Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
I’m not cooking my own Thanksgiving dinner this year, but if I did, the menu might look something like this:
Snacking Tray:
- Mixed olives and cornichons
- Crudités plate
- Cheeses and grapes
Salad:
- Crisp green romaine lettuce salad with arugula, tomatoes, cucumbers, homemade croutons and a simple mustard vinaigrette
Soup:
- South African Butternut Squash Soup. Stephanie made this wonderful soup for our Foodbloggers Potluck and I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s slightly untraditional for a Thanksgiving meal, but the squash makes it very autumnal.
Grain/Starch:
- Wheat Berry and Apple Salad
- Wild Rice Salad with Orange Slices and Walnuts
- Garlic or Traditional Mashed Potatoes. This apple gravy from A Veggie Venture looks pretty awesome.
- Chipotle Mashed Sweet Potatoes. I agree with Lisa - yes to sweet potatoes, no to marshmallows!
Vegetable Sides:
- Fresh cranberry sauce with orange zest
- Stuffing, dressing, whatever it’s called
- Iowan Broccoli Casserole (Yes. It has Velveeta cheese. But whoever said Thanksgiving had to be gourmet? Couldn’t be easier. Or worse for you.)
- Veggie Pot Pie
- I also liked these fresh, zingy ideas from last week’s New York Times: Brussel Spouts with Lemon Zest
- Braised Red Radishes
Main (“Meat”):
- Balsamic-roasted Seitan with Cipollini Onions from Peter Berley’s Fresh Foods Fast
Or
Chicken-style Seitan with a Tarragon Cream Sauce with Parsnips and Carrots
Rolls and French Bread
Dessert:
Pumpkin Pie Apple Crumble
