Christmas is coming, and with it lots of family celebrations. My favorite is our family’s Christmas lunch. After an early morning wakeup call and lots of excitement we’re all ready to eat a delicious meal together. We tend to eat a Christmas lunch instead of dinner and then snack on our food all day-like an all day buffet. Our allergy-free holiday menu contains a little of everything-like a next level brunch. Feel free to adapt this to your needs or the time of day you’ll be serving.
Why vegan? I shared why we’re going vegan here. It’s not something that we’re 100% on yet-but we’re getting there. So, we’ll be dumping dairy from the main ingredients, and skipping out on gluten, too. We also don’t eat sugar often, though we make an exception on Christmas. I swear we’re fun at parties. 😉
Additionally, I’ve made sure the menu is free from common allergens or shared adaptations when necessary. That way if you’re hosting family and friends who are coping with allergies or who are vegan or vegetarian you’ll be able to accommodate everyone without any trouble.
If you aren’t dealing with food those specific allergies you can skip our adaptations, or if you know your guests aren’t extremely sensitive you can put them on the side. (like putting butter on the table or leaving the nuts on the side)
GIANT partnered with me to bring you this post and our menu. You can find amazing fresh produce at low prices at your local GIANT Food Store that will make your holiday meal delicious! GIANT also offers prepared meals for the holidays if you’re too busy to cook. Make sure to check out their latest offerings including the limited time peppermint products, European beauty products from Etos, and the holiday issue of their gorgeous magazine, Savory.
Vegan + Allergy-Friendly Christmas Menu
Vegan + Allergy-Friendly Christmas Menu
Appetizers
- Dairy-free cheese plate with dried fruit, and gluten-free rice crackers. Sides of whole grain mustard, and pickled veggies are lovely additions.
- Pitted olives
- Fresh veggies with dairy-free dip or hummus
- Fruit kabobs with dairy-free yogurt dip. Mix plain rice milk yogurt with some honey and cocoa powder.
Salads:
- Pear and dried cherry salad: Mix spinach, lettuce, and baby kale with diced pears and unsweetened dried cherries. Top with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Nuts make a nice addition if possible.
- Cranberry slaw: Mix of unsweetened dried cranberries, with shredded cabbage, carrots, and stir in a mix of white vinegar and olive oil.
- Spinach and clementine salad: Baby spinach salad with clementines and sunflower seeds, add sliced almonds if possible. Make orange vinaigrette - mix orange juice, vinegar, and olive oil.
Entrees:
- Sweet potato latkes with roasted portabellas: So this recipe requires some adaptation if you’re vegan and gluten- free, but it’s worth it! Skip the blue cheese and sub in your favorite gluten-free flour and egg replacer for the latkes.{recipe}
- Stuffed acorn squash: If you’re vegan or dairy-free skip the feta cheese. {recipe}
- Roasted eggplant: Skip out on the pecans if you have an allergy {recipe}
- Lemon roasted artichokes {recipe}
Sides:
- Gluten free rolls
- Roasted squash, carrots, and onions: Make with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper
- Steamed green beans with sea salt
- Mashed potatoes: Use potato water for liquid, and add sea salt and pepper. For a twist you can create a ‘mashed potato bar’ and include some fun mix-ins like dairy-free cheese, non-dairy sour cream, fresh rosemary, caramelized onions, and more.
- Roasted potatoes: Simply roast potatoes with a sprinkling of sea salt, pepper, and rosemary.
- Roasted brussel sprouts: cut in half, season with sea salt and pepper, add a little olive oil and roast. YUM.
- Orange glazed beets. Enough said. {recipe}
- Roasted butternut squash and figs {recipe}
Desserts
- Pears in red wine: Obviously only for the grownups, but delicious looking! Definitely trying this one. {recipe}
- Gingered fruits: This looks yummy! {recipe}
- Dairy-free milk and vegan and gluten-free cookies
Kelly
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by GIANT Food Stores.
Roasted butternut squash and figs is something I know I would enjoy making and tasting.
Janice R. says
I would love to try the roasted eggplant with orange juice dressing. It looks and sounds really good.
Corine Ingrassia (@ComplicatedMama) says
Such a great post! Pinned it to reference it as we plan our holiday menu. Thanks!!
This menu sounds delicious!
Ha! The more the merrier!
I was told it’s next week, too. I am pretending it’s not. 😉 I haven’t made that recipe yet but I’m often a fan of applesauce. I wonder if that might work here.
Oh no! I’ll fix the link. Thanks!
Hosting a big group is always a challenge.
Thanks! I’m moving closer and closer to being vegan full time.
I’m sorry to hear that, but one great thing is how many options you can find now with great vegan sites and cookbooks.
Lemon roasted artichokes? Must try that. Sounds so good! As I am sensitive to a lot of foods now, I may have to make that.
this is so great! i’m gradually moving towards a vegan lifestyle (almost entirely veggie as it is now) and i love good vegan recipes/menu ideas!
Divina says
Sounds delicious and hosting big holiday get together.
Denise says
This is such a great resource. I’m told that Christmas is next week, and I haven’t even begun to plan a menu. Now I don’t have to. I’m definitely going to make one of those salads…I just can’t decide which one! I also want to try the sweet potato latkes; I’m just not sure what to use for the egg replacer. I’m making the pears in red wine for sure, and the orange glazed beets sound good, but the link is to a quinoa casserole. 🙂 Looking forward to more vegan menus!
I don’t celebrate Christmas, but if this is what you are serving, I may just show up at your doorstep anyway!