Goodbye, turkey: The best Thanksgiving dinner ideas for hosting vegan guests

Thanksgiving, which this year takes place on Thursday November 28, is a time to get together with family and friends and express gratitude for the good things we have in our lives. What’s more, it’s a chance to sit down and enjoy some good grub - most likely a lot of it. While it may mean more work, the more people you can bring together for your meal the merrier. However, you may find out that some of your guests are vegetarian or even vegan.

At first that may cause panic for some, as nearly 90 percent of American households serve turkey as the main course of the holiday meal. But if you take a step back and look at the rest of the meal, the vast majority of what will be on the table is easily compatible as it tends to be plant based.

You may have to adjust a couple ingredients in the recipes to accommodate veganism’s requirement that no animal substances be included. Fortunately, nowadays there is a plethora of options available that can serve as alternatives.

What vegan dishes can I include in my Thanksgiving menu?

First things first, you should sit down and check the recipes of any of the vegetable-based dishes that you plan to be serving that may contain any non-plant-based ingredients. That means things like honey, dairy products or eggs and to be truly vegan no animals should have been used in producing the ingredients that you will be using.

Fortunately, given the expansion of people seeking to be more environmentally friendly in their eating habits, many products indicate if they are vegan on the label. Many grocery stores now even have a dedicated section, or you can seek out a specialty store and it never hurts to ask.

Common vegetable-based dishes that adorn Thanksgiving tables include broccoli, green beans, potatoes - either mashed or roasted - sweet potatoes and yams, as well as squash and turnips.

If you don’t already, you could add chickpeas, lentils or other legumes to the menu. These can be used to make everything from salads to a farmer’s pie.

There are a number of vegan substitutes that you can consider to add meat-like alternatives that are plant based. Several types of mushrooms add that meaty flavor and are vegan compatible.

As for dessert, everyone loves sweets, and pies are generally a must-have. But what about the butter that goes into making the pie crust? Bon Appétit offers a list of butter alternatives that can be used for literally everything, in addition to options that work great for specific purposes.

And to go with the pie, or as a standalone, finding vegan ice-cream is much easier these days. Or you can really impress your guests with your own homemade creations, but if you need some ideas Food & Wine offers some recipes.

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