21 side dish ideas for your vegetarian Thanksgiving menu this year.

 

Thanksgiving is arguably the biggest eating holiday of the year. And vegetarians and vegans hunt for satisfying dishes for their Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu (or Vegan Thanksgiving, obviously).

Before you object, I realize many of our holidays are food centric. Valentines Day is all about chocolate. The summer holidays of Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day are the Grand Central Station of grilling. Christmas is rife with memories of dinners, brunches, and cookies – and it’s when I indulge in eggnog. 

But Thanksgiving is really ALL about the food and sharing it with others. It’s consciously focused on gathering friends and family around a big table to share the abundance of a harvest. It uses food as a way to give thanks, and connect with others.

For the next few weeks, in lieu of a Weekly Vegetarian Meal Plan, I’ll post about vegetarian and vegan options for your Vegetarian Thanksgiving. This week is focus on the wealth of side dishes you can easily make the day of the big dinner, or in advance.

Next week will be all about vegetarian and vegan entrees even the carnivores will choose over turkey. Hint: squash will take center stage, but not exclusively.

The final week before Thanksgiving, I’ll offer suggestions for appetizers, breads, drinks and desserts. 

Step 1: What’s in Season

A good place to start, is to look at what’s in season and as local as possible to your table. This obviously depends, at least in part, on where you live. But this site is a good place to start. Here’s a list for my area that’s Thanksgiving-y:

apples          beets          broccoli          cabbage           carrots          cauliflower          cranberries

winter greens          winter squash          mushrooms          pears          pomegranates         

Brussels sprouts          potatoes          sweet potatoes          celery          celery root          persimmon

There are more, but these give anyone a great start.

Step 2: How Many People?

When planning your meal, think about how many people you’ll be feeding. And don’t forget how many different diets! Often guests like to contribute a family favorite to the table, and side dishes are the perfect thing to suggest to them to bring.

If I’m planning a vegetarian Thanksgiving menu for 6, I typically have 3 side dishes. If I’m expecting 10 people at the table, I might have as many as 5 side dishes. Especially if half or more are men and teenagers.

And don’t forget, sometimes leftovers is the best part of Thanksgiving. 

Step 3: Plan the Work

Consider what you can make ahead, so you’re not slammed the day of the feast. It’s your Thanksgiving too. The main dish is typically best fresh from the oven. Casseroles, on the other hand, are just as good if not better the second day. So I try to have two casseroles at the table that only required re-heating. I also look for a mix of easy recipes since I often have one dish that might be more labor-intensive. For example, roasted vegetables and cranberry sauce.

So here we go. First up, let’s have some sweet potatoes.

Spiralized Sweet Potatoes and Apples in Browned Butter 

 

Spiralized Sweet Potatoes and Apples with Dates

 

Edna Lewis & Scott Peacock’s Sweet Potato Casserole

From Food52 website 

Melting Sweet Potatoes Recipe

By Foodie with Family

Best Ever Braised Cabbage  

 

Easy! Garlicky Roasted Cabbage Steaks

 

Mashed Celery Root with Blue Cheese and Watercress

 

Fail-Proof Cheesy Mashed Potatoes   

 

Instant Pot Buttermilk & Leek Mashed Potatoes

From Food52 Website

 

(Make-Ahead) Aunt Ruthie Mashed Potatoes

by Melanie Makes 

 

Gluten-Free Au Gratin Potatoes

From Sunday Supper Movement

 

Lightened Maple Carrot Flan

 

Citrus-Roasted Carrots with Ginger

 

Roasted Butternut Squash

From Boujour Cuisine

 

Crispy Delicata Rings with Currant, Fennel and Apple Relish

From Food52 (This is actually my recipe that won 1st place prize in one of the recipe contests!)

 

Skillet Corn Pudding

 

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spoon Bread

 

Broccoli Casserole with Cheese and Quinoa

 

Warm Brussels Sprouts Salad with Caramelized Onions

 

Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts Slaw

by Cookie + Kate

Keto Green Bean Casserole

Boozy Cranberry Sauce with Pears and Raisins

(this is one of my recipes that was published a few years ago in Parade Magazine.

If you give any of these a try for your vegetarian Thanksgiving menu, I’d love to hear about it. And if you’re on Instagram, snap a photo and post it there. Just don’t forget to tag me @wimpyvegetarian!!