The holiday season is approaching — and approaching fast. It's that time of year when you and your loved ones can spend spend some quality time together. One of the best parts of the holiday season (in my opinion) is getting together and enjoying some delicious seasonal food.

Vegan lentil stuffing and vegan green bean casserole are two of the most classic festive foods often served at many holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. I know what you're thinking — why vegan holiday food? Well, why not? It's 2020, so now is the time to try something you've wanted to or try something that's never crossed your mind before. Also, families are often filled with a variety of people, so it's crucial to keep in mind that you might want to have plant-based food options so everyone is included.  

I am not vegan, and before this article I didn't know the first thing about how to make vegan food. I did have a short-lived stunt where I tried a vegan diet a few years back, but that only lasted two weeks. I have always admired how vegans can stick to a plant-based lifestyle in a world filled with so many temptations such as popular fast-food chains and meat and dairy included in almost every dish at your local restaurant. 

I challenge you to join me in stepping outside your comfort zone and trying something new this holiday season!

Lentil Stuffing

Marissa Rivers

The first recipe we are going to start with is lentil stuffing. Before you start gathering your ingredients, will you need to preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a pan with nonstick spray. 

Ingredients:

1 large loaf of whole grain bread

3/4 cup uncooked lentils 

3 tbsp olive oil 

1/2 cup onions 

3/4 cup celery 

Salt & pepper 

3 cups vegetable broth 

1 batch flax egg 

3/4 tsp dried sage 

Step 1:

Marissa Rivers

First, you will need to cut your bread into cubes. Preferably, you want to do this the night before so there is time for your bread to dry out. 

Step 2:

Marissa Rivers

Add 1 ½ cups of vegetable broth to a saucepan. Then, rinse ¾ cup lentils in cold water and add that to the saucepan with the vegetable broth. Cook this over medium-high heat until there is a low boil. Lower to a simmer and have this cook for 20-30 minutes. 

Step 3:

Marissa Rivers

Sauté the diced ½ cups of onions and ¾ cups celery in olive oil and add salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes until it looks golden. Mix 1 tbsp flax egg with water in a cup and set aside. 

Step 4:

Marissa Rivers

Now, add the remaining 1 ½ of vegetable broth, onions, celery, sage, flax egg, and lentils into the bread bowl and mix all of the ingredients together. Transfer the mixture to the pan you prepared earlier and covered it with foil. Bake for 45 minutes. After that, it is ready to enjoy! 

Step 5:

Marissa Rivers

I was personally delighted by this recipe and found the lentils to be quite filling. This is an excellent substitute for traditional stuffing that's just as tasty! 

Another staple dish you always see at the dinner table around this time of year is green bean casserole — a favorite by many, including myself. Here's how to cook this dish vegan style and impress your family and friends with how delicious it will be. 

Green Bean Casserole

Marissa Rivers

Ingredients:

extra virgin olive oil 

onion 

garlic 

green beans 

vegan cream of mushroom soup 

bread crumbs 

Step 1:

Marissa Rivers

First, cook your onions in a skillet with extra virgin olive oil and garlic. The process should take around 5-10 minutes, but continue cooking until the onions look golden. After that, you want to start assembling your casserole in a baking pan while cooking the remaining ingredients! 

Step 2:

Marissa Rivers

Next, you want to either steam or saute your green beans. I always prefer to saute my vegetables with some extra virgin olive oil and garlic because I think it adds more flavor, but do whatever your preference is! This should also take about 5-10 minutes until you believe they are evenly cooked. Now, you want to place the green beans over the onions. 

Step 3:

Marissa Rivers

Lastly, cover the green bean casserole and bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees, and you're all done! Just like that, a super easy and fast recipe that all of your guests will enjoy.

Alexis Carson

I very much enjoyed this recipe, as green bean casserole is always my favorite dish at any family gathering. I liked this vegan recipe better than the non-vegan one I used to make! Oh, and not to mention the sodium in this vegan dish is much lower than a non-vegan green bean casserole, making this a win, win situation for everyone!

With the holidays approaching, lentil stuffing and green bean casserole are the perfect festive foods to have at just about any holiday occasion!