Simple vegetarian recipe ideas for Christmas

[zoo2tycoon]

Anybody have simple but good vegetarian ideas for Christmas dinner. My youngest son’s girlfriend is a vegetarian and I need something for a main course idea (plan on 2 main courses one with meat and one vegetarian). I can plan meat one around vegetarian but I’m at a total loss.

 

[low-key]

have some corn

 

[jdb in AZ]

Costco has a veggie lasagna that's surprisingly good. It comes frozen, so you just throw it in the oven (and pretend you worked on it all day.)

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Cheese tamales.

 

[moniqueand2]

Maybe a Mexican cuisine theme?

Meat burritos or enchilladas and vegetarain also?

Add in nacho bar, rice, beans, veggie tray?

Tres Leche cake.

 

[GusGus77]

We always make cheese lasagna for Christmas (and we aren’t vegetarian.) William Sonoma has an excellent cheesy lasagna recipe. Use Barilla lasagna noodles as they are the best.

 

[emer95]

I’m a vegetarian and I just eat everything except the meat. My mother in law makes a ham dinner. I eat the potatoes, corn, rolls, and salad. I think it is extremely thoughtful of you to plan a meal that your son’s girlfriend will be able to eat. I’m sure it will mean a lot to her.

 

[NYCgrrl]

A meatless lasagna is always filling. Tastes great with any chopped greens in the spinach family: mustard, kale, Swiss chard, or even a combination. Or a mushroom lasagna (great TNT recipe by Rose Shulman @ the NYT’s Cooking section) which works for vegetarian, vegans, and even carnivores.

Other possibilities? A cottage pie which is pretty much the same as a shepard’s pie minus the meat and with lots of mushrooms. I like to use a mix of Portobellos with a little dried porcini added but any kind will do. A bean and vegetable stew is a choice that would take up no valuable oven space. Most the above dishes can be put together fast, ,have about an hour cooking time and can be prepared in advance and then reheated when needed.

 

[anniemae]

I would do a simple meatless lasagna or stuffed shells.

 

[NannyBeBe]

You might want to make sure that the young lady is vegetarian and not vegan. If she is vegan, some of the suggestions here would not be workable.

 

[barkley]

You might want to make sure that the young lady is vegetarian and not vegan. If she is vegan, some of the suggestions here would not be workable.

excellent reminder!

also-if you opt to do any of the the suggestions that use tortillas or prepared re fried beans make sure to check ingredients before purchasing to ensure they don't contain animal fats. if she's not vegan then an easy recipe we make is stuffed portobello caps. if you google 'south beach goat cheese stuffed portobello mushrooms' the recipe is available on-line. it's delicious, easy to fix and is a great entree.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Anybody have simple but good vegetarian ideas for Christmas dinner. My youngest son’s girlfriend is a vegetarian and I need something for a main course idea (plan on 2 main courses one with meat and one vegetarian). I can plan meat one around vegetarian but I’m at a total loss.

Rather than a full lasagna, why not do some zucchini lasagna roll ups? You can drop the mozz and egg and substitute vegan ricotta if it turns out she's vegan...and if not, you can cheese it up as you like...

It's also a great veg for everyone and good for lunch the next day (so you're not stuck with what you don't like to eat) - and you can add or change the veg inside (if you hate spinach, do roasted red pepper, as an example)...https://www.feastingathome.com/zucchini-rolls-spinach-basil/

 

[zoo2tycoon]

You might want to make sure that the young lady is vegetarian and not vegan. If she is vegan, some of the suggestions here would not be workable.

Thank you just a vegetarian. I do appreciate the reminder !

 

[AppleDumpling]

Lasagna or baked ziti was my first thought. Other ideas: eggplant parmesan, ratatouille, or stuffed peppers.

 

[loves to dive]

She is probably used to going places and just getting lots of veggies while others get a main dish so I wouldn't worry too much. If you do want to give her a main maybe a big stuffed mushroom or look for some of the "impossible" meats at the stores. While I'm not a vegetarian when we go to hubby's family I don't eat the meat very often because they use their own fresh meat and I'm not a fan. They know this so they cook lots of veggies for me and I'm happy with that. Maybe a good sweet potato casserole, and big ole pan of roasted veggies, lots of whatever fresh fruit and cheese that is available. Bread and dessert.

 

[RUDisney]

I’m a vegetarian and I just eat everything except the meat. My mother in law makes a ham dinner. I eat the potatoes, corn, rolls, and salad. I think it is extremely thoughtful of you to plan a meal that your son’s girlfriend will be able to eat. I’m sure it will mean a lot to her.

My DD would complain for days if not weeks if I made her eat just our side dishes and didn't think of something for her.

For Thanksgiving, I made the turkey and a meat lasagna for us and a meatless lasagna for her. She ate that and the turkey sides.

For Christmas, I'm making cheese and meat ravioli. She will have a marinara sauce and we will have a Sunday sauce. I'm also making a prime rib, so she will have the sides to that.

For a heartier side to the meal, you can do either spinach or escarole and beans. Chop the greens and fry them in olive oil with garlic. Add salt and when the greens are wilted, add a can or two (depending on quantity of greens) of cannellini beans that are drained. Mix it all together and you've got a high protein side that is delicious.

 

[snoopy two]

As a vegetarian, I always love a cheese or veggie pizza. And cookies.

 

[GreatLakes]

The easiest is going to be a pasta dish. Any dish that doesn't use a meat sauce will work for any vegetarian. A vegan will be a little harder due to the cheese that is often in pasta dishes.

My wife isn't strictly a vegetarian but doesn't eat meat besides fish. Often that means she just eats sides or the person throws on a pot of pasta.

 

[RUDisney]

I make a mock eggplant parm that my DD likes very much. Clean and dice an eggplant.

Saute some onions and garlic in some olive oil. Add eggplant, salt, pepper, basil and oregano or Italian Seasoning. When it's cooked, add a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes and simmer. When the flavors have melded together, add seasoned bread crumbs and mix to combine. Serve with grated cheese. This is REALLY good.

I serve it as a side, but you can serve it over pasta, if you wish.