Vegan Options for Turkey Day

Whether you're vegan or you have someone who eats a plant-based diet that will be joining you for Thanksgiving dinner, you may want to consider some delicious alternative recipes. Just because people choose to be plant-based doesn't mean they can't enjoy a hearty meal on Thanksgiving and experience food comas just like everyone else!

Mashed Potatoes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4-5 russet potatoes, chopped into chunks
• 3-4 T vegan butter, melted
• Garlic powder
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh parsley
• 1 T unsweetened almond milk

Directions

Boil your potatoes until they are soft. Mash them to the thickness you like (I like my mashed potatoes a little chunky), and add the melted vegan butter. Vegan butter is sold at almost every grocery store these days. It tastes just like regular butter. Add garlic, salt and pepper to taste. If you like your mashed potatoes on the creamy side, add a tablespoon of unsweetened almond milk and more vegan butter. Top with chopped fresh parsley.

Gravy

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• ¼ c vegan butter
• ¼ c flour
• 3 c vegetable stock
• Salt and pepper

Directions

The gravy is super easy! Just melt the butter and add flour until it thickens. Slowly add in the vegetable stock. Whisk until gravy is thick to your liking. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Mac 'n Cheese

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• ¼ c cashews
• ½ cup water
• 1 box of macaroni
• ½ c white mushrooms
• ½ c white onion, chopped
• ½ carrot, chopped
• ½ red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 T olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Garlic powder

Directions

Now this recipe is only a little more complicated than the mashed potatoes but still super easy! First, soak the cashews for at least thirty minutes. You can leave them overnight as well. Cook your macaroni according to the box instructions. In a medium-sized pan or pot, fry the mushrooms, onions, carrots, and red pepper in olive oil until all the ingredients are very soft. Once they are fully cooked, blend the veggies and cashews with the water. Add salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Add your sauce to the macaroni and voila! Remember that a lot of what is on the dinner table at Thanksgiving is already vegan, such as cranberry sauce, green beans, roasted potatoes, etc. Simple substitutions can make many traditional Thanksgiving meals vegan. These vegan recipes are for all to enjoy!