Turkey Alternatives on Thanksgiving
By Marci Lutsky
There is no rule that says you must serve turkey on Thanksgiving. Seriously, the holiday police will not come to your house. I will be hosting a small family gathering this Thanksgiving and very few people at my table eat turkey. I plan on skipping the turkey this year and loading up on vegetarian options. If you want to do the same, here are some suggestions for what to serve that will leave your guests full and satisfied.
Tofurkey. Yes, I realize that it’s a funny name to say, but you would be surprised at how good a tofurkey can be! It’s like a turkey except that it’s made with wheat and tofu, filled with rice and bread stuffing. It is the most similar substitute to turkey you can get without eating turkey. I’ve tasted it and will say, it’s a great option if you want a meat-free holiday meal.
Vegetarian meatballs or meatloaf. If you read this column regularly, you know that I’m a fan of meatless meatballs and meatloaf. Ingredients that I use in my meatless meatballs range from broccoli to tempeh. For meatless meatloaf I favor bulgur or lentils. You will not miss the meat if you go with vegetarian meatballs or meatloaf.
Seafood. Seafood is one of the easiest substitutes if you want to avoid poultry or red meat. It cooks quickly and is quite elegant. Salmon is probably the best crowd pleaser when it comes to seafood. Salmon can be roasted, grilled and pan-seared. This is ideal if you are like me and find yourself planning out when each dish will go in the oven at what time. In an ideal world I would have a double oven, but I don’t, so I rely on my grill – yes, even in cold temperatures – and stovetop. If salmon isn’t your thing, crab cakes or fish cakes are likely to please a crowd. You can buy them pre-made at many of the local seafood stores like Bob’s Seafood or Sublime Seafood Company. They are also quite simple to make and quick to cook.
Side dishes as main dishes. Side dishes are my absolute favorite part of Thanksgiving. Some recipes are yearly staples and stay in the rotation like marshmallow topped sweet potatoes, shaved Brussels sprouts salad, pumpkin bread and butternut squash stuffing. I usually try out one new recipe per year. If it gets rave reviews, then it goes into the regular rotation. If it only gets lukewarm reviews, it’s out for the following year. When I go back for seconds – and sometimes thirds – it is always for side dishes, so I like for those to shine on my holiday table.
It’s OK to have pasta. Does pasta really belong on your Thanksgiving menu? Why not? I make a delicious pumpkin lasagna in a slow cooker which is perfect for the holiday. It has pumpkin a no-brainer for Thanksgiving. The other reason that I love this recipe is that it’s made in the slow cooker which again frees up your oven.
If you plan on skipping the turkey this year, I hope this gives you some inspiration so that your guests will still feel satisfied and full. If you shop at one of the major supermarkets like Shoprite and qualify for a free turkey that you don’t plan on cooking, donate it to the food bank. That’s my tradition with my kids. Don’t let it go to waste. Have a delicious and happy Thanksgiving!
Marci Lutsky is a food blogger at Vegging at the Shore, www.veggingattheshore.com and can be reached at veggingattheshore@gmail.com.
