Everyone likes a nice Sunday roast, but we don’t have enough land in England for everyone to eat free-range meats and poultry. So either try plant-based all the time, or some of the time. Forget the critics who say you can’t eat things that taste like meat, of course you can. Here are a few good recipes. Nut roasts are simplest as to make vegan ‘meats’, you’re going to buy some seitan (wheat gluten) and learn how to use it – good results but best left to ambitious chefs.
Vegan Wellington (Crumbs & Caramel) is a roasted butternut squash with cranberry wild rice, balsamic-cooked mushrooms, onions, herbs and garlic in a flaky pastry, served with goose-friendly roast potatoes, mash and vegan gravy.
Keep nuts away from children and people with swallowing difficulties. Keep these recipes away from pets due to onion, garlic and faux meats etc. Read more on keeping people & pets safe in the kitchen.
Richard’s amazing vegan roasts!
Vegan turkey roast (School Night Vegan) is made from seitan with a herby stuffing. Serve with mashed potatoes and vegan gravy with all the veggies. Also try Richard’s vegan beef roast (also made with seitan). His vegan roast chicken is also made with seitan, with a balsamic cranberry marinade. Serve alongside his vegan sausage stuffing.
Vegans don’t go vegan because they hate flavour, and certainly because they really want to miss out on family traditions on festive holidays. When you can enjoy the flavours you miss, the textures you love and the familiar welcoming sight you grew up seeing on your table (all without involving a real turkey), everybody wins! Zachary Bird|
where to buy good vegan roasts
Sgaia (Scotland) is an amazing artisan food company created by two Italian foodies. It offers ready-made vegan roasts made from seitan, so you don’t have to do all the work yourself. Try the beef-style roast or chicken-style rustic garlic & rosemary roast dinner. Also check out The Faux Butcher’s faux lamb roasting joint (with cheesy-tasting nutritional yeast).
Planty offers a vegan roast dinner delivered to your door, made with a sage and walnut stuffed ‘chicken roast’ served with glazed carrots and parsnips, white cabbage and port wine gravy.
Look in stores for Artisan Grains’ Nut Roast mixes. You can bulk buy these then just add water to the mix and cook up for a delicious roast in many flavours (just recycle the packaging when done). Choose from country vegetable & cashew, cashew nut & cranberry or sun-dried tomato.
Thank Goodness luxury nut roast is made with nuts, veggies, lentils, quinoa and herbs (sold wholesale for restaurants and hotels).
Morrisons now offer a vegan roast dinner
Alongside many pubs that serve good vegan roast dinners, supermarket chain Morrisons now offers affordable roast dinners in its branch cafes. The pumpkin, mushroom & cranberry roast is served alongside vegan gravy, seasonal veggies, stuffing and roast potatoes.