If you don’t eat meat for ethical or health reasons, here are some delicious vegetarian recipes to bring to the table at Christmas too
It’s very close to Christmas now. It’s time to think about the menu to bring to the table. If for ethical or health reasons you don’t eat meat, there are so many vegetarian recipes available to you, so delicious and tasty that you won’t regret other dishes. From appetizers to desserts, you can choose recipes that are also quite quick to prepare. You can even start making some of them the day before. Anyone who thinks that vegetarian is synonymous with boring hasn’t tasted these dishes yet. You will delight everyone, adults and children.
The dishes recall various culinary traditions, from polenta and canederli typically from the north to batter and chicory which are very popular in Rome and Lazio.
Here are our suggestions for a vegetarian Christmas menu that will make you lick your chops.
Appetizers
Fruit and cheese platter
A fruit and cheese platter is the perfect idea for Christmas: elegant, colorful and suitable for all tastes. Combine mature cheeses such as Parmesan or Pecorino with creamy cheeses such as Brie or Gorgonzola, accompanying them with fresh seasonal fruit such as pomegranate, figs, grapes and oranges, and dried fruit such as walnuts and almonds. Add honey or jam for a sweet touch, and decorate with rosemary sprigs for a festive atmosphere.
Polenta canapés with radicchio and hazelnuts
A delicious seasonal appetizer. You can also use pre-cooked corn flour. An appetizer with a delicate flavour. To prepare polenta canapés with radicchio and hazelnuts you will only need these three ingredients, in addition to the condiments. Here is the recipe to take inspiration from.
Cauliflower pancakes in batter
What Christmas is without a nice plate of vegetables or battered vegetables? We have chosen cauliflower for you, preparing these delicious cauliflower pancakes in batter.
Edible Christmas centrepiece: pizza garland
Beautiful to look at and good to eat, the garland pizza is perfect for decorating Christmas tables. At the same time it is simple to prepare. A true concentrate of healthy ingredients, such as turmeric and flax seeds.
Bruschetta with confit tomatoes and stracciatella
Bruschettas with confit tomatoes and stracciatella represent a delicious combination of the sweet and succulent flavor of slowly cooked tomatoes, the enveloping creaminess of stracciatella and the crunchiness of toasted pine nuts, offering a refined and satisfying gastronomic experience.
Carpaccio of beetroot, rocket and feta
The thin slices of beetroot, with their sweet and delicately earthy flavour, go perfectly with the strong and slightly spicy flavor of the rocket. For an extra touch, add cubes of feta and chopped walnuts, which enrich the combination with creamy and crunchy notes. A simple dressing made with olive oil, fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt completes the dish, enhancing each natural flavor.
First
Artichoke lasagna
Tired of the same old lasagna? Try this delicate artichoke lasagna, strictly with homemade bechamel. And if you have any leftovers, which is difficult given that they are really excellent, you can heat them up and eat them the next day too. If you want to choose others instead variations of vegetarian lasagnahere you will find our other tasty recipes.
Pumpkin gnocchi
A colorful and unusual first course, these pumpkin gnocchi are prepared with just two ingredients. A spectacle for the eyes but also for the palate. More here recipes for seasoning gnocchi
Polenta cake with radicchio
It is possible to prepare this radicchio polenta cake well in advance and serve it either reheated or at room temperature. In this version the polenta cake is flavored with del vegetable grain and of theextra virgin olive oil.
Red beetroot gnocchi
To prepare these beetroot gnocchi, simply add some red beetroot to your traditional potato gnocchi recipe. Here are 10 gnocchi recipes. For the sauce, the beetroot gnocchi go perfectly with a cream of gorgonzola and chopped walnuts, where the intense flavor of the cheese balances with the sweetness of the beetroot and the crunchiness of the walnuts. Or, try seasoning them with melted butter, sage and a sprinkling of parmesan: a simple but rich mix of aromas that enhances the delicate taste of the gnocchi.
Second courses and side dishes
Tomato seitan meatballs
Tomato seitan meatballs are a culinary delicacy that harmonises the succulent texture of seitan with the enveloping richness of tomato sauce. A satisfying taste experience in which the inviting aroma of the tomato delicately embraces the meatballs, giving a unique culinary pleasure. Here you will find the recipe to follow step by step.
Seitan with mushrooms and truffle
Here is a simple and delicious vegan recipe with fresh seasonal mushrooms, perfect for an impromptu dinner that will conquer the palates of your friends. By replacing meat with seitan, a high-protein food derived from soft wheat gluten or cereals such as spelled or Kamut, you will obtain a second course that is not only tasty but also substantial. Accompany it with an excellent organic red wine for a perfect combination of flavors and gastronomic pleasure. Here is the complete recipe.
Potato pie with cabbage salad
This is a dish that can also be prepared the day before. Cooking in a bain-marie will give the potato pie with cabbage salad a soft and velvety consistency which contrasts with the crunchiness of the cabbage. Here is the recipe to follow step by step.
Vegetarian meatloaf with homemade worchester sauce
Made with potatoes and lentils, all flavored with homemade worchester sauce. A perfect recipe for special occasions, also suitable for children. This homemade vegetarian meatloaf can be prepared in advance and can then be served either hot or at room temperature.
You may also be interested in others vegetarian roast recipes or others vegetarian second course recipes.
Baked potatoes: recipes for making them crispy, au gratin or stuffed
Choose the recipe you prefer, perhaps opting for one of these original variations, gratinated with vegetables, with onion or stuffed. Potatoes can never be missing! Here are some recipes to take inspiration from.
THEPuntarelle salad: step by step recipe
A typical side dish of the Roman tradition, chicory requires a slightly longer and more demanding preparation because the tops of the chicory need to be removed, then soaked in cold water so that they can lose some of their bitter taste and become curled. Everything will then be seasoned with garlic and oil.
You may be interested in others seasonal side dish recipes
Purple cabbage salad
Here is an easy and perfect recipe for summer dinner, ideal for enjoying raw vegetables in a salad, with purple cabbage as the protagonist. To prepare it, you will need a small purple cabbage, clementines or oranges, apples and walnuts. For the dressing, we recommend orange or lemon juice for a fresh, citrusy touch. Finely slice a small purple cabbage, add wedges of clementines or oranges, apple cubes and chopped walnuts. Season with orange or lemon juice, a drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt. Mix well and serve.
Sweets
Gingerbread: the recipe for Christmas ginger biscuits
Quickly baked in the oven, gingerbread men are flaky and simple. The procedure is the same as a classic shortcrust pastry. If you can, prepare them with the children, they will definitely have fun.
Chocolate cake with soft heart
Is your mouth watering yet? How can I blame you! Leave some room for dessert, as this chocolate cake with a soft center deserves it. Here’s the trick to getting a warm and soft heart.
Pandoro: the recipe with sourdough and durum wheat (or Kamut)
Why buy pandoroo when we can prepare it at home with sourdough? It’s already time to get to work as several refreshments are needed. It requires some effort but the result will pay off. Here is the recipe to follow step by step.
Here you can discover the vegan pandoro recipethe vegan panettone recipe with sourdough and the panettone with chocolate chips.
Chocolate truffles
Chocolate truffles can be served at the end of the meal with coffee, these little delights will give you the final blow, fitting into that tiny space in your stomach that has remained miraculously empty. And if there are any leftovers, they can be eaten as a snack together with tea and herbal teas.
Chocolate salami
Chocolate salami can also be prepared first and then served both at Christmas and during the holidays. It is one of the most loved desserts and compared to others it has the advantage of being prepared without an oven. We offer you the recipe without eggs and sugar but you can also choose to prepare the classic recipe or other variations of chocolate salami.
Fruit
Fruit Christmas tree to decorate the table: step by step tutorial
A very pretty edible centerpiece that is simple to prepare to give a touch of joy to the holiday table and serve fruit in an original way. You can also choose to make miniature single portions of this fruit Christmas tree.
Christmas tree made with kiwi and pomegranate
Prepare a nice one Christmas tree with kiwi and pomegranate: slice the kiwis into rounds and arrange them on a large plate, starting from the base in wider rows until they form the shape of a tree. Use pomegranate seeds to decorate as if they were Christmas baubles. Top with a star cut from a starfruit or pineapple slice on the tip. Perfect as a light dessert or as an edible decoration for the holiday table.
