Julie Giuffrida is Test Kitchen coordinator for the Los Angeles Times.
If you don’t tell them, they’ll never know it’s vegan.
If you try to pass off this show-stopping platter of Slow-Roasted Winter Vegetables as roast turkey, your guests are gonna know. But since many now bake and serve dressing separately instead of cooking it inside their turkeys, I defy your guests to discern, unprompted, that this Country Stuffing With Lots of Celery is completely plant-based. Same goes for the Creamy Leek Mashed Potatoes and the Double Mushroom Gravy, especially when served together.
They might wonder whether the Smothered Green Beans With Creamed Mushrooms and Fried Onions aren’t a little lighter than last year’s casserole, but they will never flat-out guess that the dish is vegan. And the Smashed Sweet Potatoes With Torched Meringue? Please! The real thing, with all that butter, brown sugar and marshmallows, never tasted so intoxicating.
Whatever your reasons for wanting some plant-based dishes on your table — or a completely plant-based meal — these dishes will have everyone talking about how wonderful they are. The only folks who might wonder whether they are really vegan will be the vegans themselves, because these downright delicious dishes mimic the nonvegan stuff so well.
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Dip
Time1 hour 25 minutes
YieldsServes 10 to 12
Vegan Picadillo Empanadas
Time1 hour
YieldsMakes about 12
Grilled Cauliflower Wedges
Time30 minutes
YieldsServes 2 to 4
Tsukune-Style Brussels Sprouts
Time1 hour
YieldsServes 4 to 6
Creamy Leek Mashed Potatoes
Time45 minutes
YieldsMakes about 8 cups
Double Mushroom Gravy
Time1 hour
YieldsMakes about 4 cups
Slow-Roasted Winter Vegetables
Time2 hours
YieldsServes 12
Country Stuffing with Lots of Celery
Time1 hour
YieldsServes 12
Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts With Chile-Maple Glaze
Time20 minutes
YieldsServes 8 to 12
Sauteed Collard Greens
Time20 minutes
YieldsServes 4 to 6
Cast-Iron Cornbread
Time45 minutes
YieldsServes 12
Smashed Sweet Potatoes With Torched Meringue
Time1 hour
YieldsServes 12
Smothered Green Beans with Creamed Mushrooms and Fried Onions
Time30 minutes
YieldsServes 12
Bourbon Pecan Pie With No-Roll Crust
Time2 hours, largely unattended
YieldsServes 12
Gracias Madre’s Key lime pie
Time45 minutes
YieldsServes 8 to 12
Caramelized fig cake with lemon anglaise
Time1 hour 15 minutes
YieldsServes 8