Thanksgiving is the time to give thanks and enjoy the holiday cheer. It’s a time where we stuff our faces with good food, spend time with family and of course watch football! Thanksgiving is also a time to start new traditions….especially with food. Thanksgiving is the hardest time of the year to try to be healthy (due to all the good but unhealthy food). Below I have listed some of my favorite recipes for a vegetarian thanksgiving!
Good gravy! Gravy is pretty much a must have on Thanksgiving. It’s something that you put on everything from mashed potatoes to turkey. But for vegetarians its something that isn’t appealing because it’s usually made with beef gravy and animal based products. Mushroom gravy is a great alternative to beef gravy. Even though most recipes you will find will call for using beef stock in the gravy that’s not always the case. You can use water as an alternative to the recipe as well. It’s an easy recipe that can be made for any meal!
Lasagna is always a classic dish. With the layers of meat, cheese and sauce baked into deliciousness. Veggie lasagna replaces the meet with ingredients with bell pepper, carrots, zucchini, etc….You saute the veggies first and use no boil noodles to bake with. The type of cheese is also up to you as well. Combine all the ingredients together in a baking pan. You can also make this dish for anyone who is vegan or has a gluten free diet as well. Once the dish is done then garnish and serve to all your guests!
Mushroom gravy goes great on top of garlic roasted mushrooms. The perfect side dish for healthy thanksgiving meal. The recipe is simple for anyone to make. Sauteed in garlic cloves and in any type of butter you choose (either regular or vegan). A cast iron skillet is also the ideal pan to cook the mushrooms in. Drizzle the garlic butter on top of the mushrooms and cook until they’re golden brown on both sides. This recipe is easy to follow and healthy for a perfect vegetarian thanksgiving!
This dish can also be vegan, gluten free and nut free. Combine lentil and bay leafs along with with water in a pan. Wash the quinoa and combine it with the lentil and bay leaf. You can also add various other vegetables to the loaf as well. The rest is just like making a meatloaf. You add eggs and combine everything into a loaf and in a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees and cook it for 30 minutes.
Another mushroom recipe (I promise it’s the last one). Stuffed mushrooms are always a vegetarian favorite. This recipe calls for the addition of chickpeas. Using organic portobello mushroom caps (or whatever type of mushrooms you choose). Combine all the vegetable in one pan and saute them together. Place the mushrooms on a baking pan and coat them with olive oil. Cut slits in the mushrooms and combine all the ingredients and bake at 475 degrees.
A new meatless meal to add to the menu! Cauliflower steaks are a great main dish for a healthy vegetarian or vegan thanksgiving meal. This is a new dish that even I had I ever heard of. Slicing the cauliflower and seasoning it with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Also lightly brush with olive oil. Lay the cauliflower on a baking pan and roast it in the oven at 400 degrees. Bake until golden.
Another main dish on the list! Pesto spaghetti is a healthy alternative for all ages. This dish can also be made as a gluten free dish. You can either use already made basil pesto or make it from scratch. Toss the cooked spaghetti in in the basil pesto. Then combine eggs, onion, garlic, chickpeas, salt, pepper and more to make the “meatballs”. Bake the chickpea meatballs at 400 degrees and combine with the spaghetti.
This dish is a spin on a classic British staple. This dish is also gluten free and vegan. This twist on comfort food replaces the lamb with chickpeas. And also prepared with heavy ingredients like cream and milk. The cream and milk is replaced with cashew or coconut milk. Keep the potatoes and combine the either the cashew or coconut milk. Fry and saute the vegetables and add the chickpeas. Add all the ingredients together in a baking pan. With the sauteed vegetables and chickpeas on the bottom. And put the cooked potatoes on top. Cook in the oven at 350 degrees.
Who doesn’t love mac and cheese! It’s a favorite among anyone and everyone. This quick and easy recipe is the perfect side dish puts a new twist on the classic. Starting with the cheese combine the cheese in a pot and use various cheeses as well as salt and pepper. Roast the cauliflower in the oven and combine with the cheese in a baking pan. And add more cheese and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.
A sweet treat that’s a classic for everyone! Sweet Potato Pie is always a thanksgiving favorite. Like pumpkin pie its made from a plant! Using sweet potato’s as the main ingredient this sweet treat uses brown sugar, vanilla and eggs and more. Combining all of those together using a either homemade pie crust or ready made pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
The most wonderful time of the year that’s filled with holiday cheer! A healthy holiday meal is something that I didn’t think was possible. A healthy meal is something that should always be valued.
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