5 Recipes For Vegetarians For Christmas

Here are 5 recipes for vegetarians for Christmas. Vegetarian fare provides a deliciously different alternative to traditional Christmas recipes. Contrary to popular belief, vegetarian dishes are not boring and bland with hard-to-find ingredients. Actually, it's quite the opposite. Local fresh fruits and vegetables are available in farmer's markets and most grocery stores offer a vegetarian, vegan and organic section, filled with ingredients needed to prepare an enticing vegetarian meal. If you are looking for appetizing vegetarian recipes for Christmas, then you definitely want to check out the following recipes.

1. Creamy Artichoke Spinach Dip

To make creamy artichoke spinach dip you will need:

• 10 to 12 artichoke hearts, cleaned
• Handful of spinach, cleaned and chopped
• 2 small garlic cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

1. Place artichokes, spinach, garlic, and cumin powder in a blender.
2. Blend ingredients.  Pour in enough olive oil to make mixture the same consistency as a dip.
3. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. Serve with fresh vegetables and Melba toast.

2. Creamy Mushroom Puffs

To make creamy mushroom puffs you will need:

• 2 to 4 garlic cloves, crushed or chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 glass of white wine
• 3 cups mushrooms cleaned, sliced
• 1/3 cup vegan margarine
• 18 ounces frozen puff pastry, thawed
• 16 ounces soy milk
• 4 tablespoons white flour
• Handful chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Melt margarine.
2. Saute garlic and onion for three minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until tender.
3. Add flour. Mix well.
4. Gradually add soy milk. Stir constantly.
5. Gradually add wine. Keep stirring on low heat until sauce thickens.
6. Remove from heat. Add parsley and season.
7. Set aside to cool. Roll out pastry into two large rectangles.
8. Lay one pastry rectangle on a greased baking tray. Fill with cooled sauce, leaving space close to the edges.
9. Place the other pastry rectangle on top. Seal edges with water or soy milk.
10. Make baking slits. Brush soy milk over the top to lightly glaze.
11. Bake at 325 degrees F. for 30 minutes. When done, pastry should look puffy, not mushy.

This recipe is delicious served with the cranberry, orange and ginger sauce, and the sage and onion roasted potatoes recipes mentioned in this article. It's a perfect vegetarian entree to complement any Christmas dinner!

3. Cranberry, Orange and Ginger Sauce

To make cranberry, orange and ginger sauce you will need:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup orange juice
•  Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon fresh-grated ginger or 1/2 teaspoon of dried ginger
• 2 cups fresh cranberries
• Pinch of salt

1. Place  cranberries, orange juice and ginger in a pan. Simmer  for ten  minutes.
2. Mash the berries. Add lemon zest, sugar, and salt.
3. Cook on low until sugar is completely dissolved. The sauce thickens as it cools.
4. Serve hot or warm.

4. Sage and onion roasted potatoes

To make sage and onion roasted potatoes you will need:

• 4 to 5 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut to desired size
• 4 teaspoons dried sage or 8 teaspoons  freshly chopped sage
• 4 tablespoons sunflower oil
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 4 tablespoons of oatmeal
• Salt to taste

1. Par boil potatoes. As they start to become tender, remove from heat and drain.
2. Place potatoes in a glass-baking tray. Distribute oil over potatoes. Mix and coat.
3. Add sage, onion, oatmeal and salt. Mix and coat.
4. Roast potatoes in 400 degree F. oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
5. Add more oil after fifteen minutes and baste for crisper potatoes.

5. Apricot panettone bread pudding

Panettone is sweet Italian bread enjoyed during Christmas and New Years.

To make apricot panettone bread pudding you will need:

•  12 ounces of panettone, sliced into squares
•  1/4 cups dried apricots, chopped
•  1 cup chopped walnuts
•  2 1/2 cups reduced fat milk
•  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•  2 tablespoons maple syrup
•  A pinch nutmeg powder
•  Light brown sugar for sprinkling

1.  Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. Grease a shallow baking dish. Position half the panettone in baking dish.
3. Spread half the walnuts and all the apricots on the bread. When finished, add the remaining panettone on top.
4. In a saucepan, heat vanilla and milk. Simmer.
5. Add maple syrup and nutmeg. Whisk well.
6. Gently press bread down. Pour milk over bread until it is covered. Let sit for ten minutes.
7. Sprinkle on brown sugar and remaining walnuts. Bake until golden brown about twelve minutes.