Friday Five: Thanksgiving Dishes to Wow Your Guests
For my pals in the USA, Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Are you cooking for your extended family or friends? I don’t typically have that responsibility but, as my interest in cooking has grown over the years, I now want the challenge. I’m looking forward to trying out healthier versions of Thanksgiving dishes on my family this year. In light of that, I’m sharing some tried and tested recipes that I love and think your Thanksgiving company will, too!
If your family is anything like mine, they want a no-frills Thanksgiving dinner. So, this is not the time to make a fancy rice pilaf, homemade bread rolls, or whatever artichoke appetizer you found on pinterest. When time is of the essence, you’ve got to consider what is really worth your effort.
For example, a few years back I made a cranberry sauce from scratch. It was so good! (Here’s the recipe if you’re interested). At dinner, my dad and sister tried it but that was it. I had cranberry sauce leftover for days because the rest of my family preferred the canned stuff they were familiar with.
Incidents like that make me frustrated and want to throw in the towel for cooking for my family. I absolutely HATE food waste but I also don’t want to be stuck eating my prepared dish for three days or more! Therefore, my tip for getting your family/friends to eat your dish is: DO NOT OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE. If the only cranberry sauce available was mine, I bet I wouldn’t have come home with a bowl full.
What was today’s post about? Oh yes, Thanksgiving dishes. I digressed. Anyway, I’ve tried all of these recipes (except one, noted) and think they can hold a worthy spot at the Thanksgiving table.
Butternut Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole is a solid dish on it’s own but I bet your guests won’t even detect the butternut squash. You get the caramelized sweetness of the sweet potatoes without all the heaviness. The butternut squash helps to lighten things up and the pecan crumble makes this practically dessert-worthy WITHOUT all the sugar in the classic dish.
Mushroom Gravy Pie with Garlicky Kale Mashed Potatoes
Instead of mashed potatoes and gravy, make this mushroom gravy pie! Expect everyone to swoon and be begging for the recipe. Okay, I can’t say I’ve been begged for the recipe but the dish was well-received when I made it. If your family is super picky, you could omit the kale and everything will still be delicious. Plus, the pie works as a side to turkey or a main for the vegheads (like myself) at Thanksgiving!
Roasted Cauliflower & Almond Salad with Tahini Dressing
If there is a vegetable that is most widely accepted, it would be cauliflower. Cauliflower has made its mark but I still wouldn’t go wild with it for Thanksgiving. In this salad, I love the tender cauliflower combined with toasty almonds and the creamy tahini dressing. The cauliflower salad is perfect because guests can get a few florets without feeling like they are taking away from the other Thanksgiving dishes they prioritize eating.
Curried Roasted Carrots
Show me someone who doesn’t like carrots. I bet you’ll have a hard time finding that person. If you have a group of vegetable haters at the table, like me, then stick with familiar vegetables. The carrots develop next level sweetness while roasting! In contrast, the curry spice provides some balance so you don’t feel like you’re eating straight up candy. (Not that anyone will confuse carrots with candy….) Also, the spice level is super light so it won’t interfere with the flavor profile of other dishes at the table.
Healthy Green Bean Casserole
I mentioned at the beginning of the post that I would include one recipe that I haven’t tried. This is it! I’ve made some other Hummusapien recipes and have been pleased so I don’t doubt this one will be great. If you’ve been looking for a green bean casserole that doesn’t used canned soup or mystery dry onions then we’re in the same camp! My mom usually makes green bean casserole with both of those ingredients but this year I’ll be in charge of the dish. I’m very excited to clean up the casserole and use real, whole food ingredients!
Remember that family meals require a little bit of compromise. Sometimes it is easier to go the pre-made route with certain dishes. Though, if you or someone else at your table has dietary restrictions then it will be much appreciated to have some allergen-friendly dishes. Just some food for thought as you go about preparing a Thanksgiving meal plan.
Also, if you want some more plant-based Thanksgiving inspiration, you can see these recipes and more over on my Pinterest Board!
Xoxo
Melanie
