With an ever-increasing number of people moving towards a vegetarian or vegan diet, you may find yourself wondering what to feed them during your gatherings and dinner parties this year, especially as the festive season approaches.
There is a whole world of delicious animal product free foods out there, but with an increased selection it becomes more difficult to navigate and decide what is appropriate. These are some of the products and recipes that we think will save the day, allow you to entertain with ease and please both vegans and meat eaters alike.
Vegan pates for dipping, dunking, filling and snacking
In the world of vegan food I have only three words for you ‘edamame bean pâté’!! I can offer what I believe to be the highest praise for this product and that is this: it does not taste vegan. The blend of edamame beans, lentils, lime and coconut is just delicious; on bread, in a burger bun, with a spoon straight from the jar...the world is your oyster.
(Image courtesy of beautiful grazing platter creators: Honey to the Brie)
If you’re looking for a vegan friendly dip that will be delicious with crisps look no further. Spicy bean crush is a tasty and filling alternative that is also vegan. If crisps aren’t your thing but you’re a baked potato kind of person, this dip also makes a fab and easy alternative to a chilli con cane in your jacket potatoes.
Vegetarian options - no skimping on the butter and cheese
Cornish Charcuterie’s mushroom pâté is delicious served as part of a snack platter to be eaten on crackers or bread. But here is a top tip from my kitchen to yours, cook up a batch of pasta or linguine and whilst the pasta is still hot stir in a jar of mushroom pate, this creates an instant and super creamy pasta sauce. Perfect to be served for an easy dinner and this dish is equally appealing for veggies and carnivores alike (though too buttery for vegans).
And now a super lazy cheat and a half in the form of a product recommendation. The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are so worth the hype and I guarantee that if you feed them to your vegetarian in the place of a good old meat burger you will not be faced by hordes of vegetarian disappointment! The downside to these is that they are not suitable for vegans or those with a lactose intolerance.
Check out our collection of very special vegan and vegetarian Cornish produce.
Written by Kitty Harding / edited by Jo Painter
Main image photo by Deryn Macey on Unsplash