Seven Delicious Dishes You Must Have on Your Thanksgiving Table

First Published in The Quint on 26.11.15

Each year on the fourth Thursday of November , the air turns nippier, the celebrations get louder and the discounts get stronger! Yes we are talking of none other than ‘Thanksgiving’. However, amidst this festivity, one thing that stands out is the grand Thanksgiving feast.

How many times has the Adam Sandler , thanksgiving classic,  ‘Jack and Jill’ lured you to devour that gorgeous looking Thanksgiving spread or the grand feast in Great Hall at Hogwarts, set your tongues salivating and bellies grumbling? If the answer is “Always”, we have you covered this Thanksgiving. From mashed potatoes to the traditional Turkey, we bring you an elaborate spread that will send you on a gastronomic ride.

Turkey

Undoubtedly, the star of the table on thanksgiving, this dish summons celebration, feasting and a great time with family. Stuffed with chopped onions, carrots, apples and herbs, the Turkey is brushed with butter and roasted until it turns a delicious golden brown. This gorgeous looking turkey pairs fantastically well with Pinot Noir and packs a punch with its aromatic flavours. You could also stuff your Turkey, the way Greeks love it, with beef, pork, onion, pine nuts and chestnuts.  Or if you are craving Italian, stuff it with Italian bread mixed with mushrooms, parmesan and egg.

What could be better than chowing down Turkey on thanksgiving? I can’t think of anything at the moment!

2. Turkey gravy:

Now that we are done with Turkey, it’s time for the rich flavourful gravy to take centre stage. An essential part of any Thanksgiving dinner, this gravy is an absolute delight. And the good news is it is also very easy to make.

Sauté some chopped onions in butter and add chicken stock to it, once the onions turn a golden brown. Then add some cream to the mixture and flavour the gravy with white wine or bourbon or simply the Turkey drippings.
This recipe is sure to be a stunner with your near and dear ones.

Beware- the gravy can be so good that it might even rival the taste of turkey!

3. Buttermilk Corn bread:

Well, you will need something to go with that delicious Turkey gravy, isn’t it? The buttermilk cornbread is your best bet. Prepared by whisking eggs in a large skillet containing butter and combined with buttermilk and baking soda, this mixture is slowly stirred in a pan and then drizzled with cornmeal flour. It is then transferred into a baking pan and baked till it turns a beautiful golden yellow.  Savour this bread with the buttery Turkey gravy.

4. Broccoli and cheese Casserole:
   The turkey may take center stage on Thanksgiving but the feast wouldn’t be complete without its supporting cast of sides. The broccoli and cheese casserole is one of them. Chopped broccoli is baked with Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, and cream of mushroom soup to produce a cheesy, creamy combination that bubbles out of the oven. You are sure to sizzle with excitement as the cheese and the broccoli enrobes your taste buds with its creamy earthy flavours. We bet, you wouldn’t stop at just one spoon.
5. Mashed potatoes:

Who doesn’t like potatoes? And when it is comes to Thanksgiving, it is hard to imagine the feast table without the all time favourite mashed potatoes.
To make your dish more flavourful, add some cheese and milk to the mashed potatoes and cook until it becomes thick. The earthiness and nuttiness of the cheese turns this simple dish into a la mode!

6. Cranberry sauce:

This is a thanksgiving classic! The name itself sets my taste buds in a flurry. This gorgeous looking sauce is prepared by heating orange juice in a pan and then stirring the cranberries and cooking them until they begin to pop. Wait till the sauce cools and eventually thickens.

The cranberry sauce is sure to smack you in the face with its pungent tangy flavours and also pairs perfectly  with Turkey. Now this is what we call a high voltage pairing!

7. Pumpkin pie: This ones for those who love pumpkins and also for those who don’t ‘cus this gooey, creamy pumpkin pie boasts of great flavours that is sure to send your sweet tooth on a joy ride.

To prepare the pie crust, mix together flour and salt to make the dough and then flatten it evenly.

For the pie-slightly boil or steam the pumpkin and blend it with milk, eggs , sugar, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Pour the mixture on to the flattened dough. Bake for an hour and then refrigerate to serve it chilled.

This  savoury holiday pie makes for the perfect dessert on Thanksgiving and is bound to have a candy store like effect on you- addictive and ambrosial!
While we sign off here and leave you to relish these dishes, here’s wishing you all bon appetite and happy thanksgiving!