Thanksgiving Side Dishes

 Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Thanksgiving side dishes range in price from very little to a lot of money. I keep each dish simple, and a short ingredient list is essential to keeping my show-stopping meal within the budget. In addition, I shop in season and carefully select my produce and fruit to ensure the best flavor and color. As a bonus, these fruits and vegetables are usually the cheapest choice. Finally, I limit my waste of perishables by using vegetables in several dishes instead of just one.    

Green Salad

A fresh green salad is on the Thanksgiving table yearly because it is light, delicious, and everyone-friendly.   We make a green salad with all of the fresh and pickled vegetables found in our refrigerator.  In addition, we make our dressing from the oil, vinegar, and spices we have already purchased.   The result is that we only add lettuce to our grocery budget for the Thanksgiving meal.  

Broccoli and Carrots

A simple and satisfying Thanksgiving vegetable is steamed broccoli and carrots.    I purchased a bag of baby carrots and broccoli crowns to make  enough for our meal.    I cook the carrots first because they take the longest and I add the broccoli towards the end of the cooking process.    

Cranberry Relish

Cranberries are one of the true American fruits along with pawpaws (found in the Northern states), concord grapes, and blueberries.   Cranberries grew abundantly, and although cranberry sauce came later in our history, the humble cranberry made its way onto colonial tables.   

My cranberry relish recipe was inspired by a relish my grandmother-in-law would purchase from a local grocery store.   I found a general recipe from Jello that incorporated many of the flavors of the local store’s relish but was missing some of the flavor profile.   I have worked on this recipe for many years and am close to the cranberry relish I remember.   Each time I make it, I remember my grandmother-in-law with fondness.   

Rolls

Food prices are still going up, but I can bake rolls for a fraction of the price.   The rolls do not look uniform, but they are delicious.     I make my pizza crust dough, shape it into rolls, and bake.   As a bonus, I can make fewer rolls, so there is no food waste here. 

Sauteed Asparagus

Asparagus is delicious especially when prepared simply, allowing natural flavors to come through.   Trim the asparagus to remove the woody ends and wash the vegetables.   Next, melt the butter and saute the garlic for 30 seconds before adding the asparagus.   Stir the asparagus in the pan to coat with butter and cook until fork tender (about 2-3 minutes).   Sprinkle asparagus with salt, pepper, and parmesan to taste.   Cover and turn off the heat.    When the parmesan cheese melts, serve hot. 

Macaroni and Cheese

Roasted Potatoes 

What side dishes do you make for Thanksgiving Dinner?