Thanksgiving is a traditional holiday celebrated in the United States, Canada, and several other countries around the world. It is a day when family members gather together to enjoy a warm dinner. The star of the Thanksgiving menu is the delicious, golden roasted turkey. So, besides turkey, what other dishes are included in the Thanksgiving feast?
Typically, Thanksgiving is celebrated with a dinner party with family and friends, where the main dish is roasted turkey (sometimes stuffed with three types of poultry, such as a chicken stuffed into a duck, which is then stuffed into a turkey).
A traditional Thanksgiving meal usually includes the following dishes:
The first dish that comes to mind and is synonymous with Thanksgiving is turkey. The turkey is prepared by cleaning and removing the feet and head, then marinated with spices like wine, ginger, and sliced onions, and left in the refrigerator overnight to let the flavors meld. The turkey can be stuffed with or without ham, goose, and duck, or a turducken (a dish that combines three types of poultry: chicken, duck, and turkey, where a chicken is stuffed into a duck, which is then stuffed into a turkey).
Stuffing: This is a mixture of bread, chopped celery, carrots, onions, and sage that is stuffed inside the turkey before roasting. Sometimes chestnuts, diced bacon, sausage, raisins, or apples are added to the mixture for stuffing. This dish is incredibly flavorful and is typically used to stuff the turkey or served alongside other main dishes on Thanksgiving Day.
Various Baked Goods: The most popular is corn bread, along with apple pie, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, and paté which are also well-liked.
Potatoes: Whether baked or mashed, potatoes or sweet potatoes are an essential part of the Thanksgiving meal. After the protein-rich turkey, potatoes provide a great source of carbohydrates to balance the meal. This dish is not only popular in North America but also widely enjoyed in Asian countries due to its creamy and fragrant nature. Potatoes are boiled with garlic, then mashed with butter and fresh milk, and can also include some bacon, depending on your taste.
Cranberry Sauce: Cranberry sauce or cranberry jelly is a condiment commonly paired with turkey on Thanksgiving. Cranberries are simmered with sugar until thickened, creating a sour sauce that balances the richness of the turkey and mashed potatoes.
Gravy: The turkey dish would not be complete if the cook wasted the juices and fat rendered while the meat roasts in the oven. The gravy is made from the drippings after the turkey has absorbed the flavors of the herbs and vegetables, then cooked with flour or cornstarch to thicken. The sweet and rich flavor of this sauce is the soul of the turkey dish, preventing the meat from being bland or overly rich.
Green Bean Casserole: This dish was created by the Campbell soup company in the U.S. in 1955. The ingredients include green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and fried onions. This dish quickly gained popularity and has become a staple in the traditional American Thanksgiving meal.
Roasted Vegetables: The array of roasted or sautéed vegetables served alongside the main dishes at the Thanksgiving table is colorful and abundant, helping to balance the meal nutritionally while providing delicious flavors.
Pumpkin Pie: Late in the year is the time when pumpkins ripen and are harvested. Westerners commonly use pumpkins in their daily meals and on Thanksgiving. The pumpkin pie has a crust primarily made from flour, butter, and milk, baked until flaky. The pumpkin filling is smooth and creamy, mixed with whipped cream and spices. When served, each slice is often topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Tourtière: This is a traditional savory pie for Thanksgiving in Canada. Tourtière is made with beef, potatoes, flour, butter, and more. This dish involves a rather complicated and meticulous preparation. When you take a bite, you will experience a unique flavor with a crispy crust, and the filling of tender meat combined with flavorful potatoes is truly tantalizing.
Beverages: Thanksgiving also features specific beverages, just like other major holidays. Depending on the family, their celebrations will include different traditional drinks, but the most common is apple cider. Apple cider is essentially non-alcoholic apple juice that is easy to make. Apples are pressed to extract the juice, boiled, strained, and then chilled.
Candied Yams: This term refers to certain types of sweet potatoes. They are versatile and can be served alongside other main dishes. Seasoning, brown sugar, and butter are added to the yams, and then topped with marshmallows before baking, resulting in a sweet and irresistible dish.
