In 2020, the number of vegans in the UK rose by 62 per cent to around 2.2 million Britons, with Mintel projecting a £1.1 billion spend on vegan foods by 2024. That’s a whole lot of plant eaters shunning the turkey, ditching the brandy cream and swerving the seafood this season. If you’re keen to add some plant-based dishes to your menu this Christmas to cater for vegan diners, we’ve created a round-up of some of the best Vegan Christmas buys from the major UK supermarkets, from traditional desserts to modern mains. These are our preferred plant-based picks.

Picture Credit: Morrisons

Panettone


Tesco
Nomma Plant Based Panettone 750G

Nomma’s plant-based panettone would trick even the pickiest of Italians; other than being slightly denser in texture than the original recipe it is full of authentic flavour. A great, lighter alternative to a traditional iced Christmas cake.


Vegan Festive Filo Swirls


Waitrose
Vegan Festive Filo Swirls

This is a great single-serve option from Waitrose if you’re looking to eschew the vegan meat alternatives. These neat festive filo swirls are packed with a Moroccan-inspired spiced filling of butternut squash, red pepper, tomatoes and dried fruit. Bursting with flavour, they’re encased in a crisp, golden pastry shell. The perfect option if the festive stodge is getting too much.


Christmas Pudding and cream


M&S
M&S Plant Kitchen Vanilla & Coconut Pot

If you want the perfect marriage of modern plant-based recipes with a traditional Christmas favourite, M&S’ Christmas Pud with coconut and vanilla pot really hits the spot. There is no need for FOMO with this authentic, sticky, dense number, since it’s filled with all the fruit and spices you’d ever hope for, while the coconut yoghurt-based custard is laced with fragrant vanilla. A tropical take on a classic accompaniment to your Christmas pudding that pairs beautifully with the fruity notes.


Wicked Christmas Party Food


Tesco
You may be restricted on the number of guests at your Christmas party, but you don’t need to hold back on the nibbles, thanks to Tesco’s Wicked Kitchen range of festive finger food. There are ‘no prawn’ firecracker dippers; ‘no chicken’ drumettes; ‘no lamb’ samosas; and ‘no moo’-zzerella sticks. You may notice a theme emerging here: no meat, just tasty world cuisine to share and enjoy.


No Beef Wellington


Sainsbury’s
46. No Beef Wellington

If a Vegan Christmas menu has you conjuring up images of a dry nut roast, think again. Sainsbury’s has this showstopper up its sleeve this year: a Plant Pioneers No Beef Wellington with a luxury mushroom and pea protein duxelle with spinach and a kick of horseradish all enrobed in a flaky, vegan pastry. Decadent.


Vegan Christmas Star Tarte


Morrisons
The Best Vegan Christmas Star Tarte

This Vegan Christmas Star Tarte from Morrisons has certainly got more plate appeal than a beige nut roast – and it packs oodles more flavour, too. Golden puff pastry is filled with sweet potato, parsnip, mushroom and a creamy, dairy-free sauce. Topped with apple sauce, a fruity seeded crumble and a puff pastry star, it would certainly win you brownie points with any vegan at your Christmas table this year.


Vegan Trifle


Morrisons
The Best Vegan Trifle

The kitsch 70s dessert is getting a modern, vegan makeover and if online reviews are anything to go by, it’s going to be a runaway success with plant-based foodies this Christmas. On first glance it offers all the layers and retro glory of the original with added boudoir biscuits and strawberry sauce; plus, the whole affair topped with dairy-free vanilla custard and cream. Dust with shavings of dark vegan-friendly chocolate and perhaps a sprinkling of edible glitter. It is Christmas, after all.


By Lydia Mansi
December 2020

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