How to Cater Vegan

Veganism is a popular lifestyle that comes with a long list of mental and physical benefits. If you are a practicing vegan, or must plan a catered party for an upcoming vegan-themed event, you will appreciate these vegan catering tips! Continue reading to learn how you can cater your party with a vegan meal spread.

What is Veganism?

To better understand how to cater to vegans, it is helpful to learn what veganism is about. A vegan is a person who follows a diet that is free of animal meat and by-products. This includes all dairy, such as milk, cream, cheese, and butter. It also include all animal meat and by-products, including poultry, beef, pork, lamb, eggs, and seafood. Some orthodox vegans also avoid using or wearing anything made from animals, such as leather, feathers, hides, furs, and more.

Beverages and Cocktails

There are endless choices for vegan beverages, alcoholic cocktails, and even mocktails. So long as you do not use any mixers that contain dairy, you are in the clear. Stick with lemonades, wines, beers, iced teas, hot tea, coffee, soda, juice, and liquor. Avoid milk-based products, or substitute them with coconut, cashew, or almond milk products.

Appetizers

Appetizers that are vegan are easy to come by. Summer is the time for fresh produce, so simply load up on all kinds of fruit and vegetables assortments, both raw and prepared. Grape and cherry tomatoes, zucchini, squash, broccoli, carrots, radishes, cauliflower, bell peppers, and more, are all fantastic options for color and taste. Try them in salads, on sticks, marinated, or dipped. Your vegan guests will love them all! You can also include vegetable and legume dips, like hummus, chickpea, falafel, eggplant, onion, and more! Just be sure they are free of sour cream and dairy products.

Main Course

Whether dinner or lunch, your main course is simple to plan for a vegan guest list. Choose hearty vegetables, like eggplant and portobello mushrooms, to substitute main course meat dishes. Tofu is a great option, too. When prepared well, these vegan courses are just as filling and delicious as meat. Consider pasta dishes for evening soirees, like eggplant parmesan or risotto. Pair these courses with delicious, vegan-style salads and sides, such as vegan pasta salad, coucous, tabouli, rice, potatoes, corn on the cobb, grilled asparagus, and more.

Dessert

Desserts are sometimes a challenge for vegans because most contain some form of dairy. However, there are excellent choices for vegan-friendly desserts, so long as you choose them carefully. Any type of cake, pudding, or cream pie will not likely be fit for vegans, so you may need to have them specially made using dairy substitutes, like almond milk, applesauce, and nut butters. Fruit smoothies are another terrific option so long as you use non-dairy milk, such as almond, cashew, or coconut.