While sweet potato casseroles and pumpkin pies are traditional, sometimes tradition needs change. For those of you who are tired of turkey and the same old stuffing, these Thanksgiving alternatives are for you.
- Try butternut squash ravioli for fall feels
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Sure, turkey and gravy may tell your mind, “Hey, it’s fall,” but this butternut squash ravioli alternative will still put you in the fall mood while trying something new. Not to mention, it’s a great alternative for vegetarian lovers to try this Thanksgiving. A great recommendation is to use a light sauce, such as a butter sage sauce, to bring out the butternut flavors. Maybe incorporate some nuts into the mix to give it more of a fall vibe.
- Roasted…. lamb chops!
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If you’re tired of poultry, try this meat selection to make your Thanksgiving memorable and new. Roasted lamb is a great substitute for those who still want to eat a great meal that isn’t the same boring food they eat daily. Rubbing the lamb chops in some seasonings will allow for a tastier meal. A great side dish for these lamb chops are potatoes or even just vegetables. The best part of this alternative is if there are leftovers, then you can make an awesome lamb chop sandwich the next day.
- Pumpkin pie meets its match: Chocolate pie
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Who doesn’t love chocolate? If that’s you, then keep scrolling. If it’s not, then read on! While pumpkin and apple pies provide fall feels during Thanksgiving, there is a better alternative: chocolate pie. Nothing is better than a rich, creamy chocolate pie with some fresh whipped cream to top it off. What some people like to do to change up the taste of chocolate is add cinnamon or even powdered sugar on top. The cinnamon could turn the recipe into a seasonally-inspired dessert.
- Any type of fish, any type of way
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From pan-seared salmon in a lemon sauce to even fish and chips, fish is a great alternative. Fish is an awesome way to celebrate Thanksgiving in a non-traditional way. Not to mention, studies have shown eating fish helps with memory. So, eat up! If you’re planning on having savory side dishes, like sweet potato casserole, for your Thanksgiving meal, then try a fish with a light sauce. That way, you won’t get too full, and it can balance out the flavors nicely. Trying a salmon or cod in a butter sauce can accomplish this.
- Crazy times calls for carrot cake
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Carrot cake is a vegetable. Right? Even if people say it isn’t, who cares? Holidays such as Thanksgiving call for a nice carrot cake. For those who hate cinnamon apple pies (those people exist) or those who dislike the same old Thanksgiving pies, carrot cake is a great compromise. Topping the carrot cake off with cream cheese frosting is the best way to go. A recommendation for this alternative is to have some walnuts incorporated into the cake itself, or you can garnish it on top of the cream cheese frosting.
- Some traditions never die. The same goes for traditional kinds of pasta
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While you may be sick of turkey or stuffed from the Thanksgiving stuffing, traditional kinds of pasta are something new to try while still having a “traditional” holiday meal. Some traditional kinds of pasta to try out this Thanksgiving are spaghetti and fettuccine alfredo. Whether it’s from a restaurant or your own kitchen, these kinds of pasta are a great way to take a pause from the same boring Thanksgiving meals eaten during this time of the year. Adding fresh herbs, such as parsley or oregano, can also make the meal tastier.
- Need some fried food comfort? These apple fritters have your back
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Apple fritters not only taste good but are also pretty simple to make, as long as you follow the recipe. A great recipe to make these fritters in less than an hour can be found here. In addition to pumpkins, apples are always a good fruit to put you in the fall mood. Adding cinnamon in the batter before frying will put you in the holiday spirit while trying something new.
- Vegetarian alternative: stuffed bell peppers
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You’d be surprised how often people use stuffed bell peppers for the holidays. Sometimes people cut out to make a scary face to imitate a carved pumpkin and serve this recipe on Halloween. While it’s not Halloween, it is never a bad idea to try this stuffed bell pepper alternative. Adding a mix of beans and rice as the stuffing is a great Thanksgiving alternative for vegetarian lovers. Those who aren’t can always add any kind of meat into the pepper if they so choose. A recommendation for this alternative is to add a layer of cheese to cover the bell pepper, then place it in the oven. When the cheese bubbles over and is a nice golden brown, you know it’s ready.
- Meat lovers alternative: flank steak
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Meat lovers, this one’s for you. There’s nothing like a good flank steak to put you in the Thanksgiving mood. From marinating the night before to just adding a rub of spices, flank steak is awesome. Much like fish, it can be used and prepared in any way. If you want to get creative, do flank steak kabobs. Want to stay traditional? Try flank steak with rice and vegetables. If you want to have a themed Thanksgiving, try turning the steak into fried rice, having an Asian-inspired dinner. Even better, make Thanksgiving an Argentinean theme so you can have all the meats and make a grill. Whatever you choose to do with the flank steak, it’s never a bad decision.
Hopefully, these options will spark a new interest in Thanksgiving alternatives this year. If not, then at least you tried something new. Whatever you serve on Thanksgiving, never forget to be thankful for the ones around you and for the amazing food on the table.