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
Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Yields Serves 10 to 12
Vegan Picadillo Empanadas
Time 1 hour
Yields Makes about 12
Grilled Cauliflower Wedges
Time 30 minutes
Yields Serves 2 to 4
Tsukune-Style Brussels Sprouts
Time 1 hour
Yields Serves 4 to 6
Creamy Leek Mashed Potatoes
Time 45 minutes
Yields Makes about 8 cups
Double Mushroom Gravy
Time 1 hour
Yields Makes about 4 cups
Slow-Roasted Winter Vegetables
Time 2 hours
Yields Serves 12
Country Stuffing with Lots of Celery
Time 1 hour
Yields Serves 12
Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts With Chile-Maple Glaze
Time 20 minutes
Yields Serves 8 to 12
Sauteed Collard Greens
Time 20 minutes
Yields Serves 4 to 6
Cast-Iron Cornbread
Time 45 minutes
Yields Serves 12
Smashed Sweet Potatoes With Torched Meringue
Time 1 hour
Yields Serves 12
Smothered Green Beans with Creamed Mushrooms and Fried Onions
Time 30 minutes
Yields Serves 12
Bourbon Pecan Pie With No-Roll Crust
Time 2 hours, largely unattended
Yields Serves 12
Gracias Madre’s Key lime pie
Time 45 minutes
Yields Serves 8 to 12
Caramelized fig cake with lemon anglaise
Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Yields Serves 8
