FRUIT · VEGETABLES · PLANT-BASED RECIPES

Seasonal calendar DecemberCalm returns

Calm returns. December brings winter classics for oven dishes and festive days: red cabbage, parsnips, celeriac, lamb's lettuce and stored apples.

  • 6Vegetables
  • 2Fruit
  • 3Recipes
  • 3Ideas
To the recipes

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What is in season in December

Winter classics for oven dishes, soups and fresh contrasts.

Which fruit and vegetables are in season in December?

In December, the main vegetables in season in Germany are red cabbage, parsnip, lamb's lettuce, savoy cabbage, kohlrabi and celery. For fruit, look out for apples (stored) and pears (stored). Regional seasonal produce is usually fresher, more flavourful and travels shorter distances.

Vegetables

6 varieties
  • Red cabbage
  • Parsnip
  • Lamb's lettuce
  • Savoy cabbage
  • Kohlrabi
  • Celery

Fruit

2 varieties
  • Apples (stored)
  • Pears (stored)

IN THE KITCHEN

Plant-based recipes for December

All recipes are fully plant-based and explained step by step.

Red cabbage with apple and chestnuts

  • 60 min
  • Serves 4
  • 5 steps

Ingredients

  • 1 small red cabbage
  • 2 apples
  • 1 onion
  • 200 g cooked chestnuts
  • 3 tbsp cider vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar
  • bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp rapeseed oil, salt

Method

  1. Quarter the red cabbage, cut out the core and finely shred the leaves. Dice the onion; peel and dice the apples.

  2. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large pot and sweat the onion for 3 minutes. Sprinkle with the sugar and let it caramelise lightly, stirring.

  3. Add the cabbage, apples, vinegar, 1 tsp salt, bay leaf, 3 cloves, a pinch of cinnamon and 200 ml water. Stir well.

  4. Braise with the lid on over a low heat for 45 minutes, stirring now and then. Add a splash of water if it gets too dry.

  5. Fold in the chestnuts for the last 10 minutes. Remove the bay leaf and cloves and adjust the seasoning.

Parsnip and celeriac mash

  • 35 min
  • Serves 4
  • 5 steps

Ingredients

  • 4 parsnips
  • ½ celeriac
  • 2 potatoes
  • 3 tbsp vegan butter
  • 100 ml oat drink
  • nutmeg, salt

Method

  1. Peel the parsnips, celeriac and potatoes and cut into evenly sized cubes.

  2. Bring to the boil in salted water and cook for 20 minutes until everything crushes easily with a fork.

  3. Drain and let it steam dry in the hot pot for 1 minute – this stops the mash from turning watery.

  4. Add the vegan butter and warmed oat drink and mash to a creamy purée with a potato masher.

  5. Season with salt and freshly grated nutmeg.

Baked apples with nut and oat filling

  • 35 min
  • Serves 4
  • 5 steps

Ingredients

  • 4 apples
  • 40 g rolled oats
  • 40 g chopped hazelnuts
  • 2 tbsp raisins
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp cinnamon
  • plant-based custard

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Wash the apples and scoop out the cores generously with an apple corer or teaspoon, without piercing all the way through.

  2. Mix the oats, chopped hazelnuts, raisins, maple syrup and cinnamon into a crumbly filling.

  3. Stand the apples in a baking dish, press the filling firmly inside and pile the rest on top. Pour 3 tbsp water into the dish.

  4. Bake for 25–30 minutes until the apples are soft and the skin starts to split.

  5. Serve with warm plant-based custard.

OUTDOORS & INDOORS

Ideas for December

Small moments that make the month special.

Bake vegan cookies

With margarine and apple sauce instead of egg, crescent cookies and jam sandwiches turn out just as well.

Stroll around the Christmas market

Candied almonds, chestnuts and potato fritters with apple sauce are usually vegan already.

Winter hike at the end of the year

Between Christmas and New Year a long walk does you good – don't forget a flask of tea.