Thanksgiving has its traditional must-haves. On almost every table you’ll find the requisite roasted turkey, some stuffing, a big bowl of mashed potatoes, and a cradle full of cranberry sauce. But that only covers the first four dishes you'd likely find. In fact, when it comes to Thanksgiving, often what we think of as traditional is anything but. That is because it is the Thanksgiving sides where many hosts will change course.
Some hosts will add a dash of culture to their menu by creating side dishes that reflect their ethnic roots. Other hosts will embrace the freedom that a holiday dedicated to thankfulness and bounty gives them to experiment by making new or unusual sides every year.
If you have room for more Thanksgiving sides on your menu this year, consider including one of these delightfully multicultural dishes on your table:
Antipasti: Spice up your appetizers with an arrangement of sliced cheeses and salami or prosciutto, along with a variety of marinated olives and red peppers.
Cornbread Stuffing with Apple Chorizo: If you are the kitchen-sink type when it comes to stuffing, you’ll love this Latin take on a Thanksgiving staple.
Potato Latkes: The perfect fried potato alternative to mashed potatoes.
Homemade Tamales: Fill these tamales with something to please the vegetarians and the carnivores in your crowd.
Manicotti: Vegetarians on your guest list will love the combination of vegetables and cheese in this classic Italian side.
Black-Eyed Peas: Add a touch of soul to your menu with this recipe that technically could be a meal on its own.
Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Pancetta: The vegetable everyone loves to hate finds lot of love in this recipe.
Stuffed Roasted Delicata Squash: Give that Thanksgiving plate a touch of the vertical with this side dish.
Mashed Carrots and Turnips: Looking for less starch in those mashed veggies? Make this yummy combination side.
Spicy Kimchi: Why narrow the appeal of kimchi to just one side dish when there are so many to try!
Don’t Forget Dessert!
This year, branch out from that old, if awesome, standby pumpkin pie by adding a sweet potato pie or a pecan pie to your menu.
What Thanksgiving sides or desserts do you think should be included? It's fun to think about adding new dishes to expand on the special meal you make with your family at Thanksgiving.
Thank you to the following sources: Food Network; SweetLifeBake.com; Tori’s Kitchen; SeriousEats.com; Epicurious.com; Soul Food and Southern Cooking; New York Times Cooking; FoodFanatic.com; Crazy Korean Cooking; and ... Patti LaBelle!
