How to Cook a Traditional Thanksgiving Meal for a Vegan

If you have a vegan in your family, you probably want to include them in all the traditional Thanksgiving festivities. However, most Thanksgiving dishes use dairy products, meat or eggs--three things eschewed by vegans. Fortunately, it's relatively easy to turn your traditional Thanksgiving meal into a vegan menu. You only need to make a few ingredient substitutions and some slight modifications to your regular recipes.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vegan butter substitute
• Vegan egg substitute
• Vegan milk substitute
• Your recipes

1. Use a butter substitute. Vegan butter substitutes can be found in health food stores and major grocery stores. Surprisingly, these margarines often taste just like real butter and can replace butter in all your recipes.

2. Substitute non-dairy milk. Rice or soy milk is readily available in most supermarkets. It can be used as a substitute in recipes for biscuits, dinner rolls, baked corn, mashed potatoes and casseroles.

3. Serve a non-meat "turkey." Although you'll probably want to dish up a regular turkey for meat-eating guests, consider serving a turkey substitute to vegans. Commercial varieties are easy to prepare and can be found in most health food stores.

4. Saute with olive oil. If you have to sauté onions, peppers, garlic or other vegetables, consider using olive oil instead of butter. It's flavorful, healthy and suitable for vegans.

5. Separate the stuffing from the turkey. Most vegans won't eat stuffing that's been cooked inside the turkey. Cook a serving or two separately in a casserole dish for your vegan guest.

6. Replace eggs with flaxseed. Ground flaxseed mixed with warm water works as a vegan substitute for most recipes, particularly if the egg serves mostly as a binder. Consider using it for your biscuits, dinner rolls or pie dough.

Tips & Warnings

• One tablespoon of flaxseed mixed with three tablespoons of warm water equals one egg.
• The clerks at your local health food store may be able to help you identify packaged foods that are suitable for vegans.
• Flaxseeds generally do not work as an egg substitute if the recipe calls for more than two eggs.
• Check the ingredient list on any packaged foods you plan to prepare to ensure they're suitable for vegans.
• Many common foods that seem vegan can actually contain animal products, such as marshmallows. If in doubt, ask your guest or the clerk at the health food store.

Resources

• Buy vegan foods at VeganEssentials.com