What's vegetarian for "This is a special family celebration?"
February 2, 2018 10:00 AM Subscribe
Where I grew up, you knew it was a special occasion — Easter, Thanksgiving, a big round-number birthday for someone — because there was a whole ham or a turkey and stuffing on the table. There's a whole bundle of meaning attached to those foods for me: they're comforting, familiar, un-fussy and un-exotic, but they also clearly say "Today is important to us." Are there foods that carry those same meanings in your family that happen to be vegetarian?
I don't necessarily want a "turkey substitute" or "ham substitute." Like, I know about tofurkey, I don't even dislike tofurkey, but I don't think anyone ever says to themself "Oh goodness, ze cooked a tofurkey, this must be a real family gathering," you know?
I also don't necessarily need something that's a showy centerpiece. It's fine with me if it's a special holiday side or bread or dessert or whatever.
I just want something I can put on the table this Easter that will make it feel like a Real Homey Holiday, and I could use some inspiration.
I don't necessarily want a "turkey substitute" or "ham substitute." Like, I know about tofurkey, I don't even dislike tofurkey, but I don't think anyone ever says to themself "Oh goodness, ze cooked a tofurkey, this must be a real family gathering," you know?
I also don't necessarily need something that's a showy centerpiece. It's fine with me if it's a special holiday side or bread or dessert or whatever.
I just want something I can put on the table this Easter that will make it feel like a Real Homey Holiday, and I could use some inspiration.
Response by poster: (Er, sorry, one more thing: We all eat vegetarian regularly now, so this isn't a "what will fool the carnivores?" thing — meals that "feel like" vegetarian meals are fine.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:04 AM on February 2, 2018
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:04 AM on February 2, 2018
Nut roast for Christmas.
posted by ellieBOA at 10:04 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 10:04 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
In our family, we either do homemade lasagna or tostadas. The tostadas are obviously not a fancy food, but we started having them around Thanksgiving because we were getting sick of turkey / the hosting family member did not feel like cooking turkey. Now I look forward to Thanksgiving tostadas. The nice thing is they are easy to customize for meat eaters / gluten free / vegan / other diets.
posted by too bad you're not me at 10:05 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by too bad you're not me at 10:05 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's a big day of some sort whenever I make deluxe home-made dressing/stuffing. Lots of people put meat products in theirs, but it's very good and rich as a vegetarian dish as well.
The secret is to start months ahead of time, saving heels of many different kind of bread in the freezer. Then you start the day before with frozen bread, tearing it up and letting it thaw and dry out over night. Day of, sautee your favorite veg in a hearty oil, toss with bread and stock then bake until the top is crusty.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:06 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
The secret is to start months ahead of time, saving heels of many different kind of bread in the freezer. Then you start the day before with frozen bread, tearing it up and letting it thaw and dry out over night. Day of, sautee your favorite veg in a hearty oil, toss with bread and stock then bake until the top is crusty.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:06 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I think there was a specific origin to how this started that I can't totally remember, but for some reason my husband makes latkes every Christmas morning (I'm Jewish, he's not, but he's the one who knows how to cook in my household). We also always watch the Pee Wee Christmas Special.
For my family's Thanksgiving growing up, I didn't really care about the turkey. I did love my grandmother's creamed spinach though, and that is 100% Thanksgiving for me.
posted by radioamy at 10:09 AM on February 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
For my family's Thanksgiving growing up, I didn't really care about the turkey. I did love my grandmother's creamed spinach though, and that is 100% Thanksgiving for me.
posted by radioamy at 10:09 AM on February 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
I feel like seasonal higher-end products - avocado? artichoke? little gem lettuces? strawberries, expensive cheeses - are meatless ways to signal special without investing a bunch of manual labor.
And then there are those things, which can be meatless, that take some extra time to prepare and those feel special too, so like homemade pasta, tamales, dumplings, empanadas, fava beans, pie.
On my dinner table, a citrus and fennel salad (sometimes with watercress, sometimes with olives) is my go-to special-occasion side because it takes some time to supreme the citrus, and it's a nice departure from green salads.
posted by vunder at 10:13 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
And then there are those things, which can be meatless, that take some extra time to prepare and those feel special too, so like homemade pasta, tamales, dumplings, empanadas, fava beans, pie.
On my dinner table, a citrus and fennel salad (sometimes with watercress, sometimes with olives) is my go-to special-occasion side because it takes some time to supreme the citrus, and it's a nice departure from green salads.
posted by vunder at 10:13 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm not a vegetarian and I didn't grow up one BUT I loves me a portobella wellington something fierce.
posted by foxfirefey at 10:14 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by foxfirefey at 10:14 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Mashed potatoes. Whenever my mom tries to pull a "this year are having a Tuscan theme for Christmas dinner!" I'm like you had better find a way to Tuscan up some mashed potatoes.
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:14 AM on February 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 10:14 AM on February 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
We enjoy a vegetarian haggis with roast dinner accompaniments on special occasions. If you can get hold of one, they're extremely delicious.
posted by terretu at 10:15 AM on February 2, 2018
posted by terretu at 10:15 AM on February 2, 2018
I am vegetarian and grew up with an at least half vegetarian family. For us it always was and still is cornbread dressing, made from my Uncle's secret recipe. Or, for birthdays, a particular 3 bean soup with two colors of bell pepper that always struck me as very festive and so I requested every year. We have always been a carb loving family, though.
posted by theweasel at 10:16 AM on February 2, 2018
posted by theweasel at 10:16 AM on February 2, 2018
Best answer: I think the trick to food feeling like a real homey holiday type of food is to just start having that food on holidays, like the tostada example above. Food will gain that specialness through association.
My veggie household follows my Slavic family holiday food tradition: it's not so much about one specific food, but having a large variety of foods out on the table such that there is a lot of passing of plates and exclamations of "a feast! a feast!" Usual dishes are roasted brussel sprouts, sauteed green beans, roasted butternut squash with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and some Russian salads, with a pickle and cheese plate set out earlier in the day to snack on while drinking and cooking.
posted by Pwoink at 10:17 AM on February 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
My veggie household follows my Slavic family holiday food tradition: it's not so much about one specific food, but having a large variety of foods out on the table such that there is a lot of passing of plates and exclamations of "a feast! a feast!" Usual dishes are roasted brussel sprouts, sauteed green beans, roasted butternut squash with mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and some Russian salads, with a pickle and cheese plate set out earlier in the day to snack on while drinking and cooking.
posted by Pwoink at 10:17 AM on February 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
Best answer: My grandmother, and now my mother, makes homemade noodles. They're time and labor intensive and only made for holidays. (Leftovers in high demand and are alternated between children - I get Thanksgiving, my brother Christmas, our "sister by choice" gets Easter.)
FWIW, I'm my mid forties and only last Christmas was finally entrusted with the family recipe.
posted by librarianamy at 10:18 AM on February 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
FWIW, I'm my mid forties and only last Christmas was finally entrusted with the family recipe.
posted by librarianamy at 10:18 AM on February 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
One of the Moosewood cookbooks addresses this very situation. Their "Moosewood Celebrates" book is all about holiday/festive occasion menus, and their menu for Thanksgiving addresses the "usually there's a big turkey as a centerpiece dish, but that doesn't work - so we've come up with this alternative." Basically, it's a big melange of polenta with vegetables and cheese that's been pressed into a mold and baked. I actually made it as one of the dishes to accompany a turkey breast at a small Friendsgiving once, and it was quite tasty.
It's autumnal, so the main vegetable is butternut squash - but the idea can be adapted to other seasonal vegetables, I'd wager.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:21 AM on February 2, 2018
It's autumnal, so the main vegetable is butternut squash - but the idea can be adapted to other seasonal vegetables, I'd wager.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:21 AM on February 2, 2018
Tamales or sushi - part of the deal with both is that making a quantity is boring unless you have a group available to make them.
posted by Frowner at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also, this is super simple, but at Christmas I roasted purple cauliflower and it was so pretty.
posted by vunder at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by vunder at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Great question and I'm enjoying all of the answers! Mashed or Scalloped potatoes are huge hits in our house for vegan entrees for important feasting days. We make them really creamy with lots of vegan butter and nut / soy milk.
posted by machinecraig at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2018
posted by machinecraig at 10:22 AM on February 2, 2018
Best answer: Homemade pierogi are a big one in my family. Also seconding lasagna and just making whatever sounds delicious and starting a new tradition with it.
You could also just do stuffing and all your family's traditional thanksgiving sides in place of the ham or turkey dinner.
If you want something super labor intensive and impressive, there's always the serious eats vegetarian wellington.
posted by snaw at 10:23 AM on February 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
You could also just do stuffing and all your family's traditional thanksgiving sides in place of the ham or turkey dinner.
If you want something super labor intensive and impressive, there's always the serious eats vegetarian wellington.
posted by snaw at 10:23 AM on February 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Not specifically from a vegetarian tradition, but latkes or blintzes are celebratory Jewish foods that are vegetarian.
posted by Anne Neville at 10:24 AM on February 2, 2018
posted by Anne Neville at 10:24 AM on February 2, 2018
Best answer: This isn't my family but I know biryani is a wedding dish which is easy to make vegetarian and if I saw it at someone's house it would send a "special occasion" message to me.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Grape leaves and other rice stuffed vegetables (dolma) and zucchini fritters (Turkish mucver, similar to a latke)
posted by cacao at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by cacao at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I tend to go Mediterranean or Middle Eastern for these types of dishes. Spinach spanakopita with a beautiful diamond-shaped pre-cut before baking is a favorite dish. The filo dough elevates it to fancy dinner status.
Rice pilafs with many layers are also impressive and very popular, though cooking them properly so that the layers stay intact is something I haven't mastered yet. I just go for the equally delicious mixed-up version.
Imam Bayildi (a Turkish eggplant dish) is also a go-to for me. The rich flavors and decadent amount of olive oil makes it a main dish at our table.
For a family dinner that's a little less fancy and more homey, I make lasagna with roasted eggplant and spinach and it's a favorite among all eaters. I eat meat, but prefer this meatless version.
posted by quince at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Rice pilafs with many layers are also impressive and very popular, though cooking them properly so that the layers stay intact is something I haven't mastered yet. I just go for the equally delicious mixed-up version.
Imam Bayildi (a Turkish eggplant dish) is also a go-to for me. The rich flavors and decadent amount of olive oil makes it a main dish at our table.
For a family dinner that's a little less fancy and more homey, I make lasagna with roasted eggplant and spinach and it's a favorite among all eaters. I eat meat, but prefer this meatless version.
posted by quince at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Buddhist vegetarian dishes from East Asia might be another good source of inspiration.
posted by Anne Neville at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2018
posted by Anne Neville at 10:26 AM on February 2, 2018
Spanakopita always feels festive and noteworthy. There's something about knowing the cook was willing to wrangle phyllo dough on my behalf that makes me feel valued and cared-for.
posted by Lexica at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Lexica at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: When I was growing up, it literally could not be a holiday in my family if there wasn't stuffed celery on the festive tablecloth on the dining room table, in all its glory on its special cut-glass tray. I'm not by any means advocating that you eat stuffed celery. I find it kinda gross. But that didn't really matter, because it wasn't about eating the celery, it was about making it and putting it on its tray and seeing it there on the table. Having a ~special holidays-only plate~ that only ever gets one ~special holidays-only foodstuff~ placed on it creates a strong association. Making it a dessert or an appetiser frees you up to have any kind of main dish you like.
Alternatively, set aside a special bread basket to use as your table's centerpiece, and make/procure a special bread (Parker House Rolls are great for this).
posted by halation at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Alternatively, set aside a special bread basket to use as your table's centerpiece, and make/procure a special bread (Parker House Rolls are great for this).
posted by halation at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: A really rich, tasty baked macaroni and cheese.
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Medieval Maven at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Homemade apple pie with from-scratch flaky crust. The crust takes a bit of doing, but it is so worth it.
posted by amtho at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
When our family had turkey dinner for Christmas my veggie brother used to get Cheese, Sage and Onion Sausages with all the trimmings, and says he now associates them with festivities. I don't have the original recipe (it might have been Cranks) but it was something roughly like this https://divaliciousrecipes.com/cheese-vegetarian-sausages/
Nigella's "Feast" book also has some vegetarian feast-y things in.
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018
Nigella's "Feast" book also has some vegetarian feast-y things in.
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:30 AM on February 2, 2018
A serious homemade lasagne is about as festive, comforting and indulgent as it comes. Vegetarian versions I particularly like include
a. tomato sauce; filling is layers of spinach in bechamel AND a ricotta/parmesan/smoked gouda mix;
b. mushroom duxelles in bechamel; layer with gruyere cream sauce.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:31 AM on February 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
a. tomato sauce; filling is layers of spinach in bechamel AND a ricotta/parmesan/smoked gouda mix;
b. mushroom duxelles in bechamel; layer with gruyere cream sauce.
posted by fingersandtoes at 10:31 AM on February 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is a good list.
The vegetable tarts would look really pretty on a table, you could even do a variety, and the ones that are fancied up with goat cheese and stuff add a special occasion touch. Also, anything is a brilliant color is festive.
posted by vunder at 10:31 AM on February 2, 2018
The vegetable tarts would look really pretty on a table, you could even do a variety, and the ones that are fancied up with goat cheese and stuff add a special occasion touch. Also, anything is a brilliant color is festive.
posted by vunder at 10:31 AM on February 2, 2018
My Italian grandmother used to host Thanksgiving. Our first course was a giant cheese lasagna with a big bowl of spaghetti and gravy/sauce. By the time we got to the turkey, we honestly just picked on sides. To this day, lasagna means love.
posted by kimberussell at 10:43 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by kimberussell at 10:43 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
As an Italian-American child — lasagna. (Or a veggie timpano.)
I actually hate it that we make American food for Thanksgiving (turkey and stuffing are gross to me) in our family and love Christmas cause then it's lasagna time!
posted by dame at 10:52 AM on February 2, 2018
I actually hate it that we make American food for Thanksgiving (turkey and stuffing are gross to me) in our family and love Christmas cause then it's lasagna time!
posted by dame at 10:52 AM on February 2, 2018
Best answer: Tamales is traditional for Christmas and veggie green chili cheese ones are so good and definitely special (at least in our house). Homemade cinnamon rolls are also a special occasion dish that comes out for Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day etc. Latkes are also definitely a special occasion treat that have a lot of fond memories associated with them. Oh, and mashed potatoes with cashew gravy. I make a great vegan cashew gravy, but it's a once or twice a year thing, so always accompanying a special occasion.
posted by LKWorking at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by LKWorking at 10:53 AM on February 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
"Special holiday meals" growing up were the only time we did proper hors d'oeuvres, including cocktails (or good beer/wine) for adults and the special sodas for the kids. I have accidentally picked up more special occasion associations with IBC Black Cherry than with turkey, at this point.
posted by Sequence at 10:55 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Sequence at 10:55 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
When my kids were little, we had a tradition of fancy soda pop for holidays. The fact that we didn't otherwise get it made it seem like a holiday thing. If you made turkey every week, it wouldn't seem like a holiday food - so I think it's a combination of something being always there for the holiday and generally not there at other times.
It also doesn't have to be the food. You can have special plates or napkins that only come out at holidays. Or flowers on the table in a special vase.
posted by FencingGal at 10:58 AM on February 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
It also doesn't have to be the food. You can have special plates or napkins that only come out at holidays. Or flowers on the table in a special vase.
posted by FencingGal at 10:58 AM on February 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Best answer: Cheese fondue, preferably laced with a little white wine or some other kind of booze. It's delicious, it's celebratory, it's high-calories, and it's communal. Dip into it with really awesome bread (or vegetables, if you prefer) and serve it with salad, a relish tray, and fruit, and you have yourself a meal.
If you want to go really overboard, you can serve a chocolate or caramel fondue for dessert.
(Since I don't eat either cheese or bread in quantity, if I were going to do this, I'd probably put together a Mediterranean buffet, which would include dolmas, bourek (an Armenian version of Spanakopita), lentil soup, broad beans, roasted vegetables, especially artichokes; oven-roasted potatoes; and probably have the piece de resistance be some sort of tomato-based stew.)
Oh, also, if your crowd eats eggs, a savory egg bake with bread and cheese, mushrooms, and other veggies is delicious. So are spinach souffles. Or a giant frittata.
posted by dancing_angel at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
If you want to go really overboard, you can serve a chocolate or caramel fondue for dessert.
(Since I don't eat either cheese or bread in quantity, if I were going to do this, I'd probably put together a Mediterranean buffet, which would include dolmas, bourek (an Armenian version of Spanakopita), lentil soup, broad beans, roasted vegetables, especially artichokes; oven-roasted potatoes; and probably have the piece de resistance be some sort of tomato-based stew.)
Oh, also, if your crowd eats eggs, a savory egg bake with bread and cheese, mushrooms, and other veggies is delicious. So are spinach souffles. Or a giant frittata.
posted by dancing_angel at 11:06 AM on February 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
When my brother went vegetarian, we realized that the turkey was just a delivery vehicle for mom's apple-raisin bread cube stuffing, so the "special holiday dish" because red bell peppers filled with bread stuffing. There were plenty of other things on the table, but this was the Festive Food Item because it was the anchor to old family traditions. And if you have kids, they will establish whatever vegetarian dish you choose as the holiday anchor in their heads, and it will mean what your family decides it means, and then they'll grow up and be heartbroken that their spouse's family doesn't do a pickle plate (or whatever).
posted by aimedwander at 11:07 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by aimedwander at 11:07 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
For us it's hot mulled apple cider (pure apple juice with a cinnamon stick and several cloves) simmering on the stove or a punch made from cranberry juice and Ginger Ale (or club soda).
If you want to be fancy you can make festive ice cubes by freezing a half a strawberry or a cherry in the middle of the ice cubes.
Ritz or other crackers and cheese arranged nicely on a plate, maybe with a homemade dip. We don't normally have this, so even though it's super simple, it still seems festive.
posted by purplesludge at 11:08 AM on February 2, 2018
If you want to be fancy you can make festive ice cubes by freezing a half a strawberry or a cherry in the middle of the ice cubes.
Ritz or other crackers and cheese arranged nicely on a plate, maybe with a homemade dip. We don't normally have this, so even though it's super simple, it still seems festive.
posted by purplesludge at 11:08 AM on February 2, 2018
Best answer: A big part of what makes the turkey or ham feel like "real family gathering" food is that there's too much for a single meal - it either will have leftovers, or will easily feed 2-3x as many people as normally eat together. There are few veggie things that are large enough for that (maybe none? I mean, even big squashes aren't "feed 12 people" items), and multi-person veggie meals can wind up feeling more like "potluck dinner" than "special for all of us" meals.
One solution is elaborate prep with spices - foods that just take too many steps to bother with making 4 portions on a normal day.
Thai Spicy Eggplant with Basil says it makes two portions; I wouldn't bother with something that complex for fewer than 6 people.
Stuffed Portabella or stuffed romano peppers, again, are something I wouldn't want to do often.
Twice-baked potatoes can be as elaborate or simple as you like - but they take extra time to make and could be reserved for special meals.
I like the suggestions for lasagna and tamales - I've had special-occasion-only lasagna (twice a year for the last 18 years) and it's wonderful.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:11 AM on February 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
One solution is elaborate prep with spices - foods that just take too many steps to bother with making 4 portions on a normal day.
Thai Spicy Eggplant with Basil says it makes two portions; I wouldn't bother with something that complex for fewer than 6 people.
Stuffed Portabella or stuffed romano peppers, again, are something I wouldn't want to do often.
Twice-baked potatoes can be as elaborate or simple as you like - but they take extra time to make and could be reserved for special meals.
I like the suggestions for lasagna and tamales - I've had special-occasion-only lasagna (twice a year for the last 18 years) and it's wonderful.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:11 AM on February 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Best answer: This Persian Jeweled Rice looks very festive and elaborate: "This dish is called jeweled rice because it is golden and glistening, laced with butter and spices and piled with nuts and gem-colored fruits. In Iran, it is typically served at weddings or other celebrations. Great platters of it appear at banquets. "
posted by praemunire at 11:13 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by praemunire at 11:13 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Like all the other Italian-Americans here, I came into this thread to suggest lasagna.
posted by madcaptenor at 11:15 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by madcaptenor at 11:15 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Stuffed pumpkin/squash. There's a ton of super delish recipes around, and you end up with a big, landmark dish, that you can slice generous slices of and serve.
posted by glitter at 11:19 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by glitter at 11:19 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
For holidays, I never did a central meal as a vegetarian, but a bunch of sides as that's what I liked to eat anyway, even when I wasn't veg. I'm no longer vegetarian, but never learned to cook meat, so I still make this stuff for the holidays. Here's what I'd make, not necessarily all at once (but why not?):
Green bean casserole, always at Thanksgiving and Christmas
Roasted brussel sprouts
Roasted butternut or kabocha squash
Mashed potatoes
Wild rice with walnuts and cranberries
Corn and black bean salad with red and green bell peppers
Stuffing
Vegetable paella - this can easily be a centerpiece meal
Flan for dessert
Alton Brown's egg nog recipe if it's Christmas
posted by vivzan at 11:23 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Green bean casserole, always at Thanksgiving and Christmas
Roasted brussel sprouts
Roasted butternut or kabocha squash
Mashed potatoes
Wild rice with walnuts and cranberries
Corn and black bean salad with red and green bell peppers
Stuffing
Vegetable paella - this can easily be a centerpiece meal
Flan for dessert
Alton Brown's egg nog recipe if it's Christmas
posted by vivzan at 11:23 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is not a direct answer to your question, as it has nothing to do with family tradition, but your question reminded me of my quest to find vegetarian friendly main dishes that meat-eating people will like. This is difficult.
My greatest success at this has been a savory pie: apple-cheddar-poblano-curry.
1) Cut up about three Granny Smith apples into slices. (Optionally, you can quick-pickle these the day before, by just putting them in white or apple cider vinegar.)
2) Make a pie crust, blind bake it, and set it aside.
3) Buy a nice cheddar cheese and grate up more of it than you think you'll need.
4) Roast two poblano chiles, cut them into slices.
5) Make or buy a somewhat spicy but not too spicy curry powder. Get maybe four tablespoons and add to it one or two tablespoons of brown sugar. (You'll probably use half this mixture.)
6) Assemble the pie: A layer of apples, then sprinkle curry powder. A layer of poblanos, then more curry powder. Cheese, then Curry powder. Apples on top, then curry powder. More cheese, then curry powder. Add crust on top, score it, and pop it in the oven for 20 minutes or so at 425.
People really like this pie, and it has a kind of comfort food vibe to it.
posted by kensington314 at 11:25 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
My greatest success at this has been a savory pie: apple-cheddar-poblano-curry.
1) Cut up about three Granny Smith apples into slices. (Optionally, you can quick-pickle these the day before, by just putting them in white or apple cider vinegar.)
2) Make a pie crust, blind bake it, and set it aside.
3) Buy a nice cheddar cheese and grate up more of it than you think you'll need.
4) Roast two poblano chiles, cut them into slices.
5) Make or buy a somewhat spicy but not too spicy curry powder. Get maybe four tablespoons and add to it one or two tablespoons of brown sugar. (You'll probably use half this mixture.)
6) Assemble the pie: A layer of apples, then sprinkle curry powder. A layer of poblanos, then more curry powder. Cheese, then Curry powder. Apples on top, then curry powder. More cheese, then curry powder. Add crust on top, score it, and pop it in the oven for 20 minutes or so at 425.
People really like this pie, and it has a kind of comfort food vibe to it.
posted by kensington314 at 11:25 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Pierogi. Stuff them with cheese, potatoes, mushrooms, or plums. Also, fettuccini Alfredo with broccoli was always a fancy dinner for my family. I had got some fancy red pepper flavored pasta a whole ago and found a roasted garlic cream sauce recipe to go with it. More labor intensive than a usual weeknight dinner and too rich to eat regularly.
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 11:25 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Green Eyed Monster at 11:25 AM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Coming to second (third) pierogi - my Polish family's Christmas Eve table always had homemade pierogies (particularly cheese and potato) as the centerpiece of the meal. And to this day still holidays always come with a relish tray starring celery with cream cheese (although halation's stuffed celery sounds even better!).
posted by Neely O'Hara at 11:43 AM on February 2, 2018
posted by Neely O'Hara at 11:43 AM on February 2, 2018
An extended family member makes amazing, simply amazing homemade baklava when it's a special occasion. Most recently it was her granddaughter's first birthday (and 3 trays of spiral baklava). It's not the centerpiece, because that would be the birthday cake. But the beautiful trays of baklava sit quietly on the side should you indulge to celebrate the important occasion.
posted by raztaj at 11:49 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by raztaj at 11:49 AM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Dorie Greenspan's Pumpkin Stuffed with Everything Good is genuinely delicious, can be made vegetarian or not with equal success, and checks the "focal point of the meal" box in the same way that a turkey or ham does.
posted by HotToddy at 11:52 AM on February 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 11:52 AM on February 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
A pot pie might work if you can find a recipe you like. Pie crust says you care.
posted by SemiSalt at 12:05 PM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by SemiSalt at 12:05 PM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
For my family, it isn't a specific dish that signals a special occasion, but the variety. So we have a lot more sides than normal weeknight meals and the presentation is taken up a notch regardless of the actual holiday. A cake might be shaped like a bunny or have candy eggs in a coconut nest or something for the kids at Easter; at Christmas different kinds of cookies or a Santa-shaped cake; starting out with an appetizer/dip (mehumarra, hummus, blue cheese, sour cream dill), having a soup, having a couple vegetables/fruits (asparagus, a French potato salad or roasted potatoes, a pretty green salad with red wine poached pears and pomegranate seeds and maybe chevre, sauteed Brussels sprouts with pecans and cranberries, sliced oranges with red onion and parsley, silky sweet potato puree with orange juice, etc.), having a delicious and attractive main course (tostadas can fit this bill, or enchiladas, or a mushroom risotto or ragout over polenta), and an impressive finish are what make it different than "we had lasagna for dinner last night." I think you can go either way here - "we make tamales at Easter" or we have an amazing meal that means Holiday without it being the same every year. Elevating things beyond the usual. Just like with meat, it isn't just turkey or ham that makes it, but the rolls, the mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, pies, etc. are what signify holiday.
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 12:28 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 12:28 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I grew up in an Indian, predominantly vegetarian home.
My mom's chole batture, made entirely from scratch, was a rare and incredibly special treat.
She would make this salad with spinach, mozzarella, cheese tortellini, and lots of fresh veggies with her top-secret sweet sesame oil dressing. It never lasted long.
We grew up in an area with a large Asian population. Korean sundubu jjigae was (and still is) our go-to comfort food.
posted by aquamvidam at 12:32 PM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
My mom's chole batture, made entirely from scratch, was a rare and incredibly special treat.
She would make this salad with spinach, mozzarella, cheese tortellini, and lots of fresh veggies with her top-secret sweet sesame oil dressing. It never lasted long.
We grew up in an area with a large Asian population. Korean sundubu jjigae was (and still is) our go-to comfort food.
posted by aquamvidam at 12:32 PM on February 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
My mom always makes a big baked ziti in this situation.
posted by Ragged Richard at 12:45 PM on February 2, 2018
posted by Ragged Richard at 12:45 PM on February 2, 2018
Do a fancy bread - there are lots of fancy Easter breads. I make choreg, my mom makes an Italian one, I know there are Greek ones as well. Get fancy with braiding and shaping it for the visual impact.
posted by cobaltnine at 1:24 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by cobaltnine at 1:24 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Steamed artichokes are both delicious and a big production to eat (and you can either make a special sauce for dipping leaves in, or just use melted butter if you're in a rush). It was always a special treat in my family (though not a holiday centerpiece per se).
posted by rivenwanderer at 1:59 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rivenwanderer at 1:59 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Lemon meringue or coconut cream pie (homemade) are special occasion only.
posted by small_ruminant at 2:07 PM on February 2, 2018
posted by small_ruminant at 2:07 PM on February 2, 2018
Nthing vunder and vivzan... a bunch of sides made with higher end spring veggies.
posted by brujita at 2:35 PM on February 2, 2018
posted by brujita at 2:35 PM on February 2, 2018
Best answer: I think it's all in how you set the table.
Could you start by looking up traditional Easter recipes and go from there? For example braided bread, like challa, is traditional at Easter in some places. And eggs are very traditional, so basing your main dish around eggs (assuming you eat them!) would give you lots of options, from blintzes through souffles.
But I would also make sure you had lots of side dishes and probably two desserts to indicate that this was not just souffle and bread. Celery on the side and a couple of pickles and relishes, do much to indicate that the meal is not merely a hurried lunch. Soup before the rest of the meal, serving in courses is another indicator - Many turkey dinners end up kind of served in courses because there is not room on the table, and people go back for seconds. Some dishes that are seasonal and that you never would serve other than when it was special would be good - think artichokes served with a little lemon butter at each place for dipping, or an enormous ornamental fruit platter, not one of those cantalope-honeydew-grapes-strawberries that you buy at the grocery store, but a mixture of things like kiwi, orange segments, cherries, plums and apricots all cut into bite size and arranged in ornamental circles on the platter.
A dessert like strawberry shortcake is another possibility - if you have whipped the cream yourself, and baked the cakes yourself it becomes something rare and festive but it still is fancy if you use store-bought pound cake and whipping cream from a pressurized can with a nozzle. Or if you have an Italian bakery in your neighbourhood you could pick up a pastiera Napoletana. It you have an Arabic bakery you could pick up ma'amoul instead.
Ceremonial drinks at holidays are very traditional - cranberry-gingerale is traditional with a turkey, and often wine is served. So look for something along that line - for example a couple of bottles of non-alcoholic sparking grape juice served in wine glasses adds pizazz, or a tequila sunrises without the tequila which is merely a few drops of grenadine at the bottom of a glass of orange juice.
Don't forget how much difference it makes if you pull the table out from the wall and put the leaf in. Use a good table cloth. It just goes in the washer after dinner. It's not all that fussy.
posted by Jane the Brown at 2:43 PM on February 2, 2018
Could you start by looking up traditional Easter recipes and go from there? For example braided bread, like challa, is traditional at Easter in some places. And eggs are very traditional, so basing your main dish around eggs (assuming you eat them!) would give you lots of options, from blintzes through souffles.
But I would also make sure you had lots of side dishes and probably two desserts to indicate that this was not just souffle and bread. Celery on the side and a couple of pickles and relishes, do much to indicate that the meal is not merely a hurried lunch. Soup before the rest of the meal, serving in courses is another indicator - Many turkey dinners end up kind of served in courses because there is not room on the table, and people go back for seconds. Some dishes that are seasonal and that you never would serve other than when it was special would be good - think artichokes served with a little lemon butter at each place for dipping, or an enormous ornamental fruit platter, not one of those cantalope-honeydew-grapes-strawberries that you buy at the grocery store, but a mixture of things like kiwi, orange segments, cherries, plums and apricots all cut into bite size and arranged in ornamental circles on the platter.
A dessert like strawberry shortcake is another possibility - if you have whipped the cream yourself, and baked the cakes yourself it becomes something rare and festive but it still is fancy if you use store-bought pound cake and whipping cream from a pressurized can with a nozzle. Or if you have an Italian bakery in your neighbourhood you could pick up a pastiera Napoletana. It you have an Arabic bakery you could pick up ma'amoul instead.
Ceremonial drinks at holidays are very traditional - cranberry-gingerale is traditional with a turkey, and often wine is served. So look for something along that line - for example a couple of bottles of non-alcoholic sparking grape juice served in wine glasses adds pizazz, or a tequila sunrises without the tequila which is merely a few drops of grenadine at the bottom of a glass of orange juice.
Don't forget how much difference it makes if you pull the table out from the wall and put the leaf in. Use a good table cloth. It just goes in the washer after dinner. It's not all that fussy.
posted by Jane the Brown at 2:43 PM on February 2, 2018
Well, in my family, Grandma's cole slaw signifies family gathering/celebration. Probably because the recipe starts with a full head of cabbage, and nobody wants that much on a regular day.
posted by Ms Vegetable at 4:41 PM on February 2, 2018
posted by Ms Vegetable at 4:41 PM on February 2, 2018
For several years, we celebrated the holidays in Rome, though we aren't Catholic. The traditions there are fish on Christmas Eve, pork on Christmas Day and lentils for New Years Eve, completely different from what we were used to, and we realized that we could create our own traditions when we went back to celebrating at home.
For instance, our local tradition was to have rice porridge for the day before Christmas, and I really hated that, so we've been experimenting for a couple of years, and then suddenly this year we found it: I made a ramen broth, and even though it was imperfect, everyone loved it and we declared it the new tradition, now to be perfected. It's not so much about recipes or menus as about agreeing as a family that this is where we want to go. And also being open to searching until you find the right thing. A bowl of ramen noodles in broth is not festive in a traditional way, but for our family it set the exact tone we were looking for. I don't even remember what we tried the other years, just the sense that now we got it from this year. From experience, I know that within the next couple of years, this "tradition" will be so strong that no one remembers there ever was an other option. We create traditions and atmospheres all the time, so we might as well do it the way we want.
For my kids, the birthday/party/special meal is couscous with a stew that might be vegetarian or not. When they were small we were poor, but always had friends over, and we could make a lot of food for a little money on this principle. There would be a sort of meze while the stew was cooking, depending on what we could afford. It wasn't fancy, but it was celebratory and they remember the party atmosphere and the late bedtimes, not how poor we were.
posted by mumimor at 4:55 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
For instance, our local tradition was to have rice porridge for the day before Christmas, and I really hated that, so we've been experimenting for a couple of years, and then suddenly this year we found it: I made a ramen broth, and even though it was imperfect, everyone loved it and we declared it the new tradition, now to be perfected. It's not so much about recipes or menus as about agreeing as a family that this is where we want to go. And also being open to searching until you find the right thing. A bowl of ramen noodles in broth is not festive in a traditional way, but for our family it set the exact tone we were looking for. I don't even remember what we tried the other years, just the sense that now we got it from this year. From experience, I know that within the next couple of years, this "tradition" will be so strong that no one remembers there ever was an other option. We create traditions and atmospheres all the time, so we might as well do it the way we want.
For my kids, the birthday/party/special meal is couscous with a stew that might be vegetarian or not. When they were small we were poor, but always had friends over, and we could make a lot of food for a little money on this principle. There would be a sort of meze while the stew was cooking, depending on what we could afford. It wasn't fancy, but it was celebratory and they remember the party atmosphere and the late bedtimes, not how poor we were.
posted by mumimor at 4:55 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: They're not hard to make, but I only ever eat deviled eggs on special occasions.
posted by galvanized unicorn at 5:53 PM on February 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by galvanized unicorn at 5:53 PM on February 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
I agree with the comments above that whatever you do will come to mean holiday over time. For myself (I'm Jewish) I'll mention challah (other attractive bread might be similar in looking "special"), kugel, latkas, and blintzes. For Pesach (also in the springtime) in particular, I would say charoset and matzah ball soup.
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 5:55 PM on February 2, 2018
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 5:55 PM on February 2, 2018
Okay, so I don't have the exact recipe, but my partner's dad has made torta rustica several times over the years at various holidays, and even the sight of it just fills me with that holiday feeling. They are beautiful, impressively big, and delicious.
posted by fairlynearlyready at 6:01 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fairlynearlyready at 6:01 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Cinnamon rolls on Easter morning. Lasagna, enchiladas and tamales for just about any holiday.
posted by gryphonlover at 6:44 PM on February 2, 2018
posted by gryphonlover at 6:44 PM on February 2, 2018
Like SemiSalt, I like pot pie for this. When I was a vegetarian, it felt like someone cared enough to make a main course I could eat. Don’t get me wrong, I love the sides, and I think they are best part of holiday meals, but a warm baked pot pie hits those same cozy notes as a roast.
posted by advicepig at 6:51 PM on February 2, 2018
posted by advicepig at 6:51 PM on February 2, 2018
Homemade tamales are time consuming and it definitely feels like a special occasion to have them served as a giant center of the table sort of thing.
My Thanksgiving group usually has several pans of enchiladas which have become an expected "It's just not Thanksgiving without..." thing.
Making your own sushi is also a nice special gesture to mark an occasion.
For Easter I'd go with deviled eggs, but I'm from a background that has different foods for each holiday, and that's what makes the holiday special. Not just some generic we did a fancy thing -- it's the specific thing for that holiday.
So I'd say the ideal thing would be something you'll be interested in making again next year, but something you won't mind not making until then.
posted by yohko at 8:19 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
My Thanksgiving group usually has several pans of enchiladas which have become an expected "It's just not Thanksgiving without..." thing.
Making your own sushi is also a nice special gesture to mark an occasion.
For Easter I'd go with deviled eggs, but I'm from a background that has different foods for each holiday, and that's what makes the holiday special. Not just some generic we did a fancy thing -- it's the specific thing for that holiday.
So I'd say the ideal thing would be something you'll be interested in making again next year, but something you won't mind not making until then.
posted by yohko at 8:19 PM on February 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Tamales mean Christmas to me.
I didn't realize it but I agree with galvanized unicorn, I only eat deviled eggs at special occasions.
Greg Nog's deviled egg recipe.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 1:34 PM on February 3, 2018
I didn't realize it but I agree with galvanized unicorn, I only eat deviled eggs at special occasions.
Greg Nog's deviled egg recipe.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 1:34 PM on February 3, 2018
Big roast dinner with about five different vegetable dishes. It’s the variety that makes it special and celebratory.
Though to be honest, a big elaborate dessert (like this or this) would also do the job.
posted by tinkletown at 2:44 PM on February 3, 2018
Though to be honest, a big elaborate dessert (like this or this) would also do the job.
posted by tinkletown at 2:44 PM on February 3, 2018
Eggplant parmigiana, great bread, herbed butter, specialty drinks, fancier table setting than usual.
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:15 PM on February 3, 2018
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:15 PM on February 3, 2018
-Cheese and Nut loaf, nearly identical to this one, using smoked cheese (the smoked cheese is very important): https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/cheese-nut-loaf-modified-from-greens-52968041
-Having a variety of dips, chips, and crackers always felt celebratory to me as a child. Artichoke dip was strictly for holidays.
-potatoes whipped with an electric mixer until perfectly smooth, supplemented with more butter and cream than we'd usually eat in a week.
posted by gang of puffins at 7:38 PM on February 3, 2018
-Having a variety of dips, chips, and crackers always felt celebratory to me as a child. Artichoke dip was strictly for holidays.
-potatoes whipped with an electric mixer until perfectly smooth, supplemented with more butter and cream than we'd usually eat in a week.
posted by gang of puffins at 7:38 PM on February 3, 2018
I find that a stuffed pumpkin sends the "big hullaballoo" message pretty well even without already having holiday associations for it. A lot of the other items in this thread also register as holiday foods for me, either because they take more effort or are more indulgent than I would typically make on a work night (latkes) or by association (baked macaroni, stuffing), but what specifically fits that mold for you will vary.
posted by Lady Li at 12:54 PM on February 4, 2018
posted by Lady Li at 12:54 PM on February 4, 2018
I was raised vegetarian, and we just... didn’t have anything that signified “holiday.” The meal was always something more elaborate than our staples of rice and beans though.
posted by Grandysaur at 4:01 PM on February 4, 2018
posted by Grandysaur at 4:01 PM on February 4, 2018
I was just going through saved recipe links and came across this, which sounds visually dramatic and delicious: Whole roasted tandoori cauliflower with mint chutney.
posted by Lexica at 6:25 PM on February 4, 2018
posted by Lexica at 6:25 PM on February 4, 2018
Seconding rivenwanderer--artichokes are always a special occasion food in our family.
Also, twice-baked potatoes are like mashed potatoes but even fancier! We always have them for Xmas dinner, and at no other time of the year.
posted by exceptinsects at 11:04 AM on February 5, 2018
Also, twice-baked potatoes are like mashed potatoes but even fancier! We always have them for Xmas dinner, and at no other time of the year.
posted by exceptinsects at 11:04 AM on February 5, 2018
supplemented with more butter and cream than we'd usually eat in a week.
This says holiday whether you eat meat or not.
(For vegans, I don't know. Maybe too much oil?)
posted by madcaptenor at 6:52 AM on February 6, 2018
This says holiday whether you eat meat or not.
(For vegans, I don't know. Maybe too much oil?)
posted by madcaptenor at 6:52 AM on February 6, 2018
Any soup with dumplings - I am particularly fond of the mushroom stout stew with potato dumplings from the Post Punk Kitchen.
Also nthing tamales, homemade deep dish pizza made in a cast iron, homemade doughy pretzels, and anything that is either fried or involves puff pastry (like a Wellington or samosas or spanakopita or baked brie).
posted by thelastpolarbear at 6:15 PM on February 7, 2018
Also nthing tamales, homemade deep dish pizza made in a cast iron, homemade doughy pretzels, and anything that is either fried or involves puff pastry (like a Wellington or samosas or spanakopita or baked brie).
posted by thelastpolarbear at 6:15 PM on February 7, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 10:03 AM on February 2, 2018 [18 favorites]