It’s the week before Thanksgiving – and I’m always excited for an opportunity to try recipes that I’ve been waiting for potlucks or group dinners, and share food with others. This year I’m staying in Portland for Thanksgiving weekend unlike previous times when I went off to Sonoma or San Juan Islands or Leavenworth. It’s still a potluck situation where guests are all bringing in contributions for the meal, and I continue with trying to offer a medley of Vegetarian Holiday Sides. After all, making side dishes that are completely vegetarian means both omnivores and vegetarians can both enjoy the dish.
Here are some of my favorite of the vegetarian sides I’ve made previously, including the recipes.
These dishes I particularly like because you can use them as a vegetarian main dish so they don’t feel like they are only eating side dishes:
- Tofu and Mushrooms A La King
- Vegetarian Chicken Fricassee, which I was one of President Lincoln’s favorite dishes (well, not vegetarian, but this version is)
- Butternut Squash Lasagna in Béchamel sauce
- Fresh Ricotta, butternut squash, baby zucchini in Pasta Shells
- Wild Mushroom Stroganoff
More great sides that everyone can eat.
- Wild Rice Recipe with Apples and Pecans of a rice dish really celebrates the bounty of autumn. The mix of brown and wild rice is healthy, but has crisp tart bites from the apples and butteryness of the pecans. Though I make it most often in the fall and winter, I just like this all year round as a side dish.
- For a healthy salad try Roasted Shredded Brussels Sprout Salad
- Cornbread Stuffing – Veggie Version has smokiness from vegetarian ham and some heat from Thai chili pepper
- Creamed Kale or Creamed Cabbage Recipe
- Cauliflower with Brown Butter, Pears, Hazelnuts uses cauliflower in a new way besides covered with cheese and cream or roasted.
- Mashed Brussels Sprouts
- Another great recipe with Cauliflower is to swap out the traditional potato in Colcannon and instead make it a Cauliflower Colcannon
What are you making for your sides for Thanksgiving? Are any of them vegetarian holiday side dishes?
I had a shaved brussels sprout salad for the first time last Thanksgiving, and it made me want to fit the dish into our regular rotation now. It was SO GOOD!
One of the best things about shaved Brussels sprout salad is that it’s so fast – I “shave” mine in a food process btw!
I always had plenty to eat as a vegetarian at thanksgiving for 13 years but now I’m glad I can eat the turkey!
😀
Butternut squash lasagna?! Heck yes! This is a great list.Staying in town is oftentimes a nice way to just relax and decompress a bit. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Pech!
Thanks Erin, wishing the same to you – I’m going to enjoy being at home this weekend because the next one I’ll be back in California!
i was JUST telling someone today that you can mash brussel sprouts! they are so good! i cannot wait to try the brown butter cauliflower…two of my favorite things!
Mashed brussel sprouts are great!! I love that and cauliflower as alternatives to mashed potatoes
These look sooo tempting right now! The butternut squash lasagna is calling my name. I might make a dairy-free potatoes au gratin or some mashed cauliflower this week.
I’m a big fan of potatoes au gratin, though I don’t ever make it – I always seem to resort to smashed potatoes if I want something crispy or mashed and that’s mainly it!
All of our Thanksgiving fare except two dishes (the turkey and “Grammi’s Jello”) is vegetarian. I try to find something new to add to the menu each year, and this is a great collection of choices!