It’s almost the end of the year, and it can mean only one thing – Christmas is right around the corner! You have so much to do – you need to get the house ready; you have to buy all the gifts and of course, you need to make sure that you have everything you need for the Christmas dinner. For many, Christmas dinner is a time to gather around a delicious feast with family and friends; but a dinner is often never as simple when you have a lot of people coming over. With more and more people turning to vegetarianism and veganism, meat-free holiday recipes are something a lot of people are looking out for these days.

At Waangoo, we understand that, which is why we bring to your doorstep, a wide variety of vegetarian options, including fresh vegetables and grocery staples from all around the world.

Here’s how to lay out an entire easy vegetarian Christmas dinner

If you’re planning a vegetarian Christmas meal, rest assured that it can be every bit as festive, flavourful, and satisfying as a traditional spread. All you need is a little bit of planning, proper prep and once you are done making your list of essentials, we at Waangoo will make sure that everything reaches your doorstep, because we are the place you come too for online grocery in Singapore.

Now let’s get on with your menu of holiday dinner vegetarian options:

Kick it off with festive appetizers and small bites

Appetizers set the tone for the meal and allow your guests to sample a variety of flavours, without really filling up their stomachs. Here are some vegetarian options that will kick off your Christmas dinner in style and impress your guests.

• Roasted pepper and cheese crostini – Toast some slices of baguette, spread cheese on top of it, ideally something that is spreadable and then top it all off with slices of roasted red pepper. You can even go with a mix of coloured bell peppers, like red and green to invoke the Christmas spirit. Garnish with some fresh basil leaves and you can drizzle some extra virgin olive oil as well. You can serve it as is or just pop it in the oven for a few seconds, before serving it up.
• Stuffed mushrooms – This is one of those dainty appetisers that can either be picked by hand or with a toothpick and are literally a single bite. Prepare a savoury mixture of breadcrumbs, garlic, spinach, and cheese and stuff these into the cavity of the mushrooms. Bake till the cheese is melted and the mushrooms are soft for a super hit appetiser!

Main course magic!

No matter what the meal, the main course is often the star and if you are holiday dinner vegetarian options, you will find so many of them! These are just some ideas:

• Vegan Wellington – The beef Wellington has long been a holiday menu favourite, but if you are a vegetarian or vegan, this version would not be an option for you. So, how about a vegetarian version – one that is made with mushrooms, spinach, and chestnuts wrapped in a flaky puff pastry and then baked to perfection? Add a side of gravy and you are all set with a savoury delightful main course that will wow everyone!
• Eggplant parmesan – This classic dish is often described as comfort in a bowl – slices of eggplant are breaded, baked, and layered with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, to create a dish that’s hearty and comforting. What makes this dish so great is that the texture of eggplant gives you that meatiness and you can serve it as is or with a side of pasta or salad.

Sides that will sizzle too

When you are talking about Christmas vegetarian menu ideas, how can you skip the sides? In general, sides are often vegetarian and we bring to you some interesting ideas:

• Honey glazed carrots - Add a touch of sweetness to your Christmas table with roasted carrots that are glazed with honey, fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of sea salt. You can add a balsamic drizzle on top or serve them as is.
• Garlic mashed potatoes with chives – Mashed potatoes are a staple for any holiday dinner, but this year, you can jazz it up a little. Sauté some minced garlic in some butter and grind it into a fine paste, which is then mixed with the mashed potatoes. Top it off with some finely chopped chives and a dollop of sour cream.

Salads that will be stars of their own

• Most of the times, Christmas dinners tend to be really heavy and rich, which is why adding a fresh salad is a really good idea. Not only will it help cut through the richness, but also offer a refreshing balance.
• Pomegranate and spinach salad – Think of the Christmas colours – red, white and green – and use that as the theme for this salad. Baby spinach, pomegranate seeds and crumbled feta are mixed together and then a vinaigrette made from olive oil, lemon juice and Dijon mustard is poured on top. Garnish with sliced almond and your salad is done.
• Citrus salad – This salad is as refreshing and crunchy as it gets – you will need segments of orange, sweet lime, sliced red onions, shredded lettuce and sliced green grapes. Because this salad is so fresh, you will want a super light dressing, made with just extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.

End it on a sweet note

How can any dinner end without a sweet treat and when its Christmas, it has to be a decadent dessert!

• Chocolate yule log – A yule log is a classic Christmas dessert and you can actually make a vegan version using coconut cream and dark chocolate. Decorate with a dusting of powdered sugar and fresh berries for a festive touch.
• Apple crumble – If you are looking for a fruit-based dessert, then you can consider an apple crumble, for which you will need to stew down some apples with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and star anise. For the crumble, you can use oats, which are a healthier option and you can make it more luscious by serving it with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.
• Gingerbread cookies - A holiday favourite, gingerbread cookies are fun to make and decorate and is something you can get ready well in advance too. if you are looking to make the holiday treat healthier, you can switch out all purpose flour with whole wheat flour, white sugar with molasses and palm sugar and do remember to pick good quality ginger powder.

So, there you go – a full course easy vegetarian Christmas dinner, the ingredients for which are all available at Waangoo!