If you’re new to a meat-free diet, it might seem like substantial alternatives for Christmas are almost out of the question. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the selection of vegetarian and vegan-friendly festive food available in big supermarkets such as ASDA and Tesco; from cauliflower wellingtons to no turkey roasts and vegan wreaths, there’s more out there than you might think, including sweet treats for your vegan guests.
A couple of classic options are available at ASDA. Choose from a vegan wellington or nut roast, these are only £3 each, and the wellington serves 3 while the roast serves 2.
Supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl tend to fall under a common misconception that the selection of foods is smaller than other main supermarkets, but I’ve noticed that they often have a much better range of flavours and, when it comes to vegetarian and vegan options, Aldi have very quickly become one of the top contenders. This Christmas, they offer a No Turkey Roast for only £2.99 (350g), which is a “a sensational cranberry, apricot and pumpkin seed stuffing wrapped in a tasty soya and tofu coating, and Vegan Pigs in Blankets for only £2.99 (280g). They also have dairy-free and gluten-free options, but if they don’t have quite what you’re after in-store, they have plenty of vegan-friendly recipes online.
The selection at Waitrose seems pretty similar to others, they offer a vegan wellington for £6 (450g) and a vegetarian nut roast for £3.20 (360g). I’m pleasantly surprised by these prices, but the nut roast in particular is in line with the prices in ASDA and Aldi, and the quality will be better, so these are some great offers. Their online selection is pretty wide, and they have a lot of festive recipes on their site which are suitable for both vegetarians and vegans if you can’t find what you’re after in-store.
These vegetarian Brie and Cranberry Parcels are available at Tesco for £10, for a 4-person serving, and the vegan Butternut, Mushroom and Chestnut Wreath serves 2 for £4.50. The parcels seem pretty pricey, although the pack weight is 800g. The wreath sounds more affordable as it is similarly priced to the other stores. They do have a wide selection at Tesco, with some very enticing flavours to choose from. They also offer a no turkey roast here for only £5 for a 4-person serving.
All in all, I’m very pleased with the selections available at some of the UK’s most popular supermarkets in terms of vegetarian and vegan Christmas food. I’d been thinking a bit recently about what might be available to me, slightly worried that options would be quite slim, so this is very good to see, and I’m particularly excited to try the wellingtons and no turkey turkeys!
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