IKEA UK is ditching turkey in favor of a meat-free Christmas menu.
Instead of meat, the Swedish furniture giant will offer a vegan Root Vegetable Tart Tatin as well as vegan mince pies. The vegetable tart features flaky puff pastry topped with glazed root veggies and thyme. Additionally, the festive dish comes with “veg aplenty,” including Brussels sprouts. It will also serve a vegetarian Brie and Cranberry Open Tart.
The new offerings are part of IKEA’s mission to offer more affordable, planet-friendly food.
“As part of our commitment to supporting our customers to live healthier and more sustainable lives, we have decided to launch our first-ever ‘Meat-Free Christmas’ in our restaurants,” IKEA said in a statement. “We know that Christmas Dinners are an important part of the festive season, and we really want to encourage our customers to try something new this year. Both our meat-free dishes are packed full of flavour, to showcase how more sustainable options can be just as tasty.”
A 50% Meat-Free Menu
The turkey-free Christmas menu is yet another step toward IKEA serving more sustainable food. According to a press release, 50 percent of the hot meals served at IKEA’s restaurants are now vegan or vegetarian.
Over the past few years, the flat-pack furniture store has introduced a number of new vegan items, including seaweed-based caviar, hot dogs, and soft-serve ice cream. It will soon introduce new vegan meatballs. According to IKEA, the meatballs will have a meatier texture compared to its veggie balls.
Vegan Christmas Food
Like IKEA, several major supermarket chains have introduced vegan Christmas menus in a bid to appeal to changing consumer preferences. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Iceland, Waitrose, Aldi, and Marks & Spencer have all unveiled menus ahead of the festive season.
The demand for plant-based food is on the rise in the US and Canada as well. Select Whole Foods Market locations will offer vegan turkey roast this year. Affordable grocery chain Trader Joe’s will offer an own-brand roast.
Small, independently-owned brands, restaurants, and caterers are also offering vegan holiday food. California-based brand Atlas Monroe, which was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank” earlier this month, offers a deep-fried meat-free turkey. Three Girls Vegan Creamery, an organic vegan restaurant and caterer based in Connecticut, is offering a roast stuffed with vegan sausage, apple, and sage stuffing. And Upbeet Foods, a vegan caterer based in Ontario, also offers festive food. Its Lentil Shepherd’s Pie, pictured above, is features seasoned green lentils with zucchini, a creamy mashed potato topping, and mushroom gravy.
IKEA’s meat-free Christmas menu will be available as part of a £5 lunchtime offer starting November 4th.
