Vegetarian Winter Dishes

It's cold, it's windy, there might even be snow. I don't know about you, but all I want to do is stay inside where it's warm, preferably with some hearty, stick-to-your-ribs food. Here are some recipes for winter foods.

  
Apricot Cherry Compote
It's easy to make compote: just stew up some dried fruit and enjoy it with dessert.

Barley Soup
This barley soup recipe from Sicily is a perfect vegan alternative to chicken soup when you're feeling under the weather.

Bean and Olive Soup
White beans and black olives combine with various herbs and veggies to make a hearty soup.

"Beef" bourguignon
Although time-consuming, this is an easy and very delicious recipe for mock beef bourguignon made with either seitan or tempeh.

"Beef" Stew
A rich, thick stew made with seitan and lots of good veggies. It's especially tasty served with hot French bread on a cold night.

Bharta - Smoked Eggplant
Bharta is a smoked eggplant dish popular in the villages of Punjab. It is usually served with greens, bread, and lassi.

Black-Eyed Pea and Quinoa Croquettes
Crunchy croquettes made from black-eyed peas and quinoa are packed with vegetarian protein.

Buttermilk Biscuits
There's nothing quite like buttermilk biscuits hot out of the oven.

Cabbage Rolls
Normally filled with a mixture of ground beef and rice, cabbage rolls are a staple in Eastern Europe and a favorite in many other countries. Try these vegetarian cabbage rolls stuffed with vegetables for an equally tasty main course.

Calzone
A calzone is a turnover or pocket made with pizza dough and filled with veggies, cheese, and pretty much anything else you put on pizza.

Chili
Here's a very easy vegetarian chili recipe - just open some cans, chop a few veggies, and leave it on the stove for a couple of hours.

Christmas Recipes
Whatever is served at a traditional Christmas dinner, meat probably holds pride of place, and what good is that to us veggies? Here are some ideas to mix and match for a vegetarian Christmas menu.

Christmas Salad
This red, white, and green salad will help spread Christmas cheer.

Corn Bread
Hot corn bread is absolutely delicious topped with butter or cream cheese.

Egg Nog
Egg nog is a traditional winter drink, which I find rather odd since it's cold and I always want something warm. If you're worried about salmonella from raw eggs, use pasteurized eggs.

Eggplant Parmigiana / Parmesan
This classic vegetarian dish is a perfect main course served alongside/atop plain pasta.

French Onion Soup
Traditional French onion soup is made with beef broth, but this vegetarian version is so flavorful that meat-eaters will never know the difference!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
These aren't much more work than regular mashed potatoes, but they have a lot more flavor.

Ginger-Brandy Cheesecake
Sweet, rich cheesecake with a ginger snap crust and orange glaze.

Gingerbread
Moist and spicy, gingerbread is a perfect Christmas treat.

Gravy
This simple, nut-based gravy recipe will satisfy your cravings at Thanksgiving or any other time of year.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich
A grilled cheese sandwich, sometimes called toasted cheese, is one of the simplest and yet tastiest dishes around. There's something about melty, gooey cheese on toast that really hits the spot.

"Lamb" Curry
This mock lamb curry is made with seitan (wheat gluten) and is spicy and delicious.

Lasagne
Vegetarian lasagne is easy and delicious. Here's a variation on the classic red sauce version, with some extra vegetables.

Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni and cheese is one of those dishes that sound boring, but can be just as delicious as a "fancier" pasta dish like lasagne or pesto.

Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food. They're quick and easy and the soft texture makes me feel like a kid. They're also a great base for all kinds of variations like vegan mashed potatoes and garlic mashed potatoes.

Mincemeat
Make a big batch of vegetarian mincemeat so that you can make a few pies and have some left over to serve with ice cream, custard, pudding, or crêpes. You can also can or freeze it for later.

Moussaka
Moussaka is a Greek dish traditionally made with lamb or beef. This vegetarian / vegan moussaka recipe uses portobello mushrooms and seitan instead. A rich and delicious main course.

Mulled Wine
Warm, spicy mulled wine is a wonderful winter drink.

Mushroom Barley Stew
Mushrooms, barley, veggies, and chick peas make a hearty and healthy stew.

Pizza
Making homemade pizza is one of the best and most creative ways of proving that meat is not a necessary part of a human's diet. Also see my pages on pizza dough and toppings.

Plum Pudding
Plum pudding is a traditional Christmas dessert in the UK, and is normally made with suet. Julia Child's version shows that there's no reason plum pudding can't be vegetarian.

Potato Leek Gratin
Potatoes and leeks are one of those combinations that are just meant to be, and this gratin recipe is the perfect way to enjoy them.

Potato Soup
A quick and easy recipe for a favorite cold-weather food.

Pot Pie
This pot pie recipe is better than the TV dinner version for two reasons: it's vegetarian and it's prepared and baked, rather than frozen and microwaved. It's also quick and flexible, so give it a try.

Red Lentil Soup
Red lentils turn into golden mush when cooked, but they taste divine, especially in simple recipes like this red lentil soup from Syria. Just a few ingredients bring out all the flavor you need for a hearty and delicious vegetarian / vegan soup.

Roasted Chestnuts
Roasted chestnuts are such a traditional winter treat that there's a song about them - sing along as you roast your own chestnuts.

Roasted Seitan
Seitan and onions roasted in balsamic vinegar make a quick recipe for a hearty and delicious winter dish.

Roasted Vegetables
Roasting vegetables brings out all kinds of flavor and depth. This recipe is just a guide - feel free to add/subtract/subsitute any of the vegetables.

Roasted Winter Squash
An easy-to-prepare, delicate sweet-and-sour squash dish.

Sambar
This is a recipe for sambar, probably the most universal dish of South India. It has been adapted for the cooler climate of Monterey Bay. This recipe was submitted by a forum member.

Shepherd's Pie
This vegetarian shepherd's pie recipe is a simple yet delicious lambless version of the real thing.

Stuffing
Stuffing doesn't have to be cooked inside a turkey - this vegetarian bread stuffing with apples and walnuts is delicious baked as a casserole.

Tuscan Bean Dip
This elegant bean dip is known as fagioli in fiasco, or beans in a bottle. Traditionally made in Tuscany in a Chianti bottle cooked in embers in a brick oven, this modern version is creamy and delicious.

TVP Mock Meat Loaf
This mock meat loaf recipe made with TVP and served alongside mashed potatoes is good enough to fool your non-vegetarian, meat- and- potato-loving friends.

Wild Rice and Cranberry Soup
An elegant soup made of wild rice and cranberries laced with sherry.

Wild Rice Salad
This earthy salad is a perfect accompaniment to soup.

Winter Squash Risotto
Risotto isn't difficult to make, but it does require a lot of standing at the stove, stirring away. The end result, however, is delicious and a wonderful comfort food.

Winter White Bean Salad
I served this warm white bean salad at a dinner party and more than half the guests wanted the recipe. It is absolutely delicious and very easy to make.

If you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share please do so on the forum!

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