Guides · Technique & kitchen
Holiday cooking guide
Substitutes for the main dishes of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and Hanukkah, with notes for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-carb guests and a few seasonal cooking tips.
Quick reference
4 holidays| Holiday | Dishes covered |
|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes |
| Christmas | Ham, eggnog, fruitcake, gingerbread |
| Easter | Lamb, hot cross buns, deviled eggs, asparagus |
| Hanukkah | Latkes, brisket, sufganiyot, matzo ball soup |
Thanksgiving
4 dishesTraditional American dishes and their alternatives
| Dish | Traditional | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurkeyWhole roasted turkey | Whole roasted turkey | Tofurky, seitan roast, stuffed squash, mushroom WellingtonA stuffed squash or a Wellington needs the same gravy and sides to read as the main dish | A stuffed squash or a Wellington needs the same gravy and sides to read as the main dish |
| GravyTurkey pan drippings gravy | Turkey pan drippings gravy | Mushroom gravy, vegetable broth gravy, coconut milk gravy, nutritional yeast gravyUse umami-rich ingredients like mushrooms and nutritional yeast for depth | Use umami-rich ingredients like mushrooms and nutritional yeast for depth |
| StuffingBread stuffing with sausage | Bread stuffing with sausage | Wild rice stuffing, quinoa stuffing, cornbread stuffing, gluten-free stuffingUse day-old bread or gluten-free alternatives, add nuts and dried fruits | Use day-old bread or gluten-free alternatives, add nuts and dried fruits |
| Mashed potatoesButter and cream mashed potatoes | Butter and cream mashed potatoes | Coconut milk mashed potatoes, cauliflower mash, sweet potato mash, vegan butterCoconut milk adds richness, cauliflower reduces carbs while maintaining texture | Coconut milk adds richness, cauliflower reduces carbs while maintaining texture |
Christmas
4 dishesTraditional European and American dishes
| Dish | Traditional | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HamGlazed ham | Glazed ham | Tofu ham, seitan ham, mushroom ham, jackfruit hamUse liquid smoke and maple syrup for authentic ham flavor | Use liquid smoke and maple syrup for authentic ham flavor |
| EggnogCreamy eggnog with eggs and cream | Creamy eggnog with eggs and cream | Coconut milk eggnog, almond milk eggnog, oat milk eggnog, cashew eggnogUse aquafaba or silken tofu for the creamy texture without eggs | Use aquafaba or silken tofu for the creamy texture without eggs |
| FruitcakeTraditional fruitcake with candied fruits | Traditional fruitcake with candied fruits | Gluten-free fruitcake, vegan fruitcake, paleo fruitcake, sugar-free fruitcakeSoak dried fruits in rum or brandy for authentic flavor | Soak dried fruits in rum or brandy for authentic flavor |
| GingerbreadMolasses and ginger cookies | Molasses and ginger cookies | Gluten-free gingerbread, vegan gingerbread, paleo gingerbread, sugar-free gingerbreadUse coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of molasses if needed | Use coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of molasses if needed |
Easter
4 dishesSpring dishes built on fresh, seasonal ingredients
| Dish | Traditional | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LambRoasted leg of lamb | Roasted leg of lamb | Mushroom Wellington, seitan roast, tofu roast, cauliflower steakUse herbs like rosemary and thyme for traditional lamb flavor | Use herbs like rosemary and thyme for traditional lamb flavor |
| Hot cross bunsSweet spiced buns with cross | Sweet spiced buns with cross | Gluten-free hot cross buns, vegan hot cross buns, paleo hot cross buns, sugar-free bunsUse flax eggs and plant milk for vegan versions | Use flax eggs and plant milk for vegan versions |
| Deviled eggsHard-boiled eggs with mayo filling | Hard-boiled eggs with mayo filling | Deviled potatoes, deviled mushrooms, deviled avocado, deviled tofuUse small potatoes or mushroom caps as the base | Use small potatoes or mushroom caps as the base |
| AsparagusSteamed or roasted asparagus | Steamed or roasted asparagus | Green beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchiniSpring vegetables work well as seasonal alternatives | Spring vegetables work well as seasonal alternatives |
Hanukkah
4 dishesTraditional Jewish holiday cooking with oil-fried foods
| Dish | Traditional | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LatkesPotato pancakes fried in oil | Potato pancakes fried in oil | Zucchini latkes, sweet potato latkes, cauliflower latkes, gluten-free latkesUse a food processor to grate vegetables, squeeze out excess moisture | Use a food processor to grate vegetables, squeeze out excess moisture |
| BrisketSlow-cooked beef brisket | Slow-cooked beef brisket | Mushroom brisket, seitan brisket, jackfruit brisket, tofu brisketUse portobello mushrooms or seitan for meaty texture | Use portobello mushrooms or seitan for meaty texture |
| SufganiyotJelly-filled donuts | Jelly-filled donuts | Gluten-free donuts, vegan donuts, baked donuts, sugar-free donutsUse aquafaba for egg-free versions, bake instead of fry for a lighter option | Use aquafaba for egg-free versions, bake instead of fry for a lighter option |
| Matzo ball soupChicken soup with matzo balls | Chicken soup with matzo balls | Vegetable broth soup, mushroom broth soup, gluten-free matzo balls, vegan matzo ballsUse vegetable broth and flax eggs for vegan matzo balls | Use vegetable broth and flax eggs for vegan matzo balls |
Dietary needs
4 dietsVegetarian3 tips
Plant-based alternatives for traditional meat dishes
- Use mushrooms, tofu or seitan where the meat was the centerpiece.
- Mushrooms, soy sauce, miso and nutritional yeast bring the depth a meat stock would.
- Beans, lentils and nuts carry the protein a roast would have.
Vegan3 tips
Entirely plant-based holiday cooking
- Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) whips like egg white: 3 tablespoons per egg.
- Coconut milk and soaked cashews give the creamy textures dairy would.
- Nutritional yeast adds the cheesy note to gravies and mash.
Gluten-free4 tips
Safe alternatives for gluten-sensitive guests
- Bake with a gluten-free flour blend that already contains xanthan gum, or add it.
- Check gravy thickeners, soy sauce and stuffing bread for hidden gluten.
- Rice, quinoa and cornbread are naturally gluten-free bases for stuffing and sides.
- Keep separate serving utensils so the gluten-free dish stays that way.
Keto and low-carb3 tips
Low-carbohydrate holiday options
- Cauliflower stands in for both the rice and the mashed potatoes.
- Sweeten desserts with erythritol or monk fruit rather than sugar.
- Lean on avocado, nuts, butter and cream where the recipe leaned on starch.
Seasonal tips
2 seasonsFall and winter3 tips
- Warming spices — cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice — carry the season.
- Squash, apples and cranberries are in season and cheap: build sides around them.
- Braises and roasts hold in a low oven, which frees the stovetop for everything else.
Spring and summer3 tips
- Fresh herbs — dill, parsley, mint, tarragon — do the work spices do in winter.
- Asparagus, peas, new potatoes and strawberries are at their best; keep the cooking short.
- A grill pan or a hot cast iron skillet gives the char when there is no grill.
Also on file
One ingredient at a time
Every ingredient has its own card: the swap, the amount, and every option stamped.