A Very Vegan Thanksgiving
Are you ready to have the most delicious Thanksgiving that is completely packed with flavour and best of all cruelty free?!
I have gotten some questions about the types of dishes I prepare for this iconic dinner as we are now 2 years into eating completely animal free. How crazy is that?! It's felt like it's zipped by. We have certainly navigated our way through huge hits and fails and have a good understanding of what types of dishes the whole family will love.
Each year Thanksgiving dinner is hosted by my parents and we usually bring a couple of dishes that I know my kids will enjoy and aligns with how we eat- spoiler alert: we're the only ones that eat a fully plant based diet in our family! Along the way we've tried an assortment of meat alternatives that tie into the Thanksgiving theme, like Tofurky ham and The Very Good Butcher's roast beast, however this year I'm going to keep it simple by making my main dish a vegan pot pie followed by a few sides.
Whether you're in the thick of your vegan journey or just starting, I promise you, the recipes I've curated will seriously require the stretchy pants. The best part is your food coma will not come from a baby turkey (did you know they're slaughtered at 6 months old *cry*)- instead they'll come from a rich assortment of vegetables and grains that are hearty and sure to fill you up!
Without further ado, here is my list of delicious meals perfect for your Vegan Thanksgiving!
1. Vegan Cheddar Beer Dip
The title says it all- this is the perfect way to get your appetite going and the best part is that its a few hundred calories LESS than a dairy based cheese.
2. Vegan Pot Pie
Theres something about a creamy veggie filling with a crispy crust on top- do I speak for all of us when I say I'd eat the entire crust in one sitting?!
3. Vegetable Fricassée
This one just screams Thanksgiving - just look at all that saucy and mushroom goodness! This recipe pairs with a mashed cauliflower but I think I'd prefer a traditional fluffy mashed potato, which brings me to...
4. Garlicky Mashed Potatoes
This is pretty self explanatory, you need something that's going to pool the gravy right? (The receipe above would be a perfect gravy dish!)
5. Meatless Meatloaf
A classic Thanksgiving staple if you don't do the ham or the turkey. Super easy recipe and definitely one you can make year round!
6. Vegan Stuffing
I also like to drown this in gravy. Basically my entire plate is covered in gravy LOL - this recipe is delish!
7. Brussel Sprouts with Blueberry Balsamic Glaze
This recipe was created by yours truly for Klaassen Farms! I had the absolute pleasure of creating this recipe for their upcoming calendar and it's one of the most delicious Brussel sprout recipes ever! (ok I might be biased!)
8. Sweet Potato Casserole
Do you add a sweet potato dish to your Thanksgiving table? I'm not sure if Canadians do it, but I sure see a lot of American's enjoy it in an actual sweet way instead of savoury. I came across this recipe and it sounds really delicious!
9. Vegan Pecan Pie
Finally, the dessert portion! I am a HUGE fan of pecan pie, it's one of my absolute favourite fall desserts. While others may prefer the pumpkin variety, pecan pie is packed with so much more flavour, in my opinion!
Well do I have you hungry yet?! I hope this inspires you to keep animals off your plate this Thanksgiving and enjoy time spent with your families!
Happy Thanksgiving!
