In our fast-paced world, where ready-made meals often become the norm and even the seemingly healthiest options can contain hidden sugars, the movement for pure and vegan foods sometimes faces challenges. Many of us hardly have the time to study every ingredient list in the supermarket. Fortunately, it turns out that healthy and high-quality food is often cheaper than its processed counterparts and more nourishing as well. However, preparing these healthy dishes does require a certain amount of time, which is a worthwhile investment in our well-being.
Here is our Christmas Eve menu for you!
Smoked Carrot Salmon on Whole Grain Bread
Ingredients
Large carrots
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp smoked salt (or regular salt and liquid smoke)
Freshly ground black pepper
Whole grain bread
Instructions
Peel the carrots and cut them into thin slices.
In a bowl, mix olive oil, apple cider vinegar, smoked salt, and pepper.
Marinate the carrot slices in the mixture and let them sit in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Place the marinated carrots on whole grain bread and serve.
Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Quinoa and Spinach
Ingredients
4 large Portobello mushrooms
1 cup cooked quinoa
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F).
Remove the stems of the mushrooms and clean the caps.
Sauté spinach and garlic in a pan until the spinach wilts.
Mix the quinoa with the spinach mixture, season with salt and pepper.
Stuff the mixture into the mushroom caps and bake for 20 minutes.
Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables
Ingredients
2 carrots
2 parsnips
1 sweet potato
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 tsp dried thyme
Salt and pepper
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 200°C (392°F).
Cut the vegetables into equally sized pieces and place them on a baking tray.
Mix with olive oil, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper.
Roast for 25-30 minutes until the vegetables are soft and slightly browned at the edges.
Baked Apples with Nut Filling
Ingredients
4 apples
1/2 cup mixed nuts, chopped
1 tsp cinnamon
A pinch of nutmeg
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F).
Remove the cores of the apples.
Mix nuts with cinnamon and nutmeg and fill the apples.
Place apples in a baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes until they are soft.
Homemade Peppermint Tea (with licorice)
Ingredients
Fresh peppermint leaves
Hot water
Licorice (if you find some)
Instructions
Place peppermint leaves (and licorice) in a teapot.
Pour hot water over the leaves and let steep for 5-10 minutes.
Strain into cups and serve.
With these recipes, you can prepare a delicious, healthy, and festive menu for Christmas Eve that is both vegan and sugar-free. Enjoy your feast with your family/friends/loved ones!