Tired of Christmas Ham? Here’s Why an Italian Plant-Based Festive Feast Is the Answer

Christmas dinner in the US varies from household to household, but generally, it tends to consist of a large meaty centerpiece, like turkey or glazed ham, alongside side dishes like mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and stuffing. But while festive spreads like this are still popular, increasingly, many Americans are looking to break tradition over the holiday period. 

Back in 2021, for example, one Whole Foods survey found that more than half of Americans believe that offering vegan options during the holiday season is important. Across the pond, in the UK, where turkey is a Christmas staple, plant-based options are also becoming more common. Another survey even found that more than a third of British households weren’t interested in traditional Christmas dinners at all last year. Instead, they were looking at options like, say, feasting on pasta.

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RELATED: These 11 Recipes Prove Italy Was Always a Plant-Based Destination

If you’re craving something a little more unique (yet still universally loved and comforting) this Christmas, you can’t go wrong with Italian food. It’s hearty, it’s delicious, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. Plus, it’s easy to make plant-based. Check out some of our go-to recipes below to create your own vegan, Italian-inspired Christmas spread. 

What do Italians eat during Christmas?

Like in the US and the UK, Christmas traditions in Italy are steeped in tradition. Foods and recipes vary from region to region and from family to family, but there are plenty of elements that unite dinner tables all over Italy and Italian families all over the world in December. 

For example, the Feast of Seven Fishes takes place on Christmas Eve every year for many Italian (and Italian-American) families. As the name suggests, this meal involves indulging in seafood and abstaining from other kinds of meat.

On Christmas Day, which is known as Il Pranzo di Natale, there are often multiple meaty courses, including cheesy lasagna and tortellini with meat, as well as stuffed chicken and turkey. For dessert, popular options include panettone, struffoli, and tiramisu. 

As is evident from the above, vegan and vegetarian choices are not hugely abundant at Christmas time in Italy. But the good news is that Italian Christmas food is very easy to make with plant-based ingredients. 

7 recipes perfect for a vegan Italian Christmas spread

Create an Italian-inspired Christmas spread with these delicious, plant-based ingredients. 

1 Linguine With Vegan White Clam Sauce

Get in the Italian Christmas Eve spirit by indulging in this vegan clam pasta from the Vegan Pasta Night cookbook. Instead of real clams, it’s made with jackfruit, which is bathed in a luxurious briny, lemony white wine sauce and served with linguine.
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Side Chef

2 Vegan Calamari

Another seafood-inspired dish that’s perfect for the Feast of the Seven Fishes is this plant-based take on calamari. The fried side dish is usually made with squid rings, but in this delicious recipe from Side Chef, oyster mushrooms are the star of the show.
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Zucker & Jagdwurst

3 Vegan Bolognese Stuffed Ravioli

Alongside pasta, meat is often a key ingredient in Christmas Day Italian foods. But in this recipe for bolognese stuffed ravioli, Zucker & Jagdwurst proves that you can get all the same meaty texture and flavor from plant-based ingredients, too. Finish with vegan parmesan for extra cheesy flavor.
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Planted 365

4 Vegan Pork Tenderloin

In Italy, on Christmas Day, porchetta is a popular centerpiece. Traditionally, it’s made by stuffing pork belly or pork loin with herbs, garlic, and spices, before roasting it to get a crispy texture on the skin. In this recipe, you’ll learn how to create a vegan pork tenderloin that’s very similar to the traditional Italian dish using ingredients like mushrooms, beets, and tempeh.
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Hannah Kaminsky

5 Vegan Double-Cheese Lasagna With Herbed Macadamia Ricotta

Lasagna is perfect for large gatherings, so it’s no surprise that it’s often seen on Christmas tables all over Italy. This delicious vegan version of the popular dish is loaded with marinara, herbed macadamia ricotta, and cashew cheese sauce. Serve with plenty of fresh parsley and crusty garlic bread.
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Kirsten Kaminski

6 Silky Vegan Coconut Cream Tiramisu

Italian dessert tiramisu is a favorite festive treat all over the world, not just in Italy where it was born. While it’s usually made with cream cheese and egg, it’s easy to make with plant-based ingredients like cashews, coconut cream, and almond milk, just like this tasty recipe from the Vegan Holiday Cooking cookbook demonstrates.
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Nourishing Amy

7 Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Panettone

Panettone is an iconic Italian holiday dessert. It’s sweet, fluffy, fruity, and delicious with extra ingredients like nuts and chocolate. Follow Nourishing Amy’s lead and make a vegan version of the crowd-pleasing sweet treat with a dairy-free chocolate spread (to create a pretty marble pattern) and hazelnuts.
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