Vegetarian Christmas dinner

[Anonymous]

Just not feeling like a big slab of meat this year, especially with the 5 of us (3 kids).

What are vegetarians making?

[Anonymous]

Our vegetarian won’t be here for Xmas this year, but we always make her something red and green. Tomato/mozzarella tart with a basil garlic crust (Jack Bishop), or cucumber boats stuffed with tomatoes/pine nuts/garrotxa (Jose Andres), or raclette (with cornichon and red peppers and/or cherry tomatoes) or tomato/piquillo peppers/goat cheese gratin with a green salad. Her stuff often also works as an appetizer or side for omnivores. If it’s the main event, I’d go for the tart (pretty) or raclette (fun).

[Anonymous]

We're making a festive harvest loaf (also called a lentil loaf), white mashed potatoes (we like mixing white and sweet mashed potatoes together) and green beans with toasted almonds.

[Anonymous]

We’re not vegetarians, but we’re skipping the prime rib this year and doing vegetable lasagna with green salad and garlic bread.

[Anonymous]

A savory tart is always festive and nice. Also, a pretty salad: I’m making Brussels sprouts slaw with pomegranate.

[Anonymous]

We are having ham, but if I were doing vegetarian Christmas dinner:
-Roasted vegetable tart on puff pastry base, green salad, maybe a butternut apple soup

Or

-Vegetarian appetizers (mushroom puffs, wedges of galette, labneh with zaatar and pomegranate seeds, cheese plate)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re not vegetarians, but we’re skipping the prime rib this year and doing vegetable lasagna with green salad and garlic bread.

+1
We are vegetarians and we do lasagna every year. My H cooks a ton of stuff for Thanksgiving so we take it easy on Christmas.

[Anonymous]

For Christmas Eve we are doing baked Mac and Cheese. Entree for the vegetarian and some other people who love it and side for he meat eaters.

For Christmas Dinner we are making empanadas, and one will be asparagus, favs beans and goat cheese. Plus a salad.

[Anonymous]

Ina Garten mac and cheese and her corn pudding, spinach mashed potatoes, spanikopita, crescent rolls, yeast rolls, pumpkin pie (bring on the carbs!)

[Anonymous]

i would do a decadent mushroom strata/

[Anonymous]

Vegetarian lasagna sounds good! Favorite recipes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Vegetarian lasagna sounds good! Favorite recipes?

The key to a good lasagna is in the sauce. The cheese is basically ricotta, mozzarella, parmigiana, or you can play with cheeses you like (always do full fat). Some parsley, and an egg for the ricotta mixture.

I make a sauce with:
- crushed tomatoes
- lots of tomato paste
- oregano
- basil
- salt
- crushed red pepper (lots if you like a kick)
- fresh onion
- fresh garlic
- sneak in other chopped veggies if you like (bell peppers, maybe a little spinach or even carrot)
- olive oil
- a touch of sugar or balsamic
- I use very lean ground beef, but you could skip it entirely or add a vegetarian substitute. Go full fat on all the cheeses, but lean meat or meat substitute

and let it simmer good and long. or make it the day before!

[Anonymous]

Bean and veggie pot pie
Salad
Soup

[Anonymous]

I love lasagna, but am not a huge fan of ricotta. I always make lasagna with bechamel and parmigiano cheese, make sure to use the real stuff and not pre-shredded either. The fillings vary seasonally and will include another cheese usually. My winter “flavor” would be mixed mushrooms - I’d splurge for a good mix of different kinds - with shallots, thyme and taleggio cheese.

[Eli_whitney]

(1) Mushroom and green pepper stir fry with minced garlic (2) Lentil dal (any lentils cooked either in an instapot or stove top (add salt after its done), lightly seasoned with spring onions, cumene, black pepper fried in a tablespoon of olive oil or unsalted butter (3) Steamed white rice and (4) Greek yogurt on the side from Trader Joes

Another favorite recipe for Christmas that is very simple to make: Fry half an onion, tomatoes, a pinch of cumin and cayenne pepper (optional) adding in that order in a saucepan; once the oil separates, add a can of Goya kidney beans, a cup of water and let it simmer until done. Serve it over Basmati or Thai Jasmine rice. This was always a hit with my buddies who used to come over for a winter holiday or weekend during normal times.