This Mushroom Wellington with caramelized onions, spinach and sliced sweet potatoes is an elegant vegan main dish for holidays. Packed with savory flavors and easy to make!
Other lovely plant-based main dishes to make for a holiday include Vegan Wellington (more of a meaty base), Lentil Loaf, Butternut Squash Lasagna and Mushroom Bourguignon.
From Vegan Turkey Roast to glazed Vegan Ham, there’s no shortage of show-stopping holiday main dishes available on my blog. But if you’re looking for something impressive with plants front and center, you’ll love this easy Mushroom Wellington recipe.
It’s similar to my meaty Vegan Wellington but swaps the vegan beef filling for a beautifully seasoned filling made from whole foods, like herb-dressed mushrooms, caramelized onions, spinach, and sliced sweet potatoes. The filling is a breeze to make in one skillet and takes minutes to wrap in a layer of vegan puff pastry.
Baked until crisp and golden, then sliced and served with vegan gravy, this is one vegan holiday main dish that’s guaranteed to please everyone at your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
Why I love this mushroom wellington
- An easy holiday main or side dish – This vegetable wellington is nowhere near as complicated as a classic beef wellington. Making the caramelized onion and mushroom filling is foolproof and wrapping it in the puff pastry couldn’t be easier!
- Nourishing and wholesome – A lot of vegan wellington recipes are made with a vegan ground beef filling. While that is delicious, this recipe showcases nourishing whole foods in the filling instead, like mushrooms, spinach, sweet potatoes, and onions.
- Buttery puff pastry – It just wouldn’t be a wellington recipe without the buttery, golden, and flaky puff pastry!
How to make mushroom wellington
Set the frozen puff pastry on the kitchen counter to let it thaw. While you wait, start the filling by pulsing the mushrooms in a food processor until they’re crumbly.
Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook until they’re caramelized*.
*The onions can take between 30 to 45 minutes to caramelize, so be patient! As they take on a deep golden brown color, they become incredibly rich and flavorful.
Add the chopped mushrooms, garlic, and soy sauce to the skillet. Cook until the mushrooms have softened and most of their liquid has evaporated.
Next, stir in the thyme, rosemary, and baby spinach and cook until the spinach wilts.
To start assembling the vegetarian wellington, roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet on a parchment-lined baking pan and add a layer of thinly sliced sweet potatoes to the middle third of the pastry.
Add half the mushroom mixture on top, then top with another layer of thinly sliced sweet potatoes.
Dump the rest of the mushroom filling on top, then finish with a final layer of sweet potatoes.
Fold the sides of the pastry over the top of the mixture and pinch the edges to seal them closed. You can use a little water on your fingers to help them seal if needed.
Score the top of the wellington in a criss-cross pattern to encourage steaming.
Next, stir the olive oil and milk in a bowl, then brush it over the tops and sides of the wellington. This vegan “egg wash” helps the pastry become crisp and golden brown.
Bake the mushroom wellington until the pastry is golden and puffy. Set it aside to rest for at least 10 minutes, then slice and serve with lots of vegan gravy. Enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
Yes, most store-bought frozen puff pastry is vegan-friendly! I like using Pepperidge Farm puff pastry because it’s delicious and really easy to work with. You should be able to find it or similar brands in the frozen section at most major grocery stores.
I like making the filling with cremini mushrooms but you can use any other kind of mushroom you like, such as wild mushrooms, portobello mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms, baby bella mushrooms, etc.
There are a few ways to put your own spin on the filling. You can (1) deglaze the skillet with a splash of dry white wine when you add the mushrooms for a light citrus flavor, (2) caramelize shallots and/or leeks along with the onions, and/or (3) add chopped walnuts to the mushroom mixture for a soft crunch.
Yes, you can fully assemble the wellington up to 1 day before baking and serving. Just wrap it in a layer of plastic and keep it in the fridge.
Alternatively, you can slice the sweet potatoes and make the mushroom filling 1 to 2 days before assembling and baking the vegetarian beef wellington. Keep them in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Also, feel free to thaw the puff pastry in the fridge the night before you make this recipe so you don’t have to wait for it to thaw.
The leftover wellington slices can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for about 2 months. Keep in mind that the pastry will get a bit soggy over time. Reheat the slices in a 350ºF oven until warmed through and the pastry is crisp.
Mushroom Wellington
Ingredients
Mushroom filling
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 16 ounces cremini mushrooms
- 3 large yellow onions peeled and thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 4 ounces baby spinach
- 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and thinly sliced
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened soy milk
Instructions
Thaw puff pastry and preheat oven
- Set the frozen puff pastry out to thaw while you prepare the filling. It will take about 30 minutes to thaw.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease a baking pan.
Prepare the mushroom filling
- Add the mushrooms to a food processor and pulse several times until crumbly, but be careful not to over process them. Alternatively, chop them small with a large knife.
- Warm the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until caramelized. They should be golden brown in color. I like to season them with a little salt towards to end, around 1/4-1/2 teaspoon.
- Add the chopped mushrooms, garlic and soy sauce and cook for about 10 minutes, until the mushrooms have softened and the liquid released from the mushrooms has mostly evaporated.
- Add the thyme, rosemary and baby spinach. Stir well to combine as the spinach wilts. Remove from heat. You can add a little salt to taste, but I don't find this necessary (the soy sauce adds saltiness).
Assemble wellington and bake
- Once the puff pastry has thawed, roll it out to about 9×12 inches on a piece of parchment paper (this will make it easier to turn over onto the pan).
- Add a layer of thinly sliced sweet potatoes to the middle third of the pastry. Top with half of the mushroom mixture, then add another layer of sweet potatoes. Add the rest of the mushroom mixture, then finish with a final layer of sweet potatoes. (see photos above in post for reference)
- Fold the sides of the pastry over the top of the mixture and pinch and seal the edges. Use a little water on your fingers to help it seal if needed.
- Carefully roll the wellington over onto the pan, using the parchment paper to help, so the seam side is down.
- Use a sharp knife to score the dough in a criss cross pattern.
- In a small bowl, stir the olive oil and milk to combine, then brush the tops and sides of the wellington with it.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, until golden brown and puffy. Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with vegan gravy and enjoy!
Notes
- Make ahead – You can prepare this a day ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Or make the filling and slice the sweet potatoes ahead of time, store in the refrigerator, then thaw the puff pastry, layer and bake.
- How to store leftovers – Keep any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze some of it if needed.
- Mushrooms – I used cremini, but you can use basically any mushroom you like. Slice them instead of chopping if you want more texture.
Nora, I’ve been searching for a good turkey replacement at Christmas for years and this recipe has been the best find yet, so thank you so much! After a couple of pre-Christmas “trial runs” I would add that draining the mushroom mixture after cooking and refrigerating it before assembling avoids any chance of sogginess. It’s delicious and it looks fantastic! Looking forward to the rave reviews I fully expect from the fam… 🙂
Hi! Looking for a Xmas dinner. My partner hates mushrooms, while I love them! I’m wondering if this dish taste a lot like actual mushroom. Love all your recipes! Thank you for posting them!!
I’m not the biggest fan of mushrooms either, but I don’t mind them in this dish. In fact I really like them here! That being said you can taste them so if they really hate mushrooms, they may not like this dish. Thank you so much for enjoying my recipes!
Hi Nora,
I want to make the puff pastry myself as I can’t seem to find anything ready-made without palm oil – how big should the pastry layers be?
Thx,
Dorota
9×12 inches approximately, it’s in the directions as well (step 1 of the assemble wellington part). Thanks and enjoy!
OH my gosh! This is so good! I made it for a holiday potluck. I was the only vegan there, but there was not a scrap of this left, yet the turkey, ham, and scalloped potatoes that others brought were barely consumed in comparison.
A couple mods I had to make at the last minute: I realized I didn’t have the required number of onions or fresh spinach. I used a couple bags of frozen chopped onions and 4 oz of frozen spinach. It all turned out great this way.
My sweet potatoes were absolutely cooked all the way through. I did slice them thin, but not paper thin. They were about the same as Nora’s seem in her photos.
Like all of Nora’s recipes, this is a keeper!
I love to hear this! This is my favorite holiday dish for sure, it’s always a hit. 🙂
Haven’t made this yet but giving it five stars because I’ve made so many things on your site and they’re ALWAYS five stars! I’m planning on making this for Christmas Eve dinner with a side salad and wondering what kind of salad dressing you think would pair well?
Perhaps a balsamic dressing? Or you could make my Festive Kale Salad, which I always make for holiday dinners. 🙂 Thank you and enjoy!
What did I do wrong, pastry was cooked and the sweet potato’s still raw ?
Perhaps the sweet potato was sliced too thick? Or you didn’t bake long enough?
My sweet potatoes did not cook. I guess I need to make them much thinner next time? It was all delicious though. Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Dawn. Yes, I do slice the sweet potatoes quite thin. I’m glad you loved the flavor of the recipe! Thank you for sharing, and happy cooking!
Delicious, also made the vegan gravy (using Marmite instead of yeast). My wife and finished the whole thing in a day!
A-mazing especially with your vegan gravy recipe. Cooked this for my friend who was unwell and he and I loved it. Just the nutrient boost he needed. Love all your recipes thanks so much for sharing! So easy to make as well. God bless you!
You are welcome, Jennifer! You are a kind soul to help take care of your friend! Thanks for sharing your wonderful review and feedback! Wishing you lots of happy cooking!
I am a vegetarian while my husband, who is an avid hunter, is not. This is a wonderful in be tween meal that satisfies both our requirements. My health contusions mentality and his cave eater thought process. I added a couple of changes to entice him but for the most part the meal was absolutely perfect for our needs. Carnivore comfort with vegan ingredients.
Hey, Nora, I’m wanting to make this on 4/24 for my anniversary. I was wondering what side dish(es) you would serve this with or if it’s enough on its own. I want to make a really nice dinner. TIA! I almost exclusively use your recipes all week because of how easy yet delicious you make them.
That sounds wonderful Heather, and happy anniversary! I like to serve this wellington with a simple side salad or roasted vegetable, perhaps roasted brussels sprouts, or asparagus. It is quite filling, so you just need a simple side I would say. Enjoy!
I’d like to try and make this for Easter. But I’m wondering if I can add lentils to it to bump up the protein. What would you suggest?
You could probably add a cup or so of cooked lentils to the mushroom mixture. It should work just fine. Enjoy!
Amazing! Made it for Christmas and making it today again for a birthday.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful review! Enjoy!
Wonderful! Cooked this with my mom and served my family. I am the only vegan one. We all loved this and my mom wants to make this again for the next holiday 🙂
How wonderful! Thank you so much for the fantastic review 🙂