Thanksgiving Side Dish Ideas

Sure, the turkey is usually the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving celebration, and the years have found American chefs rummage through their thinking caps trying to come up with the most spectacular turkey that will reign the holidays. That said, the rest of the Thanksgiving meal cannot go up in smoke. A perfect meal requires a marvelous centerpiece and equally marvelous culinary creations for side dishes and desserts. Here are a few ideas that will round up an unforgettable Thanksgiving meal.

Potatoes are a staple in the Thanksgiving table. For a simple side dish, try mashing up some potatoes, adding a whole egg, a few tablespoons of butter and just enough milk to achieve the consistency you want. Season it with salt and pepper and throw in a few spices for an extra kick-sage is a good choice, or whatever spice would complement the flavors of your turkey. If you like a bit of texture, leave some small potato chunks in your mixture. Cheese will accent the flavors of your potato, and you can either add it into your mash or as a topping. Sharp cheeses like Monterey Jack or cheddar work best, but others like mozzarella, gruyere or parmesan work just as well. Bake your mashed potato in the oven and you have a perfect classic. Adding breadcrumbs on top of the potatoes before baking adds a nice, thin, crunchy golden brown crust to your dish, too.

Stuffings are also a thanksgiving essential, and there are so many different ones you can whip up without trouble. Doing two kinds of stuffing is a great idea, since it adds variety for your palate. You can start with a cornbread stuffing, which is great because you can make the cornbread ahead of time and cut it into little cubes. Different colored peppers, as well as fresh corn go very well with this stuffing and add nice textures and colors into it. Cornbread stuffing is similar to bread pudding, and they are excellent with a bit of cream, some eggs and toasted bacon. For variety, you can also do a fruit-based stuffing, with the obvious choice being apples. Toss these with some caramelized nuts (walnuts or pecans are fantastic), onions, fennel or anise seed, and your favorite sausage (removed from the casings and crumbled). Apple cider or raisins will add a tart sweetness to this stuffing. For novelty, you can also try other rustic autumn fruits aside from apples, like cranberries or apricots if they're available. The sweet and savory combination of this stuffing will surely win your guests' appetites.

Don't forget the veggies! Autumn offers a variety of fresh vegetables which as so good as long as they're fresh, and cooking something like eggplants, for example, in the simplest way possible (just a quick sauté in the pan) works best. Seasoning it with olive oil, salt and pepper brings out the freshness of the flavors and it doesn't compete with the layers of intricate flavors already found in other dishes. Remember, what we want to do is cook up dishes that highlight and bring out the boldest flavors from your holiday centerpiece, the turkey. We don't want to pack in too much flavor on other dishes. A salad with a simple vinaigrette (use apple cider vinegar or raspberry vinegar to complement your stuffing) works best with its minimalist but bold flavors. Top it with some crumbled cheese or caramelized nuts (caramelize enough to divide between your stuffing and salad, and you accomplish two dishes at once!). For some warmth, you can also do a vegetable-themed soup. Look for squash blossoms, leeks, celeriac (celery root) or butternut squash and transform them into steaming bowls of warm, creamy soup. Or you can simply toss any variety of autumn vegetables with beans and taste their natural flavors alongside your holiday feast.

This is also the best season for wild mushrooms. Pick out a fresh bunch and you can stuff them, use them as toppings for thin breads or pizzas or transform them into wild mushroom soup, always a heartwarmer! If you have some Arborio rice, the mushrooms will flavor your risotto perfectly! By themselves, they also make an excellent side dish.

Side dishes should be just as tasty as your centerpiece, but they shouldn't compete with it either. Don't pack in too much flavor into each sides and remember that their flavors must complement each other and enrich that of your centerpiece. Adding lots of color by using different vegetables will enhance your holiday meal, and remember that vegetable dishes cannot be made ahead. They are best served when freshly prepared. Using sweet and savory flavor combinations also add some surprise to the texture and taste of your dishes too! As long as you use fresh ingredients that are the produce of the season, you're sure to come up with a fantastic Thanksgiving meal!