Those who don’t eat foods of animal origin might feel a little left out during Christmas lunch; Discover dishes that will satisfy any vegan!
When planning the Christmas lunch begins, some dishes cannot be missed. The chester or turkey, which are the tastiest birds; tender, which is a type of pig’s back ham; and cod, usually in some creamy recipe, is also among these.
However, all of these foods are animal-based proteins. And what about vegans and vegetarians? For a Christmas with people who follow this eating style it is necessary to make some adaptations.
Fortunately, nowadays doing so is not that difficult, and there are several options to replace the classic meats used in Christmas dinner. So just choose the side dishes that fit this diet and all is well.
Subsequently, nutritionist Andrea Mosqueira analyzes these ideas for a vegan Christmas and gives advice for tasty dishes:
Alternatives to typical meats
There are several possible alternatives for the main classic Christmas meats, according to Mr. Lenha’s nutritionist.
The first of these is the vegan chester, which can be made with soy protein, seitan or mushrooms and closely resembles the shape of the traditional bird. “Roasted for a long time and with Christmas seasonings, the texture and flavor are very similar, and should also appeal to carnivores,” says the expert.
Another idea from Andrea is tofurky, an oven-baked tofu similar to a fillet, marinated and cooked at a low temperature. There is also cod with chickpeas, which replaces fish with vegetable proteins and, if cooked correctly, faithfully reproduces the texture and peculiar flavor of cod.
“An interesting point is that these alternatives go well beyond taste preferences and can be a smart decision for your wallet. Cod, for example, has a very high value at this time of year, while a kilo of chickpeas costs little, being available for less than R$15 reais”, adds the nutritionist.
Vegan and vegetarian side dishes
Many tasty vegan dishes go well with Christmas and can be different accompaniments to dinner. Andrea’s first indication on the matter would be risotto with mushrooms and aromatic herbsa sophisticated dish with creamy rice, fresh mushrooms (replacing animal proteins) and aromatic herbs.
Another idea is a roast vegetable, which with the right seasonings, like rosemary and garlic, feels like dinner. Lentils with pumpkin are a very nutritious alternative.
“Lentils offer a rich layer of nutrients and proteins. They are an excellent substitute for chicken, which is normally on the table at this time of year,” explains the professional. To finish the savory part, it is quite common to have some type of farofa. A vegan proposal is farofa with chestnuts, which is a reinterpretation of the classic version with chestnuts, dried fruit and condiments.
Thinking about dessert, a walnut cake, made with alternative ingredients (vegetable milk, oil, yeast, sugar and, obviously, dried fruit) is a safe choice.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
