Every family has its own traditions for Christmas lunch and while for some people that may be a turkey or a prime rib, for others it is a vegetarian meal. Christmas lunch is about gathering with family and sharing this special time of the year. There are many comforting dishes that will make a vegetarian Christmas lunch extra special.
Lunch can begin with some appetizers. Cheese and cracker are a simple way to have something on hand to tide everybody over until the main event is served. It can be as simple as a couple of bars of cheese cut into bite size pieces and as complex of a warm cheesy dip made with several types of cheese, mayonnaise and dried onions baked to bubbly goodness.
If you want something more elaborate and festive a baked brie with fresh fruit and chutney is a delicious choice.
Soup makes a great first course and there are many vegetable options that are both easy to make and delicious. Some fall and winter choices are butternut squash and apple soup, parsnip and pear or a creamy mushroom made with either simple button mushrooms or exotic wild mushrooms. For a real seasonal favorite, consider chestnut soup which is rich with the flavor of this seasonal nut.
For the main course, many families serve lasagna on Christmas day. A vegetarian version of the lasagna would be a perfect main course for the Christmas lunch. A variety of vegetables can be used, whatever your family likes best. Another choice is eggplant parmesan. It is a hardy and rustic dish that can feed a large crowd with one casserole. In addition to the main course casserole, a variety of vegetable dishes should be offered.
Roasted or mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, green bean casserole, a tossed salad, roasted root vegetables or asparagus with hollandaise sauce for a fancier vegetable. If you want to include a protein, quinoa is an excellent choice especially since it has a nutty taste. Try to incorporate some other nuts into the vegetable dishes such as almonds with green beans.
After the luncheon dishes have been cleared away it is time for the dessert course. There are many desserts that are traditions for Christmas including a plum or Christmas pudding. In the old days these included suet or lard, but these days vegetable shortening will work fine. Trifle is another very traditional dessert to serve at Christmas time. If your family is more of a pie family, be sure to have pumpkin, apple or a cream pie such as chocolate cream.
Having a vegetarian Christmas lunch is no more work than having a lunch with a large joint of meat. With the hearty dishes suggested here, it is unlikely that even the carnivores in the group will feel as if they have missed anything.
Be sure to offer eggnog, hot chocolate, coffee or tea to drink and have bowls of holiday nuts and candies about for snacking. It is the one day of the year when everyone wants to indulge and everyone knows that there is no such thing as calories on Christmas.
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