Vegetarian Thanksgiving

By: Allrecipes Staff

Beyond Tofurkey

Vegetarian Guests

Are you cooking your traditional Thanksgiving meal--turkey, sausage stuffing, candied yams with marshmallows--but are having guests who don't eat meat?

Ask your guests if they eat eggs and dairy, and avoid serving the following (or have vegetarian versions to offer):

Stuffing that has been cooked in the turkey (or contains chicken broth)
Bacon drippings
Oysters
Gelatin
Marshmallows (they contain gelatin)
Meat gravy

If your guests are vegan, consider making a vegan entrée. Ask your guests to bring one or two side dishes that they can eat, as many Thanksgiving favorites don't easily translate into vegan dishes.

Vegan Main Dish Recipes:

Put a new spin on traditional Thanksgiving specialties and prepare them vegetarian-style, without sacrificing any indulgent holiday flavor.

Tofu Turkey

Like its feathered cousin, a tofu turkey can be packed with stuffing, basted and baked for hours on end. Making a tofu turkey is time-intensive, and it won't look like a real bird unless you have a mold (which isn't necessary for a delicious dish).

Serve with all the trimmings--gravy, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce.

More Main Dish Ideas

Celebrate the harvest with a pumpkin pasta, lasagna, polenta, or a rich mushroom dish.

Thanksgiving Sides

Roasted root vegetables, salads featuring hearty greens, and spicy condiments round out the meal.

Vegan Desserts

Unless you favor lard-based pie crusts, you should be able to serve your favorite desserts to the entire table. If you need a vegan option, try one of these recipes. (For the chocolate pie, make an oil crust using soy or almond milk in place of the dairy.)

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