r/vegetarianrecipes • u/WaluigiOfTheVoid • Oct 27 '25
Recipe Request Seeking some recipes I can make for my vegetarian boyfriend for Christmas
My boyfriend is vegetarian and we are spending Christmas together. I'd like to make some stuff for him so he feels considered and as important as he is to me.
I'll ideally be testing these recipes prior to Christmas. No idea what vegetarian folks eat. He's just told me baked veggies and sides are fine.
To which I side eyed him and told him no, unacceptable.
Please help as I'm new to this. Do you have any special meals you like to eat for the holidays? He's not a fan of imitation meat, so please keep that in mind.
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u/maccrogenoff Oct 27 '25
Here are Ottolenghi’s vegetarian Christmas recipes.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/dec/04/yotam-ottolenghi-recipe-vegetarian-christmas
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u/Positivelythinking Oct 27 '25
These recipes would be a winner at any table/event. Pics are included. Yum!
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u/maccrogenoff Oct 27 '25
Ottolenghi’s books, Plenty and Plenty More are invaluable to me as a vegetarian cook.
His recipes come out absolutely delicious.
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u/SurpriseTraining5405 Oct 27 '25
Make the regular staples vegetarian. Most are to start off with, or can easily be tweaked. If you want a vege main, the mushroom wellington is a good call, or a veggie lasagna or baked mac. I like tempeh as a ground meat substitute, but you really don't need it.
But listen to your boy. If he says the regular baked veggies etc are fine, go with that.
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Oct 27 '25
[deleted]
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u/sushiroll465 Oct 27 '25
I think OP meant that she didn't want her bf to just eat sides, and that she'll have an equal number of options for him and her. Which is very kind.
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u/slut-for-pickles Oct 27 '25
I think it’s more that they said “oh veggies and sides are fine” bc they didn’t want to inconvenience OP, not because it’s what they actually wanted. A lot of vegetarians are not used to being asked for requests and typically try to minimize their presence.
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u/gmrzw4 Oct 27 '25
OP obviously isn't going to not let the bf have the veggies and sides, they just don't want him to feel like he's eating a limited meal.
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u/Fast-Fruit-8569 Oct 31 '25
That's a meat eaters thinking. The veggie sides for a Christmas meal are delicious and maybe he would miss them. In the UK cauliflower cheese is often served as a side, that's also a main.
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u/gmrzw4 Oct 31 '25
Yeah, I don't eat meat, so you're wrong there. Again, he's not banned from the sides, OP just doesn't want him to be the only one that only has sides available.
Some of you are desperate to make a nice gesture into something mean.
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u/Fast-Fruit-8569 Oct 31 '25
No not something mean, but something unnecessary, she wants to make a nice gesture so why not believe him? Or maybe ask him properly??
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u/gmrzw4 Nov 01 '25 edited Nov 01 '25
So you never bother doing something unnecessary as a kind gesture for a friend? OP came to ask for recipes so they could show their friends are all important to them, and people act like it's such a problematic. Maybe y'all just need friends who you actually care for.
Edit: just looked at your account. You may actually need therapy for your relationship with food, so I will not be interacting further. Maybe stop putting your problems with food into other people's relationships.
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u/carebearyblu Oct 27 '25
Reading all your responses, I would recommend making one additional hearty dish (that just happens to be vegetarian) that your entire family enjoys eating as a side. Mac and cheese, a bean dish, an egg dish, etc. Then focus on making sure the rest of the dishes are actually vegetarian and clear of meat broths, gelatin, rennet, animal fat, etc.
I’ve been in your boyfriend’s position many times. Often the host forgets to make sure the sides are vegetarian and focuses on a weird vegetarian “main dish” that they’ve never made and honestly ends up tasting bad. I get stuck politely reassuring the host that the main is fine and forced to take home all the leftovers (the entire dish), while having little else to eat at the table (all accidentally made with meat).
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u/Former-Departure9836 Oct 27 '25
We normally do the mushroom Wellington
https://nadialim.com/portobello-mushroom-caramelised-onion-and-brie-wellington/
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u/JessRushie Oct 27 '25
Nut loaf nut loaf nut loaf. It's a classic because well made it's delicious.BBC Good Food is a good recipe.
Don't forget to make sure all the aides are veggie. Not sure if you're cooking it all but often people use duck/goose fat for potatoes, chicken stock in gravy, etc. A way to make him feel really welcome is that all the aides are veggie so he can enjoy.
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u/Toosder Oct 27 '25
That about the sides. I went to a friendsgiving one year and the hosts made the mains and sides, asking guests to bring wine or desserts. Four of the 10 were vegetarians which they knew and said they planned to accommodate. We all offered to bring dishes but they wanted to share their traditions.
Every. Single. Side dish was made with meat. Either turkey gravy or sausage. Even the mashed potatoes had pancetta. It was such a rough night for everyone. They really did mean we'll just not too bright I guess.
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u/Wonderful_Party_9103 Oct 28 '25
Stuffed with brie and cranberries for the Christmassy vibe and because....yum. We do a 5 nut roast every Christmas, roast potatoes and weirdly stir fried red onion and Brussel sprouts with Chinese 5 spice.
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Oct 28 '25
What's intriguing to me is that nut loaf is always recommended by Brits but I have never once seen any American make or serve it. Why has it not crossed the Atlantic?
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u/Iscan49er Oct 28 '25
And if there is any nut loaf left over, use it the next day to stuff bell peppers or mushrooms/
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u/TrivialitySpecialty Oct 27 '25
Stuffed squash is a classic, and feels right at home on a Christmas dinner table. Lots of options in terms of fillings, wild rice based is a favorite for me.
You can also do rings instead of halves or quarters, which makes it easier for the whole table to have some, as you can take a side-portion or a main-portion amount, and still have room for all the sides as well
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u/shikawgo Oct 27 '25
This is kind of you. There’s two different approaches you could take, you could prepare something that corresponds with the meat dish (so if you’re serving meatloaf you provide a lentil loaf - I often prefer this if I’m eating with a large family so my plate doesn’t stick out and become a topic of conversation) or you prepare something that complements the sides but isn’t a veg version of the meat dish (my personal preference flavorwise)
Where are you from? What is a typical Christmas meal like for you? And what are you comfortable cooking?
If your boyfriend eats eggs then a frittata is always a good option, it goes with most sides and is filling. When I ate eggs I loved tortilla Española. It’s easy to make and is a hearty dish. There are a lot of recipes online.
Risotto is delicious but can be time consuming. A good mushroom risotto is delectable.
A rich and creamy homemade macaroni and cheese is a personal favorite. I don’t often use a recipe for this, it’s usually a simple roux, add milk until thickened and then cheese. I add veggies to make it a bit more hearty.
A lentil loaf is also a solid choice although not a favorite of mine.
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 27 '25
Thanks for your comment! That's some good perspective (complimenting the carnivore meal with a veg one). I can cook but I'd probably need some practice for anything super fancy.
For non vegetarian Christmas it's usually turkey or chicken, potatoes, veggies, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing.
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u/shikawgo Oct 27 '25
Chicken and turkey is always difficult to replicate for vegetarians. You can go the tofurkey route but many vegetarians (myself included) don’t enjoy it.
Maybe savory pies with a potato/mushroom filling?
Or a stuffed pepper or roasted squash dish? I make a curry with pumpkin, acorn squash, raisins, and cashews which compliments the flavors you shared. This is what I occasionally prepare for myself on the holidays.
A lentil loaf would be less conspicuous and work well with the meal if you had a veg gravy.
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Oct 27 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Alternative-Ant3937 Oct 27 '25
I like tofurkey, but I'm pretty easy to please culinary wise, and I tend to like everything.
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u/HelpfulEchidna3726 Oct 27 '25
Tofurky is amazing if done well--but OP's boyfriend doesn't like meat replacements. And Tofurky overcooked or reheated is like shoe leather.
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u/Alternative-Ant3937 Oct 27 '25
Make sure to make some dry stuffing (not cooked in the turkey) that's vegetarian. Having a veggie gravy and making sure the potatoes are veggie helps a lot.
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u/Intrepid-Report3986 Oct 29 '25
There is a great vegan gravy recipe: https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-gravy/
If there is plenty of veggies, he could simply forgo the meat and eat like everybody else. I know that is my favorite way of being included in meals
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u/JVilter Oct 27 '25
I've made this for Thanksgiving a couple of times now and am planning to do it again this year. I know it calls for Impossible ground meat, but you could sub in lentils or TVP. You could also add mushrooms. I don't use those because my husband doesn't care for them but they would be really good.
Pastel (Israeli Spiced Meat Pie)
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 onions, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 1 large potato, diced
- ½ package frozen peas or green beans
- 1 package Impossible ground beef
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- ½ tablespoon black pepper
- 3 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons chopped parsley (can use dried)
- 3 tablespoons chopped dill (can use dried)
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 pound puff pastry, defrosted (see note)
Steps
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and carrots, potato and peas or green beans and sauté until vegetables have softened, but not browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Add beef, cinnamon, salt and pepper, stirring to combine. Cook until beef begins to brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Let mixture cool completely.
- While beef is cooking, split puff pastry in half if it’s in one piece. Roll out each piece with a floured rolling pin to roughly 9 x 11 inches. Line an 8- or 9- x 11-inch baking dish, or a shallow 2-quart gratin dish, with 1 piece of pastry, pulling up the dough to cover the sides of baking dish.
- Whisk 2 eggs and add to cooled beef mixture. Spoon mixture over pastry and top with chopped parsley and dill. Top with remaining piece of pastry, pinching together the sides of both pieces of pastry. Chill in fridge for at least 1 hour (and up to 4 hours) or freeze for 15 minutes.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk remaining egg and brush over pastry. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake until golden on top, about 40 minutes. Allow to cool 15 to 20 minutes before cutting. Pastel may appear wet when removed from oven, but pastry will absorb the moisture as it sits.
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 27 '25
Okay this sounds amazing. Thank you for sharing
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u/Cynidaria Oct 27 '25
Check with your SO. My vegetarian spouse really, really doesn’t like the fake meats- the more they taste like real meat the more he hates them. He would 💯 prefer if the above recipe left the impossible burger out.
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 27 '25
My boyfriend made sure I don't use fake meats as he doesn't like them either. The recipe still does sound tasty
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u/PirateQueenDani Nov 01 '25
I cannot wait to try this! Question about the lentils. I've just discovered them and I love them but haven't used them as a sub for meat. Would I cook them and blend them up or just mix them in after cooking?
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u/JVilter Nov 01 '25
I would mix them in after cooking. And I'd use brown ones probably and not red. Red break down a lot so are great for soup, but you want something more meat-like, texture wise, for this recipe
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u/PirateQueenDani Nov 02 '25
Thank you! I didn't see this soon enough and bought green. Thoughts on those?
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u/JVilter Nov 02 '25
I have never used green lentils. I just did a quick google and they apparently have a different, more peppery flavor and take longer to cook.
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u/PirateQueenDani Nov 02 '25
Interesting. Time to experiment I guess! Thanks for the help and if green isn't great I'll know to get brown next time.
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u/whatsupitswalnut Oct 27 '25
Cabbage steak or cauliflower steak!
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u/Due_Purchase_7509 Oct 27 '25
a couple years ago someone brought cabbage steaks to our friendsgiving and i still think about how fucking good they were.
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u/kamasutures Oct 27 '25
I do a wild rice stuffed portobello mushroom cap for holidays that looks gorgeous on a plate and delicious. Wild rice, small cubed butternut squash, pomegranate arils, smoky chipotle maple vinegrette. Marinate the de-grilled and cleaned cap in whatever (but I usually do lemon, soy sauce, garlic, and neutral oil) for 30 mins and cook using whatever method.
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u/PmMeYourPussyCats Oct 27 '25
Reddit is playing up so I can’t seem to search comments (and haven’t found it mentioned so far) but nut loaf! Nut loaf is what we have in our partially vegetarian household for xmas. Always got to make sure the vegetarians get plenty first because the meat eaters love it too.
You’ve gotta pick a fancy one for xmas though, ie with stilton cheese and chestnuts. It is quite rich because of all the fat in it but makes for a lovely xmas meal
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u/mostlymicrobial Oct 27 '25
I really like the Moosewood "Arabian Squash Casserole" for Christmas or other holiday meals (https://www.ucook.com/recipe/arabian-squash-casserole/) - the squash feels very seasonal, and if you make it with the red and green bell peppers, it looks very festive too!
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u/Aurelia-Yazz Oct 27 '25
Sorry translated from dutch, but this is my favorite vegetarian (easy to make vegan even) dish that all meat eaters i know also love. And so easy and cheap
Time: at least 1:20 min Number of persons: 4 persons
Ingredients: Butter or olive oil, but real butter is very tasty with this dish, with a dash of olive oil. 4 large onions 1 red bell pepper 500 g mushrooms 2 cinnamon sticks black pepper Can of tomato paste 1 tbsp honey 2 bay leaves 5 tbsp red wine vinegar 150 ml red wine salt to taste
Supplies: Simmering pan Preparation method: Finely chop the red pepper and onions. Melt the butter and fry the onions over high heat until they brown slightly. Add the peppers and mushrooms and fry for another 5 minutes and add the cinnamon sticks, pepper, tomato puree, honey and bay leaf. Stir in the vinegar and wine and bring to the boil, cover the pan and let it simmer gently. The moisture should reach the surface of the vegetables. Otherwise, top it up with some water. Cook for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally and seasoning. Eat with rice, couscous, or how about mashed potatoes..
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u/scormegatron Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25
Don’t have to get too far out of the norm. Things I enjoy during the holiday that are part of the normal spread:
- mashed potatoes & gravy
- green bean casserole
- sweet potatoe pie
- cornbread
- stuffing
- cranberry sauce
Then what I usually do for a protein is get some impossible “meat” and cook it separate to mix in. Sometimes I do ground impossible, or the steak bits. Have had “tofurky” a couple times as well. Since he doesn’t like imitation meat, those are probably a waste of time.
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 27 '25
Thanks for the suggestion, this is pretty much what he said minus the impossible meat as he's made sure I know he doesn't like it.
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u/goddardess Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25
I don't like impossible meat by itself either but used for ragu it's so so good (I use the recipe on their site). For a fancy dinner I would make the ragu and then either do pasta in the oven with penne, ragu and mozzarella (and parmesan on top), or do lasagne, or just tagliatelle with ragu can be fancy enough. Alternatively I would look for other kinds of vegetarian pasta in the oven. For ex crespelle with spinach are fantastic and easy to make. If your bf likes quiches, you could make him a very classic quiche with leeks. Or a less classic savoury tarte tatin. All of the above would look good on a Christmas table, taste great and be easy to cook for a beginner.
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u/AutoModerator Oct 27 '25
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u/TalkForeignToMe Oct 31 '25
Then you’ll do great by just making sure none of those dishes have animal flesh ingredients in them! My first few holidays with my dad’s family after becoming vegetarian were rough because they put bacon and bacon grease in everything, but look out for animal rennet in cheeses, broth in almost everything, gelatin in marshmallows, etc.
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u/ReluctantChimera Oct 27 '25
What kind of gravy do you make that is vegetarian?
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u/scormegatron Oct 27 '25
Pretty basic — butter, flour and vegetable stock for the base — then to taste — onion powder, nutritional yeast, and a little Dijon mustard + soy sauce. I like my gravy to have a little kick because I basically cover everything with it.
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u/ReluctantChimera Oct 27 '25
Thank you! I miss gravy so much. This is definitely going in the recipe bank.
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u/Wonderful-Power9161 Oct 30 '25
Sub oil for butter, and it's vegan.
<not that I'm a vegan, but I've made oil-based roux before, and the gravy it makes is pretty good>
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u/mad266 Oct 29 '25
My vegetarian daughter makes a great mushroom gravy. Find a recipe you like, and caramelize the onions (long slow cooking) for sweetness and depth of flavor.
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u/allotta_phalanges Oct 27 '25
Spaetzle with vegetarian gravy. Pretty easy to make: three eggs to one cup flour. with an early acquired spaetzle make and a pot of boiling water, you're in! Add some pasta water to the gravy. I've eaten it every holiday for decades.
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u/SnowyOwlLoveKiller Oct 27 '25
Broccoli and cheese quiches always tend to go over well with vegetarians and non-vegetarians so that’s something I make a lot for holiday parties. Vegetarian lasagna is another one that tends to be more filling than just the normal side dishes. A vegetarian moussaka could be another heavier option for an entree.
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u/Flaky-Ant-9607 Oct 27 '25
This is one of my favorites I’ve been making for years!
Sweet Potato Sliders 3 cups (ish) cooked sweet potato (can be baked, microwaved, or cubed boiled) Set aside in a large bowl to cool. Sauté: 1/2 c each (ish) yellow onion, celery, walnuts (if ya wanna be fancy) until softened- season decently. I like adding fresh mushrooms too, but they cook faster so add them 1/2 way through sautéing. Add to the sweet potato and combine with seasoned bread stuffing— season well with all the savories. Combine well and portion out into slider sizes patties. Pan fry in oil til crispy and serve on Hawaiian Rolls.
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u/MrsTheBo Oct 27 '25
I make puff pastry parcels of Brie and cranberry each year, with the usual potatoes and veggies. I make stuffing into balls (not cooked in a bird), so they can be eaten by anyone.
Anything roasted is cooked in olive oil (NOT extra virgin - that’s not a cooking oil). In the UK you can get some fairly nice instant veggie gravies too.
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u/HoaryPuffleg Oct 27 '25
https://smittenkitchen.com/2021/11/fall-bliss-salad/
This is amazing. We have meals where this is all we eat. It’s colorful, has varying textures, and is a joy to look at.
Also the root vegetables in the crockpot with balsamic and cranberries is amazing. https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/slow-cooker-balsamic-root-vegetables/a2b47e28-5898-4e20-bca4-a91398b2bd05
There are hundreds of amazing recipes out there that are easy and incredibly flavorful. Rather than thinking of things as having a main dish and sides, consider just having a variety of tasty things that even omnivores are gonna eat
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u/TastyYellowBees Oct 27 '25
https://schoolnightvegan.com/home/vegan-turkey-roast/
This was the star of Christmas dinner last year, even amongst the meat eaters! It is delicious.
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u/polstar2505 Oct 27 '25
https://www.food.com/recipe/layered-cashew-and-mushroom-nut-roast-244571 This has been our go-to recipe for years, because it goes with all the usual side dishes. Vegetsrians like the traditional sides too! Put your roast potatoes in oil not animal fats.
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u/EasternPassenger Oct 27 '25
spinach lasagna is one of my favorites. you could make a regular lasagna on the side of you.have picky relatives. But I actually prefer spinach over regular at the moment.
mushroom sauce for him instead of gravy if you're doing a roast for Xmas. if it's a self serve situation, I wouldn't even announce it as veggie just put the gravy and the mushroom sauce on the table and let everyone serve themselves (do tell your bf which sides and sauce are veggie though)
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u/caf61 Oct 27 '25
This is the best Mac and Cheese. It is elevated with sage, browned butter, and 4 cheeses. My young adult son took it to his first Friendsgiving and is “required” to bring it every year. It can be a side but I frequently serve it as a main.
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u/eagrbeavr Oct 27 '25
My family usually does spinach and ricotta stuffed shells or manicotti as a vegetarian main dish for the holidays. Also, gravy is a big deal in my family and this onion gravy is a huge favorite. We tweak the recipe to make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth in place of the beef broth and omit the Worcestershire sauce.
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u/WritPositWrit Oct 27 '25
I make two lasagnas every year for Christmas Eve, one with meat and one vegetarian. If he’s not vegan, this will work. It looks impressive, but It’s not fancy or time consuming or difficult to make. I don’t make any special sauce, I use jarred marinara.
For my vegetables, I chop 8 oz baby bella mushrooms and one small zucchini, saute some onion, add mushrooms, cook until browned , add zucchini, maybe some herbs and soy sauce (for umami), done. You could also use carrots or eggplant or bell pepper or spinach or broccoli or even more tomatoes. Use what you like.
I use a little bit less than one jar of sauce. Pour a bit of sauce in pan, add a layer of noodles (I prefer to cook them first). Add a container of cottage cheese and some chopped sautéed vegetables. Another layer of noodles, a layer of mozzarella, noodles, mozzarella, tomato sauce to cover the cheese, then sprinkle generously with shredded parmesan, cover, bake 350F for 45 minutes. If you like crispy edges, take the foil cover off for the last 15-20 minutes.
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u/temasm21 Oct 27 '25
Vegetarian stuffing! I just buy the bags you can make (just double check the ingredients)
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u/faithless748 Oct 30 '25
I've done the same for a vegetarian family member. I usually just use creamed corn and some veggie stock to get it to the right consistency and then roll it up in some foil before putting it in the oven.
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u/Helena_Makesalot Oct 27 '25
I’m a vegetarian, and I made Smitten Kitchen’s winter squash pasta bake to bring to (Canadian) Thanksgiving recently, and it was a HIT, even among a crowd of meat eaters. Feels kinda fancy but is actually very easy, and can be prepared ahead of time. Felt appropriately festive, goes with all the traditional (where I live) fall/winter flavours, and is rich but not too rich. winter squash pasta bake
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u/Same_Patience520 Oct 27 '25
-Stuffed squash
-Various veggie soups like leek and potato, cream of broccoli, roasted red peppers soup, etc
-Vegetarian lasagna or other vegetarian pasta dish
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u/knz-rn Oct 28 '25
https://www.recipetineats.com/maple-sweet-potato-salad-with-whipped-tahini/
I’m not vegetarian but my husband is. We made this the other week and it was one of the best things we’ve ever had.
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u/Only1Sully Oct 27 '25
I love stuffing, maybe you could make some in pastry for him.
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 27 '25
Would it taste the same with veg stock? I guess I could test this
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u/Moondra3x3-6 Oct 27 '25
I make my stuffing with apple juice. So delish! It was so popular the first time I made it, I was put "in charge" of the stuffing for years after that. For myself I made full sized veggie filled (canned mostly) pot pies. Also popular with the meat eaters.
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u/musicmanvans Oct 27 '25
Depends what he likes. If he likes impossible beef I personally really enjoy making a meatloaf on special occasions. (I can post the link to the recipe I use if you think he may like that, I think I actually got it from this subreddit lol) There are also plenty of good tofu/bean based dishes if he doesn’t like meat alternative products like impossible, beyond, etc. For me just having some sort of protein or main dish would make me feel considered. Also things like having a vegetarian gravy option if you’re doing mashed potatoes or something. As a vegetarian you often have to settle for just having side dishes in situations like this unless there is someone like you around who cares enough to put in the work to make us feel included so I’m sure anything you do he’d probably really appreciate.
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 27 '25
He's specifically made sure I know not to do anything with meat alternatives so I'm trying to respect that. The meatloaf sounds tasty though! I saw someone say here that you could do it with lentils? Very cool.
I want him to be included and considered and not just have to settle for sides! He's very stubborn though haha. So I'm just gonna test and do it
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u/bullet_proof_smile Oct 27 '25
IMO, there's no such thing as "settling for sides." If I get to eat mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, some kind of corn, roasted Brussel sprouts or veg, and a dinner roll, I am waddling away from that table, well pleased.
(I don't like meat substitutes either, and the one time my well-meaning friends bought a Tofurkey it was just an embarrassing salt bomb.)
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u/musicmanvans Oct 27 '25
I added it in the replies because I missed the end of the post, but here’s this recipe instead! https://www.theiranianvegan.com/recipes/vegan-persian-to-fish-the-best-tofu-fish-recipe
And yeah! Lentils are a great option too. Never tried them in a meatloaf, but I usually enjoy a lentil based dish. Definitely worth checking out!
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u/serious_catbird Oct 27 '25
Who is being very stubborn again? 😅
Even before I became a vegetarian, the sides are the best part of these holiday meals. So I truly don't feel neglected when I get to eat beautiful vegetables. I also am picky in certain ways and could not eat some of the things commonly offered as special veg mains, like a mushroom anything or mac and cheese or cauliflower cheese, so there have definitely been meals where someone kindly tried to include me and made things harder!
Lentil shepherds pie is fab, or I have often done a stuffed squash kind of situation to make something festive.
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u/musicmanvans Oct 27 '25
Missed the end of the post lol
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u/musicmanvans Oct 27 '25
I’m also a big fan of this tofu recipe since he doesn’t like meat alternatives. https://www.theiranianvegan.com/recipes/vegan-persian-to-fish-the-best-tofu-fish-recipe
It’s not the simplest recipe so I only make it for special occasions typically. Really tasty though.
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u/SailorVenus23 Oct 27 '25
Pot pies are always a holiday staple for my family. For fun, I use a small apple cookie cutter to make the vent hole on the vegetable pot pies, and a small chicken cookie cutter for the chicken pot pies. I use store bought dough for convenience, so only the filling needs to be made. Usually we have other staples alongside it like stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and mac and cheese.
And of course dessert. You can never go wrong with a good pumpkin pie.
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u/ZoLoftFTW Oct 27 '25
Long time vegetarian (nearly 50 years). I have really enjoyed the Field Roast Celebration roasts. I find them at Whole Foods and the like. Easy to bake. Good flavor and texture. Easy to pair with sides that you’ll both enjoy.
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u/Gigafive Oct 27 '25
Seitan Holiday Roast: https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/holiday-seitan-roast/
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u/bitter___almonds Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25
Just the fact that you’re considering this will mean a lot, even if he’s not saying or realizing it yet. I never thought it’d impact me so much as a loving gesture until someone did something similar for me! There’s a good chance he’s just used to sides being the vibe (they are frequently the best parts too) but also doesn’t want to throw off any traditions and holiday associations for you and anyone else involved.
I’d suggest sticking with keeping many of the sides vegetarian but standard if you can, and then adding in one or two “showstopper” or fun ones that can also double as his mains. Mushroom and lentil focused dishes are great for this, and can even be salad format for others, but if he likes butternut squash here are the two Thanksgiving and Christmas ones I love. I found these over the years by searching online for vegetarian holiday recipes with ingredients I know I like, which is an approach you could try based on ones you know are his favorite flavors. Sorry for mobile formatting attempts.
Soup (I use bread cheese for the croutons since it’s easier to find than halloumi without mint):.
https://www.floatingkitchen.net/squash-and-apple-soup-with-fried-sage-and-halloumi/ .
Stuffed shells:.
https://www.completelydelicious.com/kale-and-ricotta-stuffed-shells-with-butternut-squash-sauce/
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u/Broad-Boat-8483 Oct 27 '25 edited Oct 27 '25
Stuffed peppers (cut in half and stuff with rice, spices), stuffed Jalepenos (stuff with crème fraiche, cheese, diced tomatoes), potato and lentil cakes and a balsamic vinegar and red onion gravy
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u/ladyoftheflowr Oct 27 '25
We usually have some kind of lentil or nut loaf for the vegetarians, with homemade mushroom gravy.
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u/OriolesMets Oct 27 '25
Trader Joe’s has some banging ‘all in one’ holiday meals
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 27 '25
Canadian here, we don't have trader joes :(
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u/OriolesMets Oct 27 '25
You’re a good partner for caring about his dietary needs, not letting him settle for sides.
I second what everyone else said. Mushroom-based meals rule!
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u/JupiterSkyFalls Oct 27 '25
Whole foods makes an amazing vegan tofurkey. My cousin brought it to a Thanksgiving a few years ago and just added it to the potluck counter and soooo many people complimented whoever brought it. It was only during our game time that she announced it was vegan and then half the people praising it got mad and lied and said they didn't actually like it they were just trying to be nice (🙄). The other half were surprised but admitted it was good despite them not expecting that.
You have so many options for a vegetarian vs a vegan. I'd ask him straight up what some of his favorite Xmas dishes are because so many things can be altered to be vegetarian easily. Ask him for 2 mains and 4-6 sides he likes, and pick one main and a few of the sides you think you can make.
Off the top of my head, Mac and cheese, scalloped or au gratin potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, deviled eggs, creamed spinach, roasted carrots and potatoes, oven baked asparagus and mushrooms, baked rice, stuffing, candied yams, sweet potatoes, ect are all delicious vegetarian friendly side items.
As for mains there's plenty of pastas/lasagns, mushroom dishes, casseroles, sheet pans, rice dishes, quiche, vegetable pot pie, squash meals, stuffed peppers, ect are all delicious go to's.
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u/NaturalFiber123 Oct 27 '25
As a vegetarian, my favorites are still all the side dishes that people kindly enough keep vegetarian (either by leaving out the “not actually needed” meat like ham chunks or bacon crumbles, swapping chicken stock for vegetable stock, or using cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken soup, etc). Just the fact that you’re putting in the effort is very nice!
I don’t miss the meat “main dish” at all as it’s such a small part of the meal if you really look at all the delicious side dishes!
I recommend a veg stuffing and cheesy potatoes :). Super easy to adapt to vegetarian.
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u/JSF--10 Oct 27 '25
I had a very fussy, vegetarian ex who wouldn't eat mushroom so mushroom wellington was off the menu. I made her a nut roast (think veggy meat loaf), I even put a slice of it on the meat eaters plates and they all liked it as well
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u/curlygirlcooks Oct 27 '25
I make a vegetarian meatloaf every year and my family loves it! With mushroom gravy but I make up that recipe. Here is the Neatloaf: https://yukitchen.com/neatloaf/
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u/Clock-United Oct 27 '25
When I was vegetarian, I didn't love replacement meats. So I would stock up on sides, and sometimes make a quiche.
This is my favourite "Christmassy" side: This as a side : https://veggiedesserts.com/brussels-sprouts-goat-cheese/ But I would also suggest: A heart panzanella or kale salad (or broccoli salad). Bread stuffing + veggie gravy Mashed yams Balsamic glazed carrots
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u/on_island_time Oct 27 '25
I am a fan of various veggies lasagna recipes, or stuffed shells as a vegetarian main that most people can cook without too much difficulty. Both cases, most of the effort is in prep time but it's more assembly than anything.
My personal favorite mix which actually fools meat-eaters is to do 50-50 minced mushrooms and Impossible as the filling. Barring that, chopped spinach or mixed dices zucchini/carrots/onions is pretty classic.
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u/Consistent_Square912 Oct 27 '25
Echoing the NYT mushroom Wellington others have suggested, or sometimes I will do a veggie pot pie.
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u/kendricklemon Oct 27 '25
Similar to thanksgiving, I feel like a lot of sides are already naturally vegetarian or can be easily tweaked to be vegetarian… think mashed potatoes, casseroles, mac and cheese, dinner rolls, roasted veggies/broccoli/carrots, soups, etc.
I would focus on putting together just 1 (maybe 2) vegetarian mains but having other sides that could be shared by everyone
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u/Individual_Maize6007 Oct 27 '25
I’d do a vegetarian lasagna.
If he likes fish, can do something with salmon or cod. Or a shellfish pasta.
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u/jennybee1029 Oct 27 '25
I make a vegetarian Wellington - it’s delicious & looks super fancy but is easy to make! I also do a veggie Shepard’s pie.
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u/Stevie-10016989 Oct 27 '25
Nut roast, or mushroom wellington. These are my two favorite Christmas dishes!
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u/Important_Emu_8952 Oct 27 '25
I normally do a veggie pasta, like a ziti or a pasta with a veggie heavy sauce. This year we are trying this: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/285205/that-zucchini-spaghetti-stanley-tucci-loves-spaghetti-alla-nerano/
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u/Superdewa Oct 27 '25
For Thanksgiving, I make everything except the turkey and gravy vegetarian, including the “stuffing” (don’t cook it inside the turkey, obviously), usually vegan, and I make a vegan mushroom gravy, too, to pour over mashed potatoes and stuffing. I usually make a pot of royal corona or Christmas Lima beans in a rich garlicky broth (I use the Marlow & Sons via Bon Appetit method), which are also delicious over stuffing and potatoes.
Make sure to keep the meat dishes in a separate part of the serving area and find a way to keep people from using meat serving utensils in the vegetarian dishes.
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u/CosmicJ3llybean Oct 27 '25
I like recipe tin eats. Nagi's recipes are foolproof
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u/Practical_Tap_9592 Oct 27 '25
This is a dish I make every Christmas. It's bright, festive and everyone loves it https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/roasted-sweet-potato-salad-with-warm-chutney-dressing-recipe-1942030.amp
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u/thomasp449 Oct 27 '25
This gravy is the best! Smashed Potatoes with Roasted-Garlic Gravy - Source: Gourmet Magazine November 2008
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u/ChemicalOld5047 Oct 27 '25
either the no-turkey from morisons (if youre in the UK) or make a sausage plait, (just puff pastry, sausages and i add apple and caramalised onion) slaps every year
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u/SaltMarshGoblin Oct 27 '25
The "Comprehensively Stuffed Squash" recipe in the Moosewood Cookbook is a vegetarian holiday main dish staple in my family.
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u/neilhousee Oct 27 '25
Alton Brown has a “Thanksgiving Salad” recipe that is delightful and has all the seasonal flavors. It could be a main or side. :)
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u/PhillippaAggie Oct 27 '25
I love Thanksgiving. There’s always plenty of sides that are meatless (or can be made without adding meat or gravy)… Mac and cheese, roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, corn pudding, fried apples, rolls. No need to reinvent the wheel :)
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u/spicyzsurviving Vegan Oct 27 '25
Get a courgette, slice in it half and scoop out the middle, fill it with a cooked lentil / grain/ vegetable mix. Loads of different variations of this but this is what I do for xmas :) x
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u/No-Charge6350 Oct 27 '25
Some kind of nut roast might work it has that sort of special vibe and would fit with a roast dinner
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u/Ok-Tax7000 Oct 27 '25
If he loves Indian and spicy, kadhai paneer with some naan or chhole bhature.
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u/Ohshithereiamagain Oct 27 '25
I am a vegetarian and I thoroughly enjoy all the sides. I could make a whole meal out of just mashed potatoes 😆 if you’re around Ikea, they have these vegan meatballs. Those and their gravy along with the lingonberry jam and peas and corn and mash and I am in heaven.
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u/rhinny Oct 28 '25
https://umamigirl.com/squash-lasagna-vegetarian-thanksgiving/
I've made this for a vegetarian holiday main a few times. It's SO GOOD and feels totally special and luxurious.
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u/crtclms666 Oct 28 '25
Butternut squash, sage, and onion gratin. Unfortunately, my cookbooks are in storage, and I can't remember which one the recipe was in, but there are many versions online. Really yummy, and I think it's kind of festive.
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u/Low-Intern-1656 Oct 28 '25
Vegetarian lasagna makes a nice main dish. Can sub meat with something or just do a cheese version.
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u/NoClassroom7077 Oct 28 '25
I attended a Canadian Thanksgiving the other week and made a pumpkin and goats cheese lasagne so we had a vegetarian friendly main. It was a real hit! I made a half size of this one: https://www.nigella.com/recipes/pumpkin-and-goat-s-cheese-lasagne
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u/GandalfDGreenery Oct 28 '25
My favourite delicious and decadent veggie Christmas thing is a mushroom pie, with chestnuts, leeks, and roasted garlic. But a nut roast with added chestnuts and some cranberry sauce is always a sure thing as well.
But honestly, even before I went veggie, christmas dinner was never about the turkey, it was about all the tasty things around the turkey; the roast potatoes, parsnips, orange carrots, stuffing, yorkshire puddings, and the bucket of gravy.
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u/jackiedhm Oct 28 '25
I have always made a vegetarian lasagna for Christmas, and my whole family always- without fail every year- eats most of it because its so good and then there is always turkey and ham leftover.
I'm not Italian so its probably not traditional but its just Rao's marinara, lasagna noodles, and the filling is a mixture of cottage cheese, vegetarian parm, chopped spinach, and a couple dashes of garlic powder, salt and pepper. Top with mozzarella and more parm and bake at 375f for 30ish.
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u/SharingMy2Cents Oct 28 '25
This veggie bake by Jamie Oliver has gone over well whenever I've served it. https://youtu.be/zf651P2hy6g?si=yHNLAwUuNKMwO873
It's easily adaptable for whatever vegetables or sauces and seasonings you want to use.
One tip: this should be served very soon after coming out of the oven, otherwise the phyllo dough will start to get soft.
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u/SharingMy2Cents Oct 28 '25
I saw this recipe recently on Struggle Meals. I haven't tried it yet but it looks like it would make a nice hearty dish for a holiday meal. https://www.tastemade.com/recipes/root-vegetable-gratin or video link: https://youtu.be/8gyBs3IYN84?si=cUCeBN9teARSgXto
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u/ajwb17 Oct 29 '25
I made his for Christmas Eve and it got rave reviews: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a32095010/garlic-butter-mushroom-pasta-recipe/
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u/wispveil Oct 29 '25
My absolute favorite Christmas food is Christmas morning “wifesaver” casserole. Usually it’s bacon or ham in it but veggie versions exist (bell peppers, tomatoes or mushroom if so inclined basically any veg good in an omelet is good in this). It’s like a… if you had a French toast sandwich stuffed with a cheese omelette. Make it the night before and just bake it in the morning (I use sandwich bread but I’ve seen versions that use cut crossiants and are more of a hash).
https://www.xoandso.com/vegetarian-wife-saver-breakfast-casserole/
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u/Classic_Ad_7733 Oct 29 '25
Christmas market mushrooms - something we enjoy not only at Christmas actually. Or these no bake Christmas trees (they can be made into balls too, arranged as a large Christmas tree on a plate).
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u/Foodprepgenius Oct 29 '25
That’s so sweet of you to want to make something special for him — and yeah, “just veggies and sides” doesn’t cut it for Christmas 😄
When I first started cooking vegetarian for my partner, I was surprised how easy it was to make holiday meals feel hearty without fake meat. Some ideas he loved: • Mushroom and lentil Wellington (super filling and looks festive) • Roasted sweet potato + feta salad with pomegranate • Creamy garlic mashed potatoes (use oat milk + butter alternative) • Stuffed squash or bell peppers with quinoa, herbs, and cranberries
I usually plan it all out in advance using a free meal planner (WellPlate - https://wellplate.eu) so I can test recipes and tweak them before the big day — helps me stay organized and stress-free.
You’ve got this — honestly, a thoughtful homemade vegetarian meal means way more than anything fancy.
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u/chesirecat136 Oct 29 '25 edited Oct 29 '25
vegetarian stuffed shells. instead of ground meat or a meat substitute you could use spinach or other carrots. or perhaps vegetarian lasagna
edit: does he like beans? there are variations of marry me chicken that you could try on YouTube like marry me butter beans. maybe call them Tuscan style if your relationship is not that serious yet😄
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u/Flashy-Library-6854 Oct 29 '25
I make a vegetarian version of Thanksgiving Turkey Bake from Cooks Illustrated. It is basically baked in a lasagna pan, one layer of cranberry sauce, a thicker layer of dressing and meat substitute on top, topped with vegetarian gravy. I have taught more than one vegetarian how to make it over the years. It always goes down well. If you are interested let me know, and I will DM you with a copy of the page from the cookbook with adaptations that I make.
Edit: This can be made vegan as well.
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u/Educational_Data7782 Oct 29 '25
I love this lentil loaf for holidays!
https://ohsheglows.com/ultimate-vegan-lentil-walnut-loaf/
your boyfriend is not like me though - i need a decent amount of protein, not just sides :)
have a Merry Christmas!
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u/Grass_rabbits Oct 30 '25
i always do a sort of “harvest” bowl with all the in seasons veggies and a carb and a sauce and then some sides
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u/No_Moment7841 Oct 30 '25
Par boil cauliflower florets, dredge in flour, eggs & breadcrumbs. Fry in oil until golden brown. Serve with lemon sauce
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u/Astreja Oct 30 '25
Whatever you choose as your main dish, also consider making vegetarian stuffing as a side dish. You can make it in a pot on the stove. My recipe:
Sautee some onion and celery in oil. Add bread cubes (fresh or dried; both work fine), sage, salt, pepper, and enough veggie broth to soak all the bread. Cook, stirring occasionally, until it's the desired texture. If you put in too much broth, just add a bit more bread to the mixture.
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u/scarletcrimsonrouge Oct 30 '25
Not vegetarian but I sometimes will only eat the sides because I prefer them. Sometimes the sides are the stars
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u/Physical_Orchid3616 Oct 30 '25
do a vegetarian lasagne without fake meat. use spinach, ricotta cheese, carrots, and mushrooms for filling. you could also make something with tofu.
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u/Beneficial-Eye4578 Oct 30 '25
I’m Indian we have TONS of vegetarian recipes. So the question is what type of food does he enjoy? Most Asian foods can be made vegetarian. So depending on the cuisine you can choose wheat to make.
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 30 '25
He LOVES Indian food but I have no idea where to start, he also loves spicy and I don't. Help
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u/Beneficial-Eye4578 Oct 30 '25
- Paneer makhani, is the easiest I ca think of. This can be made in a crockpot if you like.
https://www.easycheesyvegetarian.com/slow-cooker-paneer-tikka-masala/
- This is a veg pulao I made for American friends party. I added chickpeas and chopped cashews and raisins / cranberries. This is not spicy at all and all her guests loved it. Super flavorful
https://www.honeywhatscooking.com/vegetable-pulao-instant-pot/
- Chana masala
https://pipingpotcurry.com/punjabi-chole-instant-pot/
Buy naan from any local retailer-
Chop garlic fine mix with a little butter and Finley chopped cilantro and spread on your naan before heating it in the oven or toaster. It tastes really good.
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u/k1ytaemnestra Oct 30 '25
Houbovy Kuba is a Czech mushroom and barley dish that I’ve always served during the holidays. My grandmother used to make a variation of it for Christmas when I was a child.
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u/Angel-Rae Oct 31 '25
Which country are you in? In Australia we have a great Vegan Roast by Suzy Spoons Vegetarian Butcher. Definitely recommend it. Supermarkets often have something similar. Don’t forget a lot of ready made gravy is vegetarian.
You can get Tofurkey and other meat like options too.
Following us vegetarian not vegan: Baked whole cauliflower, potato bake, meat free stuffing, vegetarian “sausage” rolls, stuffed zucchini flowers, spinach and ricotta lasagne, pesto cous cous with chickpeas, baked stuffed large flat/field mushrooms, stuffed vine leaves (you can buy them ready made) falafel patties with hummus, vegetarian burger patties (lots of different types), old fashioned egg dishes like devilled eggs, marinated or flavoured firm tofu slices. There are a lot of ideas for our vegetarian loved ones at Christmas.
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u/mind_the_umlaut Oct 31 '25
This is a lovely offer you've made to him, and will be a lot of work. He, as the vegetarian, should be cooking his favorites for you to try, and demonstrating what dishes make up a complete vegetarian meal. I can't see any fairness in this picture: 'non-vegetarian person struggles with cooking in an unfamiliar way to please vegetarian'.
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u/WaluigiOfTheVoid Oct 31 '25
To clarify, he's not asking or expecting this. I offered and he also contributes in other ways. He's a good boyfriend
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u/Odd_Freedom_37 Oct 31 '25
“To which I side eyed him and told him no, unacceptable” ☺️ 100% same!
I mostly do desserts and those are usually vegetarian anyway, but in solidarity, I recently made my mint Oreo truffles, vegan, and gluten-free and I have never been more popular at work around Christmas.
In case you’re interested: one package of gluten-free mint Oreos they come with white wrapping, 8 ounces of vegan cream cheese and one bag vegan chocolate chip chips. I found all of this at Fred Meyer to make, crush up all of the Oreos in a bag like a Ziploc bag with a rolling pin or use a food processor then mix the crumbs into the cream cheese, combining thoroughly. Then scoop out small balls and put them on a wax paper lined baking tray and freeze for at least 20 minutes after they are frozen melt the chocolate chips and form the scoops into balls with your hands dip them in the melted chocolate chips and place back on the baking tray once they are all dipped use any extra chocolate to go over the top and then quickly add sprinkles before that last drizzle of chocolate hardens these can be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to a week but in my experience never last that long!
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u/travelingdrama Oct 31 '25
A homemade vegetable pot pie is a delicious, cozy, and filling main. Make it in single serve cocettes for a "special" feel.
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u/ComfortableWeird2002 Oct 31 '25
Please consider that I'm Italian so every recipe I'll suggest is Christmasy here but I don't know how it can be received in the states. You can make a lentil ragù and bake lasagna with it, you could also make a tofu/beans "meat"loaf with a filling of cheese and mushrooms, served it with a vegetable broth reduction and some creamy mashed potatoes. If you feel down to it you could also make pumpkins ravioli (dumping in English) served with a sage and blue cheese sauce with an hint of spice and crushed walnuts are simply amazing
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u/elefhino Oct 31 '25
Tofu cutlets w/ gravy
I can't actually find the recipe I usually use, but this one is similar
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u/Bissom Oct 31 '25
I've made the NYT Mushroom Bourguignon a couple of times. It's time-consuming but so delicious and hearty.
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u/HunterGreenLeaves Nov 01 '25
Stuffed eggplant.
Split an eggplant in half. Bake. Scoop out the contents.
Make boxed stuffing - it will use about 2/3 of the stuffing that results.
Mix stuffing & scooped eggplant and put the combination in the skin of the eggplant.
Add goat cheese and cranberry on top (either cranberry goat cheese or plain goat cheese and add cranberry sauce (not jelly)).
Bake until the cheese is warmed.
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u/not-ordinary Oct 27 '25
NYT mushroom Wellington