Vegan Thanksgiving for One? Help!

[Anonymous]

For a side that fits the traditional meal but could be a vegan main, try (vegan) Boston baked beans. Side sides, roasted root vegetables don’t need butter to taste amazing. Dessert, pie is easy enough (for a fruit pie Crisco (or lard although that’s not relevant here) tastes far better than butter anyway and it’s easy enough to skip or substitute the Tbsp of butter in the filling) but if you are fussy like PPs fruit salad or one helping of specially made/purchased vegan cake or pudding should be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you ask the guest? I'm no longer vegan but when I was I would have gladly offered suggestions that were easy. Although honestly in these situations, I usually just brought my own main dish.

+1. Ask the guest! Vegans are usually used to the questions! Also a great way to find out what they would enjoy the most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should bring or make their own sides. Its a big ask for just one person.

Having one it two vegan sides is not asking a lot, especially since there are options that everyone can enjoy - roasted vegetables, salad. I agree that there is no need to make a ton of them. Or try to make vegan versions of everything. But how is it asking a lot to serve vegetables?

Really easy options:
- bag of ‘steam in the bag’ green beans.
- salad - buy a bag of pre chopped lettuce and some pre chopped vegetables (if you have a salad bar near you, just make a container of vegetables). Add vinaigrette.
- put potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables in a crock pot, add olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic and hit cook.
- heck microwave some frozen corn. Serve plain.

Lol, you really hate vegans, don’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you planning on one main, side and dessert that are vegan and everyone will eat? Or are they getting a special meal like on an airplane? There are many great vegan dishes for mains, sides and desserts that everyone would enjoy. Savory rice dish with vegetables, mushrooms, etc. Roasted squash casserole. Ratatouille. Any traditional vegetable side can be made vegan with olive oil. Any pie can be made vegan with vegan butter instead of butter. I’m sure your guest will appreciate your thoughtfulness and effort!

Absolutely not. Do not make your non vegan guests eat nasty processed fake vegan butter. It's Thanksgiving! Come up with an additional dessert that is vegan, but for goodness sake, let the pie be a real pie.

Do you think the milk based butter is not processed?

[Anonymous]

You could just go somewhere like Roots Markey and buy stuff-they have tons of options. The year I had one vegan, I prepared stuff as usual and then pulled out a portion before adding butter or whatever. It was honestly not a big deal at all. I think I bought a Tofurky or something similar and make a butter-less apple crisp.

[Anonymous]

***Roots Market!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you planning on one main, side and dessert that are vegan and everyone will eat? Or are they getting a special meal like on an airplane? There are many great vegan dishes for mains, sides and desserts that everyone would enjoy. Savory rice dish with vegetables, mushrooms, etc. Roasted squash casserole. Ratatouille. Any traditional vegetable side can be made vegan with olive oil. Any pie can be made vegan with vegan butter instead of butter. I’m sure your guest will appreciate your thoughtfulness and effort!

Absolutely not. Do not make your non vegan guests eat nasty processed fake vegan butter. It's Thanksgiving! Come up with an additional dessert that is vegan, but for goodness sake, let the pie be a real pie.

Do you think the milk based butter is not processed?

Udderly ridiculous. Meat and dairy comes from friendly cow magic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should bring or make their own sides. Its a big ask for just one person.

DP. Presumably, you like the vegan, and want them to be comfortable in your home.

OP, here are the vegan things on my menu (they're also GF).

Hot Honey Sweet Potatoes (https://www.theendlessmeal.com/hot-honey-sweet-potatoes/#wprm-recipe-container-53120 ; sub vegan butter for regular butter)

Butternut Squash Soup (https://food52.com/recipes/32241-thomas-keller-s-butternut-soup-with-brown-butter-sage-and-nutmeg-creme-fraiche; Omit the browned butter step, no one cared; serve creme fraiche on the side)

Serve the soup with this easy crusty bread. Make the dough 2-3 days ahead of time for best flavor: (https://www.recipetineats.com/easy-yeast-bread-recipe-no-knead/#wprm-recipe-container-43976)

Roasted Vegetables with Dukkah (https://beyondmeresustenance.com/roasted-vegetables-with-dukkah/#wprm-recipe-container-8778)

Autumn Glow Salad with Lemon Dressing (https://pinchofyum.com/autumn-glow-salad-with-lemon-dressing)

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thank you so much! These are wonderful ideas. I love my vegan guest, a young family member who I want to please.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I would make a vegan stuffed bread. I found this good vegan bread recipe. Make a vegan stuffing mix (there are several recipes out there), stuff it and then make it into the turkey shape like the video below.

Vegan bread: https://beplantwell.com/homemade-vegan-bread/

How to shape like a turkey (it's easy):
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=293086156003909

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should bring or make their own sides. Its a big ask for just one person.

DP. Presumably, you like the vegan, and want them to be comfortable in your home.

OP, here are the vegan things on my menu (they're also GF).

Hot Honey Sweet Potatoes (https://www.theendlessmeal.com/hot-honey-sweet-potatoes/#wprm-recipe-container-53120 ; sub vegan butter for regular butter)

Butternut Squash Soup (https://food52.com/recipes/32241-thomas-keller-s-butternut-soup-with-brown-butter-sage-and-nutmeg-creme-fraiche; Omit the browned butter step, no one cared; serve creme fraiche on the side)

Serve the soup with this easy crusty bread. Make the dough 2-3 days ahead of time for best flavor: (https://www.recipetineats.com/easy-yeast-bread-recipe-no-knead/#wprm-recipe-container-43976)

Roasted Vegetables with Dukkah (https://beyondmeresustenance.com/roasted-vegetables-with-dukkah/#wprm-recipe-container-8778)

Autumn Glow Salad with Lemon Dressing (https://pinchofyum.com/autumn-glow-salad-with-lemon-dressing)

Hope this helps.

DP

These sound amazing.

Vegan pie ideas

Chocolate pie made with silken tofu
https://food52.com/recipes/25316-vegan-chocolate-pie

Pumpkin cheesecake

https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1015404-vegan-pumpkin-cheesecake?unlocked_article_code=1.-0w.Jldn.iEsK73HDxeqg&smid=share-url

Lemon pie

https://lovingitvegan.com/vegan-lemon-pie/

[Anonymous]

Whole Foods has a vegan loaf you can order

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should bring or make their own sides. Its a big ask for just one person.

Having one it two vegan sides is not asking a lot, especially since there are options that everyone can enjoy - roasted vegetables, salad. I agree that there is no need to make a ton of them. Or try to make vegan versions of everything. But how is it asking a lot to serve vegetables?

Really easy options:
- bag of ‘steam in the bag’ green beans.
- salad - buy a bag of pre chopped lettuce and some pre chopped vegetables (if you have a salad bar near you, just make a container of vegetables). Add vinaigrette.
- put potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables in a crock pot, add olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic and hit cook.
- heck microwave some frozen corn. Serve plain.

Lol, you really hate vegans, don’t you?

Lol- No! This was in response to someone saying vegans should bring their own sides. Just pointing out there are simple options- not saying they are going to win awards. I am also used to a very “plain” thanksgiving food, as my mom insists on cooking and uses no to little seasoning. We are all tortured, not just my vegan sister. I sometimes forget others get to enjoy flavor on thanksgiving.

[Anonymous]

Baked potatoes — russet or sweet are solid options.

Roasted butternut squash with rosemary, salt and pepper (and olive oil) is an easy option.


Soups work too.

[Anonymous]

We have this every year in our family. I buy a small pumpkin, cut off the top and hollow it out and fill with canned vegan lentil stew. I usually add some extra chopped fancy mushrooms and fresh herbs but I don’t have it in me to make a whole extra thing. I put the top back on the pumpkin, wrap the whole thing in foil and bake for like 45 min. I also have a vegan form of bread or roll on the table (sourdough is often vegan) as well as a salad with lots of nuts and berries maple vinaigrette.

For dessert, our vegan has a fav pie so we buy or make a vegan version of that (apple) and appetizers are easy enough: crudités and hummus or bean dip.