While many people associate Thanksgiving with an oven-roasted turkey – many of us are steering away from the traditional dinners served on holidays instead of looking for ways to keep all the fun without the cruelty. If you’re one of those, then stick around. The natural and more profound message behind Thanksgiving is the idea of sharing food with good company, surrounding ourselves with our beloved family and friends and giving thanks for all that we’re grateful for. Like any other holiday, this too is about compassion, love and respect. So by simply opting for a meat-free and vegan Thanksgiving dinner, you choose to show and express your gratitude for Mother Earth, all living things and most definitely your health. Here’s the real challenge, how to include all the deliciousness and colours into your vegan dinner.
First, think about the overall ambiance and mood of a cozy Thanksgiving Dinner. Do you know what comes into my mind? The beautiful Autumn season with all its glory and warm colours. A successful Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner will have all the seasonal fruits and veggies you can find – it’s all about the flavours and the colours.
Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner Inspiration
You’re probably wondering, “Well, what are some meal options?” Don’t worry! I got you covered.
Here’s what I served at my very own Vegan Thanksgiving dinner. And the best part is that you can come up with your own version depending on what is available to you.
Nothing says “Autumn” like a nice bowl of soup to start a meal – think about seasonal veggies like sweet potatoes and carrots. Next, you have to fry some onions, add some spices (I added cumin and turmeric), then throw in your veggies and some water. Let it cook and simmer for about 30 minutes, then blend away. You may want to add some sugar or lemon juice for more flavour and some ginger!
One of my other favourite and super simple vegan soup recipes is a lentil soup that I always go back to, which never disappoints. So check out my recipe and tell me what you think.
Most people think salad is summery, but here’s how you can make yours perfectly ready for a Thanksgiving Dinner: I usually add walnuts, dried cranberries, roasted sweet potatoes and pumpkin seeds to give it a nice crunchy, sweet and Autumn flavour.
Another great way to impress a crowd is to prepare some healthy and vegan dips to serve with freshly baked bread. Finally, don’t forget about pumpkin crumble for the perfect seasonal dessert.
There are loads of ideas out there! A Vegan Thanksgiving is achievable and the most excellent way to thank Mother Earth. I promise it’ll be a total hit, and you’ll never want to go back.
Would love to hear your thoughts and your own personal experiences, and don’t forget to share your favourite vegan recipes with us.
Happy Vegan Thanksgiving, lovelies!
