These side dishes are perfect to cook or bring for Thanksgiving. The vegetables in them are seasonal and in most locales can be made primarily with local ingredients, if that's your goal. Most importantly, these dishes can all be made ahead and either reheated or served at a slightly warm room temperature—perfect for the potluck!
Looking for another element of the feast? Check out these delicious Thanksgiving Recipes.
A gratin is just a dish, usually of vegetables, that are topped with cheese and/or bread crumbs or nuts and baked or broiled. Some gratins include a liquid with the vegetables—cream or broth—but others are "dry." This cauliflower gratin can be served hot, warm, or even at room temperature, making it perfect for Thanksgiving when the oven is often full or dishes need to be carried across town to the table of friends and/or family.More »
If you have a very large group—large enough to justify two potato dishes—or a clan that isn't too devoted to the humble mashed potato, give classic potatoes au gratin a try on Thanksgiving. Creamy, cheesy, delicious, and almost benefits from being slightly undercooked at home and then reheated in a hot oven while the turkey takes a rest.More »
Spaghetti squash is roasted, scraped into thin strands before being mixed with a jalapeno-infused cream sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until bubbling and brown. A delicious side dish for anyone at Thanksgiving, or a vegetarian main dish if that's what you need. Bake, cover, and transport to serve it warm when you arrive, or know that it reheats beautifully, suffering not a whit.More »
For better or for worse, this isn't your grandma's green bean casserole. Dried porcini and fresh cream take the place of canned soup and sauteed shallots and fresh bread crumbs usurp canned fried onions. Fresh green beans are called for, of course.More »
Ditch the stodgy green bean casserole altogether and make these marinated green beans, soaked in a mint and chile dressing, instead. They don't just stand up to travel, they benefit from some time sitting around at room temperature before being served.
More »
Cooking okra in a hot oven minimizes the "slime" factor so many people associate with these grassy green pods. Best of all, while it's good hot, there's no reason at all not to serve it barely warm. Still nutty, still chewy-staring to be crispy texture.More »
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Looking for another element of the feast? Check out these delicious Thanksgiving Recipes.
1. Brussels Sprouts, Seared
This easy method of shredding brussels sprouts or taking their leaves apart and quickly cooking them over high heat with a bit of flavoring is endlessly flexible (and sure to win over avowed brussels sprouts-haters!). While they're tasty hot, they work equally well as a warm or room temperature dish, plus it looks good even after some time on the road.More »2. Brussels Sprouts With Walnuts
Brussels sprouts are sauteed to bring out their nutty flavor and then mixed with walnuts for a simple Thanksgiving side dish in this quick, ultra-healthful recipe. This dish is good hot or warm, and can be kept warm for up to an hour by simply covering with foil and setting aside in a warm kitchen. Since the recipe is also easy to double or triple, it also makes a great addition to the holiday table.More »3. Butternut Squash Stir-Fry
Butternut squash is the queen bee of winter squash. Why does everyone love it so? Color and taste, to be sure, but its rind is also easier to cut through and peel than many squashes, and its texture less fibrous or stringy. In short, it's the gateway squash, the squash for people who aren't so sure they like squash. This stir-fry takes full advantage of butternut squash's sweetness, and leaves its luscious texture intact, ready to savor. The spicy back note of this stir-fry adds a little kick to the traditional Thanksgiving table. It reheats beautifully, even in a microwave.More »4. Cauliflower Gratin
A gratin is just a dish, usually of vegetables, that are topped with cheese and/or bread crumbs or nuts and baked or broiled. Some gratins include a liquid with the vegetables—cream or broth—but others are "dry." This cauliflower gratin can be served hot, warm, or even at room temperature, making it perfect for Thanksgiving when the oven is often full or dishes need to be carried across town to the table of friends and/or family.More »
5. Classic Potatoes Au Gratin
If you have a very large group—large enough to justify two potato dishes—or a clan that isn't too devoted to the humble mashed potato, give classic potatoes au gratin a try on Thanksgiving. Creamy, cheesy, delicious, and almost benefits from being slightly undercooked at home and then reheated in a hot oven while the turkey takes a rest.More »
6. Creamy & Spicy Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is roasted, scraped into thin strands before being mixed with a jalapeno-infused cream sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until bubbling and brown. A delicious side dish for anyone at Thanksgiving, or a vegetarian main dish if that's what you need. Bake, cover, and transport to serve it warm when you arrive, or know that it reheats beautifully, suffering not a whit.More »
7. Green Bean Casserole
For better or for worse, this isn't your grandma's green bean casserole. Dried porcini and fresh cream take the place of canned soup and sauteed shallots and fresh bread crumbs usurp canned fried onions. Fresh green beans are called for, of course.More »
8. Mint Jalapeno Green Beans
Ditch the stodgy green bean casserole altogether and make these marinated green beans, soaked in a mint and chile dressing, instead. They don't just stand up to travel, they benefit from some time sitting around at room temperature before being served.
More »
9. Roasted Okra
Cooking okra in a hot oven minimizes the "slime" factor so many people associate with these grassy green pods. Best of all, while it's good hot, there's no reason at all not to serve it barely warm. Still nutty, still chewy-staring to be crispy texture.More »
10. Roasted Persimmons
Sweet and tender with caramelized brown edges, roasted fuyu persimmons are a sweet yet savory side dish to add to your feast table. They are delicious alongside turkey, and absolute perfection with ham. Plus, they're good hot, warm, or at room temperature.More »11. Spicy Turnip Pickles
This is a bold move to make, but these spicy pickles add a great burst of flavor alongside the traditional Thanksgiving offerings—and help cut some of the heaviness associated with holiday meals. Plus, they need to be made ahead and taste best at room temperature.More »
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