Cashew-Lime Cilantro Hummus
This bright, fresh version of hummus is great with any combination of raw vegetables.
Recipe: Cashew-Lime Cilantro Hummus
Arugula Pear Salad
Turnips shaved thin are an unexpected sweet addition to this salad from San Francisco Chef Ryan Pollnow of Aatxe restaurant.
Recipe: Arugula Pear Salad
Kale and Apple Salad with Walnut Dressing
Kale is perfect with apples and walnuts. This salad is a surefire hit at a potluck Thanksgiving.
Chicory Salad with Persimmons, Pomegranates, and Walnuts
Fuyu persimmons and pomegranates add autumn color and a sweet-tart punch to bitter chicories (frisée and radicchio).
Recipe: Chicory Salad with Persimmons, Pomegranates, and Walnuts
Cabbage, Cashew, and Fennel Salad
Cookbook author Andrea Nguyen and her family serve this crunchy Vietnamese-flavored slaw the day after Thanksgiving with leftovers. But we think it’s worthy of a spot on the holiday menu.
Warm Buckwheat Salad with Roasted Shallots, Apples, and Frisee
Earthy buckwheat serves as the base in this tasty whole grain salad, which would make a delicious side or filling main dish at the holiday meal.
Recipe: Warm Buckwheat Salad with Roasted Shallots, Apples, and Frisee
Grilled Butterflied Turkey
For juicy, crisp-skinned, evenly cooked turkey, you can do no better than a butterflied (spatchcocked) bird. This recipe is for a gas grill; we have charcoal directions as well.
Recipe: Grilled Butterflied Turkey
Pure and Simple Cranberry Sauce
Nothing on your Thanksgiving menu is easier than cranberry sauce, whether you keep it classic or spice it up.
Recipe: Pure and Simple Cranberry Sauce
Mashed Potatoes with Herbed Greek Yogurt
These bright green potatoes add a bolt of color to the Thanksgiving table. Although luxuriously creamy, they have a nice tang to balance the richness.
Roasted Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Roasted cauliflower adds a nutty flavor and tender-chewy texture to creamy mashed potatoes.
Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips with Crisp Root Vegetable Strips
Save potato and parsnip peels for a wispy, crisp topping. The salty strips pair well with the sweetness of parsnips.
Recipe: Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips with Crisp Root Vegetable Strips
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Bacon and Goat Cheese
This is a decadent yet savory way to serve sweet potatoes. If you’re expecting vegetarians, make a couple of potatoes without the bacon. One potato can be enough for at least four people, depending on its size.
Recipe: Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Bacon and Goat Cheese
Green Beans with Chanterelles and Cipollini
Chanterelle mushrooms and cipollini onions are worth the splurge, but you can substitute halved cremini mushrooms and frozen pearl onions and the results will still be very tasty.
Roasted Broccolini With Almond Parsley Pesto
Broccolini is glorious roasted, and even more delicious with this hearty, unusual pesto. You can sub in roasted regular broccoli if you'd like.
Broccoli Romanesco with Green Herb Sauce
Whorled broccoli romanesco is an exotic treat, yet it’s very easy to prepare—just steam until tender. If you can’t find small heads, just break a full-grown head into florets (cauliflower works too). This recipe is adapted from one in Vegetable Literacy (Ten Speed Press, 2013), by Deborah Madison.
Roasted Delicata Squash with Honey, Pomegranate Seeds, and Pepitas
The skin of delicata squash is tender when roasted and very flavorful, so try it along with the flesh.
Recipe: Roasted Delicata Squash with Honey, Pomegranate Seeds, and Pepitas
Roasted Cauliflower and Shallots with Chard and Dukkah
Dukkah, olive oil mixed with toasted spices and nuts, elevates roasted veggies to a standout side dish.
Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower and Shallots with Chard and Dukkah
Cashew, Coconut, and Squash Curry
Fall ingredients and untraditional-for-Thanksgiving flavors unite in this knockout curry served over (gluten-free) rice.
Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach
Though the Indian seasonings are a departure from traditional Thanksgiving flavors, the bright vegetables in this vegan main dish are right in keeping with the holiday’s harvest theme. You can easily double it to serve a bigger group.
Recipe: Spiced Red Lentils with Caramelized Onions and Spinach
Corn Flour and Orange Blossom Chiffon Cake
“If cornbread were transformed into a sweet, moist, fluffy golden cake, this would be it,” says master baker Alice Medrich. She tops it here with whipped cream and crème fraîche, and curls of candied orange zest, but she likes it plain too.
Hazelnut Meringues with Kumquat Conserva
This meringue is as delicious as it is pretty. Make the components days ahead and assemble when you’re ready to serve. You’ll have plenty of Kumquat Conserva to send some home with your guests if you’re feeling generous. Your friends will love you for it.
Sauvignon Blanc–Poached Pears with Spicy Pepitas
Poach pears in a syrup made with white wine, vanilla bean, and cinnamon; then serve them with dollops of creamy mascarpone cheese and a sprinkle of crunchy pumpkin seeds.
Gingered Fruit with Honey Yogurt
When you need a dessert in a hurry, try this healthy one—it comes together in 15 minutes. Go ahead and experiment with different fruit too. For example, kiwi and banana pair well with ginger.
Recipe: Gingered Fruit with Honey Yogurt
Green Apple Sorbet
Light and refreshing, this sorbet is the perfect final dish on a day of feasting.
Recipe: Green Apple Sorbet
Spiced Orange and Date Salad
Freshly squeezed orange juice with a little cinnamon dresses this simple salad.
Recipe: Spiced Orange and Date Salad