As a former vegetarian-vegan, in fact-I remember well how veg-heads have to fend for themselves at Thanksgiving. For it’s not just turkey day. No, it’s chicken-stock-in-the-stuffing day, a meal where there’s bacon in the Brussels sprouts and butter and cream in absolutely everything. Depending on whether you’re hosting or attending, you might not have a ton of control over what’s on the vegetarian buffet, which can an obstacle to the delicious merriment of the holiday.
So if you’re looking to contribute a meat-free dish that you know you can eat, you’ll find inspiration below for dishes you can sneak onto the table beside the meat-or present proudly to a room full of vegetarian feasters, should you be so lucky.
**10 Things to Eat at Thanksgiving If You’re a Vegetarian**
1. Portobello Mushrooms with Parmesan-Herb Stuffing. These mushrooms steal stuffing from the realm of the carnivores and reinvent the fragrant bread mixture as the perfect filling for ‘shrooms.
2. Stuffed Delicata Squash. Curry at Thanksgiving? While the pairing of lentils, rice, and spice might not be altogether traditional, these gorgeous stuffed veggies are filling-a good main course veggie option if there’s room on your table for one.
3. Roasted Delicata Squash Salad with Balsamic Oregano Drizzle. Here, we reinvent squash as a salad, a relatively light one for a sweet, starchy vegetable. While not exactly main course material, this one’s a totally unobtrusive contribution if you’re looking to add a dish but not make a big deal of it.
4. Romaine & Radicchio Salad. The crisp lettuce, crunchy radicchio, and irresistible thin slices of fennel make this salad a cooler candidate than most of the other vegetables on the table. If you remember the original post, you’ll recall that I just can’t get enough of the dressing, which is really why it’s included here.
5. Vegetarian Pot Pie. This pot pie is another vegetarian main dish option perfect if you’re going to a potluck or hosting your own all-veg dinner. You can make the filling and the crust ahead of time, then just assemble and bake. Also, maybe use shapes a little more appropriate than hearts (try acorns or pumpkins, or even turkeys!).
6. Quinoa Stuffing. Be sure to omit the sausage (or use Field Roast veg sausage) and sub in vegetarian stock for the chicken stock in this savory baked quinoa stuffing recipe that’s been winning hearts and minds for years.
7. Nutty Quinoa Cakes with Parmesan and Basil. Bring the comfort of veggie burgers to the T-day table with these quinoa-based cakes that feature herbs and cheese to round out the flavor.
8. Bulgur and Cauliflower Salad. I love how few ingredients you need here to create a richly flavored salad that may look like a side dish but really will satisfy you as a main course if you need it to.
9. Baked Spaghetti Squash with Tomato and Ricotta. Turn squash into a creamy, surprising, gluten-free main dish with tomato sauce, ricotta, and an hour in the oven. Though it’s healthful, this dish looks so good, I bet you’ll have the meat-eaters salivating if you serve it.
10. Roasted Vegetables with Pomegranate Vinaigrette. Since Middle Eastern food is so trendy, it follows that we should feature a bit of Ottolenghi at this most American of holidays. This rainbow of roasted veggies will please everyone, so make a big batch.
