Food

A simple dinner to satisfy the day. For thousands of years, black rice was only available to Chinese royalty. Hence the name forbidden, perhaps? Given its reputation of being more impressive with higher nutrients than other rice grains, it’s popping up in mainstream stores and health food shops everywhere.

Tip

Beautiful black pasta with a hint of squid—a delicious and visual dish perfect for a celebration meal. The flavour of salty anchovy coupled with fresh lemon is a taste explosion. This dish can be further jazzed up with some seared cherry tomatoes and broccolini!

Tip

Have your cake and vegetable too! No need to turn on the oven for this delicious chocolate tart; it’s quick to assemble and satisfyingly rich. Plus, the added black beans make for a nutrient-dense dessert with healthy protein-rich carbs.

Tip

Pretty tough to beat this delicious vegan steak. Cauliflower lends itself to so many flavours. We’ve paired our vegan cauliflower steak with a South American twist—chimichurri sauce. The combination of flavours coupled with the beautiful green sauce is perfect for the season.

Tip

Chicken soup is comfort in a bowl. And making it from scratch gives your broth oodles of healthy bone nutrients. Coupled with white lentils, it’s meal-worthy. Store in the freezer in handy single-serve containers for lunches or for giving when someone you know needs a hug.

Tips

• Switch out white lentils for red, beluga, or French lentils, if you wish. Jazz it up with a little fresh kale stirred in.
• If time is not on your side, use prepared low-sodium chicken stock. Add 3/4 lb (350 g) boneless, skinless chicken pieces along with lentils and simmer until both are cooked. Remove chicken and shred. Return to stock and stir in parsley and serve.

Cook the sweet potato the day before to speed up the process on Christmas Day. Light and savory—these make a great sharing breakfast.

Well, it wouldn’t be a vegan Christmas without a nut roast! Roasted in a wreath tin and topped with my cranberry sauce, it’s the perfect Christmas centerpiece.

Sage wisdom

Holiday feasts just don’t seem complete without the presence of a heaping bowlful of stuffing. This easy from-scratch version ditches the soggy white bread for much healthier quinoa and packs in plenty of satisfying herby flavor. Roasted sweet potatoes add creamy texture, and chunks of pear deliver seasonal sweetness to please a crowd. Nobody will be tempted to drown this stuffing in gravy.

Hot stuff

Sometimes you need a holiday from the holidays! Enter this fuss-free, nutrient-filled smoothie, with a chocolate flavor to take you away.

The classic Linzer torte will often be featured on the tables of Austrian households during the holidays. Made with a hazelnut or almond pastry, the torte is filled with a layer of red currant or raspberry jam. It’s traditionally topped with a decorative lattice of pastry. Taking inspiration from this decadent treat, this smoothie will cleverly curb your pastry cravings.

Be fancy free

I love creamy pastas like fettuccine Alfredo, but I also love the spices and flavors of Asian cuisine. I decided to meld my two loves into one creamy and comforting yet bold and spicy dish that revolves around my greatest love of all—matcha!

Im-press-ive tofu

A daring combination of parsnip and vanilla that I came up with during my time at Le Gallois restaurant. The vanilla works so well with the earthy creaminess of the parsnip.

The pretty pink color of this pasta is mesmerizing. It’s almost too pretty to eat . . . almost. Pro tip: Don’t throw out the beet greens! They are softer than kale but sturdier than spinach. I like to sauté them to add to my pasta for a more nutritious and complete meal.

Make-ahead tip

This one is a no-brainer! Add it to everything and live a happy life. I especially love adding this to quinoa Greek salad or anything with kale or loads of greens like cucumber and parsley! This dressing is on the thicker side, so if you add it to salads and know you usually fancy a lighter dressing, just add more water until you reach your preferred consistency! I suggest doubling the recipe if you want to have more for later. This will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days!

An essential condiment to spruce up your Christmas meal. [callout]

Nothing quite compares to the warm and spicy aroma of freshly baked gingerbread. This smoothie delivers all of gingerbread’s comfort in mere minutes. The kefir gives a good dose of probiotics to keep your tummy happy, and the pumpkin puree and rolled oats provide fiber to keep you feeling satisfied.

Squash those doubts

Guess what? Eggnog with no eggs can still leave you in a festive mood. This recipe proves it! Blended cashews and toasted coconut give the drink its oh-so-good creaminess, while dates infuse it with the sweetness that good eggnog commands. Serve with a dusting of nutmeg.

How the grit stole Christmas

Vegan tzatziki. Yep, I did it—and before I dive into this recipe, I feel like I owe an apology to my family. I must admit making this dip didn’t feel right. It was like I was cheating on my Greek family . . . but then I tried it. Oh my gosh: it’s pretty damn close to the real deal and so flavorful. Suddenly my guilt evaporated, and I was surprisingly happy that I made it! This dish is traditionally vegetarian and often accompanies me at the table with all my vegetable recipes. I decided why not make it vegan and add it to my list of plant-based recipes that everyone must have, and I certainly do not regret it. It doesn’t lack flavor, creaminess or strength. It’s completely balanced with the amounts of fat, acidity and salt—I know you will love it!

Just days after my boyfriend, Ben, announced that he hated tempeh (cue my heart breaking), I made this pasta for myself and happened to leave the leftovers out on the counter. Ben wandered into the kitchen, and when I looked over, he was eating it straight from the pot, not knowing it had tempeh, and saying it was one of my best pastas yet. Come one, come all, tempeh-lovers, tempeh-haters . . . you are going to love this recipe.

This recipe is to be used with Beet Fettuccine Alfredo with Basil Ricotta (pictured above).

Here you have Greek green beans in a gorgeous, lush tomato sauce. You’re in for a treat. This recipe was and still is my favorite recipe. There is just something to be said about this combination—how warming it is and the memories that flow through my mind while making it!

This protein-packed smoothie will fuel you up for all the merriment of the season. The recipe will make more coconut sprinkles than needed, but they’re great for adding a festive touch to plenty of seasonal dishes.

Go (coco)nuts

This recipe is to be used with Beet Fettuccine Alfredo with Basil Ricotta (pictured above).

A chocolate-free holiday is, for many of us, a recipe for Grinchy behavior. Good news: you can keep the peace with a batch of homemade better-for-you cups filled with creamy peanut butter goodness. Plus, you get the chance to elevate them with exciting add-ins like spices, crunchy cacao nibs and a whisper of salt. If you don’t want to use peanut butter, almond butter works great too. Or, if you want these to be nut free, employ sunflower butter.

Dark magic