The Secret To Crispy Vegan Roast Potatoes:

The good news is that creating delicious, crispy roast potatoes without animal products is not only possible but also quite simple. A variety of plant-based oils can effectively replace goose fat or beef dripping. Olive oil, for instance, is a popular choice among vegan cooks. It brings its own unique flavor and has a relatively high smoking point, making it suitable for roasting. 

But the secret to perfect vegan roast potatoes isn’t just in the oil; it’s also in the method. 

Parboiling the potatoes before roasting them is a crucial step. This process softens the potatoes,  allowing the edges to fluff up, which leads to that desirable crispy exterior once they’re roasted. Seasoning is another important aspect. Simple seasonings like salt, pepper, and rosemary can enhance the natural flavors of the potatoes. For those who like a bit of spice, paprika or garlic powder can add an extra dimension. 

Pairing these vegan roast potatoes with other plant-based dishes can create a delightful, cruelty-free feast. From rich, hearty vegan gravies to innovative plant-based “turkey” recipes, the options for a fully vegan roast dinner are vast and varied.

As the vegan culinary scene continues to grow, so do the resources available. Numerous vegan chefs and food bloggers have shared their takes on this classic dish, each with their own tips and tricks to achieve the perfect roast potato. Some recipes can be found below.

PS: Why not enjoy them with one of these festive recipes?

• This Maple And Garlic Tofu Roast Is A Roast Ham Alternative
• This Meaty Wellington Is Completely Vegan – And Perfect For Christmas
• How To Make Vegan Roast Beef From Scratch (It’s Easier Than You Think)

Vegan roast potato recipe from Avant Garde Vegan

Gaz Oakley – also known as Avant Garde Vegan – has amassed a huge following for his plant-based recipes. His journey from a traditional chef to a vegan cooking sensation has captivated a massive audience who eagerly follow his culinary creations. 

The Welsh chef has perfected his own roast potato recipe, which are crispy enough for even the pickiest of eaters. Oakley’s approach to creating these perfect roast potatoes involves a blend of traditional techniques and vegan-friendly ingredients. He pays special attention to the type of potatoes used, opting for varieties that are known for their roasting qualities. 

Ingredients: 

• 1kg/2.2 lbs Maris Piper Potatoes, peeled
• 1/2 cup/120ml Vegetable Oil
• 3 tbs Olive Oil
• 4 tbs Plain Flour or Gluten-Free Flour
• 1 tsp Sea Salt
• 1 tsp Cracked Black Pepper
• 3 Sprigs Fresh Rosemary
• Handful Fresh Sage Leaves
• 3 Shallots, peeled & quartered
• 4 cloves of Garlic
• Pinch Celery Salt
• Pinch Cayenne Pepper

Find the method here

Vegan roast potato recipe from So Vegan

So Vegan was set up by Roxy Pope and Ben Pook in 2016. They wanted to make plant-based eating accessible to everyone, and their videos have since been watched by hundreds of millions of people all over the world. 

Their approach to vegan cooking is characterized by simplicity and accessibility, breaking down the sometimes intimidating perception of vegan cuisine. They focus on recipes that require minimal ingredients, are easy to follow, and result in delicious, satisfying meals. 

They describe their roast potato recipe as the “crispiest and fluffiest in the world,” and you’ll only need three ingredients. This one is an ideal choice if you’re pushed for time and won’t be able to traipse around the supermarket.

Ingredients

• Maris Piper Potatoes
• Salt
• Olive oil

Find the method here

Vegan roast potato recipe from BOSH!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last two years, you’ll almost certainly be acquainted with BOSH!’s incredible recipes. 

Henry Firth and Ian Theasby have been dubbed the “vegan Jamie Olivers.” Their delicious and diverse food creations reached more than half a billion people in their first year. 

What sets BOSH! apart is their ability to create vegan dishes that are not only healthy and sustainable but also bursting with flavor and variety. They have a unique knack for veganizing classic favorites, making their recipes particularly appealing to a wide range of audiences.

They say their recipe creates crispy and perfectly fluffy roast potatoes.

Ingredients

• Maris Piper Potatoes 
• ¼ cup salt (for the water)
• ½ tbsp baking powder
• ½ cup olive oil
• 5 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
• 2 tbsp thyme (finely chopped)
• 2 tbsp rosemary (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp salt (after boiling)
• Pepper (to taste)

Find the method here 

Vegan roast potato recipe from Rachel Ama

Rachel Ama is a vegan chef and author who is known for her recipe books Vegan Eats and One Pot: Three Ways.

Her approach to vegan cooking is about stripping things back to basics, without compromising on taste or satisfaction. This philosophy is beautifully illustrated in her roast potato recipe, which only uses two ingredients. If you’re after a starting point recipe, or even want to experiment with some ingredients of your own, this is an ideal method to get you going.

Ingredients:

• Maris Piper potatoes
• Olive oil

Find the method here

Vegan roast potato recipe from School Night Vegan

School Night Vegan is run by plant-based food blogger Richard Makin. He was previously a lifelong vegetarian, but switched to vegan in November 2017. Since then, he has been perfecting the art of plant-based cooking. 

He says he used a “rigorous testing process” while creating his potatoes, and they should come out just as crispy and fluffy as any other. 

Ingredients

• Sunflower oil
• Rosemary
• Potatoes (like Maris Piper)
• Fine sea salt
• Flaky sea salt

Find his method here

The importance of vegan roast potatoes

Transitioning to a vegan diet doesn’t mean sacrificing beloved dishes like roast potatoes. With the right ingredients and techniques, they can be made completely plant-based without losing their classic appeal.  This not only opens up more options for those on a vegan diet but also encourages a more inclusive approach to cooking, where everyone at the table can enjoy the same delicious meal, regardless of dietary preferences.

So, get your apron on and start experimenting. Turn your kitchen into a vegan lab and have fun with it. Who knows, your next vegan creation could be a family favorite or the talk of your next dinner party!

This article was originally published on November 27, 2022. It was last updated on December 21 2023.

The post Vegan Roast Potatoes: 5 Incredible Recipes To Try appeared first on Plant Based News.

A wellington is a dish that typically consists of a fillet of beef wrapped in puff pastry, which is then baked. Originally named after the Duke of Wellington, this dish has become a popular choice for festive meals. Its popularity at Christmas can partly be attributed to its impressive appearance, making it an ideal centerpiece. In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the popularity of vegan wellingtons, which replace the beef with plant-based alternatives such as vegan meat, mushrooms, lentils, or other vegetables.

The below recipe comes from plant-based recipe developers Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, otherwise known as BOSH!. If you’re a vegan meat lover, you’re in luck – as it calls for plant-based burgers of your choice to use for the filling. By using meat, you can recreate all the flavors of a beef wellington, but without the cruelty. It’s an ideal choice if you’re new to the plant-based lifestyle, or if you’re cooking for guests who are used to eating meat.

“For newcomers diving into their first vegan Christmas, my top advice would be to embrace simplicity,” Firth and Theasby told Plant Based News. “Start with familiar dishes and adapt them to be plant-based. Additionally, explore new recipes—experimenting can lead to delightful surprises. And remember, it’s about enjoyment, not perfection!”

Vegan beef wellington recipe

This wellington is a perfect plant-based centerpiece for anyone craving something meaty this Christmas. Vegan burgers are a key ingredient here, and you can use any brand you like.

2.80 from 5 votes

Servings6

Ingredients

For the filling

• 900 g meaty plant-based burgers (about 4 packs)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Sea salt and black pepper
• Dijon mustard, for brushing the beef

For the mushroom duxelles

• 650 g chestnut mushrooms
• 180 g cooked chestnuts
• 1 garlic clove, peeled
• Drizzle of olive oil
• 2 thyme sprigs
• Sea salt and black pepper

To assemble

• 2x ready-rolled plant-based puff pastry sheets
• Unsweetened almond milk, for brushing
• Mixed black and white sesame seeds

Instructions

Make the wellington

• Put the plant-based burger patties in a large mixing bowl
• Season with salt and pepper and mash with a fork until they all break down and come together
• Use your hands to shape them into one thick sausage shape that will make up the 'fillet' in the wellington
• Wrap the sausage in clingfilm, place on a baking tray and put into the fridge to firm up while you make the mushroom duxelles

Make the mushroom duxelles

• Clean and halve the chestnut mushrooms, then add them to a food processor with the cooked chestnuts, garlic clove and a pinch each of salt and pepper and blend to a paste
• Heat the drizzle of oil in a large frying pan over a high heat
• Once warm, add the mushroom paste, pick the leaves from the thyme sprigs and add them too
• Mix well and cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring every now and then, until the paste has dried out
• Once cooked, leave to one side to cool

While the mushroom duxelles is cooling, seal the fillet

• Wipe out the pan youmade the duxelles in and heat a drizzle of olive oil in the pan over a high heat
• Remove the cling film from the fillet and add it to the pan
• Sear on each side until evenly browned all over
• Transfer to a plate and brush all over with Dijon mustard, then set aside

Make the wellington filling

• Lay a large piece of cling film on your work surface and spread the mushroom mixture on top to the width of the fillet
• Lay the fillet at the edge of the mushroom layer
• Tightly roll the fillet into a sausage shape
• Twist the ends of the cling film so it holds tightly together, then refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up

Finish the wellington

• Unroll one sheet of puff pastry onto a large baking sheet, keeping the paper on the bottom
• Unwrap the fillet from the cling film and place it on the middle of the pastry sheet
• Brush almond milk a thumbs width around the edge of the fillet
• Place another pastry sheet over the top of the fillet and press down around the base where the almond milk has been brushed to seal the two pastry sheets together
• Cut around the edge of the pastry, a thumbs-width from the fillet, to make a neat border, keeping any leftover pastry to decorate
• Wrap the wellington tightly in cling film and chill for another 10 minutes, or overnight if you're super organised
• Preheat oven to 190°C

Glaze the wellington

• Remove the cling film and decorate the pastry with the off-cuts if you like, re-rolling and cutting them as necessary-we like to cover the wellington in pastry strips placed diagonally across the top
• Make a hole in the pastry with a chopstick to prevent the pastry from splitting
• Glaze the wellington all over with almond milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds

Cook the wellington

• Cook the wellington in the oven for 45-50 minutes, until golden and delicious

Time to serve

• Rest for 15 minutes to allow the juices to settle, then transfer to a cutting board and slice

This recipe was republished with permission from BOSH! MEAT by Henry Firth and Ian Theasby (HQ, HarperCollins).

More like this:

• This Maple And Garlic Tofu Roast Is A Roast Ham Alternative
• 25 Authentic Vegan Christmas Recipes For The Holiday Season
• How To Make Vegan Roast Beef From Scratch (It’s Easier Than You Think)

The post This Meaty Wellington Is Completely Vegan – And Perfect For Christmas appeared first on Plant Based News.

In this guide, which comes from Viva!’s food and cookery manager, Maryanne Hall, we’ll explore how to cater to vegans during Christmas, offering product recommendations, recipe ideas, inspiration – and some important dos and don’ts.

Embrace Plant-Based Ingredients

Start by embracing a variety of plant-based ingredients. Incorporate fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and grains into your menu. These form the basis of many delightful vegan dishes.

Vegan Products to buy for Christmas

Here are some essential vegan-friendly products to stock up on for your Christmas feast:

• Vegan Butter: Brands like Flora, Naturli and Violife offer excellent vegan butter alternatives
• Plant-Based Milk: Almond, soya, oat, and coconut milk are excellent dairy replacements. Soya milk is the best for baking due to its high protein content. It’s not quite a milk but it’s certainly worth mentioning that Carnation now offers a vegan condensed milk, available in most supermarkets
• Tofu and Tempeh: Great sources of protein and versatile in a variety of dishes, not to mention in a lovely vegan fry-up! 
• Vegan Cheese: For a cheese board, we love I Am Nut OK and La Fauxmagerie – don’t forget the chutney! For melting, we like Illchester Melting Mature and Applewood Vegan Block. Our favourite cheddar alternative is Cathedral City Extra Mature. For a cheap and cheerful vegan camembert (ready for baking with garlic and rosemary), try Nurishh 
• Vegan Cream: It’s now possible to buy vegan cream for every occasion. We like to use Alpro Single Soya for all single cream needs. Elmlea Plant Double, The Coconut Collaborative and Oatly Whippable Creamy Oat all whip up to create a lovely thick consistency. Don’t forget Oatly and The Coconut Collaborative crème fraîche if you fancy a spoonful on the side of desserts and various savoury dishes. Food Heaven offers a delicious vegan squirty cream and there’s even a vegan ‘flotted’ cream out there now – buy from The Greenwood Tree Café! 
• Nutritional Yeast: A cheesy and nutty-flavoured product that can be used to enhance various dishes and adds a distinct umami flavour
• Yorkshire puds: Have a go at making your own but if you’d prefer a cheating option, our favourites are Mabel’s and Plantside
• Mince Pies: Ocado and nearly all of the supermarkets and health food shops stock vegan mince pies, so there’s no need to go without! Our favourites are Waitrose Free From and Holland & Barrett
• Vegan Desserts: Look for vegan ice cream, cakes and cookies from brands like GU Puds, Wicked Kitchen, M&S, English Cheesecake Company, Ben & Jerry’s, Jude’s and Swedish Glace. The supermarkets and health food shops all have an extensive range of delicious festive treats and desserts. Ocado also has a great selection!

Don’t: forget to read labels carefully, as some products may contain hidden animal-derived ingredients

Delicious Vegan Recipes

Do: Wow your guests with these delectable vegan recipes from Vegan Recipe Club:

• Easy Vegan Turkey-less Roast: This roast is heavenly and the ultimate centrepiece for your Christmas dinner! 
• Chestnut, Mushroom & Red Wine Pithiver: This traditional French dish, with its sunbeam pastry, is a feast for the eyes, rich, tasty, easy to create and makes for the perfect festive main
• Creamy White Wine Mushroom Sauce: Enjoy a rich, creamy, delicious and versatile sauce that goes with – well – pretty much everything! 
• Maple Roasted Parsnips: There’s nothing better than crispy golden roasted parsnips – apart from ones covered in maple syrup!
• Lemon Roasted Brussels Sprouts: These luxury greens will convert even the most sceptical palettes into certified sprout lovers
• Cinnamon & Thyme Roasted Carrots with Pine Nuts: A delicious, colourful side dish packed with vitamin C
• Cauliflower Cheese: No Christmas dinner is complete without cauliflower cheese!
• Ultimate Roast Potatoes: This is our favourite way to make festive roasties. If you’re feeling brave, try adding a teaspoon of yeast extract at stage three of the recipe 
• 5-Ingredient Yorkshire Puddings: Guaranteed to add some sparkle to your Christmas spread 
• Sticky Toffee Puddings: There are few things in life as enjoyable as a sticky toffee pudding! 
• Super Easy Chocolate Oreo Torte: The name says it all, but this really is the easiest dessert ever and always goes down a treat – win, win! 
• Christmas Brandy Truffles: Chocolate, brandy and creamy richness. What more can we say? Just don’t eat them all at once!

Dos and Don’ts for Hosting Vegans

Do:

• Ask About Dietary Restrictions: Check with your guests ahead of time to ensure you accommodate their specific preferences
• Label Dishes: Clearly label vegan dishes to avoid confusion
• Be Open-Minded: Embrace the opportunity to discover new flavours and dishes
• Buy Shop-Bought Food if Feeling Nervous About Cooking: There are so many delicious vegan festive dishes in the shops – there are plenty to choose from and some are very high quality

Don’t:

• Pressure Anyone: Don’t pressure your guests to try non-vegan dishes
• Disregard Cross-Contamination: If you’re using shared kitchen equipment, be mindful of cross-contamination issues

With these dos and don’ts in mind, you can create a Christmas celebration that’s inclusive, delicious and memorable for everyone at the table.

Catering for vegans during Christmas is a thoughtful gesture that shows you care about the dietary preferences of your loved ones. By incorporating plant-based ingredients, offering vegan-friendly products, preparing delicious recipes, creating an inviting atmosphere, and respecting dos and don’ts, you can host a festive holiday gathering that celebrates the spirit of Christmas while also embracing the values of compassion and inclusivity. Happy holidays and happy feasting!

More like this:

• Where To Buy Vegan Yorkshire Puddings In The UK (Plus, Recipes To Make Them Yourself)
• Everything You Need To Have A Sustainable Christmas
• You Can Now Buy A Vegan Shortbread Tin – Just In Time For Christmas

The post How To Cater For Vegans This Christmas appeared first on Plant Based News.

What are Yorkshire Puddings?

Yorkshire puddings originated in the county of Yorkshire in northern England. They date back to the 18th century and were initially known as “dripping pudding,” a reference to the meat drippings used in their preparation. The first known recipe appeared in 1737 in a book titled “The Whole Duty of a Woman.” By 1747, the dish had been renamed “Yorkshire pudding” by Hannah Glasse, who featured it in her cookbook “The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy.” They are traditionally served with roast beef (find out how to make a vegan roast beef here) and gravy but in some regions of the UK, they are even eaten as a dessert with sweet toppings like jam or custard. 

Why are Yorkshire Puddings not Vegan?

The reason why Yorkshire pudding is not vegan lies in its core ingredients. The classic recipe for Yorkshire pudding calls for eggs, milk, and sometimes beef dripping, all of which are animal-derived products. The traditional Yorkshire pudding recipe relies heavily on these ingredients, making it incompatible with veganism. Eggs in the batter contribute to the leavening and binding, while milk adds to the richness of the pudding. Replacing these ingredients while maintaining the dish’s integrity has in the past been a challenge for those seeking plant-based alternatives. 

But now, things are looking up. We’re using plant-based milks like almond, soy, oat, and rice to bring that rich, traditional taste. For the egg part, we’ve got chickpea flour, flaxseeds, or even special egg replacers that do the job just right. The hard work of food researchers and developers has been key in making these vegan puddings just like the originals.

Plant-based eaters no longer have to miss out on Yorkshire puddings

There are now a handful of delicious vegan Yorkshire pudding options that are sure to satisfy vegans and non-vegans alike. And, various recipes to make dairy-free and egg-free Yorkshire puddings at home.

Whether you’re planning on serving them for a particular holiday dinner, or just a classic Sunday roast, you can’t go wrong with vegan Yorkshire pudding. Why not pair them with some vegan turkey, roast potatoes, and pigs in blankets too?

Where to buy vegan Yorkshire puddings in the UK

While you can find vegan versions of most foods in UK supermarkets, the plant-based Yorkshire pudding market hasn’t quite caught up yet. 

It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to find them easily in many shops, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. 

Mabel’s

Mabel’s Foods was founded in 2019 by vegans Lauren Hurley and Sophie Gorecki. According to their website, the pair claim to have “nailed” the classic Yorkshire pudding recipe without using any animal ingredients.

The homemade puds come frozen, and can be delivered UK-wide. (There are gluten-free options too!).

You can order Mabel’s vegan Yorkshire puddings online, or visit one of 20 retailers that stocks them. Some proceeds go towards Silver Fox Dog Rescue, a charity that rescued Alan, Mabel’s “Chief Barketing Officer” from the streets of Romania. He was later adopted by Hurley and Gorecki.

Plantside Cafe

This vegan-owned family business in Somerset is known for its handmade frozen Yorkshire puddings. They’re made with a soy base, and feature iron, protein, and vitamins B2, B12, and D2.

You can pick them up in person or order them online from Mighty Plants. Stockists in Brighton, Birmingham, Bournemouth, London, Nottingham, North Shields, Norwich, and Wellington offer them too. Visit Plantside’s website for more information.

Ella’s Vegan Yorky Puds

Prepared in the heart of Yorkshire, where the iconic Yorkshire pudding was first dreamt up hundreds of years ago, Ella’s Vegan Yorky Pud mix allows you to whip up your own batch at home. The mixtures are available in a range of flavors, including Bacon, Cheese & Chives, Herby Mustard, and Rosemary & Thyme.

They’re made using chickpeas and yellow split peas, and offer calcium, iron, and niacin. There are gluten-free options, too.

Visit the website to place an order. Twenty pence from every packet sold goes towards Miracle’s Mission, a non-profit that rehabilitates and rehomes injured, sick, and disabled dogs. The same charity rescued Ella, whom inspired the Yorkshire pudding brand’s name, from Egypt, where she was found with a broken spine and legs. (She’s now living her best life in England in her loving fur-ever home.)

Cherub Foods

Cherub Foods offers vegan Yorkshire puddings, a pack of 4 for £3.99 on its website. Based in North England, the company was founded by Zoe, a plant-based chef known for her ability to create mouth-watering, eco-friendly dishes. The brand’s range, including vegan Yorkshire puddings, is designed to be simple and quick to prepare. Cherub Foods emphasizes never compromising on taste, offering “comforting little luxuries” that represent a kinder choice both for individuals and the planet

How to make vegan Yorkshire puddings: best recipes to try

A number of vegan and plant-based chefs have also shared their hugely popular vegan Yorkshire pudding recipes online.

BOSH! 

Run by Henry Firth and Ian Theasby, plant-based recipe creator BOSH! is quickly achieving icon status in the vegan scene. 

Firth and Theasby say they worked “tirelessly” to perfect their vegan Yorkshire pudding recipe, which they describe as a “real doozy.”

See the full recipe here

A Virtual Vegan

This recipe from best-selling author Melanie McDonald creates Yorkshire puddings that are “tall and crispy” with “golden sides and slightly gooey bottoms.” 

There’s also an option to make them gluten-free. 

See the full recipe here

Healthy Living James

Another contender for the gluten-free eaters among us, food-blogger James Wythe has created easy-to-make Yorkshire pudding that use just a few ingredients. 

He says he perfected it over the course of five years, and you don’t need any egg replacer to make them.

Find the full recipe here

—

This article was originally published on December 23, 2022. It was last updated on December 19, 2023.

The post Where To Buy Vegan Yorkshire Puddings In The UK (Plus, Recipes To Make Them Yourself) appeared first on Plant Based News.

Moreover, more than two in five are planning to reduce their meat consumption. Earlier this year, it was revealed that meat consumption had fallen to its lowest level on record in the UK.

Now, 2023 could be the UK’s most vegan Christmas yet.

Lindsay Duncan, World Animal Protection’s Farming campaigns manager, told Plant Based News (PBN): “Going plant-based at Christmas is a great way to reduce your meat consumption. What better time to do so than when there are so many wonderful plant-based goodies available.”

Christmas without the cruelty

The poll asked 2,000 people in the UK what they planned to eat at Christmas.

With the environmental, ethical, and health implications of eating meat more widely known than ever before, it is unsurprising that more people are choosing to leave animal products off their plates.

In 2023, investigations at UK farms showed cows “eaten to the bone” and pigs suffering “harrowing” abuse. After revealing “shocking” conditions at UK farms, World Animal Protection is leading a No Future for Factory Farming campaign.

Duncan added: “Over 80 percent of UK farmed animals live on factory farms in confined and squalid conditions. These are sentient beings who feel fear and pain. There is no future for factory farming. Let’s remember this on December 25th and leave animals off our plate.”

An abundance of plant-based options

In 2023, it has never been easier to host a fully plant-based Christmas. There are an abundance of vegan options available at every supermarket.

From shortbread and Yorkshire puddings to brandy cream and a whole vegan turkey, so many Christmas traditions can easily be made vegan.

And with Veganuary around the corner, this could be the perfect time to start your vegan journey.

More like this:

• Vegan Christmas Food At UK Supermarkets In 2023: From Wellingtons To An Entire ‘Turkey’
• Meat Consumption Hits A Record Low In The UK
• ‘So Much More Efficient’: David Attenborough Promotes Plant-Based Diets

The post One In Six Considering A Fully Plant-Based Christmas In The UK, Poll Finds appeared first on Plant Based News.

As the effects of the climate crisis continue to worsen, there is a growing urgency to change some of our habits. Thankfully, having a sustainable Christmas does not mean missing out on any of the festive fun and traditions that make it special. Here are some easy and enjoyable ways to make your Christmas more sustainable.

Easy guide to a sustainable and ethical Christmas  

In this guide:

• Make It Vegan
• Cut the crap
• Tips for gifts
• Change your mentality
• Prepare for next year

Make It Vegan

Going vegan is the best thing an individual can do to reduce your carbon footprint – that’s true at Christmas or any other time of the year. To make your Christmas as sustainable as possible, leave animals off your plate and out of your stockings…

Host a vegan feast

Whether you want to whip up a 14-course feast, stick something quick and easy in the oven, or head out to a vegan restaurant, there are loads of options for all to enjoy. Invite as few or as many people as you want and get the festivities started. By choosing vegan, you’ll be reducing your environmental impact and sparing animals the suffering of farms and slaughterhouses. Win win!

Be mindful too of food waste and make sure to keep any leftovers from your feast – that’s tomorrow’s lunch sorted.

Don’t buy animal products – or an animal as a Christmas gift

Express compassion this Christmas and remember that animals are individuals with their own desires and needs – not ours to buy and sell. Instead of giving an animal as a gift, you could make a donation to an animal charity or sponsor a rescued animal at an animal sanctuary.

Cut the crap

We are in a climate crisis and overconsumption is one of the main causes. While billions face extreme poverty and hunger, consumerist Western cultures encourage the accumulation of stuff we don’t really need. Making better environmental choices does not make you the Grinch. There are loads of ways to have a holly, jolly sustainable house full of Christmas cheer that don’t involve sending a big pile to landfill on Boxing Day.

No more new decorations

Re-use what you’ve already got! If you want more decorations, why not try making your own from things around the house? Or for outside, make a wreath for yourself or someone else using natural materials you foraged. If you do want to buy some new decorations, look for second-hand ones.

Rent a tree

If you’re considering buying a new artificial or real tree, consider renting a Christmas tree instead. This will save you the dilemma of cutting down trees or contributing to plastic pollution.

Go zero-waste on your present wrapping

There are tons of creative ways to conceal a gift. Re-use existing gift bags or try wrapping with newspaper or old tissue paper and ribbons. If you want something more permanent, you could invest in some fabric wraps you will keep on using.

Make your own gift hampers

Pre-made hampers often come with a lot of packaging. To reduce this, make your own gift hampers with materials and a box, bag, or basket you already own. That way you can choose exactly what goodies to include, making the present more personal.

Boycott single use

Supermarkets are making record profits selling us stuff we don’t really need. From Christmas crackers and paper napkins to party poppers and glitter, there are loads of single-use items that are not much more than a money-making ploy. Question whether you’re buying something out of habit or because you actually want it. If these are things you do really want, opt for reusable options, which will pay off over the year, including fabric napkins and reusable Christmas crackers.

Tips for gifts

Go easy on the gifts

Excessive consumerism has made Christmas more wasteful – and also turned it into a more stressful experience. Rather than rushing around the shops looking for last-minute gifts, make your Christmas stress-free, more affordable and more sustainable by minimizing your present purchasing. That way, you can focus on the good cheer and the people around you instead.

Reduce the number of gifts you give (and receive)

If you have gift arrangements with friends or family members, try limiting it to one present per person. Or set up a Secret Santa so that each person buys for only one other person. Lowering the quantity will make you think harder about quality.

Choose your gifts carefully

One thoughtful present is better than a dozen pieces of tat. Choose something useful and that you know the receiver will actually want. 

Make an impact with your gifts

Remember too that your gift giving can help inspire people on their plant-based journey. If your cousin loves chocolate but has never tried a dairy-free version, a big box of Booja Booja could be a great way to open their eyes to the possibilities of veganism.

Stop buying STUFF

If you’re weighing up whether someone needs your gift idea and whether it’s something they’ll still appreciate in one year’s time, it’s probably best to assume the answer is no. Instead of burdening them with more stuff, there are plenty of thoughtful gifts that don’t involve adding more waste to the world.

Adopt an animal at a vegan animal sanctuary

You’ll be doing something great for the animals and many gift adoptions will send updates throughout the year, making this a gift that lasts beyond the unboxing. If you choose a local sanctuary, the recipient of your gift should be able to visit their new friend – and they might even invite you along for a day out.

Buy a gift voucher to your local vegan restaurant

This present option has the fantastic flexibility of price, making it a great gift for all budgets. Choose a vegan restaurant you know and love (or look up your local vegan restaurants on HappyCow) and gift someone the freedom to choose mountains of amazing vegan food!

Book a trip

For that special someone, you could book a romantic night away at a vegan hotel or B&B. Use VegVisits to find your dream accommodation and plan your travel on public transport. A great option for families is luxury vegan glamping at Hempsall Farm. Enjoy the great outdoors and spend time with rescued farm animals at this idyllic vegan sanctuary. Or you could buy tickets to Vegan Camp Out or a trip to Camden Town vegan brewery.

Gift a membership 

Another present that can make the fun last all year. Vegan charities including PETA, Viva!, and The Vegan Society offer gift memberships. These come with continued news and updates on the organization’s work, as well as other perks. The Vegan Society offers a choice of welcome packs depending on whether the recipient is vegan or not.

Gift a subscription box

For someone new to veganism, the motivation of receiving a subscription box each month can be a great boost. Book lovers might be interested in Happily Ever After, the first all-vegan book subscription box.

Dedicate a native tree to a loved one

The National Forest offers you the chance to dedicate a tree – and your recipient may even have the chance to plant it themselves. Likewise, you can adopt a tree or habitat with The Wildlife Trusts. To bring the forest closer to home, you could give someone a pack of wildflower seeds to sow in spring.

Give consumables (that you know they will want)

Rather than adding to someone’s piles of stuff, consider buying something consumable you know they will appreciate. Be careful with this one: you don’t want to overdo it and buy a five-kilo vegan cheese box if you don’t know for sure that someone will eat it all! But a thoughtful consumable gift can bring joy and have a low environmental impact.

Choose some vegan soaps or other (necessary) toiletries

Toiletries can be a thoughtful gift if you choose something that your recipient uses or needs. It’s more exciting to receive a cute bamboo toothbrush as a gift than to buy your own as you do for the rest of the year.

Buy vegan food or drink

Going vegan is the best way for an individual to have a positive impact on the planet so vegan food is a great sustainable gift. Try these special Christmas doughnuts from Crosstown. Or these new bubble bars from Moo Free. If you know someone who loves shortbread, this dairy-free tin could be the perfect gift!

If you’re giving the presents to a non-vegan, you could help open their eyes by gifting them an accidentally vegan product they already love. It will make for great conversation around the Christmas table.

Make a zero-waste food gift

It’s even better if you can purchase your food gifts from a zero-waste shop. Find a nice jar from the back of your cupboard and fill it with their favorite nuts, vegan sweets, or pasta shape. Tie a ribbon on and you have a beautiful, unique gift they can keep refilling all year round. 

Buy stuff the right way

Buying things can still have a purpose – especially if that purpose is reducing the need to buy other things! If you want to give something physical, here are some ideas to make it as sustainable as possible. The key point is to source it ethically and, of course, vegan.

Buy zero waste products

If someone does not already own them (and only if they do not already own them!), the following items could make a great gift:

• Reusable straw or cutlery

Metal, glass or bamboo, the important thing is that they can be used again and again. No need for disposable plastic or paper.

• Travel cup

With many cafés offering a discount to customers who bring their own, this is a money-saving gift, as well as a waste-reducing one.

• Reusable, compostable cleaning cloths 

Scrub the dirt without making a mess of the planet’s resources.

• Reusable cupcake cases and baking liners

Make your vegan cakes even more sustainable by swapping single-use items for reusable baking equipment.

Buy second hand where possible

Look in charity shops for books, paintings, DVDs, board games, furniture, and more. For clothes, you could also try vintage shops such as Clothesxchange or Depop. If you use Facebook, its Marketplace can be a great place to find bargains in your area – and join your local giveaway group, where people pass on unwanted items for free.

Choose ethical companies when buying new

If you are buying something new, you should, as a minimum, check that the company is giving something back to the planet and all of its inhabitants; that they’re using recycled or renewable materials, and that its treating workers fairly. For example, you could buy directly from the gift page of an animal charity.

Other ethical gift ideas include:

• Viva La Vegan’s Organic Vegan Xmas Jumper
• Sustainable Jewellery from Jana Reinhardt Ltd
• 4ocean’s handcrafted bracelets made from ocean waste
• Treecelet’s organic clothing and bracelets, which plants trees
• Recycled backpacks that save wildlife from Blue Panda
• Eco-friendly phone cases and more from Agood Company

Get creative!

Make something meaningful

Whatever you enjoy doing, and whatever your skills are, use them to create a meaningful, cheap, and environmentally friendly gift. Poet? Write a poem. Seamstress? Use some old fabrics to make someone a pillow or add some character to an old denim jacket with patches and embroidery. Artist? Paint a picture. Chocolatier? Make some vegan chocolate truffles. Green fingered? Make a bug hotel. You get the idea!

Make your own recipe kit

Build a recipe kit for one of your favorite vegan bakes by simply filling up some empty jam jars with your cupboard stocks, and tying a ribbon round the rim. Or make a vegan hot chocolate set with a range of plant-based milks for a skeptic to try, vegan chocolate, and vegan marshmallows.

Regift your own items to give them a new lease of life

Second-hand shopping does not even need to involve buying anything! You could give your copy of a book you enjoyed to a friend. Or dust off an old photo frame you don’t use and add in a photo of you together. If you have candles you’ll never burn or spare cake tins that are always empty, think of someone who might enjoy them. If you have indoor plants, you could give someone a cutting.

Change your mentality

Refocus Christmas Day

Christmas Day shouldn’t be about how many gifts you give or receive or how much money you spend. Instead, it is about quality time spent with your loved ones, including eating great vegan food together. Play board games, enjoy a crisp winter walk, or just relax and enjoy making vegan hot chocolate or mulled wine and eating mince pies.

Stay out of the Boxing Day sales

Don’t ruin your sustainable Christmas by splurging in the Boxing Day sales.

Prepare for next year

And remember: whether or not you had a zero-waste Christmas this year, there are some easy ways to prepare to do things more sustainably next year. Bookmark this page so you are ready to prepare early. Then:

• Keep all of this year’s decorations and wrapping to reuse next year
• Save cards to re-gift, or cut out tags for gifts
• Start a homemade project early or check in at charity shops all year round – that way you won’t end up in a last-minute panic
• Make your own advent calendar for next December for yourself or a loved one – this can include gifts like “one homemade three-course vegan meal for two”
• Suggest a vegan restaurant for your office christmas party next year

Aim for zero extra waste in your black bin by New Years…and nobody waiting for a gift receipt to return an unwanted gift. But above all, make this year vegan.

More like this:

• Try This Orange And Cranberry Roast Wreath For Christmas
• ‘So Much More Efficient’: David Attenborough Promotes Plant-Based Diets
• Vegan Christmas Food At UK Supermarkets In 2023: From Wellingtons To An Entire ‘Turkey’

The post Everything You Need To Have A Sustainable Christmas appeared first on Plant Based News.

This vegan roast is made with a base of nuts and flaxseeds, infused with the festive flavors of orange and cranberry. It is gluten-free, vegan, and bursting with flavor.

Not only is it easy to make, but it is also a crowdpleaser that your friends and family are going to love. The best bit – it can be prepared ahead of schedule, allowing you to spend more time with your loved ones.

Can you make this vegan roast ahead of schedule?

There is nothing more stressful than organizing a full Christmas dinner or Sunday dinner for the whole family. So, you will be happy to know that you can make this orange and cranberry roast wreath recipe ahead of schedule.

Simply follow the recipe instructions until you have transferred the mixture to your cake pan. Cover it with clingfilm and refrigerate for up to one day before cooking. Once you are ready to cook you can follow the recipe from where you left off.

Serving suggestions

Romy London suggests serving your orange and cranberry roast wreath alongside green beans and brandy peppercorn sauce. We also enjoy eating ours with a side of vegan roast potatoes, some wonderfully sticky maple-roasted carrots, and a batch of freshly baked vegan yorkshire puddings.

How to store leftovers

If you are lucky enough to have any leftovers then you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days. You can reheat the leftovers in a hot oven or simply eat them cold. We enjoy using leftover slices in a festive toastie with layers of cranberry sauce and braised red cabbage.

Orange and cranberry roast wreath recipe

With the addition of orange, this roast is extra zesty and brings the deliciously sweet taste of cranberries to the next level. The stunning wreath shape will look beautiful on your festive dinner table!

No ratings yet

Duration1 hr 20 mins

Cook Time55 mins

Prep Time15 mins

Servings6 people

Ingredients

For the roast wreath

• 28 g (2 tbsp) vegan butter
• 160 g (1 cup) finely diced red onion
• 10 g (2 tsp) crushed garlic
• 101 g (1 cup) finely diced celery
• 128 g (1 cup) finely diced carrots
• 130 g (1 ⅓ cups) cranberries
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 60 ml (¼ cup) fresh orange juice (roughly ½ medium orange)
• ½ tsp sea salt
• 14 g (1 tbsp) light brown sugar
• 1 tsp fresh thyme
• 11 g (0.4 oz) cube vegetable bouillon
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• 234 g (2 cups) chopped walnuts
• 32 g (2 tbsp) peanut butter
• 15 ml (1 tbsp) apple cider vinegar
• 30 ml (2 tbsp) water
• 12 g (2 tbsp) almond flour
• 20 g (2 tbsp) flaxseeds

To decorate the wreath

• 60 g (4 tbsp) cranberry sauce
• Orange shavings and nuts

For serving

• Green beans
• Brandy peppercorn sauce

Instructions

• Place the vegan butter in a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute, then add the celery and carrots. Stir and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the carrots have slightly softened.
• Add the cranberries to the pan and stir to incorporate them. Cook the mixture for 5 minutes, or until the cranberries have softened. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the orange zest, fresh orange juice, salt and brown sugar. After 2 minutes, add the fresh thyme. Crumble in the bouillon cube and add the black pepper. Simmer over low heat while you’re preparing the rest of the ingredients.
• In the meantime, transfer the walnuts to a food processor and pulse for 10 to 20 seconds to break them into chunks. Transfer them to the skillet, stir them in and remove the skillet from the heat.
• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a small bowl, whisk the peanut butter, apple cider vinegar and water. Add it to the skillet and stir all the ingredients together, then stir in the almond flour and flaxseeds.
• Grease a 10½-inch (27-cm) ring cake pan and transfer the mixture to the cake pan. Firmly press it down into the ring with the back of a spoon or spatula to pack it densely. Carefully even out the top of the cake ring and transfer it to the preheated oven.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, turning the ring around halfway through to ensure it bakes evenly. Once the edges begin to brown, remove the cake ring from the oven.
• Allow your wreath to cool on an even surface for 10 to 15 minutes before carefully turning it upside down on a serving dish and removing the cake ring.
• Decorate the top of the wreath with cranberry sauce, along with orange savings and nuts (if using). Serve this delicious and festive roast alongside green beans and brandy peppercorn sauce

This recipe was republished with permission from Romy London’s cookbook, The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Roasts. 

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• Vegan Roast ‘Chicken’

The post Try This Orange And Cranberry Roast Wreath For Your Vegan Christmas Dinner appeared first on Plant Based News.

Shortbread is a traditional Scottish biscuit known for its buttery taste and crumbly texture. It’s typically made from three core ingredients: flour, sugar, and butter. Shortbread is commonly eaten over the holiday season in the UK. 

Lazy Day Foods’ vegan shortbread is said to have a similar “creamy” taste to the original. Each gold tin comes with two 125g packs of shortbread. It’s available to buy at Morrisons stores for £5.50. 

This shortbread tin is one of many vegan festive products being sold in the UK this year. Mainstream supermarkets are selling everything from entire meat-free turkeys to dairy-free brandy cream, and it’s never been easier to enjoy a plant-based holiday season. 

The rise of dairy-free eating

A few years ago, it would have been highly unusual for a supermarket to be selling a vegan take on a traditional biscuit tin. The release comes amid skyrocketing demand for animal-free food products. 

Veganism is rising in popularity around the country, and there is growing awareness of the significant environmental and ethical costs of dairy. 

The dairy industry is responsible for around 3.4 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. It’s also resource intensive, using vast amounts of land and fresh water. 

In the UK, there are around 1.85 million so-called “dairy cows” at any one time. They have to give birth in order to produce milk, and farmers will artificially inseminate them around once a year to make that happen. After she gives birth, the cow will only have a matter of hours with her baby before they’re taken away – all so humans can take the milk intended for them. 

Biscuits go cruelty-free

While many traditional UK biscuits still contain dairy, a number are already accidentally vegan. These include McVitie’s Digestives, many brands of bourbons, Rich Tea, Hobnobs, and Ginger Nuts. 

For Plant Based News’ complete guide to vegan biscuits, click here. 

More like this:

• The Best Vegan Christmas Sandwiches To Buy In 2023
• Lidl Named Cheapest UK Supermarket To Buy Vegan Christmas Food
• Greggs Unveils Vegan Christmas Menu For 2023

The post You Can Now Buy A Vegan Shortbread Tin – Just In Time For Christmas appeared first on Plant Based News.

There were strong performers across the board this year. From Greggs and Waitrose to Co-op and Lidl, supermarkets and coffee shops are putting more effort into their vegan Christmas food. Soy-based turkey and cranberry sauce were as prominent as ever. Roasted veg was never far away. But there were also some surprises lurking beneath the oatmeal bread.

A vegan Christmas

This Christmas, all the major UK supermarkets and coffee shops have unveiled vegan ranges fit for the festivities. Awareness of the ethical, environmental, and health implications of eating animal products has never been higher. With more and more people now choosing plant-based food, the vegan Christmas sandwich offerings are getting better each year.

Shoppers’ appetites are certainly growing for plant-based alternatives to the cruelty of “traditional” Christmas foods such as turkey. From chestnut and butternut squash to pesto and falafel, we sampled an array of festive and not-so-festive flavors. Here are all the vegan Christmas sandwiches we recommend biting into as you rock around the Christmas tree.

The best vegan Christmas sandwiches 2023

Vegan turkey-based sandwiches

Morrisons

Plant Revolution No-Turkey and Stuffing (£2.85)

One of many No-Turkey and Stuffing sandwiches on show this year, this is a solid Christmas sandwich from Morrisons – but not one to set the pulse racing. The cranberry sauce is tasty enough but doesn’t do enough to compensate for the lackluster soy strips. And it’s missing the extra crunch that a handful of fresh spinach would have provided. Morrisons scooped top spot in PBN’s roundup in 2022. Not so much this year.

A festive feast… but not one that will live long in the memory – 2.5 / 5

Greggs

Vegan Turkey-Free Festive Baguette (£3.70)

Returning for 2023, Greggs’ Vegan Festive Baguette is everything you would expect from the popular baker. Hearty and hot, you can almost hear jingle bells as you bite into these gravy-soaked soy-based sage and onion “turkey” goujons. Thankfully, the bread is strong enough not to sog. It’s a bready endurance challenge, for sure, but the herby goujons don’t get dull. Not the most aesthetically pleasing but a filling and flavorsome Christmas sandwich.

Tasty goujons in a crispy baguette. What’s not to like? – 4 / 5

Boots

Plant Made No Turkey Feast (£3.15)

Simple but effective, Boots has done well with its No Turkey Feast. The sandwich combines meat-free turkey strips with carrot and braised red cabbage but the star of the show is the cranberry chutney, which really brings the sandwich to life. By the end, the build-up of salt starts to overpower the sweetness of the cranberry. But it’s a good sandwich nonetheless.

A solid vegan Christmas sandwich – 3.5 / 5

Costa

Vegan Turkey and Trimmings Toastie (£4.25)

Following last year’s “P’gs & Blankets Panini,” Costa turned its attention to another meaty tradition in 2023, with its “Vegan Turkey and Trimmings Toastie.” With a lot of competition in the no-turkey category, this turned out to be one of the less enjoyable entries. The soy-based turkey got a little lost in the bland gravy, while the “trimmings” (stuffing) didn’t bring much to the party either. It’s not bad… and it’s better than eating an animal. But it didn’t live up to the hefty price tag.

Something hot for a cold winter’s lunch – 2.5 / 5

Co-op

GRO Ho Ho No Turkey Feast (£3.25)

Another No Turkey Feast? You betcha. But this is a strong entry and a good contender for most creative use of soy-based chunks. There’s a lot going on here: roast carrot and parsnip, cranberry chutney, sage, onion and oat stuffing… and the flavors co-exist harmoniously. The spinach provides a satisfying bite and the wheat and oatmeal bread is chunky enough to hold everything together. Good job.

Colorful and crunchy, Co-op’s is one of the best supermarket sandwiches this year – 4.5 / 5

Veg as centerpiece

Pollen + Grace

Festive Stuffing + Winter Veg Wrap (£4.25)

Pollen + Grace is a food-to-go specialist stocked by many major supermarkets. Available from Sainsbury’s and WHSmith, this festive wrap shows what can be achieved with veg as the centerpiece. The flavors are a festive treat: mushroom, onion and sage stuffing, butternut squash, cranberry sauce. Even the red cabbage slaw is a worthwhile addition. The only drawback is that the wrap itself is unexciting and since it is cut in two the final bites are very bread heavy. But, on the whole, this is a wrap that lives up to the premium price point.

A strong Christmas wrap: 4 / 5

M&S

Ho Ho Pest-Ho and Veg (£3.65)

How to rank this wildcard entry from M&S? It’s a great sandwich: pesto and roasted veg is a safe combination. But is it festive enough? For those who have had enough stuffing to last until the New Year, this is a good choice. But if you’re still decking the halls, you might be left feeling a little short changed.

A Santa pun does not a Christmas sandwich make: 3 / 5

Tesco

Plant Chef Root Vegetable & Chestnut Wrap (£2.75)

Roasted veg and chestnut sounds like a winning formula for a Christmas wrap. And it almost works for Tesco. The braised red cabbage, cranberry sauce, sage and onion stuffing all impress, while the beetroot and chia tortilla wrap gives it a Christmassy look. Yet, despite the abundance of ingredients, the whole experience feels very flat. The chestnut, which promises so much, isn’t strong enough.

Chestnut is a great choice but the flavors lack a punch – 3 / 5

Waitrose

PlantLiving Vegan Bubble & Squeak (£3.50)

Waitrose stood out from the crowd with this veg-focused sandwich. Savoy cabbage and parsnip, roasted butternut squash and spiced pickled red cabbage on sliced malted bread. The sauces – vegan mayo, mustard, and chili relish – work well together and don’t overpower everything else. A strong example of what you can achieve with just vegetables.

Good taste, good texture, good effort – 4 / 5

Lidl

Falafel and Cranberry Wrap (£2.29)

A festive twist on a vegan classic? Or a vegan stereotype pretending to be festive? Let’s go with the more generous interpretation. The falafel and cranberry sauce are tasty, and the whole thing has a great texture. The beetroot and chia seed wrap looks Christmassy in the box and a little extra innovation comes in the form of spiced hummus and butternut squash. Falafel may be a cliché – but it’s a delicious one.

It’s tasty, it’s colorful… but is it festive enough? – 3.5 / 5

More like this:

• Vegan Christmas Food At UK Supermarkets In 2023: From Wellingtons To An Entire ‘Turkey’
• Jane Horrocks Stars In Ad Depicting Cruelty Of ‘Christmas Turkeys’
• Greggs Unveils Vegan Christmas Menu For 2023

The post The Best Vegan Christmas Sandwiches To Buy In 2023 appeared first on Plant Based News.

Prosecco has its origins in the Veneto region of Italy, with its history tracing back centuries. It is named after the village of Prosecco near Trieste, where the grape variety used to make this wine, Glera, was historically grown. The production and consumption of prosecco have been documented as early as the 16th century. However, the modern style of prosecco, characterized by its light, bubbly nature, was developed in the 20th century with the introduction of the Charmat method.

This method involves secondary fermentation in large steel tanks, making prosecco production more efficient and affordable. Today, prosecco enjoys widespread popularity, not only in Italy but globally. Prosecco’s rise in global markets, especially in the United States and the United Kingdom, has been marked by significant growth in the last few decades, making it a staple in celebrations and casual gatherings alike.

What is Prosecco?

A key factor in prosecco’s global popularity is its accessibility and affordability compared to champagne. While champagne is often seen as a luxury product, prosecco is widely available at a range of price points, making it an attractive option for consumers looking for quality sparkling wine without the high cost. 

The most common variety is brut, meaning it is very dry and has little sugar left in the beverage. In this kind of prosecco, the sugar content is kept to a minimum, typically less than 12 grams per liter. This low sugar level allows the natural flavors of the Glera grape, the primary grape used in prosecco, to shine through, offering a crisp and clean taste that pairs well with a variety of foods. 

Extra brut takes this a step further, offering an even drier experience with less than six grams of sugar per liter. This variety appeals to those who prefer their sparkling wine with almost no perceptible sweetness, allowing for a more nuanced appreciation of the wine’s natural flavors and acidity. It is often characterized by its mineral qualities and complex flavor profile, making it a popular choice.

But is prosecco vegan? While the grape-based drink may seem like an obvious plant-based choice, it is its manufacturing process that creates the problem. Going vegan is a learning curve, and prosecco – like wine and beer – is one drink that many people who are new to plant-based eating may slip up on.

Is prosecco vegan?

While some proseccos are vegan-friendly, many are not. This is due to the fact that animal products can be used in the fining process during production, a crucial step in winemaking. Fining is used to clarify wine, removing organic particles that can cause haziness or affect the taste and stability of the wine. 

After the grapes are fermented and turned into alcohol, a number of substances remain that make prosecco appear cloudy. The fining process is done to flush out these elements, making it more appealing to buyers. Fining agents act as magnets to attract the unwanted molecules. 

Agents used for fining include gelatin (which is taken from parts of animals, like pigs), casein (made from milk), isinglass (fish bladder), and albumin (egg whites). These agents are eventually removed from the finished product, but their use during the production process is a concern for vegans.

Is any prosecco vegan? What brands are suitable?

It’s perfectly possible to make vegan prosecco, and there are an increasing number of brands that are choosing to do so. Vegan fining agents include carbon, bentonite clay, and plant casein. Here are some vegan-friendly proseccos available to buy in the UK and USA.

Please note: you should always check the label before buying. Companies may change their methods, and Plant Based News cannot guarantee those listed will always be vegan-friendly.

Mionetto Orange Label Prosecco

Mionetto is well known for its prosecco, and its orange label bottle is certified as vegan-friendly. It’s available to buy at Sainsbury’s.

The Emissary

Known for its low-sugar and eco-friendly proseccos, The Emissary is also fully-vegan. You can buy it online from its website or at selected retailers.

La Gioiosa Prosecco DOC

Ideal for those on a budget, this prosecco is affordable and available at a number of UK supermarkets, like Tesco.

Giol Prosecco Frizzante, Organic

Available to buy from Abel & Cole, this semi-sparkling prosecco is organic, as well as vegan.

Kylie Minogue Prosecco

Yes, you read that right – Kylie Minogue has her very own prosecco, and it’s also vegan-friendly. The rose prosecco is available to buy from a number of supermarkets, including Asda and Tesco.

Popular vegan proseccos to try in the USA:

Villa Sandi Prosecco

This award-winning prosecco is said to have a fruity aroma, and it’s available to buy at selected retailers and online.

Bisol Prosecco 

Bisol is a well-known prosecco company that stocks a variety of vegan proseccos, all of which are available to buy online.

Maschio Prosecco 

This prosecco is not only vegan, but also offers a popular balance of sweetness and acidity.

Corvezzo Prosecco

This brand is known for producing vegan and organic wines featuring a fresh flavor profile, with notes of green apple, pear, and citrus.

Why should you choose vegan prosecco?

A growing number of people are opting for vegan prosecco due to growing awareness of the ethical implications of buying products that contain animal products.

Around 92 billion animals are used for food each year, as well as an almost incomprehensible number of fishes*.

Some prosecco uses gelatin as a fining agent. Gelatin is a colorless, flavorless food ingredient derived from collagen, a protein found in animal tissues. It is commonly produced by boiling the connective tissues, bones, and skins of animals, typically cows and pigs. This process breaks down the collagen, releasing gelatin which is then extracted, purified, and dried into a powder or granules.

Casein, which is made from milk, supports the dairy industry. There are around 264 million dairy cows worldwide, and the industry is widely regarded to be cruel. Cows must give birth to a baby before producing milk, and they will be artificially inseminated each year to make that happen. Their baby will be taken from them within hours after birth so humans can milk them. When their body wears out, they will be sent to the slaughterhouse.

Albumin, which is derived from egg whites, is a product of the egg industry. Many egg-laying hens around the world spend their entire lives in cages. Even those on so-called free-range farms will still spend most of their time in barns with thousands of other birds. Hens have been selectively bred to produce around 300 eggs a year (naturally this number would be around 12). This means that they often suffer from calcium deficiency, leading to broken bones.

If your prosecco is made using isinglass, this is a product of either the fishing industry or the aquaculture (fish farming) industry. Both cause immense suffering to fishes, who are thought to feel complex emotions and pain. It’s thought that trillions of fishes are killed by humans each year. Many of these are raised on farms, and forced to spend their lives swimming endlessly in circles, often with horrific injuries.

How do I know if prosecco is vegan?

The winemaking industry is adapting, with many producers turning to plant-based or synthetic alternatives for fining. Vegan prosecco producers use substances like bentonite clay, activated charcoal, or plant casein. Bentonite, a form of clay, is effective in clarifying wine by binding and removing proteins, yeasts, and other particles that can cloud the wine. Activated charcoal, known for its purifying properties, is also utilized for its ability to absorb impurities. Some producers may opt for no fining agents at all, allowing the wine to clarify naturally over time through sedimentation.

Despite the availability of these alternatives, the lack of consistent labeling sometimes makes it challenging for consumers to identify vegan proseccos. In the UK, a number of supermarkets choose to label their own brand proseccos with vegan labels, and many brands also do the same. This means that it’s often easy to decifer which proseccos are vegan and which aren’t. There should, therefore, be a wide range of obviously vegan proseccos to choose from in many stores, even if you aren’t sure about them all.

In many regions, wine labels are not required to disclose fining agents, leaving consumers in the dark. If you aren’t sure whether a particular brand is plant-based, you can always enter its name into Barnivore and check it out for yourself. 

In the meantime, it’s advised to do a bit of research. Checking labels, inquiring with producers, or looking for certifications can help ensure that your glass of bubbly aligns with your dietary choices. As the vegan market continues to expand, we can expect to see more clear labeling and a wider range of vegan-friendly prosecco options, making it easier for everyone to raise a glass in celebration, guilt-free.

*We choose to refer to multiple fish as “fishes” rather than “fish” to emphasize that they are individuals, rather than a faceless mass.

More like this:

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• Is Sugar Vegan? The Ongoing Debate Explained
• Is Honey Vegan, And Is It Ethical? The Not-So-Sweet Truth

The post Is Prosecco Vegan? Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Plant Based News.

Traditional Christmas dinners generally consist of a number of animal products. A popular centerpiece is turkey, while pigs in blankets, goose fat, various dairy products, and non-vegan stuffing make up the rest. There is growing understanding of the huge ethical implications of eating these products, however, and veganism is skyrocketing in popularity throughout the UK. Around 1.2 billion land animals are slaughtered for food in the country each year. Most of these (around 85 percent) are raised on factory farms, and those who aren’t have still generally suffer brutal lives and painful deaths.

A few years ago, Christmas as a vegan may have been a stressful experience. Aside from the constant “where do you get your protein?” questions from relatives, plant-based Christmas food was generally limited to a nut roast and a few sprouts. In 2023, however, you can enjoy pretty much any traditional food items you want as a vegan – and you can buy these at mainstream supermarkets. From M&S to Aldi, here’s what you can buy this year.

Marks and Spencer vegan Christmas food

At M&S, you can find a wide range of plant-based Christmas food. If you’re a fan of turkey, Marks and Spencer is offering a No Turkey Joint as part of its Plant Kitchen range. The product is made from pea protein, which is a popular ingredient in meat alternatives, and its filled with a cranberry, onion, and chestnut stuffing.

If fake meats aren’t your thing, you can choose from a variety of vegetable-based centerpieces instead. The Plant Kitchen Roast Butternut Squash & Spinach Pie consists of butternut squash, carrot and spinach in a shortcrust pastry. The Plant Kitchen Butternut, Almond & Pecan Nut Roast is a new take on the classic nut roast, featuring an array of mixed nuts alongside roasted butternut squash, as well as bulgur wheat, cannellini beans, and cranberries, all finished off with a red wine and thyme gravy.

M&S is one of the many UK supermarkets offering vegan pigs in blankets. The Plant Kitchen 12 Vegan Pigs in Blankets feature meat-free cocktail sausages wrapped in ‘bacon’. You can also buy vegan Pigs In Duvets, which are sausages and chorizo sausages wrapped in pastry. If you’re looking for convenience on the big day, you can buy the Plant Kitchen Vegan Vegetable Selection. This is a selection of sides that features red cabbage, roast potatoes, a cauliflower and leek bake, and a garnish selection. If you fancy something a little bit more luxurious, you can try the Plant Kitchen Mushroom Parfait with a Port Glaze. This blend of mushrooms comes with a sweet apple and port glaze. Plant Kitchen also offers its own gravy.

For dessert, there’s a vegan chocolate torte. You can also buy Plant Kitchen Mince Pies, an M&S Made Without Christmas Pudding 6 Month Matured, and even a Plant Kitchen No Cheeseboard Selection.

Find the full range of vegan Christmas food at M&S in 2023 here.

Asda vegan Christmas food

Asda has an extensive vegan range named OMV!, which is offering a wide array of festive food this year.

Perhaps Asda’s most notable Christmas launch this year is its OMV! Vegan No Turkey, which has been developed to resemble an entire turkey. The turkey is made from a blend of soya, wheat, and pea proteins. It is bright white in color inside of the ‘crown’. The ‘legs’ have a darker colour, more juicy texture, and more intense flavor.

If this is too realistic for your tastes but you still fancy a turkey alternative, you can opt for the OMV! Deliciously Vegan No Turkey & Trimmings For One or OMV! No Turkey Crown. For the veggie fans, there is a OMV! Oyster & Porcini Mushroom Wellington, which features oyster and porcini mushrooms bound with pea protein, which are topped with minced mushrooms, onion, herbs, and black pepper. Alternatively, you can go for the OMV! Festive Butternut & Chestnut Roast, a blend of butternut squash, chestnuts, kale, bulgur wheat, and onion. This roast is topped off with a clementine and maple glaze.

Asda offers OMV! Mushroom Pigs in Smoky Aubergine Bacon, a more vegetable-based take on vegan pigs in blankets. You can also buy the OMV! Deliciously Vegan Christmas Trimmings Selection, which consists of popular sides like stuffing balls, pigs in blankets, and cocktail sausages.

For dessert, the OMV! Strawberry Trifle, OMV! Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts, and OMV! 4 Crumble Top Mince Pies are all available to buy.

Find the full range of vegan Christmas food at Asda in 2023 here.

Sainsbury’s vegan Christmas food

Sainsbury’s also has a number of vegan Christmas mains, whether you’re a fan of meat alternatives or vegetables.

Its ​​Taste the Difference Three Nut Roast features pistachios, cashews, and almonds as its base, which are mixed together with mushroom, dried cranberries, spinach, and butternut squash. This main is served with a spiced orange and cranberry glaze. For the meat fans, you can buy a Taste The Difference No Turkey Stuffed Crown, which comes with a vegan bacon lattice. Other options include a Taste the Difference No Beef Wellington, which consists of a mushroom and pea protein-based vegan alternative to beef.

If you fancy something a bit different, you can opt for the Taste the Difference Maple Parsnip, Chestnut & Sage Wreath, which includes a maple roasted parsnips, chestnuts, and vegan cheese.

Sainsbury’s shoppers can also get vegan pigs in blankets – the Plant Pioneers Shroompups In Blankets is a pack of 10 mushroom sausages wrapped in vegan bacon. The Plant Pioneers Sage & Onion Stuffing Balls is another side available.

The Taste the Difference Baos of Holly are bao buns filled with wood ear mushrooms, carrots, water chestnuts, and spring onion. The Taste the Difference Korean Style Cauliflower Popcorn consist of cauliflower popcorn nuggets alongside a Korean-inspired seasoning.

Sweet treats include the Taste the Difference Chocolate Cookie Torte, Taste the Difference Free From Ginger & Chocolate Tiffin, Taste the Difference Free From Salted Caramel Chocs, and Taste the Difference Free From Mini Mince Pies.

Find the full range of vegan Christmas food at Asda in 2023 here.

Waitrose vegan Christmas food

Upmarket supermarket Waitrose is also offering a unique take on a traditional nut roast. The Ultimate Triple Nut Roast features roasted nuts, sweet potato, chickpeas, lentils, and miso. It comes complete with a spiced clementine and apricot chutney glaze.

There are also a number of turkey products on offer. The Chestnut and Thyme Plant-Based Turkey Roast and Gravy is a soya-based turkey crown alternative that you can carve like the real thing. You can also buy the Plantliving Chestnut & Thyme Plant Based Turkey Roast, Gravy, And Festive Sides. As well as the roast, this bundle includes pigs in blankets and stuffed ‘Christmas trees’.

If you’re a fan of beef wellington, this No 1 Ultimate Vegan Sharing Wellington contains a plant-based beef alternative braised in garlic, shallot, and thyme vegetable stock.

In terms of party food and sides, Waitrose has an extensive vegan selection. You can buy the 22-Piece Plantliving Festive Cocktail Sausage Selection, which features maple, date, and chestnut cocktail sausages, vegan turkey cocktail sausages, and spiced mushroom ‘chorizo’ sausages in a puff pastry. Another option is the Plant Pigs In Blankets, an alternative to the traditional dish. There is also the Festive Cocktail Sausage Selection, which features different flavored cocktail sausages, and Plant Chorizo Pigs In Puffers, chorizo-alternatives wrapped in pastry.

For dessert, you can buy the No 1 Millionaire’s Torte.

Find the full range of vegan Christmas food at Waitrose in 2023 here.

Aldi vegan Christmas food

Budget retailer Aldi is offering its biggest ever vegan range this year. Unusually, its line-up features a plant-based “gammon,” a vegan take on the pork-based ham. The Specially Selected No Gammon Joint with Orange Marmalade Glaze can either be served up as a main or as cold cuts over the Christmas period.

The Plant Menu No Turkey Roast with Vegan Bacon Crumb is a soya-based turkey joint, which comes filled with a cranberry and chestnut stuffing. It also comes topped with a vegan bacon crumb. The Specially Selected Festive Vegetable Wellington is a pea protein log mixed with mushroom, onion, and other vegetables. The ​​Specially Selected No Beef Wellington features soya-based beef alongside roatsed mushroom duxelles.

Aldi’s Specially Selected Vegan Festive Wreath won an award last year, and it’s back for the 2023 festive season. It features stuffing made from butternut squash, cranberries, chestnuts, and pumpkin seeds, and it’s topped with candied orange slices alongside a mulled festive glaze.

The Aldi party food range is extensive. The Plant Menu Southern Fried No Chicken Stars consists of 10 soya protein vegan chicken star-shaped nuggets. The Plant Menu No Tempura Prawns are vegan ‘prawns’ made from potato starch and rice protein. You can also buy the Plant Menu No Chilli Cheese Bites (vegan cheese blended pickled chilies) and Plant Menu No Duck Spring Rolls (pulled jackfruit in a hoisin-style sauce).

Aldi also offers Plant Menu Ultimate Vegan Pigs in Blankets, as well as Specially Selected Vegetable and Potato Rostis, which are available in two veggie combinations. The Specially Selected Celeriac and Broccoli Vegetable Bake features Celeriac and broccoli in a creamy sauce, which is topped with roasted sliced potato and vegan cheese.

For dessert, you can buy the Vegan Cookie Pot or Specially Selected Vegan Truffles.

Find the full range of vegan Christmas food at Aldi in 2023 here.

Tesco vegan Christmas food

Tesco is offering two vegan turkey alternatives this year – the Tesco Plant Chef No-Turkey Crown with Herb Stuffing and Wicked Kitchen No-Turkey Roast Crown. The former is made from broad bean and pea protein, while the latter consists of pea and wheat protein.

If you prefer something vegetable-based, you can buy the Tesco Finest Stuffed Half Butternut Squash, which is filled with apple, beetroot, and green lentils and topped with a seed and herb crumb mix. Tesco’s new take on the nut roast is the Plant Chef Seasonal Seeded Roasts with Port Gravy, which features pumpkin and sunflower seeds alongside lentils, kale, chestnuts, and mushroom. Alternatively, you can try the Plant Chef Roasted Vegetable Parcels, which feature parsnip, carrot, and kale in puff pastry, or the Plant Chef Butternut Wellington, which features butternut squash and pea protein.

Tesco also offers a festive wreath, which is made from mushrooms, chestnuts, butternut squash, lentils, and caramelised red onion, and topped with cranberries.

In terms of sides and party food, you can buy Plant Chef 6 Mini Katsu Inspired Bao Buns, Plant Chef 10 Paella Inspired Arancini Bites, Plant Chef 10 Mini Mediterranean Inspired Vegetable Lattices, and more.

Tesco also has a wide range of desserts, including Tesco Finest Stem Ginger Tiffin Cracker, Tesco Finest Free From Honeycomb Bauble, Tesco Free From Christmas Pudding, and Wicked Kitchen Spiced Rum Christmas Pudding.

Find the full range of Tesco Christmas food at Aldi in 2023 here.

More like this:

• Greggs Unveils Vegan Christmas Menu For 2023
• Jane Horrocks Stars In New Ad Depicting Cruelty Of ‘Christmas Turkeys’
• You Can Now Buy Vegan Brandy Cream For Christmas

The post Vegan Christmas Food At UK Supermarkets In 2023: From Wellingtons To An Entire ‘Turkey’ appeared first on Plant Based News.

A study by Little Loans compared the costs of nine plant-based festive staples at Lidl in a league table of the top nine UK supermarkets. Lidl came out on top, and shopping there this Christmas could save shoppers up to 50 percent compared to the pricing seen in Waitrose and Marks And Spencer. 

Lidl had already made news for its vegan collection earlier this year when the chain revealed its German stores would match its vegan alternatives to be the same price as the meat equivalents.

Affordable vegan Christmas food

The items compared included some of the most commonly bought animal-free Christmas foods, including nut roasts, roast potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, stuffing, vegan gravy, carrots, parsnips, and red cabbage. Buying all of these items together from Lidl came to £8.83, the lowest price total of any UK supermarket. 

Besides nut roasts, Lidl is offering other vegan alternatives for 2023, for example, a Vegan Sausage and Cranberry Wreath pastry dish, as well as vegan party foods, sides, starters, and more. 

Just trailing behind Lidl is Morrisons in second, with vegan shopping totaling £9.19. Fellow German budget brand Aldi is third at £9.42. Not far behind is Asda at £9.55 and Tesco at £9.70. 

With demand for vegan food ever-increasing while the cost of living crisis continues, this is a clear move from UK supermarkets to continue meeting plant-based demand while ensuring cruelty-free foods are affordable for the majority of the population. 

Waitrose and M&S almost double in price

That said, there is a marked price jump with the names lowest down the list — Waitrose will cost shoppers £16.70, and Marks and Spencer £16.80. Co-op is not among the cheapest either, with the items costing £15.23. The report looked into whether Nectar, Tesco Clubcard, and other loyalty cards made any difference to the totals, and it was found they did not. 

Vegan food too expensive in the cost of living crisis: fact or fiction? 

It’s not only cheap and affordable to buy vegan food at Christmas time, but it’s affordable all year round. Plant-based being inevitably more expensive than other diets has been shown to be a myth, as seen in this Oxford University study which found a vegan diet is actually more affordable than vegetarian and meat diets, as well as being healthier. 

Vegan meat alternatives are often the most expensive items you can buy on a plant-based diet, but these are far from a necessity. Vegan whole food staples such as beans, lentils, rice, potatoes, fruits, and vegetables are not only significantly cheaper than meat, dairy, and eggs, but are also considered healthy, found to reduce risk of disease, assist with fitness and longevity, and a host of other health benefits.

More like this:

• The Best Vegan Advent Calendars To Buy In 2023
• Asda Christmas Food 2023: List Of Vegan Options
• Greggs Unveils Vegan Christmas Menu For 2023

The post Lidl Named Cheapest UK Supermarket To Buy Vegan Christmas Food appeared first on Plant Based News.

Lucky for you (and me), I’ve sampled some of the vegan advent calendars available in the UK this year to help you choose the right one. But whichever one you choose, the most important thing is that it doesn’t contain any dairy from cows.

Why vegans don’t eat chocolate made with dairy

Vegans don’t consume or use products made using ingredients derived from animals. Chocolate made with dairy from cows – including the chocolate in advent calendars – depends on the exploitation of cows. Too often, these cows are also subjected to violence and neglect.

One recent investigation by Viva! uncovered “horrific” conditions on a Red Tractor-approved UK dairy farm in Wales. Investigators documented “extreme” rough handling of and violence towards lame cows, dead animals left outside, and newborn calves left alone in cold pens.

The farm supplied First Milk, a farmers’ co-operative providing dairy for companies such as Nestle. Nestle brands include KitKat, Milky Bar, and Quality Street, all of which have advent calendars for sale now.

Similar abuse and neglect has been uncovered at many other British dairy farms. Last year, another Welsh farm featured on BBC’s Panorama programme after activists gathered footage showing serious abuse of the cows. In 2017, an expose showed a Dorset dairy farm and M&S supplier confining calves up to six months old in solitary pens in breach of welfare regulations.

The dairy industry

It’s not just the illegal abuse of animals on dairy farms that is a problem. Many standard, legal practices cause distress and discomfort to dairy cows and their babies. 

Calves are normally taken from their mothers just a few hours after birth, causing distress to both. Dairy cows are forced to stand on hard ground for long periods for milking – the main cause of lameness that affects an estimated 30 percent of the UK’s herd.

Increasing numbers of British dairy cows never get the chance to stand on grass. Around 20 percent of farms are thought to have adopted intensive “zero grazing” systems. Cows on these farms are kept inside all their lives in barren sheds.

None of this suffering is worth some chocolate. Luckily, there is loads of incredible vegan chocolate on the market these days. This Christmas, do the cows a favor and pick a vegan advent calendar.

The best vegan advent calendars in the UK

Advent calendars used to be something mainly marketed at kids. The chocolate inside them would be shaped like Christmas objects and made of pretty cheap chocolate. These days, many have become a lot fancier, appealing to adults as well as children.

As vegan chocolate has become more in demand, the choice of cruelty-free advent calendars has also grown. They range from the classic and simple to the outright decadent. Here is the Plant Based News round-up of the best vegan advent calendars to buy this year, in descending order from my least to most favorite.

5. Plant Based OMV! Advent Calendar by Asda

Asda’s plant-based OMV! (short for Oh My Vegan!) range is already pretty extensive. This year it has released an advent calendar under the brand with rice powder-based chocolates. 

The chocolates, which are the same each day, come in festive shapes like stockings and stars. The box is designed with the classic green and red Christmas colours, featuring what looks like a break-dancing Santa.

I didn’t love this one. The taste reminds me of the cheap chocolate calendars of my childhood before I went vegan. But at only £4, it’s the cheapest of the bunch I’ve sampled. It’s probably best as a gift for children who will look forward to opening the final extra-large chocolate on Christmas Day.

Available online and in store from Asda.

Cost: £4

4. H!P Oat Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar

Vegan chocolate brand H!P makes all its chocolates using oat milk. Its advent calendar is brightly colored and totally plastic free.

Inside the doors are four flavors of individually-wrapped chocolate squares: Salted Caramel, Orange, Creamy Original, and Gingerbread. The flavors aren’t particularly strong, but the chocolate is pretty nice, with the oats giving it a nice smooth texture.

Inside some of the doors are Christmas jokes and trivia. Sample joke: What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite. Ho ho.

One con of this calendar is that the chocolates all seemed to slide out of their squares. I opened some doors to find nothing behind them, only to discover the chocolate had migrated to a neighboring door. Though I am a fan of H!P’s products generally, at £10 the calendar feels a little expensive for what you get.

Available online from hipchocolate.com; online or in store at Anthropologie, Fenwick, John Lewis, Ocado, Selfridges, Scribbler, Soho House, Waterstones and Whole Foods.

Cost: £10

3. Chococo Christmas Countdown

Chococo’s advent calendars are geared more towards adults, with stylish compact selection-style boxes all handmade in Dorset. Its vegan offering is no different. Each generously-sized chocolate is beautifully decorated with flashes of colour and metallics.

There are 16 flavors in this plastic-free box, including Tangerine Dream, Roasted Almond Cluster, and Tawny Port & Fig. They come encased in either dark or oat milk chocolate. Personally, I’m not wild about flavored chocolates, but some of these are really delicious. My favorite was the Chai Spice, made with a blend of cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove.

For those who do enjoy varied and innovative flavors in their chocolate, this box will be a delight. More on the expensive side, it would also make a luxurious gift.

Available online from Chococo.co.uk.

Cost: £27.50

2. Montezuma Dark Chocolate Advent Calendar

Dark chocolate is my favorite kind of chocolate, so I was rather excited to get to sample Montezuma’s advent calendar. 

The square blue and green box (which does contain a plastic tray) contains 25 thick rounds of 74 percent dark chocolate. They are the same as Montezuma’s usual vegan dark chocolate, which I already like. The chocolate is smooth and rich, and made with all organic ingredients. A discerning nine-year-old I know described them as “yum yum.”

Some might prefer variety in their advent calendars over consistency. As Montezuma makes quite a variety of vegan dark chocolates, including Almond Praline Truffles and Peanut Butter Truffle Bites, a calendar featuring a selection of their products would be welcome. But for dark chocolate fans this is a delicious option. 

(Currently discounted online from Montezuma.co.uk; availability in stores may vary)

Cost: £9.74

1. Monty Bojangles Curiously Moreish Vegan Truffle Advent

Founded by Andrew Newlands who started out working in design, Monty Bojangles pays as much attention to its aesthetic as it does to its chocolates. The box is beautiful, with whimsical illustrations including a flamingo wearing a hat and a trumpet with flowers bursting out of it. The company is named for Newlands’ cat.

The calendar contains luscious cocoa-dusted truffles in three flavors: Cocoa Nib Nights, Cocoberry Blush, and Caramel Haze. These rich, sizeable truffles melt in your mouth. It makes me wonder why Monty Bojangles bothers making non-vegan chocolates when its plant-based ones are this good.

If I have a gripe, though, it’s the packaging. Not only does the box contain a plastic tray, but each truffle is individually wrapped in plastic. Monty Bojangles says these can be recycled at large supermarkets with other Soft Plastics. But a better solution would be for the company to ditch the plastic altogether.

Available Online from Ocado and Amazon

Cost: £11

More (untested) vegan advent calendars

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to sample every available vegan advent calendar. Tragic, I know. But there are quite a few more on the market to choose from than the ones I reviewed above.

Happi triple flavour plastic-free advent calendar

Happi’s chocolates are made with oats and single-origin Colombian cocoa. There are three flavors to discover: Plain M!lk, Orange, and Salted Caramel. 

Available online from Happichoc.com

Cost: £15

Melt London’s 12 days of Christmas dark chocolate vegan advent calendar

The price tag may be hefty, but the box alone frankly looks like a work of art. Each of the 12 days contains a small chocolate bar so you can share it with your loved ones (if you feel generous). Flavors include Sea Salt, Chili, and Coffee.

Available online from Meltchocolates.com.

Cost: £49

Pip & Nut The Nut Butter Cup Advent Calendar, Limited Edition

Confession time: I am obsessed with Pip & Nut. I have a kilo tub of its Crunchy Peanut Butter in my kitchen at all times, and they don’t last long. I’m not typically a fan of the nut butter-chocolate combination, but I’d give this brand the benefit of the doubt that this will be a very tasty advent calendar.

Behind each door is an individually-wrapped dark chocolate peanut or almond butter cup. For every advent calendar sold, Pip & Nut will also donate two jars of peanut butter to its local Hackney Foodbank.

Available online from Pipandnut.com.

Cost: £15

Hotel Chocolat Dark Chocolate Advent Calendar

This attractive dark calendar contains 24 “festive sculptures” made with 70 percent dark chocolate. Already being a fan of Hotel Choclat’s vegan offerings, this would be good option for other dark chocolate lovers like me.

Available online from Hotelchocolat.com and in stores.

Cost: £13

Moo Free White Advent Calendar

For the white chocolate fans out there, with a cutesy elf design on the box. I have never actually tried vegan white chocolate before, but a reviewer on the company’s website says “Moo Free create without a doubt, the best vegan and free-from white chocolate in the world.”

Available online from Moofreechocolates.com or Ocado.

Cost: £3.99

Nomo Classic Advent Calendar,

Vegan chocolate brand Nomo bringing another simple, affordable option to the festive table. The calendar contains 24 rice-based chocolate drops.

Available online from Nomochoc.com and Waitrose.

Cost: £5

More like this:

• Sainsbury’s Christmas Food 2023: Full List Of Vegan Options
• Asda Christmas Food 2023: List Of Vegan Options
• Greggs Unveils Vegan Christmas Menu For 2023

The post The Best Vegan Advent Calendars To Buy In 2023 appeared first on Plant Based News.

In recent years, it has become less of a secret to me that the Thanksgiving narrative I learned in school is neither accurate nor honorable. I am grateful to Indigenous activists for steadfastly challenging this false narrative – despite requiring them to relive and recount generational traumas – and am humbled each year the more I learn about the true genesis of this holiday. Recently I uncovered an additional Thanksgiving falsehood: turkey as the meal of choice. History does not corroborate turkey-centered celebrations for the first 200 years after the holiday’s declaration. 

That may sound strange to generations of Americans who have always associated Thanksgiving with turkey, both at the center of the table and in seasonal decorations. But it’s a reminder that traditions can – and in many cases should – be challenged and updated. 

Turkey was first campaigned as a Thanksgiving staple in the 1800s. Since then, the US meat industry has industrialized and now slaughters 46 million turkeys for a single holiday, with devastating consequences for animals and the environment. But here is news we can be thankful for: Annual per capita turkey consumption has gone down over the past 25 years; plant-based foods are thriving; and now is the perfect time for Americans to reconsider their holiday traditions.

A new Mercy For Animals hidden-camera investigation captured firsthand the dismal, violent lives of factory-farmed turkeys. In Minnesota, the nation’s top turkey-producing state, the investigator documented turkeys crammed by the thousands into windowless warehouses, electrocuted and burned by devices set up where they perch, and harshly tossed and kicked by workers loading them into trucks. Baby turkeys were left in heaps, struggling to breathe as they lay trapped under dead birds, while others languished with open wounds and infections and no veterinary care. 

Sadly, everything the investigator filmed is considered standard practice in the industry. This was not a matter of a single factory farm behaving badly but a matter of systemic, blatant animal cruelty.

The industry breeds turkeys to grow so quickly that many suffer organ failure, including heart attacks, and debilitating leg and joint pain, often collapsing under their own weight. They are slaughtered within weeks or months, despite their natural lifespan of up to 10 years. Courage, a turkey who received a presidential Thanksgiving pardon in 2009, lived to be older than six once free of the factory farm. Imagine what the world could look like if we all had the courage, compassion, and clarity to reconsider what and who is on our dinner tables: These gentle, beautiful animals could live out their natural destiny, instead of suffering in factory farms, dying a premature death, and being stuffed and plated.

Killing such a staggering number of turkeys for Thanksgiving also has a major environmental impact, as it releases hundreds of thousands of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually, on top of the well-known waste pollution inherent to factory farming. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 35 percent of all Thanksgiving turkey meat is wasted—ending up in a landfill, where its continued release of greenhouse gasses adds significant damage.

But fundamentally, all turkey slaughter is a waste. There is no reason to harm thinking, feeling birds when so many healthy, delicious, and accessible plant-based options are available. It’s never been easier to find tasty, ready-made turkey-style roasts at supermarkets. Each year, we hear from more and more Americans who are replacing turkey with plant-based foods as the centerpiece of their holiday tables. The Good Food Institute reports an eye-opening 43 percent increase in plant-based meat sales in the past three years, and plant-based foods surpassed animal-based foods in both dollar and unit sales growth from 2019 to 2021.

This holiday season is the moment to start a healthier and happier tradition. Download Mercy For Animals’ How to Eat Veg guide, and learn more about how you can spare turkeys a lifetime of suffering from our Pardon a Turkey campaign.

More like this:

• We Should Worry About Bird Flu – But Not Because It’s Affecting ‘Christmas Turkeys’
• Investigation Finds Dead Cows ‘Eaten To The Bone’ At Dairy Farm
• UK Vegans Can Buy An Entire Plant-Based Turkey This Christmas – Where To Get It

The post Why Americans Should ‘Pardon a Turkey’ By Choosing A Plant-Based Thanksgiving appeared first on Plant Based News.

The reality star organized an entirely plant-based Thanksgiving meal for her Blink 182 drummer husband’s 48th birthday last week, with 14 items on the menu. 

The spread featured plant-based versions of a number of traditional Thanksgiving dishes, including setian “turkey,” mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. 

Kardashian shared a number of photos of the table and menu to her 224 million Instagram followers, writing: “vegan thanksgiving for my baby’s birthday @travisbarker.”

Kourtney Kardashian’s vegan Thanksgiving 

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 23, this year – and if you’re looking for some inspiration for your own vegan meal, here’s everything Kardashian and Barker ate:

• Pumpkin bread
• Turkey “seitan” Thanksgiving roast
• Roasted Brussels sprouts
• Sweet potato casserole
• Corn ribs
• Roasted purple sweet potato
• Mashed potatoes
• Roasted acorn squash
• Green bean casserole
• Sweet corn casserole
• Gluten-free stuffing
• Cornbread stuffing
• Vegan mac & cheese
• Vegan pumpkin pie

Travis Barker and veganism

Barker has been vegan for a number of years, and he has regularly been vocal about animal advocacy. 

It’s thought that he adopted a vegetarian diet at the age of 13, but he started to eat meat again after surviving a plane crash in 2008. Speaking to the Guardian in 2015, he explained that he had to eat a huge amount of food to recover, and that there wasn’t vegan food available in the hospital. 

“I had to have 6,000 calories a day. Obviously, they didn’t have a vegan chef for me, so I had to eat whatever,” he told the publication. “I ended up eating a lot of beef jerky, and extra-large peanut butter smoothies, which had like 3,000 calories each.”

Travis subsequently dropped all animal products from his life and went vegan. He has since starred in campaigns for animal organizations, and discussed the health benefits of a plant-based diet. 

“I’ve been vegan for many years and vegetarian for even longer—Alabama [his daughter] is vegetarian,” he told PETA in 2017. “We’ve always loved animals, and we choose not to eat animals. We choose a vegan and vegetarian lifestyle … we have a pig that’s so smart, and to think that people still eat them is insane.”

Barker has stated that he has “endless amounts of energy” due to his diet, and that he often snacks on vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. 

Kourtney and Travis promote vegan brands

Kardashian has previously stated that she eats mostly plant-based diet, but that she isn’t fully vegan. The two have starred together in advertisements for vegan brands, including for Daring Chicken in 2022. 

“I’ve been on a health and wellness journey for the past 13 years, which has made me super conscious of what I put into my body and my kids’ bodies,” she said at the time.

“I’m not fully vegan, but Travis has helped me keep to a mostly plant-based diet, which is so much easier with Daring… I honestly cannot believe how much it tastes like chicken. There are a lot of plant proteins out there, but we’re always looking for options that are super clean with all-natural ingredients.”

More like this:

• 11 Delicious And Comforting Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes
• This Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Recipe Is Completely Vegan
• These Cranberry And Garlic Green Beans Are Perfect For Holiday Season

The post Kourtney Kardashian Threw A Vegan Thanksgiving For Travis Barker – Here’s What They Ate appeared first on Plant Based News.

Find out all the vegan Christmas food you can buy at UK Supermarkets here

Asda vegan Christmas food 2023

As the cost of living crisis continues, Asda has stated that its aim is to make sure vegans (as well as those wanting to cut back on their meat and dairy intake) are catered for this Christmas. The supermarket broke its record last Christmas by releasing its largest ever vegan and Free From ranges, with 97 products. And this year, it continues to grow. From a plant-based chocolate advent calendar to the entire no turkey, here’s what you can find in stores and online.

Jump to section:

• Mains
• Sides
• Desserts
• Sweet treats
• When can I order Asda Christmas food?

Asda vegan mains

ASDA OMV! Whole No Turkey 

This year, vegans (and those cutting down on animal products) can buy an entire whole no turkey from ASDA. Wheat, soya, and pea protein make up the ‘crown’. This will appear bright white on the inside and have a lean texture. The “legs” are produced from a similar base, but have a juicier texture, darker color, and more intense flavor profile.

Cost: £6

OMV! Deliciously Vegan No Turkey & Trimmings For One

ASDA is packaging up an option to serve one. Vegan no turkey has a cranberry and orange stuffing. There are sides of vegan sage and onion stuffing balls as well as vegan pigs in blankets.

Cost: £TBC

OMV! No Turkey Crown

Available now in Asda’s frozen section. Sage and onion stuffing run through the middle of this vegan ‘turkey crown’. It’s made from a blend of broad bean and pea protein.

Cost: £6

OMV! Oyster & Porcini Mushroom Wellington

An additional main. Oyster and porcini mushrooms are bound with pea protein. Topped with a duxelle of minced mushrooms, onion, herbs, and black pepper. It’s then encased in a flaky puff pastry.

Cost: £TBC

OMV! Festive Butternut & Chestnut Roast

Available from the frozen section. The mix is made with a blend of chestnuts, butternut squash, onions, kale and bulgur wheat. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are also added with black garlic and seasoning. After cooking, the roast is then finished with a clementine and maple glaze.

Cost: £3.50

Asda vegan sides

OMV! Miso and Mushroom Gravy

The supermarket is yet to release details on ingredients, pricing, and availability of their upcoming miso and mushroom gravy.

Cost: £TBC

OMV! Mushroom Pigs in Smoky Aubergine Bacon

White and oyster mushrooms form the base. Wrapped in a smoky aubergine bacon, seasoned with smoked paprika and natural smoke flavors.

Cost: £TBC

OMV! Deliciously Vegan Christmas Trimmings Selection

Plant-based sides for a Christmas dinner bundled up into one package. There’s vegan sage and onion stuffing balls, no pigs in blankets, and caramelized red onion cocktail sausages.

Cost: £TBC

Asda vegan desserts

OMV! Strawberry Trifle

Strawberry compote made from whole strawberries. Topped with egg-free sponge and dairy-free vanilla custard. Finished with a lentil and coconut cream.

Cost: £TBC

OMV! Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

Sweet chocolate pastry tarts form the base. They’re filled with salted caramel and topped with rice-based alternatives to white chocolate drops. Available as a pack of four.

Cost: £2.25

OMV! 4 Crumble Top Mince Pies

Asda’s first launch of festive vegan mince pies. Fruity mincemeat filling is encased in pastry, topped with cinnamon and ginger spiced crumble.

Cost: £2

ASDA Christmas sweet treats

OMV! Double Choc & Honeycomb Cake Pop Bites

Vegan cake pops, with Belgian dark chocolate and honeycomb pieces. They have a rich truffle center and are finished with a dark chocolate, shimmery coating.

Cost: £4

OMV! Espresso Martini Flavored Loaded Choc Bar

The supermarket is yet to release details on ingredients, pricing, and availability of their upcoming Martini-flavored loaded chocolate bar.

Cost: £TBC

OMV! Deliciously Vegan Advent Calendar

A rice-based alternative to chocolate milk, ready to count down over 25 days to Christmas.

Cost: £4

OMV! Cinnamon Hot Choc Pearls & Mallows

Plant-based milk chocolate (rice based alternative) pearls blended with cinnamon and caramel flavor to melt down into a hot chocolate drink. Comes with little marshmallows to float on top.

Cost: £2.50

OMV! Gingerbread Flavour Loaded Choc Slab

A rice-based alternative to ginger-flavored milk chocolate forms the base. Topped with cinnamon biscuit crumb, honeycomb pieces, and sugar sprinkles.

Cost: £2.50

OMV! 4 Iced Christmas Cake Slices

Four individual vegan Christmas fruit cake slices. Topped with apricot jam, marzipan, and a sweet fondant icing.

Cost: £2.50

OMV! Double Choc & Hazelnut Cookies

Rich vegan chocolate cookies with an oat flour base. They have dark chocolate chunks, roasted nibbed hazelnuts, and a hazelnut paste swirled into the mix.

Cost: £2.60

When can I order Asda Christmas food?

Many of the products in the range are still awaiting a formal release date to be confirmed, however the below are currently available or coming up: 

Available now:

• OMV! Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts
• OMV! Festive Butternut & Chestnut Roast
• OMV! No Turkey Crown
• OMV! Double Choc & Hazelnut Cookies
• OMV! 4 Iced Christmas Cake Slices
• OMV! Gingerbread Flavour Loaded Choc Slab
• OMV! Deliciously Vegan Advent Calendar
• OMV! 4 Crumble Top Mince Pies
• OMV! Cinnamon Hot Choc Pearls & Mallows
• OMV! Double Choc & Honeycomb Cake Pop Bites

Thursday, December 14

• Omv! Whole No Turkey

More like this:

• Greggs Unveils Vegan Christmas Menu For 2023
• M&S Vegan Christmas Food 2023: What You Can Buy
• Sainsbury’s Christmas Food 2023: Full List Of Vegan Options

The post Asda Christmas Food 2023: List Of Vegan Options appeared first on Plant Based News.