Life
Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dishes? Here Are 20 We Want To Eat Now
What can vegans eat on Thanksgiving? Everything non-vegans eat except turkey, basically. Sure, Thanksgiving staples like gravy, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole tend to be made with meat, milk and butter — but they don't have to be. 'Veganizing' these dishes is actually way easier than you might think, and with this batch of 20 recipes, you don't need to sacrifice taste, either.
Image: seventyfour/Fotolia
Roasted Pumpkin Caramel Bisque
What's better than "pumpkin spice?" Pumpkin caramel, a la this roasted pumpkin caramel bisque from The Gourmand Mom.
Image: The Gourmand Mom
Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup
"If you’re looking for a healthier soup recipe for Thanksgiving that doesn’t compromise on flavor or that rich mouthfeel, here it is," writes Jeanette of Jeanette's Healthy Living. Pumpkin seeds make a pretty garnish but also add crunch to the otherwise creamy vegan soup.
Image: Jeanette's Healthy Living
Rosemary & Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Don't ever let anyone tell you that mashed potatoes need butter and cream! Olive oil works just as well, especially when paired with garlic and rosemary in this recipe from Big Girls, Small Kitchen.
Image: Big Girls, Small Kitchen
Dill Mashed Potatoes
Another take on vegan mashed potatoes, this time made with soy milk and vegan butter and flavored with dill, via I Love Vegan.
Image: I Love Vegan
Beet-Parsnip Mash
If you're really feeling adventurous, Vanilla and Spice suggests you replace mashed potatoes with colorful mashed parsnips and beets.
Image: Vanilla and Spice
Vegan Creamed Kale
Baked with a cashew cream sauce, this kale dish from Quiche a Week is nutritious, vegan and 'creamy' enough to fool your grandpa into eating it.
Image: Quiche a Week
Spicy Mac'n'Yease
Flour, almond milk and nutritional yeast creates the "cheesiness" in this vegan mac-n-cheese topped with spicy breadcrumbs from Vegan Richa.
Image: Vegan Richa
Chai-Spiced Sweet Potatoes
Cinnamon, cloves, cardamon and a touch of brown sugar lend the spicy chai flavor to these mashed sweet potatoes from Oh My Veggies.
Image: Oh My Veggies
Roasted Carrot and Parsnip White Truffle Salad
For something a little lighter, try this carrot and parsnip salad from Beard and Bonnet. It's vegan, gluten-free and dressed up with pine nuts and white truffle oil.
Image: Beard and Bonnet
Sweet Potato Casserole
This isn't your grandma's sweet potato casserole, writes Oh She Glows blogger Angela. Her version is both veganized and more natural than her family's original recipe.
Image: Angela Liddon | OhSheGlows.com
Green Bean Casserole
And here's a vegan take on the classic green bean casserole from The Detoxinista. It's also all-natural and Paleo friendly.
Image: The Detoxinista
Quinoa Stuffing
For stuffing that's meat-, gluten- and dairy-free, try this no-fuss quinoa stuffing recipe from food blogger Hail Merry.
Image: Ildi/Fotolia
Ginger Cranberry Sauce
Ginger, cinnamon and cherries add flavor to Healthy Blender Recipes' vegan cranberry sauce without making it sickeningly sweet.
Image: Healthy Blender Recipes
Roasted Cranberry, Grape and Kale Salad
Blisstree offers another way to get your cranberries in this Thanksgiving dinner. Roasting the berries and grapes makes them sweeter, softer and less tart — a good complement to wilted kale and chopped walnuts.
Image: Blisstree
Beet, Fennel, and Fig Salad with Cranberry-Sage Dressing
For a subtle cranberry dish, try this salad recipe from the folks at NYC vegan restaurant Candle 79. Beets, fennel, figs and greens topped with a cranberry-sage salad dressing.
Image: Blisstree
Vegan Gravy
Vegans don't have to go gravy-free on Thanksgiving. Here's a vegan gravy recipe that relies on vegetable broth, vinegar and tomato paste for the base.
Image: photoeverywhere/Fotolia
Maple Cinnamon Apple Sauce
Naturally sweetened, chunky apple sauce that only takes 20 minutes to make, from Cookie + Kate.
Image: Cookie + Kate
Roasted Chestnuts
Roasting chestnuts is easy (no fire required!), and they make for a healthier appetizer or a vegan side dish.
Image: Misko Kordic/Fotolia
Raw Pumpkin Pie
A pumpkin pie recipe from Naturally Ashley Nutrition that will satisfy both vegans and raw foodies. Top it off with coconut whipped 'cream.'
Image: Naturally Ashley Nutrition
Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin puree and coconut milk keep this vegan pumpkin bread from the Mother Nature Network soft and moist.
Image: istetiana/Fotolia
