Christmas can be a seriously stressful time for vegans and their non-vegan families as they might have no idea what to cook or prepare for a vegan person especially if one is newly vegan.
We spoke to Catherine Phillips of the South African Vegan Society Durban Chapter on how we can go about preparing a Christmas lunch meal for someone who has adapted a vegan lifestyle.
It's easy to make the vegan meal similar to what non-vegans usually have and adapting it slightly.
Butternut Soup. Supplied
Starters
Why not start with a soup? Easy to make and all can enjoy. A butternut soup or tomato will be great. Instead of adding cream add some coconut cream. Or you could make stuffed mushrooms - chopped onions, tomatoes, garlic and rosemary.
Fry's Soy and Quinoa Country Roast. Supplied.
The Roast Meal
Where you planning the traditional roast with potatoes, gravy and veg? Well the vegan version is easy to create. Either make a nut roast or you could buy a easy to cook Fry’s roast from any supermarket. Make the gravy using tomatoes, onions, Ina Paarman brown onion powder, it will be delicious and everyone can eat it.
Roast your potatoes in olive oil rather than the fats from the meat. Make vegetables like roasted butternut, peas or carrots that don’t require a white or cheese sauce.
The Braai
South Africans will use any excuse to braai. Tips for a vegan braai is a variety of salads like potato salad, coleslaw, rice salad, pasta salad (use egg-free mayonnaise (Tastee, Crosswell Trim and Bwell), and don’t add cheese, feta or any meat to salads.
Make a garlic bread with coconut oil and garlic. For the braai you can find sausages, patties or schnitzels at the supermarket. They do not take long to cook and you will need to have them in an ovenproof dish or pan on the fire as vegans do not like their food touching a meaty grill.
Brownies with coconut cream. Supplied
Dessert
Chocolate mousse or brownies served with coconut cream. (You can get tinned coconut cream at all supermarkets).