Updated 11/24/09

Hey guys!

While my mom and I traditionally make side dishes that just so happen to have always been vegetarian, I am excited to try the following recipes to add to the mix of vegetarian options at our dinner table (there’s going to be at least 10 of us!):

• Miso Soup with Sweet Potato Dumplings (Vegan) –
  [Source]
  “This spicy soup from Shawn McClain, chef at Green Zebra in Chicago, is rich in immunity-enhancing vitamin A.”

• Simple Butternut Squash Tart (Vegetarian) — “This simple, vibrantly colored butternut squash tart recipe provides a nice amount of payoff for the minimal amount of effort that goes into it.”

For all the newly minted vegetarians like myself, here are some additional recipes and resources I’ve come across for vegetarian and/or vegan eaters.

Best Sounding Recipes — Entree Options
**Note:  A lot of entree options call for mushrooms – and I just so happen to dislike mushrooms – so when I was envisioning these dishes, I was envisioning them sans mushrooms! **

• Artichoke Spinach Lasagna (Vegetarian) — “This is a fabulous lasagna made with an artichoke and spinach mixture which has been cooked with vegetable broth, onions and garlic. The mixture is layered with lasagna noodles, pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese, and topped with crumbled feta.”  Use whole-wheat to make it healthier.
• Gourmet Mushroom Risotto (Vegetarian)
• Harissa Spaghetiini (Vegan)
• Holiday Cashew Nut Loaf (Vegan) — “With a taste reminiscent of stuffing, this is perfect for a holiday buffet. Layered eggplant adds a contrasting texture to the nuts and elevates this hearty casserole to an eye-popping entrée.”
• Mushroom, Cheese & Vegetable Strudel (Vegetarian)
• Smothered Seitan Medallions with Mushroom Gravy (Vegan)
• Thanksgiving Tart (Vegan) — “Combining the most prominent flavors of the holiday season—namely savory thyme, crisp cranberries, homey spinach, and hearty chickpeas—this dish is guaranteed to satisfy.”
• Vegetable Puffs with Pastry Sheets (Vegan)
• Walnut-Stuffed Eggplant (Vegetarian)

Best Sounding Recipes — Side and Appetizer Options

• Best of Both Worlds Potatoes Anna (Vegetarian) — “If you’re torn between serving regular potatoes or sweet potatoes, try this spectacular dish, which calls for both.”
• Chilean Corn and Un-Turkey Soup (Vegan) — “This savory chowder is inspired by pastel de choclo, a Chilean corn and meat pie.”
• Curried Apple Couscous (Vegetarian)
• Curried Sweet Potato Fritters (Vegetarian) — “These Indian-inspired fritters also make great hors d’oeuvres—simply use scant 1-tablespoon dollops of the fritter mixture when cooking, and skip the bed of spinach.”
• Lucie’s Chestnut Stuffing (Vegetarian)
• Roasted Pumpkin Salad (Vegan)

Best Sounding Recipes — Dessert Options

• Apple Cobbler (Vegan)
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cupcakes (Vegan)
• Pumpkin-Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake (Vegetarian) — “It took us four tries to get this recipe just right, but the result—a rich, creamy, pumpkin-flavored cheesecake laced with spice and swirled with chocolate—is truly spectacular.”
• Pumpkin Pie Wontons (Vegan) — “These dessert wontons are a great way to serve pumpkin pie individually, and won our reader recipe contest in 2001.”
• Sweet Potato Cake (Vegan) — “spiced cake with layers of fluffy, vegan buttercream”
• Toasted Pecan Toffee (Vegetarian)

Other Resources

• Check out Happy Herbivore’s vegan Thanksgiving options here
• Check out 101 Cookbooks’ Vegetarian Thanksgiving options here
• Amazing looking vegetarian and vegan recipes with puff pastry as a main ingredient — I’m especially intrigued by the chocolate walnut date tarts and vegan asparagus tart.
• The Veggie Table’s sample Thanksgiving menus (all vegetarian or vegan) here
• International Vegetarian Union’s 64 Holiday Recipes here
• Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes (some omnivore options listed) here
• The Food Network’s Thanksgiving menu here
• Tofurky has been a staple for first-time vegetarian Thanksgivings.  While I haven’t tried any of their Thanksgiving products, I have tried their Italian “sausage,” which I think tastes amazing. I have heard mixed reviews on their Tofurky turkey (actually sort of shaped like an actual turkey which I imagine is good for “transitioning” vegetarians or omnivores who are up for trying something new).  View their list of Thanksgiving products here.  Trader Joe’s is currently selling Tofurky roasts.
• Check out Whole Foods Market’s vegetarian Thanksgiving menu here
• Bonappetit Thanksgiving Slide Show of Recipes (2008) here

Any of these recipes sound good to you?  What’s on your Thanksgiving menu?

<3, The Cranky One

Tags: thanksgiving meal options, thanksgiving recipes, vegan recipes, vegetarian meals, vegetarian recipes