Traditional tastes From stilton to chestnuts, cranberries and a delicious take on Christmas pudding, these recipes would satisfy veggies and carnivores alike. Serve the pâté with some crunchy oat biscuits as a pre-lunch nibble, perhaps with some mulled wine or mulled cider. The chestnut pie is full of rich flavours - dress it up with a few pastry holly leaves and glaze the top with an egg wash before baking for a festive touch. One word of advice - be sure to check the sell-by date on the dried chestnuts and ensure they're fresh; the flavour of old nuts can be stale and unpleasant. As an added benefit, all of these recipes are easy enough for less experienced cooks to prepare. Recipes from the Vegetarian Society.
Chef says“My wife and two girls are vegetarian. They love melting some cheese on top of champ. I recommend falafels - I couldn't believe there was no meat in them when I first tried them.” Paul Rankin Seasonal savours This menu features dishes that are perhaps a bit more difficult to cook (and to shop for - farmers' markets are probably the best place to look for kohlrabi), but the results will reward the effort. Double the recipe for the chestnut and mushroom tartlets and keep a couple for 'chef's treat' on Boxing Day! For the salad of winter leaves, if you can't find vegetarian gorgonzola, substitute a vegetarian blue cheese instead. Prepare the chocolate roulade a day before and save yourself the hassle of steaming a pudding. Chocolate fans will thank you for it! Chef says“I love a vegetarian stuffing made from apricots, mint, brioche breadcrumbs and unsalted butter.” Nick Nairn Italian flavours If you're after something a bit less traditional, give this Italian-inspired menu a whirl. The chestnut soup recipe actually comes from France (as you may have guessed from the name), but both France and Italy have a long tradition of using chestnuts in a host of imaginative ways. The chestnut and chocolate dessert is typically Italian in flavour, although the addition of maple syrup adds an American dash. Italians, who appreciate palate-cleansing bitter flavours, are very keen on bitter-leaf salads like the one here. Varieties of chicory, endive and radicchio (all of which are closely related) are becoming more widely available in the UK. Look out for those with festive-looking red leaves. Buon Natale! Chef says“Vegetarian food? I just instantly think of a bird table or a bag of nuts!” James Martin For more meat-free recipe ideas, search our recipe database, after ticking the 'vegetarian' box.
|
|
|
