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The concept of finding the best gifts for vegetarians may seem a little reductive—the vegetarian in your life probably has hobbies, wears clothes, and enjoys things like scented candles and board games, but hear us out. Adopting some level of plant-based diet is a lot easier when you have the right kind of stuff to facilitate it, and that is what this list is all about.
A lot of this stuff might be useful for all home cooks, but they are particularly great additions to a plant-based kitchen. Think: vegetable-heavy cookbooks, ultra-savory pantry staples, perfect bowls for salads, and produce storage solutions. This isn’t a list of gimmicky Christmas-season stuff, these are practical things that your loved ones will put to use all year round.
There are plenty of gift ideas for proper vegans and vegetarians on this list, but you’ll also find some options for those who live more flexitarian lifestyles: the dairy-free morning latte types, the “I don’t eat meat unless it’s at a restaurant” types, and the people just trying to their best to cut back on steak for the sake of the environment.
No matter who you’re shopping for, read on to see our picks for the best gifts for vegetarians this holiday season.
Do-it-all dishware
Pasta bowls—the plate-bowl hybrids that have won over Team Epi’s hearts—are the perfect vessels for vegetarian dishes. Grain salads and other “bowl foods” obviously shine in pasta bowls, but so do loaded risottos, saucy tofu dishes, and big salads. We love the milky-colored sets from Mosser Glass, and this natural set from Amazon.
Must-have cookbooks
Four of our favorite cookbooks last year were meat-free, making them great gift options for any vegetable lover on your list. Loaded with inspiring recipe ideas and creative culinary tricks, these titles present a modern take on vegetarian and vegan cooking that doesn’t shy away from richness and never compromises on flavor.
A really nice bottle of olive oil
Just about everyone uses olive oil, but most people aren’t going to spend a ton of money on a pricey bottle. You’re probably already familiar with Brightland olive oil, which won “best olive oil splurge” in our head-to-head testing, but there are plenty of other worthwhile brands out there. In general, glass or ceramic bottles are the best containers for keeping olive oil fresh, but they also make for presentation in a gifting scenario. Heraclea, a brand that sources oil from Turkey, has a gift set with both early and late harvest oils for some added variety.
An ultrasharp knife collection
Every home cook needs a good knife, but the vegetarians we know slice through a lot more sturdy squash and delicate herbs than the average person does. Level up their prep game with the winners of all three of our knife product tests: the 8-inch Mac chef’s knife (sharp, lightweight, and responsive), the Kuhn Rikon paring knife (versatile and under $10), and the Misen Essentials serrated knife (for tomatoes in the summer and crusty bread year-round).
A fancy cutting board
Now that you have knives covered, they’ll also need a well-made cutting board. Boos makes some of the best butcher’s block–style cutting boards on the market: they’re heavy but not unwieldy, gorgeously grained, and built to last a long time if cared for properly. This cherry wood number is just the right size for a home kitchen, and doubles as a stunning cheese board. As a bonus gift or stocking stuffer, get some board oil and beeswax conditioner to help keep their new butcher block clean and water-resistant.
Practical kitchen tools
Some kitchen tools make especially great vegetarian gifts, likea handheld spiralizer can transform sweet potatoes, zucchinis, and beets into poodles, zoodles, and boodles (this is especially great if your vegetarian friend also happens to be gluten-free). A salad spinner is a highly underrated tool. For any person spending a significant amount of time rinsing and washing leafy greens and herbs, drying them is no easy task. Another hit? Tofu presses, which can get excess moisture out of a block of tofu in a matter of seconds.
Handy to-go containers
A trusty set of to-go containers is a welcome addition to any kitchen, so put together a little eco-friendly gift set with things like this stainless-steel reusable lunch box. Another great pick? Anew insulated water bottle, like the Owala, which is quickly becoming a cult favorite. If you’re truly stuck, a fresh set of the best reusable silicone bags from Stashers is always a good idea.
Smoke and umami
Some of the best gifts for vegetarians are pantry staples that add the savory or smoky depth to dishes that meat would typically provide. Foodie-fave Maldon makes a smoked variety of their tantalizingly flaky finishing salt, which adds a wood-fired aroma to whatever dish you sprinkle it on. Haku smoked soy sauce offers the same effect in liquid-form, grounded by an intense, barrel-aged umami. There’s also Seed Ranch’s umami hot sauce, which gets it’s unique and moreish flavor from oven-dried olives and porcini mushrooms.
Produce life-extenders
Almost everyone has experienced the tragedy of produce that’s gone limp due to improper storage, so add some of the best produce bags to your gift shopping list. Vejibags makes high-quality, biodegradable produce bags that make storing veggies like leafy greens and broccoli heads a snap. We also love silicone food huggers, which simply wrap around your cut fruits and vegetables to preserve them. If you really want to go heavy duty, Zwilling’s Fresh & Save food system will keep even the tenderest of greens crisp and fresh for weeks.
Heavy duty blenders
If you’re looking for go-to gadgets to gift the vegetarian in your life, Vitamix blenders are the best of the best. Whether you’re making a smoothie, pesto, or soup, they’re high performance, sleek, and consistent. You really can’t go wrong with any of the models, but the 5200 is a reliable workhorse to start with. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, we found this 56-ounce-capacity KitchenAid to be a worthwhile blender, too.
A pasta lover’s gift subscription
Sfoglini is a New York City–based company that makes pasta from local ingredients, sourced from neighborhood gardens, nearby breweries, and independent flour mills. They offer a popular pasta club—available as a half or full-year subscription—where they’ll send you six boxes of pasta every three months. With options like beet fusilli, porcini trumpets, and cuttlefish ink spaccatelli, Sfoglini pastas are far more unique than the boxed pastas you typically find in the grocery store.
Vegetarian snacks
Never underestimate the simple joys of a food gift. There’s nothing wrong with putting together a DIY gift basket of delicious vegetarian-friendly snacks (two words: vegan chocolate). Or you could just go with a ready-made snack box subscription. Either way, who doesn’t like a snack?
