Food

Last Minute Thanksgiving: 10 Vegan Appetizers You Can Whip Up in No Time

These bites come together so fast, you'll have time to spare

by Sanja Savic | COMMENT

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Hey, when we say last minute, we really mean last minute. Maybe you're pressed for time because you're new to hosting, and this is your first Thanksgiving. Maybe you've been burning out lately, and the time just got away from you. Ultimately, here we are: literal days away, Thanksgiving is stressful and demanding on many people (even those looking forward to it). The memes on Thanksgiving anxiety are aplenty, but there's no need to bring food into this nerve mix. Why needlessly sully this particular pleasure? These vegan Thanksgiving appetizer recipes are all about speed and convenience — not about adding to your anxiety. To your excitement and happiness, on the other hand, yes. They look impressive, and they taste divine. All the flavors of Thanksgiving are here: corn, cranberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, autumn spices...but with a contemporary twist, accommodating others' varied preferences. And don't get us started on textures — we've got creamy, crunchy, crispy, chewy, you name it. The best part? Even if you consider yourself a novice when it comes to cooking, even if you've never cooked anything in your life before, you'll have a hard time not nailing these. Most of the prep work is done in a blender/food processor, and you don't need a hundred utensils and pots.

These vegan appetizer recipes won't have you slaving away or hunting for any strange or unusual ingredients, either. If you decide to make more than one recipe from this roundup, all it takes is some clever and minimal time management. The fancy polenta and olive tapenade bites? The polenta needs to chill (as do we all, right?) for an hour before slicing, so while you wait, you can get the dates ready — scrumptious date fruit stuffed with vegam cream cheese and pecans (or your actual dates). Or the pumpkin hummus. Or you can do a little masking sesh while you wait — that's how fast these appetizers come together. So, let's go: you got this.

Image and cover image via Forks Over Knives

SEE NEXT PAGE: Polenta-Olive Tapenade Bites

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