Preparing a vegan dinner for meat-eating guests can be daunting, but there are options. Mock meat products and ethnic cuisine without animal products are two routes to take. Vegan desserts are also available, or you can make your own.
A small percentage of the world’s population, estimated at around two percent, are vegan. They eat a diet without animal products and may also seek out sources of animal-free cosmetics and clothing. Having vegans for dinner can be intimidating if you’re used to relying heavily on animal products for food sources. With a little ingenuity, you can surprise and delight guests with a feast that may even be able to satisfy the appetites of your meat by eating the guests too.
When you’re preparing a vegan dinner, there are two main routes to take. The first is to prepare an animal products dinner made from soy, nuts, or wheat. Most grocery stores offer soy products made to look like turkey, sausage, ground beef, and a variety of other animal products. You can also get cheese and soy milk and an assortment of nuts. Your second option is to cook a dinner with no animal products at all: for example, a vegan Chinese or Indian dinner of vegetables and grains.
If you want to make a family dinner for meat eaters, you might want to go the mock meat route. It’s entirely possible to make a completely vegan Thanksgiving meal, for example, with a few minor modifications. Tofurky or a similar product could be used for the center of the meal, while you could make mashed potatoes with the help of nut milk and margarine. Sides like veg and cranberry sauce can be easily and quickly made vegan.
For some vegans in transition, a meal with mock meat products can be very welcome. Many meat eaters also find themselves appreciating the approximations of the animal products they love, and dinner can spark interest and conversation as well as be nutritious and tasty. You can get ideas from the soy aisle at the grocery store or from the websites of companies that make artificial meat products. You may find yourself surprised by the range of interesting things on offer.
Ethnic meals without animal products also have their place. India and China have a long vegan and vegetarian history which has resulted in creative and delicious cuisine. Cookbooks from these countries are easy to find, or you can search the Internet for recipes. Vegan Indian food typically incorporates fresh vegetables, protein in the form of chickpeas, and grains like lentils and rice. Many Indian breads and sweets ranging from naan to samosas are also suitable for vegans. Traditional Chinese cuisine relies heavily on both fresh and pickled vegetables, along with soy products such as tempeh and tofu.
There are also a number of vegan desserts, including dairy-free ice cream and baked goods, though you can also make your own. Many cookbooks and websites specialize in vegan dessert recipes that you can experiment with in the days leading up to your dinner party. In summer, sherbet and fresh fruit could be enough and enjoyed by all. Other times, you might want to experiment with vegan baking, which substitutes a few simple cooking tricks for animal products traditionally used in baked goods.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
