What would YOU feed a vegetarian on Thanksgiving?

Question

You're too kind benjaminbombard...

I'm a vegetarian, and I was just wondering what you might make for me.

Answer 1

Trader Joes has good tofu based meat substitutes, and all of the fixin's and desserts are vegetarian for the most part (unless something is cooked in animal fat or something else to that effect).

I would ask the person what they like, so that they are satisfied like everyone else.

I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't like meat of any kind, so I eat totally vegetarian every Thanksgiving with no problems.

Answer 2

It would depend on whether you (and the other guests) are a lacto/ovo vegetarian or a vegan. The latter would be more difficult for me, because I like to use butter, cream, cheese, and eggs...and some vegans won't even touch honey.

But I'm a really good cook, and I can make anything taste wonderful.

Appetizers would include eggplant dip (baba ganouj) and garbanzo bean dip (hummus) with whole-wheat pita.
I'd do a buckwheat pilaf with onions and portobello mushrooms.
Lentil soup--possibly curried, maybe not, depending on my mood.
I'd have mashed sweet potatoes, or perhaps a mixture of sweet potatoes and acorn squash.
If you were not a vegan, I'd make my special kugel--which my grandmother called a "nudel kuchen"--that's made from noodles, eggs, cream, white raisins, cinnamon, brown sugar, and apple sauce all baked together.
Sauted green beans with toasted slivered almonds.
Lightly-steamed kale, briefly sauted together with garlic and onions.
A Middle-Eastern mixed vegetable dish called imam bayildi (it's called that because it was "so good that it made the priest faint").
And a clafouti made with cherries for dessert (again, only for non-vegans).

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I have a friend who avoids a number of things, including dairy. gluten, high sodium, most fats, or high carb. She mentioned something once about liking gefilte fish, so I'm assuming that she's not a vegetarian, but I haven't seen her eat anything that comes from a land animal, so maybe she only eats animal protein from fish? Anyway... I fixed lunch for her in the classroom the other day from my own food stash, and I have to say that it wasn't easy finding something that she could eat. She finally settled on some canned lentil soup (this after grumbling about the sodium in it!)--which I didn't realize, until after she'd said "no dairy" and had already eaten it, that it had a little Parmesan cheese in it. See? that's the problem with eating manufactured foods: It's difficult to eliminate ingredients that one cannot eat unless one cooks things entirely from scratch (which I do at home, but not at school, due to space constraints). Cooking for vegetarians need not be a "problem" or a "big productions," but one probably should cook things from scratch.

Answer 3

Well, the vast majority of the food served at Thanksgiving in my family (and there is a VAST range of food) would be fit for a vegetarian. The only thing that wouldn't be would be the turkey and the stuffing made with giblets. If you are strict, you might not want to eat the shrimp and merliton casserole, but you could eat everything else, especially including the pecan pie. YUMMMMMM.

Answer 4

I come from humble poor beginnings. Thanksgiving was always a time when there was plenty of food for the family and guests. I didn't eat chitterlings, turkey or okra, but I loved the chicken, macaroni and cheese, cabbage, and corn bread. You mean to tell me that you only have meat at thanksgiving or what? The vegetarian can eat other-than-meat-items. Cranberry something, Russian broccoli-macaroni-okra cheesy crap, string bean casserole, etc. What kind of question is this? Based on this question, your picture sure doesn't match your 6th grade education level. Push come to shove make your own dish and bring it to the festivities for others to enjoy with you.

Answer 5

Well I am a vegetarian too and its really quite interesting having a Thanksgiving with vegetarian foods. I have had a vegan thanksgiving once it was cool. There is a lot of stuff like Tofurky with is really good by the way and all of the goodies like green beans,mashed potatoes,pie,etc. Pay a visit to the health food store! They have loads of stuff and go to Wal'Mart and go to the frozen foods ailse and they have awesome vegetarian food brands like Morning Star and Boca.

Answer 6

stuffing doesn't have meat. Mashed potatoes, rolls, corn. A vegie can eat everything but the turkey. I'm not a vegetarian and I don't like the turkey. Does that make me a Thanksgiving vegetarian?

Answer 7

My father and brother have been vegetarians for a combined total of about 47 years. Both are healthy, sturdy, and lean.

I'd have to say that Thanksgiving is really a feast, at my house. I generally begin the day before, and typically stay up all night cooking. There is enough food for an army, and everyone is sent home with food. I believe in having ample choices to choose from, so there is something for everyone.

I would do all of the side dishes that I'd typically prepare (potato salad; candied sweet potato pudding; three bean salad; corn pudding; greens; green bean casserole; pickled beats; navy beans; tossed salad; bread basket with croissants, biscuits, and muffins; and multiple desserts, ie: chocolate cake, sweet potato pie, rum or lemon bundt cake, and probably brownies; maybe even a carrot cake), just being more cognizant of avoiding cooking with animal products like butter or eggs. There are substitutes for milk, eggs, and butter. Those are perfectly good in cooking and baking.

I can do all of the above without animal products. However, when normally preparing greens at home, I personally prefer a piece of meat like smoked turkey for flavor out of habit. If cooking them for my father and brother or other vegetarians like yourself, I'd use my brother's method of stirfrying them in a wok with olive oil, fresh garlic, and onion. They were the best I've ever had, by far!

The only substitution I'd make any differently is that instead of a turkey, I'd probably serve a vegetarian chili instead. Making it the same way I'd make it anyway, substituting soy protein for meat, it's really delicious. The beans in the chili along with the shredded cheese garnished on top combines for a complete protein. That would satisfy nutritional requirements, and be really tasty, as well.

There is another side dish that I'd add. We often have it here for breakfast as a meat substitute. Basically, You just saute sliced mushrooms (your choice: fresh or canned) with garlic in olive oil. It's quick, delicious, and filling. It substitutes tastewise for sausage, bacon, or another breakfast meat. My husband, who is a meat-eater, loves it, as does my five-year old nephew.

Answer 8

Potato stuffed peppers
Butternut Squash With Whole Wheat, Wild Rice, & Onion Stuffing
"Three Sisters" Stew
Pueblo Corn Pie
Walnut-Apple Stuffing
Old-Fashioned Potato-Bread Stuffing
Sourdough Stuffing with Pine Nuts and Raisins

Answer 9

Everything you can think of, I'll find a way to make the SAME exact stuff Vegan so both you and I can enjoy it Hehehehe

(yes I love Tofurkey Turkey too Yum, but Earth Fair makes a better one from scratch with Wheat Proten instead of Tofu I think I like the wheat thang more for it's delicious texture YUM YUM, & my BF can make the greatest Vegan Gravy oh my gosh I didn't know it could be done till he made it tast SO good LOL)

Answer 10

Hey, that would be easy. I would get to a farmer's market. Fresh is the word here. I love fresh vegetables - egg plants, broccoli, carrots, brown rice, parsley, cabbage, lettuce, flour, etc. The list goes on. I must admit some oregano chicken wouldn't hurt. I definitely would come up with tasty dipping sauces and slivered nuts to fix a delightful Thanksgiving meal. I am sure that you would love it. Remember this, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" - Romans 8:31. Peace and God Bless.