Our favorite plant-based meals that will leave you feeling warm and happy and full of holiday cheer.
The holidays are basically an excuse to be gluttonous. It’s almost a fully accepted thing to gain “the holiday weight.” There are so many heavy foods and sugary desserts, it’s enough to make Santa’s head spin. And to be honest, after the year we’ve had, it’s really tempting to want to go all-out on some of these delicacies – anything that makes us feel happy and content!
But….. while the thought of a month-long holiday feasting extravaganza sounds really yummy… the truth is that it’s also nice to find a balance. I’ve managed to maintain a true balance in my diet since the time I graduated from college. I’ve always made healthy cooking a part of my routine. Partly because I want to live healthfully, and partly because I just love the taste of eating things like vegetables and how great and vibrant they make me feel. So let’s just call my personal ratio 80% healthy to 20% indulgence.
I thought it’d be nice to treat you guys to a few beautiful and delicious holiday dishes that are plant-based AND packed with flavor. I’m really excited to share some of the things that actually represent how I cook for my family. And as always, we’d love to hear from you via Instagram, Facebook, or email about what kind of plant-based cooking you’re doing this holiday season – so please reach out and share what you’re making, and we might re-share it with our community of other like-minded LUXYMOMs®!
Without further ado, here are our three plant-based holiday dinner dishes that you can easily weave into your menu this year.
Meatless Meatloaf
In my house, homemade veggie burgers are a weekly staple. I’ve perfected this enough that my kids eat them without complaint. So I thought it’d be fun to take the veggie burger a step further and turn it into a meatless meatloaf.
For the purposes of this article, I’m going to follow a recipe from Delish – only because I’ve yet to calculate specific ingredient measurements for my homemade veggie burgers. I eyeball everything and cook to taste, as my grandmothers would have approved.
Mushroom and Pea Risotto
My key to a great risotto (and any soup or stew) is a homemade broth. NOW – in full transparency – the stock I typically use is a homemade chicken stock that I always have on hand for soups. I love that it’s not so salty, and I know the quality of the ingredients that go into it.
But for the purposes of this article, find – or make – a fully vegetable stock. Chop up a ton of veggies like kale, mushrooms, onions, carrots, and celery, and mix in fresh spices like rosemary and thyme, along with a few cloves of garlic and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Top off with a good portion of salt and pepper. Simmer in a pot full of water and salt for about an hour – but watch and stir often to check that all is well.
A great stock will ensure a superior risotto. Head to the full risotto recipe here.
Honey Roasted Carrots
This is a tried and true recipe – originally gotten from Epicurious – a site which never fails me. I made them a few holidays ago, and now they’re on repeat in my house, and when I have to bring a side dish to a party. Everyone in my family, from the very young to the very old, loves these carrots!
I kid you not when I tell you that my very picky five year old – who, in his own words, “doesn’t do fruits and veggies” – will eat them and ask for seconds.
Try this recipe out here, and wow your family and guests alike!
We hope you’ve been inspired to go meatless this holiday season – even if just for one meal! Remember to tag us in your posts if you try one of these recipes and let us know how it worked out for you!