Best vegan Christmas mains 2020: The woman&home taste test
From mushroom wreaths to root vegetable en croutes vegans are spoilt for choice this Christmas
There was a time where you would be lucky to find even one decent nut roast in a supermarket, now it is a challenge to choose between all the wonderful vegan options that are on offer.
We have made this process a little easier for you by sampling all of the products and creating this carefully selected list of the best vegan Christmas mains.
There were certain criteria that the products had to meet to make this shortlist: we looked out for products that would work well with the traditional roast trimmings, had excellent flavour, an attractive appearance and preferably ones that had a little sparkle and creativity.
Serve them alongside all of your fave vegan sides, like our crispy roast potatoes and maple glazed carrots with pecans, and Christmas is sorted. All that is left to do is chill the bubbly and wrap up the presents.
If you want to look at our other top picks then step over here to look at our ultimate woman&home Christmas taste tests.
Available from 21st December. If you are looking for a stylish centrepiece for your table then this is the product for you. This beautiful wreath is made up of butternut squash, chestnut mushrooms and dried fruit which is wrapped up in a layer of crisp puff pastry and decorated with festive stars. Plus as it is from Aldi it is amazing value for money. A delicious main at a great price.
Available from 9 December in selected Co-op stores nationwide. Got a shorter guest list for Christmas day this year? Festivities for two perhaps? With the current uncertainty around lock down rules this season we understand your desire to keep things low key, however a smaller Christmas does not mean you should have to forgo the feast. We think that you will absolutely love these root vegetable en croutes with a zesty cranberry filling. They are packed with flavour and encased in rich and flakey pastry casing. The perfect plant based option for a more modest celebration.
Launching w/c 30th November. If having a “meaty” texture is important to you for Christmas dinner then this is a good option. Food science has advanced so much in recent years and this has been particularly beneficial for vegan consumers, creating plant based alternatives for our favourite carnivorous meals without the environmental impact. This perfectly seasoned wellington has all the wonderful texture and flavour of its beef filled counterpart, but it is plant based!
If you want to go down a less traditional route and add a little bit of spice to your festivities then we have a recommendation for you. Try these scrumptious curried cauliflower and kale tartlets. The pastry turns an attractive golden colour when cooked and puffs up satisfyingly around the lightly spiced filling. They are part of the deluxe range for a reason, and as an extra incentive they have an incredibly reasonable price! We think that they could even be served as a great starter to begin the festivities, perhaps followed by the nut roast though to avoid pastry overkill.
Nut roast has been the go to meat free main for a long time, and for good reason! It can feed a lot of people, tastes great and fits in perfectly with the rest of the spread. This cashew and cranberry nut roast from Artisan Grains is a particularly lovely option. As an added bonus it is so easy to prepare: simply add water to the pre made mix, pour it into the tray and roast alongside your potatoes. We also found that mixing the nut roast yourself prior to cooking stopped it from drying out, a common complaint for a lot of shop bought nut roasts.
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Rosie Bensberg is a food writer, recipe tester, recipe developer, and food stylist/food stylist assistant based in London.
Having gained The Cordon Bleu Diploma at Tante Marie Cookery School she has gone on to work freelance on a number of editorial projects.
As well as multiple TV appearances, her work has featured in woman&home, Feel Good Food, Woman's Weekly, Waitrose and Partners Food Magazine, Vegetarian & Vegan Food Guide, and Green Living Made Easy.
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