A Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu

No turkey, no problem; Our favorite meatless recipes for your Holiday table

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Photo by @andreabemis

A vegetarian Thanksgiving? Is that even possible? Yep, and it will be delicious! If this is your first year cooking for vegetarian guests, be sure to add at least a few of these dishes to your menu so they are able to get a well-rounded meal. Not your first vegetarian rodeo? You'll love these creative recipes!

THE MENU
To Start 
Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Crostini Topped with Shredded Brussels Sprouts and Pomegranate
Salad 
Kale Salad With Spiced Apple And Tahini Dressing With Cinnamon
Side Dishes
Roasted Cauliflower and Chestnut Stuffing
Hasselback Potato and Parmesan Gratin
Spiral Squash Tart
Main Course
Pumpkin and Wild Rice Risotto
Kale and Quinoa Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Cocktail
Pumpkin Sage Pimm's Cup
Dessert
Pumpkin Cake with Dulce de Leche Frosting
Dark Chocolate Bark with Crystallized Ginger and Black Sesame

THE GROCERY LIST
(the must-haves!)

3 butternut squashes
2 yellow onions
2 red onions
1 baguette
½ cup shredded Brussels sprouts
2 pomegranates
1 large bunch kale
1 medium-sized delicata squash
1 cup pecan pieces
1 large bunch leeks
1 bag celery
4 shallots
1 head garlic
1 pkg fresh sage
1 pkg fresh rosemary
1 (32-oz.) box vegetable stock
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 head cauliflower
1 cup whole roasted chestnuts (you can buy in a package)
3-4 lbs russet potatoes
2 cups heavy cream
1 stick butter
1 block Parmesan cheese
1 cup rice
1 pumpkin
1/2 cup quinoa
6 Portobello mushrooms
2 cups loosely packed baby kale leaves
1 small red apple
Apple cider
2 lemons
Gin
Pumpkin butter
Seltzer 
1 lb 70% chocolate (good quality and/or organic fair trade chocolate)
1/4 cup black sesame seeds 
Crystallized ginger 
1 dozen eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree or canned pure pumpkin
1 pack 8-ounce cream cheese, softened
1 stick unsalted butter, softened

PANTRY ESSENTIALS
(things we assume you have,
but if not, stock up!)

Red wine
White wine
Red wine vinegar
Sugar
EVOO
Apple cider vinegar
Tahini
Honey
Ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg
Chili flakes
Dijon mustard
Maple syrup
All purpose flour
Ground ginger
Powdered sugar
Granulated sugar
Brown sugar
Baking powder
Baking soda

 

THE GAME PLAN
Starters:
Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Crostini Topped with Shredded Brussels Sprouts and Pomegranate by @heatherchristo
 A stunning appetizer made with only a few ingredients. The base is a creamy butternut squash puree, which is topped with red wine caramelized onions.  The shredded Brussels sprouts and pomegranate seeds add beautiful color and texture. 

GET 50+ HOLIDAY PIE RECIPES > 
 
Kale Salad With Spiced Apple And Tahini Dressing With Cinnamon by @andreabemis

Radicchio can be quite bitter, but the sweet persimmons add a nice balance of flavor here.

GET 50+ HOLIDAY SALAD RECIPES > 


 
 
Roasted Cauliflower and Chestnut Stuffing
by @hotforfood

Chestnuts add a pleasant textural element and earthy flavor to this hearty vegetarian take on stuffing.

GET 50+ HOLIDAY CARROT & PARSNIP RECIPES >

Feedfeed Tip: You can toast your bread a couple days in advance.
 
Hasselback Potato and Parmesan Gratin by @honestlyyum

You can't go wrong with this Hasselback Potato and Parmesan Gratin; thinly sliced potato rounds are cooked to perfection (crisp on the outside, tender on the inside), and coated in a creamy parmesan sauce. 

GET 50+ HOLIDAY POTATO RECIPES >

Feedfeed Tip: Use a mandolin to slice the potatoes in order to save time.

 
Mains and Sides:
 
Spiral Squash Tart by @twoofoakindcooks

This gorgeous spiraled tart will add some flair to your Thanksgiving table, and thankfully, it's much easier than it looks (tip: make sure to use a mandolin for even slices!). 


GET 50+ HOLIDAY SQUASH RECIPES >

 
Pumpkin and Wild Rice Risotto by @chocolateforbasil

We love this risotto served in an adorable mini pumpkin, but it can also be served in a regular dish for ease of serving. This savory recipe is a delicious and filling main course in place of turkey.


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Kale and Quinoa Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms by @floatingkitchen

Quinoa adds some extra protein, while apples, pecans, and kale add perfect fall flavor and texture.

GET 20+ VEGETARIAN DINNER RECIPES 


 
Cocktails and Dessert
Pumpkin Sage Pimm's Cup by @colljeffers

This Pumpkin Sage Pimm's Cup is the fall-spiced drink you've been looking for. This recipe calls for a pitcher, meaning it's that much easier for you to mix up and serve to a large group of guests.

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Pumpkin Cake with Dulce de Leche Frosting by @oh_sweet_day

Sick of making the same pie recipe? Substitute it this year with this dreamy Pumpkin Cake. Three layers of pillowy Pumpkin Cake, layered with creamy Dulce De Leche Cream Cheese Frosting, and drizzled with extra Dulce De Leche.  

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Dark Chocolate Bark with Crystallized Ginger and Black Sesame by @oh_sweet_day

This chocolate bark is especially perfect for  a last-minute dessert that you can pull together with just a few ingredients. Simply melt high-quality chocolate in a double boiler, sprinkle with black sesame seeds and crystallized ginger, and place in the freezer until solid. 

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