What courses make up this vegan Christmas menu?

The menu has four components: the truffle tofu mushroom chestnut strudel as the main course, a dark vegan gravy, creamy truffle mashed potatoes and colorful maple-roasted carrots from the oven. Each side is its own recipe, so you can put your menu together exactly the way you like it.

Can I prepare the strudel the day before?

Yes, both the strudel and the gravy are very good to prepare in advance. That way you have no stress on the actual holiday and only need to bake the strudel until golden in the oven.

What can I use instead of truffle tofu?

If you cannot get truffle tofu, simply use plain natural tofu and season the filling with truffle oil or truffle paste. Add it to taste depending on the intensity you want – or leave the truffle out entirely.

Is the whole Christmas menu vegan?

Yes, all four components are completely plant-based. I use vegan alternatives instead of cream and butter, so the entire festive menu is 100 percent vegan.

Which sides go best with the strudel?

The strudel tastes best with the dark vegan gravy, the truffle mashed potatoes and the oven carrots. If someone does not like mashed potatoes, serve a few noodles on the side instead.

Vegan Christmas menu: truffle tofu chestnut strudel

Hello lovelies,

today the centerpiece of my Christmas inspiration arrives: the truffle tofu mushroom chestnut strudel in puff pastry – the vegan main course of our Christmas menu. Let me be honest, I am a little proud of this dish and how delicious it turned out (a bit of self-praise is allowed now and then). I was especially delighted by my husband's reaction: during the test dinner he paused after the first bite, looked at me completely astonished, and I already thought, oh dear, he doesn't like it. But then came: what is that?! It tastes so incredibly good! You can imagine my big grin, because he is usually quite the critic.

Golden chestnut strudel with cut-out stars on a board, close-up

I serve the strudel with the most delicious vegan gravy, creamy truffle mashed potatoes and colorful carrots from the oven. Everything together is simply a treat, and both the strudel and the gravy are very good to prepare in advance – so you have no stress on the actual holiday. This menu will delight not only vegans, but is sure to go down well with everyone at the table.

Truffle tofu is available here at Migros in Switzerland around Christmas season, the same weeks the shops fill up with chestnut puree and I bake my chestnut cake with a dark chocolate coating. If you don't get it where you live, simply use neutral tofu and season the filling with truffle oil or paste as described in the recipe. Just taste the mixture and add the truffle to your desired intensity. If you don't like truffle, leave it out entirely – the strudel will be a feast either way.

Christmas spread with mash, star-topped strudel and gravy, plated

So you can put your menu together exactly the way you like it, I have prepared the three sides as their own recipes – here they are for you to cook straight away:

Vegan gravy

A dark, aromatic gravy of vegetables, shiitake mushrooms and a splash of red wine that goes perfectly with the strudel. It prepares beautifully ahead of time and simply needs reheating before serving.

View the recipe: Vegan gravy

Glazed rainbow carrots and herbed mash with gravy, served

Truffle mashed potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes with a fine truffle aroma – my children would have loved to eat the whole bowl on their own, they were so thrilled by it, and one potato does the same creamy work in the course before, my Christmas starter: mushroom cappuccino, which is blended smooth enough to drink from a cup. A true pleasure and the perfect partner to the strudel and gravy.

View the recipe: Truffle mashed potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes with olive oil and thyme in a bowl, close-up

Maple-roasted oven carrots

Colorful carrots from the oven, glazed with maple syrup, balsamic and a hint of lemon – the perfect, vibrant side for the Christmas menu. Fresh thyme adds that festive aroma.

View the recipe: Maple-roasted oven carrots

Vegan Christmas menu: oven carrots with maple syrup

I also notice from the Pinterest searches that more and more people are looking for vegan Christmas menus – a wonderful development, I think. Believe me, your family and friends will certainly not miss any meat on this menu, and if they arrive early there is a jar of pickled basil tofu with olives on the table with fresh bread while the strudel bakes. Do give it a try!

Slice of chestnut strudel with gravy and mash on a plate, plated

Last year we had potato packages with mushroom-walnut-truffle filling, and the year before, savoy cabbage rolls with black rice. And for a sweet finish you'll find my gingerbread mousse with cherries – so your whole feast stays vegan.