My Favorite Thanksgiving Sides
spicy harissa cauliflower; sheet-pan mac & cheese; kale caesar and more!
Hi friends,
Earlier this week, I shared my favorite appetizers, and today I’m moving onto sides. Let’s face it, the sides are what make Thanksgiving worth waiting for all year long! As such, I made sure to hand-pick my *absolute* favorites.
Do you have any go-to sides you make on Thanksgiving? Hit ‘reply’ to let me know, or share in the comments below!
Sides
Salads
Via Carota’s Insalata Verde: Quite honestly, this is the best green salad I’ve ever had, and, thankfully, the restaurant has graciously shared its recipe. We’ve made this at holidays and parties, and it’s always a hit (Food52).
Smitten Kitchen’s Brussels Sprouts & Pomegranate Salad: This easy recipe was adapted from Zahav restaurant in Philadelphia (Smitten Kitchen).
Charred Kale Salad with Citrus: Charring kale in a skillet not only adds flavor but also tenderizes and softens the leaves. The addition of a creamy, herb-infused tahini dressing and plenty of citrus elements transforms this salad into a truly unforgettable dish (Bon Appetit).
My Kale Caesar Salad: When you want a Caesar salad on Thanksgiving!
Vegetables
Glazed Carrots with Burnt Honey and Gochugaru (Serious Eats)
My Whole-Roasted Harissa Cauliflower: Here, whole cauliflower receives the royal treatment, as it's boiled until tender, roasted in a hot oven until browned, and doused in a sweet and spicy harissa paste.
My Mushroom Bourguignon: Inspired by beef bourguignon, this vegetarian-friendly mushroom bourguignon features rich, meaty mushrooms in a flavorful red wine gravy. Perfect for pairing with mashed potatoes!
Joe Beef’s Cider Turnips: While living in Brooklyn, I signed up for a spring CSA during the first months of the pandemic. Well, spring in Brooklyn means lots and lots of root vegetables. This is the first recipe I tried when presented with turnips, and it’s a keeper. I love the sweet and tangy combination of cider vinegar and maple syrup. (National Post)
Carbs
Sheet Pan Pumpkin Mac & Cheese: For the people who prefer the crispy edges of baked mac and cheese (Food52).
Eric Kim’s Thanksgiving Stuffing: Here's a fantastic vegetarian stuffing designed to capture the savory essence of sausage without using any meat (NYT Cooking).
Molly Baz’s Sour Cream and Onion Biscuits: You won't look back once you try this genius folding technique for extra-flaky biscuits.
For even more ideas, check out my full list of Thanksgiving recipes, and stay tuned for my upcoming newsletter where I’ll share my favorite mains and desserts!
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
-Karishma