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How to have yourself a merry vegan Christmas feast

Christmas Day lunch need not be boring for vegans who shun roast turkey, thanks to delicious alternatives such as Christmas wreath salad with beetroot, apple, oranges and mustard sauce.

When it comes to Christmas food, most of us think of turkey, or perhaps roast duck if you follow German traditions, fish if you’re Portuguese, or chicken or pork tamales if you come from Costa Rica.

Yet for the growing number of people embracing veganism, deciding what to cook and serve for Christmas can be a dilemma.

Ensuring that other traditions of the festive period, such as Christmas decorations, are free from animal products, is a consideration, too.

For anyone concerned about cooking for Christmas, organic and therapeutic chef Vivi Cheung, who will soon be opening the latest incarnation of Dandy’s organic cafe in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, recommends not thinking too big – just cook what you are comfortable with – and focus on the finessing.

 

“I know some people find the idea of preparing a vegan Christmas meal a challenge, but it needn’t be so,” she says.

“There are many wonderful vegan recipes available these days; simply choose a recipe you like the sound of, and feel capable of cooking.

“Just make your Christmas dishes more delicate and presentable than an everyday meal.”

For a vegan fine-dining Christmas feast, Cheung suggests starting with an Aussie-style warm salad of roasted seasonal vegetables and superfood seeds mixed with an almond pesto sauce.

I know some people find the idea of preparing a vegan Christmas meal a challenge, but it needn’t be so
Vivi Cheung, organic and therapeutic chef

Next up, a second starter of salsa fruit salad with smoked tofu, mixed with goji-berry vinaigrette, served attractively in a small bowl or tea cup.

For mains, try a mushroom risotto using up to six kinds of mushrooms to introduce new textures and tastes, all cooked with black lentil broth for a rich flavour.

Mushroom risotto, made with up to six kinds of mushrooms cooked in a black lentil broth, is as an appetising and filling alternative to roast turkey or ham at Christmas.

As a rule, vegan desserts can be tricky, but Cheung says that has never stopped her from indulging.

“I have a sweet tooth and love to create gluten-free, healthy desserts to cure my craving,” she says. “For Christmas, I usually make something more special, such as using winter chestnut for making cakes. Chestnut and almond cake is delicious and filling.”

For a second dessert, tofu and red bean pudding served warm is ideal for winter.

Many hosts will want to serve wine with a special meal, but vegans should be aware that most wine contains animal products: either egg whites (albumen) or isinglass (gelatin from fish bladder membranes) are used to stabilise the wine.

Instead, wine educator Ally Simmons says look for wine that uses bentonite, a clay that is vegan-friendly. It should be listed on the label, or look for the vegan leaf symbol.

An increasing number of winemakers are adopting more natural production methods, which is good news for vegans, so check labels for vegan-friendly choices.

She says a growing number of winemakers are embracing more natural production methods, which is good news for vegans.

“More producers are letting the sediment from fermentation settle and racking the wine, leaving the lees behind,” she says.

“This leaves the wine slightly cloudy but with greater complexity – not to everyone’s taste, but perhaps a purer expression of the wine.”

When it comes to ensuring all the added extras that create a warm and welcoming atmosphere for your Christmas feast are animal-friendly, check the labels.

Many candles are not suitable for vegans as they contain a small amount of stearic acid, often made from animal fat, and some candles are made from beeswax.

Some Christmas decorations may contain animal products, such as paint, paper or glue made from gelatin, derived from boiling animal tissue and bones, but vegan alternatives can be found.

Some Christmas decorations may have been made using paint, paper or glue that use gelatin, which is made from boiling animal tissue and bone.

Paintbrushes are often made out of animal hair.

There are vegan alternatives available, however, so shop consciously.

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You can embrace an animal-friendly alternative with dishes such as mushroom risotto and roasted vegetable salad, plus vegan wines and festive decorations