How to have yourself a merry vegan Christmas feast
You can embrace an animal-friendly alternative with dishes such as mushroom risotto and roasted vegetable salad, plus vegan wines and festive decorations
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.”