A winter party does not have to mean heavy, oily food that leaves you feeling stuffed. A vegan spread can be light, flavourful and healthy HUMMUS AND PITA/ HARA BHARA KEBAB A great option is hummus and pita bread, which is fully vegan and delicious, especially with a dash of olive oil and a sprinkle of paprika. If you want to stick to something Indian, go for the hara bhara kebab, which is packed with the goodness of spinach and green peas. BRUSCHETTA Toasted, flavourful, and easy to make, you can throw open the evenings snack board with bruschetta. Its the simplest of starters you can use any type of bread, veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, black pepper, salt and basil leaves. Vegan chef Raveena Taurani says, Toasted quinoa sourdough bread gives a unique twist to the bruschetta. For an extra punch, crumble some vegan cheese on top. GAJAR KA HALWA Yes, you can make a vegan version of this winter special dessert! Simply substitute the ghee with coconut oil while cooking the peeled and grated carrots. For sweetness, add jaggery to the mix and replace the whole milk cream with coconut cream for the desired thickness, says chef Surabhi Sehgal. Add cardamom powder and a sprinkle of slivered nuts and rose petals to finish off. MISSI ROTI Made with khapli atta, besan, methi leaves, salt, chopped chillies, turmeric, achar masala, and ajwain, this crispy vegan delight is packed with earthy goodness and perfect for the winters. Methi and turmeric not only enhance the flavour but also contribute to its wholesome, seasonal appeal. The crisp rotis can be served with a vegan yoghurt dip. WATERMELON SALAD A watermelon salad is perfect, since it is light and easy to digest. Vegan chef Surabhi Sehgal suggests a combination of watermelon scoops, fresh basil leaves, capers, olives, pickled onions and pumpkin seeds with dressing of virgin oil, white wine vinegar, and a pinch of sea salt. Freshness is the key to delicious vegan food. Make sure that ingredients like herbs and veggies are not stale. Plant herbs like curry patta, mint and basil at your home. When you make a cream substitute, make sure you soak the nuts overnight and blend it properly for the sauce. Otherwise, they will remain coarse and grainy Surabhi Sehgal, vegan chef Instead of a cheese platter, go for a mezze platter with various types of hummus apart from baba ghanoush and muhammara. Going for South Indian cuisine is a great idea, since most of it is vegan, and ghee can be easily replaced with olive oil or coconut oil Sriharsha Narra, chef Vegan substitutes for dairy-based ingredients * Butter can be replaced with vegan butter, but opting for olive oil is a reasonable option * For creamy sauces, blend cashew nuts, almonds and pine nuts * Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds are great substitutes for milk when soaked and blended * If youre allergic to nuts, replace them with coconut milk for that creamy flavour * Nutritional yeast can be used instead of cheese in sauces * If you cant get your hands on vegan ghee, you can use coconut oil instead

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This New Years Eve, plan a vegan feast - IndiaTimes