In order to appreciate what a Vegan Christmas looks and feels like, we need to understand the principles of veganism. Veganism espouses the elimination of use of animal products. Dietary vegans apply this practice on their diet only while ethical vegans apply the practice in all aspects of life including clothes, cosmetics, and even in forms of entertainment, among many. Vegans are also guided by the concept of avoiding violence against living things.
If we think about it, it should be fairly easy to follow veganism principles until we discover for ourselves how extensive animal participation has become in human daily lives. Upon closer inspection, we will find animal derivatives even in some vegetarian food and in seemingly innocent-looking products such as shoes, bags, jewelries, and household items. There is something more than meets the eye when veganism is sought as a lifestyle. Dietary vegans are best described as non-dairy vegetarians who likewise oppose the use of eggs as food. This is of course because of the animal origins of both dairy products and eggs. This was the basis of the original Vegan Society which eventually included the doctrine of non-exploitation of animals. That said, we are now ready to venture into a Vegan Christmas.
Christmas is and always will be associated with food. Since the usual center of a Christmas dinner is the turkey, we might as well find a fitting substitute for it as well as other Christmas gastronomic delights. The key word here is substitution rather than elimination of tradition.
Christmas Pudding
7 oz (200g) vegan margarine
2 tbsp black treacle
3 1/2 oz (100g) breadcrumbs
3 1/2 oz (100g) whole meal flour
3 tbsp baking powder
3 1/2 oz (100g) dried apricots, chopped
3 1/2 oz (100g) prunes, chopped
10 1/2 oz (300g) mixture of currants, sultanas & raisins
3 1/2 oz (100g) soft brown sugar
1 cooking apple, grated finely
1 medium carrot, grated finely
3 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
Juice and grated rind of 1 lemon
3 tbsp sherry
1. Cream the margarine and treacle together.
2. Add all the other ingredients and mix well to a soft dropping consistency.
3. Grease a basin well and fill with the mixture leaving about 2 1/2 cm free from the top to allow for rising. Cover with greaseproof paper and aluminum foil and secure with string.
4. Place in a saucepan and pour in boiling water halfway up the sides of the basin. Simmer gently for 5 hours, topping up the water as necessary.
5. Once cooked the pudding can be kept cold until needed. Steam for 2 hours more before serving.
Easy Nut Roast
1 medium sized onion or 1 small leek, chopped
1 fl oz (30 ml) vegetable oil
2 tsp (10 ml) yeast extract in 1/4 pint hot water
8 oz (225g) chopped mixed nuts
2 tbsp ground almonds
4 oz (100g) whole meal breadcrumbs
1 tbsp sage
Pinch cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1. Sauté the onion or leek in the oil until soft but not browned.
2. Combine all of the ingredients together; the mixture may be slightly slack. Turn into an oiled ovenproof dish and bake in oven at 180C/350F/gas mark 4 for 30 minutes until golden brown. Serves 4-6
Turkey Roast
• 1 lb firm or extra-firm Tofu, frozen & thawed & gently pressed dry
• 1 quart water
• 1/4 cup vegan chicken bouillon powder
• 1 Tbsp vegan beef bouillon powder
• 1 tsp sugar or Sucanat
• 1/2 tsp celery seed
• 1 10-oz can Chinese Braised Gluten (chai pow yu), or 10 oz Seitan, drained
• 6 - 8 slices thick bread, made into crumbs
• Vegan chicken broth (reserved from cooking Tofu)
Slice or dice Tofu.
Put water, bouillons, sugar, and celery seed in a pot.
Bring to boil.
Add Tofu.
Turn down to simmer.
Simmer for 30 minutes.
Drain Tofu, reserving broth.
Put Tofu and Gluten into processor.
Process to a chunky paste.
Put in bowl.
Add breadcrumbs until a mixture is obtained that can be formed into a loaf.
Pack into a loaf pan or form into a loaf on a baking sheet.
Bake covered for 30 minutes at 350 F, basting with broth occasionally.
Cool and slice.
Serve with gravy.
Holiday Stew
• 1 C wild rice
• 1 C lentils
• 1 C barley
• 1 C brown rice
• About 10-12 C water or vegan broth (add more if needed)
• 3 potatoes, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1-2 onions, chopped
• about 8 oz mushrooms, chopped
• Any other preferred root veggies
• at least 1/4 C (dry, or fresh equivalent) of a combo of these seasonings:
salt, pepper, coriander seed, celery seed, basil, oregano, cloves, rosemary, etc.
• A couple bay leaves
• A few cloves of crushed garlic
Throw it all in a pot, cook on high until boiling, turn down and simmer for about 1-2 hours, serve.
Vegan Christmas dinners should not be totally wrapped up in replicating non-vegan dishes since there are so many original vegan dishes that can stand on their own merits and provide an unforgettable dinner experience that will be talked about for many Christmases to come. The possibilities are unlimited as vegans embark on their own plant-based concoctions and creations.
Baked Red Cabbage & Apple
1 tbsp rapeseed or other vegetable oil
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 large red cabbage
1 medium cooking apple
1-2 pints (1/2-1litre) apple juice
Maple syrup/sugar - optional
1. Fry the onions in the oil until soft. Finely shred the cabbage and core and chop the apple. Add to the pan and fry for a few minutes.
2. Add the apple juice. Don't cover the cabbage, put enough to cover quarter to half of it, otherwise you get too much juice. Add more later if necessary.
3. Cook until the cabbage is tender, stirring every few minutes. This will take about an hour. If necessary, sweeten to taste with maple syrup or sugar.
To make preparations a lot easier, there are ready-made vegan products that can be purchased as part of the Christmas fare such as the Tofurkey which is a fake meat product prepared from fresh tofu which looks like and tastes like a regular turkey. Other vegan food products that can be included in a simple Christmas table are nut roast, vegan cheeses, and vegan Christmas pudding. Mince pies of the vegan variety are also widely available in supermarkets and various food stores.
A complete vegan meal should make use of vegan ingredients from start to finish which includes the starter, main course, side dish, dessert, and the drinks. Most non-alcoholic drinks are suitable for vegans with the exception of those drinks containing animal by-product ingredients such as gelatin, cochineal, and shellac. Alcoholic drinks that have been clarified through substances derived from animals such as beer, cider, and wine are not suitable for vegans. The most common clarifiers for alcoholic drinks are gelatin, isinglass, casein, chitosan, and egg albumen. The Vegan Society has a list of wines which are considered suitable.
Besides the food, a vegan Christmas cannot be complete without the decorations. Decorating the vegan way should be easy enough as long as you stay away from materials obtained from animals such as fur, leather, pearls, and others. A real Christmas tree is an obvious choice which can be decorated by plant-based items. Any living plant can be adorned or used to adorn a Christmas setting, providing a homemade and nostalgic feel. Poinsettias are always popular especially for decorative purposes at this time of the year.
When decorating for a vegan Christmas, inspiration can be obtained from Christmases of long past rather than from modern ones. These were the times that people relied more on nature for home accents such as the advent wreath and the mistletoe. Edible decorations made from purely plant-based ingredients can be considered such as apples, oranges, carrots, and other colorful fruits and vegetables.
Vegans are not less stylish than non-vegans even if they shun the use of animal-based products including leather, silk, wool, fur, alpaca, angora, and mohair. The preferred fabrics or materials are plant-based as well such as cotton. The limitation of material extends to shoes, bags, wallets, and other personal accessories.
Gifts may also be something to think over more carefully when the intended recipient is a vegan. Again, the safest bet is to stay away from anything that is derived from animals. With this in mind, you cannot go wrong.
So we have food, decoration, clothes, and gifts but we still have something else to prepare for. This is providing the right ambiance for a Christmas vegan dinner. Everything should be light and natural. There should be no extraordinary pressure to force veganism on others. It is enough that family and friends know that someone is a practicing vegan and that respect is given to both vegan and non-vegan views. This is not a time for hot debates but of quiet acceptance of individual choices.
A vegan host can use the opportunity to introduce the option of veganism by employing means to put it in a better light through deeper understanding. Some people avoid a certain practice because of misinformation or lack of information. The practicing vegan can be making the guests a favor by introducing them to the flexibility and variations of veganism.
A vegan guest in a non-vegan Christmas dinner should think ahead and bring some vegan treats for him/her and to share just in case the party does not offer any suitable vegan option. There is no sense in suffering through dinner without food and spoil the occasion for everyone. Vegans must realize that not all people are familiar with the principles of veganism.
Christmas is the season to be happy and this can happen if a person is at peace with personal choices, attains a healthy state of body and mind, and knows his/her role pertaining to other living things and the environment. In fact, this happiness can extend throughout the year as long as one follows choices based on personal belief and principles instead of fad and fashion. The successful practice of veganism is more than enough reason to rejoice because it is not an easy thing to do. It becomes easier and more rewarding through time.