Side Dishes for Thanksgiving: Three Delicious Recipes

By Fernanda Beccagli, Voxxi

Most of the fun of preparing a large meal like Thanksgiving resides behind the humble side dishes, soups and sauces that add color, flavor, texture and personality to the meal.

From traditional, seasonal to unconventionally unique sides, don’t be afraid to mix and match them all to make an unforgettable meal that will be uniquely yours.

Here are three of our favorite Thanksgiving Day side dishes.

Thanksgiving Day side dishes

Brussels sprouts with prosciutto and pomegranate
Serves 4

Ingredients

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon & Pomegranate. This Thanksgiving change it up with different side dishes that add personality to your turkey. (Photo/ onehungrymama)

1 lb. fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed, and halved

2 Tbsp. extra virgin coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil

4 ounces Italian or Spanish prosciutto, coarsely chopped (you can add pancetta instead)

4 garlic cloves, peeled, finely chopped

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/2 cup organic, low sodium vegetable broth

Seeds from 1 pomegranate, or toasted pumpkin seeds

Directions

Blanch Brussels sprouts and set aside.

Over medium heat, heat oil in a large heavy saucepan. Add prosciutto and sauté until crispy, about 2-3 minutes.

Add garlic and sauté until golden, about 2 minutes. Add Brussels sprouts and sauté until nicely browned, about 3-4 minutes. Season to taste.

Add broth, let it simmer until reduces enough to coat the sprouts, about 2-3 minutes. Add pomegranate seeds. Combine well and serve.

Read: Thanksgiving Day turkey: Tips to cooking an unforgettable bird

Maple butternut squash purée

Serves 8

Ingredients

Butternut squash soup. This Thanksgiving change it up with different side dishes that add personality to your turkey. (Photo/ thebrooklynsocialite)

5 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into pieces

2 cups of water with salt

1/3 cup organic or high quality maple syrup

1 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. cardamom, optional

1/2 tsp. fresh ginger, optional

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

In a large pot with salted water cook the butternut squash until tender, about 15 minutes.

Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, discard the rest.

Using a food processor or blender, purée squash with spices, maple syrup and butter adding the reserved cooking liquid if needed to adjust consistency. Taste, adjust seasoning. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve while hot.

Kitchen note: For extra texture, after pureeing, you may add candied toasted pecan or crumbled bacon.

Chipotle mashed sweet potatoes: For a spicier, more dramatic, and more Latino version of this classic, just add some chopped chipotle chiles in adobo to your sweet potatoes purée. If you need extra heat, throw one chopped jalapeño or a pinch of Sriracha sauce. To add creaminess and consistency, drop a tablespoon of butter and a splash of whole milk or cream while puréeing.

Chunky cranberry persimmon sauce

This recipe is more about taste than anything else. In the past, I used to like my cranberry sauce really sweet. Today, I am always looking for that bittersweet balance. Though a seasonal sauce, this sauce goes perfect with any white meat, so use it and abuse it while it lasts.

And since I have tried it before with oranges, beets and ginger, this time I am adding a new seasonal twist: persimmons. So don’t be afraid to add your own unique touch.

Ingredients

Chunky Cranberry Sauce. This Thanksgiving change it up with different side dishes that add personality to your turkey. (Photo/ straightupfood)

Yields 3 cups

4 cups fresh cranberries

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup dry red wine

2 Tbsp. beet or pomegranate juice (not added sugar)

1 star-anise

1 tsp. cloves

1/2 cup organic demerara sugar

Sea salt, to taste

3 ripe Fuyu persimmons, peeled and diced

Seeds of 1 pomegranate

Zest of 1 lime or orange (organic)

Directions

Place cranberries, balsamic vinegar, wine, pomegranate juice, star-anise, cloves, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil—stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, simmer for another 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning and sweetness, adding salt, more sugar or a splash of fresh lemon juice.

Fold in the persimmons, pomegranate and zest.

Transfer to a bowl, and serve at a room temperature or slightly chilled.

This article was first published in Voxxi.

Fernanda Beccaglia has almost two decades of experience both in journalism and in the Culinary Arts. Through her mantra “use fresh ingredients and keep it simple,” she finds endless inspiration in Mother Nature. Her passion for writing and health-conscious eating equals her passion for learning, inspiring and motivating others to live a more harmonious and holistic life.