Thanksgiving dinner includes various traditional meals except of the well-known roasted turkey. But for dieters and vegetarians this holiday may become a real testing. You may avoid eating too sweet or savory dishes and opt for healthier and even tastier foods.
Instead of caramelized yams you may cook nice glazed sweet potatoes. Just peel cooked potatoes and cut them into ½-inch slices. Put them in a baking dish and pour over cooked mixture of honey, butter, cornstarch, apricot nectar and a pinch of cinnamon. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and bake in the oven for about a half an hour.
You can substitute traditional mashed potato for healthier mashed butternut casserole. Just cook a few pieces of butternut squash and mash it, like you mash potatoes. Put in the baking dish and top with crispy bacon and caramelized onion with spices. Bake until heats through for about 10 minutes.
You can also opt for nice vegetarian stuffing for your turkey. Simply mix crumbled gluten-free cornbread, sliced apples, celery and leeks, add some chopped pecans, olive oil, and sprinkle with your favorite spices and seasonings. Non vegetarians may add one egg and even some sherry. Mix well and stuff, or bake in the oven as a side dish.
Choose sweet and savory vegetarian sauces instead of traditional gravy. Cook over medium heat cranberries with coconut oil, honey, some water and rosemary. Season with salt and serve. Or cook some chopped mushrooms in vegetable broth: add chopped onion, garlic and your favorite herbs like rosemary and thyme. Pour in some wine if you like, and add mixture of yeast, tamari and flour to thicken the gravy and cook for a few minutes. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper.
Vegan ‘cheese’ cake with pumpkin may become a wonderful dessert for your thanksgiving dinner. You can make crust from dried coconut, walnuts and agave nectar. Puree some cooked pumpkin in a blender along with a few cups cashews, coconut oil and milk, lemon juice and spicy vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Pour the filling onto crust and freeze until firm for at least one hour. Defrost a little before serving. Enjoy your healthy Thanksgiving dinner.
