Five Fantastic Sides for Thanksgiving with Wilson Farm
If I am being completely honest, and I’d like to be, my favorite foods at Thanksgiving are always the side dishes and appetizers. Truly. Turkey and gravy, sure I’ll have a little, but the stars for me are the sides (and that cheese platter).
So, with my side dish “side” chosen, it only made sense for this week, featuring the fabulous Wilson Farm, to showcase five incredible side dishes perfect for Thanksgiving. And what a five they turned out to be! Creamy veggies, sparkling salad, sauces I’d eat with a spoon, bright greens, and even the crowd-favorite - sweet potato - all made their way onto our table this week.
Whether your menu for The Big Feast has been set already or not, take a look at these five side dishes and perhaps make a (delicious) change, or addition, to your Thanksgiving plate.
Thank you to Wilson Farm for sponsoring this post. All opinions and ideas are, as always, my own.
Creamy Cauliflower and Onion Gratin (and Panko Chicken)
Recipe from Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman.
How’s this for snazzy vegetable presentation for Thanksgiving?! This baked cauliflower and onion dish is creamy and dreamy without a hint of being “too fancy” in case you were worried about that. While the final presentation looks stellar, the flavor is homey, cozy, and just perfect to go alongside any number of items on your plate.
Since variety is the spice of life, we made both versions noted in the recipe: with and without breadcrumbs on top. Of course, we used GF panko, to make it safe, and I must admit that I actually preferred the version covered in crumbs. I loved the crunch on top; I’m partial to panko for exactly that reason. And yes, the version without it was naturally gluten free, but it didn’t pop quite as much. Since GF panko exists in this wonderful world, do yourself a favor and just make both. Your guests will thank you. ;)
Admittedly, this meal is filled with cream and cheese (it’s a gratin). Embrace it! Also, the leftovers were phenomenal. Even when eaten cold, straight from the fridge.
Broccolini with Sesame Sauce and Lemon (And seared halibut)
Recipe from Bon Appétit. Get it here.
Say your guests are clamoring for veggies, but a little lighter. I know, it’s Thanksgiving, and gluttony does not hide on this day. But! Take one bite of this broccolini and sauce and you’ll fill your plate with the green goodness too. Up until now, broccolini wasn’t on my “eat often” list, but now that I learned to calm the flavor down a bit by boiling in heavily-salted water, my tastebuds have been permanently changed. 😮
Not only was the broccolini itself far more pleasant than I anticipated, the sesame sauce - hello tahini - was so scrumptious I was eating it with a spoon after dinner. Not kidding. It was the perfect sauce to cover the veggie and with fresh lemon over all of it, I think we found our new favorite “easy weeknight vegetable.” Not to mention a fabulous, and healthy, Thanksgiving side dish.
This plate was gluten free, naturally, as well as dairy free and grain free. Keep this one in your pocket for your guests who need it all to be “free.” 😉
Glazed Leeks with Pine Nut Salsa Verde (And Broiled crispy chicken)
Recipe for leeks from Bon Appétit. Get it here.
Next up? Leeks! Another vegetable. Bear with me. Veggies are important at Thanksgiving to balance out all that turkey, gravy, stuffing, and cheese. I’m assuming there’s a cheese plate at your Thanksgiving which is fairly presumptuous, but cheese is an integral part of the holiday, I think. Moving on!
While the leeks on their own are not too thrilling, add this pine nut salsa verde and red wine vinegar sauce and then be prepared for your tastebuds to go into overdrive. Wow! Again, we have a somewhat standard vegetable preparation (boiled in heavily salted water), but then it’s glammed up with a gorgeous sauce. And in this case, two, incredible sauces.
Pine nut salsa verde is superb and I plan to douse all of my vegetables in it moving forward. And my salads. And maybe even my eggs. It’s so good! Surprise your guests with this delicious dish that’s sweet and savory, and joyfully healthy. Bonus, it looks very cool on the platter. And it’s dairy free, just so you know.
Charred Sweet Potatoes with Hot Honey ButtEr and LiMe (And Meatballs)
Recipe for potatoes from Bon Appétit. Get it here.
Now, now is the time for potatoes. I bet you thought they’d never show up. But fear not! They are here and they. Are. Awesome. 🎉
Never again shall we need to simply roast sweet potatoes and just add some salt and butter. Or maple syrup. Whichever you choose. Sure, those “toppings” are acceptable and delicious, but now that we’ve had sweet potatoes with hot honey butter, life has changed for the better (butter).
A showstopper dish without a doubt, these sweet potatoes will be the fastest food to disappear from the buffet. And with good reason! Roast the halved sweet potatoes face-down on a baking sheet (covered in oil), then once done, slather each piece with this hot honey butter that is stunningly yummy on that potato. Not to mention the roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) on top which had coriander and other spices mixed in. I’m drooling and typing.
The variety of textures and flavors going on here incredible and I loved how fun the potatoes looked all together on the plate. Squeeze lime over all of it for an extra splash of sour; this side dish had it all: spicy, sweet, savory, and a dash of sour. What’s that called? Perfection. 😎
Iceberg with Pecorino, Crushed Olives, and Pickled Chile (And Confetti Meatloaf)
Salad recipe from Nothing Fancy by Alison Roman; meatloaf recipe from Now and Again by Julia Turshen.
For our final side dish offering, we had to go cold. And crunchy. It’s salad time! No Thanksgiving should be considered complete without a salad of some sort, and here is my plug for this one in particular: it’s a fun salad! It feels like a salad for the holidays.
This dish had so many flavors and fun elements that you may even forget you’re willingly adding a cold, crunchy, healthy item to your plate. Surprise! It’s good for you. And it’s quick to prepare. Thank goodness.
What we loved about this new take on a plate of iceberg was that it had the flavor amped up immediately with castelvetrano olives, my favorites, pickled onions, grated Pecorino, and a hearty douse of olive oil. Where can you go wrong?
This salad was meant for Thanksgiving because it’s hearty, but fairly healthy, which is exactly how I want my crunchy, cold greens on Thanksgiving. Especially when I know dessert is coming up. ;)
Protein list
Panko chicken - a weeknight staple that’s made on the stovetop or in the oven. Either works!
Seared Halibut - a luxurious fish that’s most delicious when seasoned very lightly. Perfect with veggies, any time of year.
Broiled Crispy Skin Chicken - a savory staple for weeknights, but also great for a big group.
Asian-style Pork Meatballs - a delicious, fresh take on the forever-favorite meatball, these are a weeknight classic, but also fun for a crowd.
Confetti Meatloaf - a terrific recipe that’s naturally gluten free (ricotta cheese instead of breadcrumbs and eggs), we love the flavor of this easy, and healthy, weeknight option.
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As always, please leave us a comment below or send us a note with any questions about our meals. Thank you!
Enjoy!
