A Vegan New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve is all about having fun, which is why PETA has come up with three fun, easy recipes that will wow your party guests. And if some of your guests aren’t already vegan, what better way to win them over than with food that will have them begging for seconds?

Muhammara and Garlic-Olive Breadsticks

3 red bell peppers

1 cup olive oil

3 cloves garlic

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 Tbsp water

1/2 cup walnuts

2 dried red chillies

Salt, to taste

5 slices vegan bread (preferably thick slices)

1/2 cup olives

2 tsp garlic powder

• Preheat the oven to 175°C. Roast the bell peppers for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and allow to cool, then peel and remove the seeds. Cut into small pieces.
• Heat 1/2 cupful of the olive oil in a pan and sauté the garlic and onions until lightly browned.
• In a food processor, blend the bread crumbs with the water. Add the walnuts, red chillies, bell peppers and the sautéed onions and garlic (with the olive oil) and blend into a smooth paste. Season with salt.
• Cut the bread slices into long sticks.
• Mix the olives with the garlic powder and the remaining olive oil. Season with salt. Spread evenly and liberally on top of the bread slices, then toast in the oven until crisp.

Makes 4 servings

Spicy Buffalo Cauliflower ‘Wings’

1 cup water or soya milk
1 cup flour (any kind will work – even gluten-free!)
2 tsp garlic powder
1 head cauliflower, chopped into pieces
1 cup hot sauce
1 Tbsp olive oil or melted vegan margarine

• Preheat the oven to 232.2°C.
• Combine the water or soya milk, flour and garlic powder in a bowl and stir until well combined.
• Coat the cauliflower pieces with the flour mixture and place in a shallow baking dish. Bake for 18 minutes.
• While the cauliflower is baking, combine the hot sauce and olive oil or margarine in a small bowl.
• Pour the hot sauce mixture over the baked cauliflower and continue baking for an additional 5 to 8 minutes.

Serve alongside vegan blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.

Makes 4 servings

Baked Tomato, Garlic and Basil Bruschetta Bites

15 sugar plum tomatoes, diced
12 basil leaves, cut into ribbons
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 loaf French baguette, thinly sliced

• Preheat the oven to 177ºC.
• In a bowl, combine all the ingredients except the bread and mix well. Place the bread on a baking sheet and spoon a little tomato mixture onto each slice.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges of the bread are slightly golden and the topping is warm.

Makes 4 servings

Now you can just sit back and enjoy the compliments into the wee hours of the morning. From all of us at PETA, Happy New Year – and bon appétit!