UK supermarket Tesco has unvelived nine “centrepiece dishes” for Christmas this year that it says will be enticing for those with vegan appetites.
Tesco is keen to leverage the trend toward healthier eating, which has seen a more than 50 percent spike in demand this year.
“The range of high quality plant-based food available to British shoppers is growing at a phenomenal pace and what we have on offer this Christmas really underlines that,” said Derek Sarno, Tesco head of plant-based innovation. “We’ve jumped from six to 10 Christmas centrepieces and our absolute piece de resistance this year is the Wicked Kitchen No Turkey Roast Crown which is the first of its kind and what I believe will be a game-changer for the industry.”
The No-Turkey Roast Crown is a savoury wheat protein crown topped with a sage and onion stuffing.
“We’ve been developing this most iconic of all centrepieces for the last two years and worked with a flavour house to create a natural plant-based turkey flavouring that gives the full experience of the real thing,” Sarno said.
Other showstopping, plant-based main plates include:
- Hand Rolled No Beef Wellington. Seasoned pea protein, flaky pastry with fancy roasted garlic herb mushroom duxelle
- Plant Chef – Butternut squash and Mushroom Wreath – Filo pastry filled with butternut squash, mushroom, chestnut and sauce
- Frozen – Mushroom and Meat Free Stuffing Lattice – Flaky puff pastry with flavourful mushrooms and an aromatic soya based stuffing
- Finest Vegan Christmas Dinner for Two – Crisp & golden Wicked Wellington, roast potatoes, meat free cocktail bangers, roasted carrots and parsnips with thyme, broccoli, cauliflower and sprouts, sage and onion stuffing, plus rich onion gravy and a sweet cranberry sauce
Its other offerings include a Meat Free Festive Roast featuring pea rrotein and caramelised red onions; Festive Nut Roast and Gravy featuring a mushroom, peanut, hazelnut, cranberry and apricot nut roast; and Stuffed Half Butternut Squash filled with apple, beetroot and green lentils, topped with a crumb mixed with pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and herbs.
