Paige Knight - 13 / Nov / 2024

Build Your Vegan Thanksgiving Menu

Nobody wants to be left out of Thanksgiving dinner. From side dishes to main centerpieces, Blackstone’s has you covered with our vegan Thanksgiving menu.

We can all agree, Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to eat good food and enjoy great company. That said, Thanksgiving tends to be a very meat-forward holiday, which often leaves our vegan and vegetarian friends excluded. We’ve already shared our ultimate Thanksgiving menu, packed full of delicious Thanksgiving dinner ideas, but we’ve decided to share a bonus vegan Thanksgiving menu.

Whether you have a vegan or vegetarian loved one, or you are the vegan or vegetarian loved one, read on for our favorite Thanksgiving appetizer, main dish, and side to add to your Thanksgiving dinner rotation.

Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizer: Stuffed Acorn Squash

This plant-based appetizer is perfect to set the tone of your dinner. It’s hearty, packed with seasonal flavors, and simple to put together.

Ingredients

Instructions

2 medium acorn squashes, halved and seeded
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt & pepper, to taste
1 cup cooked brown rice
½ cup cooked lentils
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup pecans, chopped
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ cup vegetable broth
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Roast your acorn squash
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°F).
- Brush the cut sides of your acorn squash with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper.
- Place the squash cut-side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Roast for 25-30 minutes, until the flesh is tender when pierced with a fork.
Prepare your filling
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Add your chopped onion and sauté 3-4 minutes.
- Add your garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in your cooked rice and lentils.
- Stir in your cranberries, pecans, thyme, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Add your vegetable broth and maple syrup, stirring to combine.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes, until excess liquid has evaporated.
- Season with salt & pepper to taste.
Stuff and bake your acorn squash
- Turn the roasted squash halves over so that the cut sides face up.
- Spoon your rice mixture into each squash half, pressing firmly to evenly pack the filling in.
- Return the stuffed squash to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes.
Serve immediately.

A mushroom Wellington sits on a cutting board on a wooden table surrounded by other dishes and a glass of red wine.

^{Mushroom Wellington is a show-stopping main dish that’s a worthy Thanksgiving centerpiece.}

Vegan Thanksgiving Main Dish: Mushroom Wellington

A creative take on a traditional beef Wellington, this mushroom Wellington will make the perfect centerpiece to your Thanksgiving dinner table. Packed with hearty vegetables and wrapped in crisp vegan puff pastry, this is a crowd-stopping favorite that will have you wondering what’s so great about Thanksgiving turkey.

Ingredients

Instructions

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 white onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
16 oz cremini or button mushrooms, finely chopped
½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Salt & pepper, to taste
½ cup plain breadcrumbs
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
1 sheet of vegan puff pastry, partially thawed
Plant-based milk, as needed
Sesame seeds, for topping

Prepare your filling
- Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add your chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Add your garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add your chopped mushrooms and walnuts, cooking for 8-10 minutes and stirring occasionally.
- Stir in your soy sauce, thyme, salt, and pepper, cooking for another 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in your breadcrumbs and spinach.
- Let your filling cool to room temperature.
Assemble your Wellington
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured cutting board, roll out your puff pastry.
- Spoon the cooled mushroom filling along one side of the puff pastry, leaving about an inch of space at the edges.
- Carefully roll the pastry over the filling, creating a log shape.
- Wet the edges and seal them by pressing firmly with your fingers.
- Trim any excess pastry, if needed.
Bake your Wellington
- Place the Wellington seam-side down on your prepared baking sheet.
- Brush the top of your wellington with plant-based milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Make three small slits in the top of the pastry to allow steam to escape.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
Rest and serve
- Allow your Wellington to cool for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve warm with our vegan gravy, included below.

Vegan Thanksgiving Side Dish: Vegan Gravy

Gravy is the glue that keeps Thanksgiving together, and nobody should miss out on that. This vegan gravy is flavorful, nutritious, and pairs well with the mushroom Wellington listed above.

Ingredients

Instructions

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon nutritional yeast
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried sage
Salt & pepper, to taste

Sauté your aromatics
- In a medium saucepan, heat your olive oil over medium heat.
- Add your chopped shallot and sauté 2-3 minutes, until softened.
- Add your minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
Make your roux
- Sprinkle flour over your sautéed onion and garlic.
- Stir continuously for 1-2 minutes to cook the flour and create a roux that is slightly golden.
Add your broth
- Slowly pour in your vegetable broth while whisking constantly.
- Whisk in your soy sauce, nutritional yeast, thyme, and sage.
Simmer
- Bring your gravy to a boil then cut the heat to medium-low, allowing it to simmer gently for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Season with salt & pepper to taste.
(Optional) blend your gravy
- For a smoother consistency, use an immersion blender to blend your gravy.
Serve warm
- Serve your gravy warm over your vegan Thanksgiving dishes.

People pass a bowl of cooked carrots over a Thanksgiving spread consisting of butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes, fruits, and vegetables.

^{Blackstone’s has all of the Thanksgiving essentials to make your day run smoothly.}

Celebrate Thanksgiving at Blackstone’s

At Blackstone’s of Beacon Hill, we aren’t just the center of delicious Thanksgiving recipes. Located in Boston’s historic Beacon Hill, we’re Boston’s largest professional knife sharpener and kitchenware retailer. Stop by to get your knives sharpened ahead of the holidays or stock up on cookware, bakeware, home decor, and gifts.

If you don’t live in the area, you can visit us on the Blackstone’s website to browse our inventory, read our blog, and ship anywhere in the continental United States. Don’t forget to visit us on the socials and tag @blackstonesboston in all of your Thanksgiving dinner creations this year.