taste buds ready for what’s about to happen, make sure you set an appetizing table with varied colours and textures. Vegetables in ring-, ribbon-, and julienne-form will up the holiday ante. Use your imagination to plate your dishes in unexpected ways, like serving up soup in Mason jars and delivering your cucumber tartare to guests in a shot glass, for instance. It’s your show!Fun fact
If you think vegetarianism is a recent trend, think again! In Ancient Greece, it was referred to as “the vegetable regimen”. Many of history’s most famous names were vegetarians, including Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, and Albert Einstein.Gusta’s Vegan Festive Loaf
La cuisine de Jean-Philippe’s Millet Tourtière
