RECIPE ROUNDUP: Thanksgiving dishes

Vegan Thanksgiving Appetizers

Turkey Veggie Tray

Vegan-friendly and gluten-free

Your guests will “gobble” up this cute veggie platter that is shaped like a turkey. The turkey face is made of bell pepper, carrot, yellow bell pepper, and candy eyes. This is an easy vegan recipe that will take less than 20 minutes to make and is the perfect finger food for all appetites. I’d personally serve this Thanksgiving appetizer with my miso tahini dressing or a delicious vegan ranch dip for a little zing of flavor.

Ingredients:

• 3 red bell peppers
• 2 yellow bell peppers
• 2 cups baby carrots
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 cucumbers, sliced
• 1 cup snap peas
• 2 candy eyes
• vegan vegetable dip

Get the instructions here:  Turkey Veggie Tray

Easy Pumpkin Hummus Recipe

Vegan-friendly, dairy-free, and gluten-free

Perfect for Thanksgiving with a side of fresh vegetables and dipping crudites, this easy pumpkin hummus is perfect for celebrating Thanksgiving (um, hello pumpkin season). Don’t worry, though. The rich flavor goes well beyond the season, so you’ll want to enjoy it year-round too.

Ingredients:

• 15 oz cooked chickpeas or 1 ½ can, drained (Plus 8 tablespoons of its starchy COLD water (you can add some ice cubes to it))
• ⅔ cup roasted pumpkin or roasted butternut squash, or pumpkin puree (unsweetened)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic medium, roasted and minced, or 1 raw. These are NOT in addition to the optional ones mentioned below.
• 2 tablespoons tahini
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt plus more to taste
• ½ teaspoon ground curry masala or madras curry or ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 pinch cinnamon

Get the instructions here: Easy Pumpkin Hummus Recipe

Spicy Vegan Cashew Cheese Ball Recipe

Vegan-friendly and gluten-free

If you need a no-bake raw vegan recipe for the holiday season, then try cashew cheese. It’s classy, delicious, and perfect for so many things like crackers, crumbled in salads, or crumbled on mashed potatoes. Want an extra delicious kick in this vegan cheese ball? Add some roasted garlic 🤤

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cashews unsalted
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tbsp black garlic powder seasoning
• 1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1/2 tbsp onion powder
• 1/2 tbsp Cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tbsp dried rosemary

Get the instructions here: Spicy Vegan Cashew Cheese Ball Recipe

Thanksgiving Side: Salads

Kale Salad Recipe with Apple, Orange & Pomegranate

Vegan-friendly and gluten-free

Nothing scream holidays like pomegranate and orange in your dish. These tart little fruits add an extra zing of flavor, which can honestly be added to any traditional Thanksgiving dish (looking at you, roasted carrots, farro salad, brussels sprouts, and vegan mashed potatoes). This kale winter salad recipe has kale, blood orange, apple, and pomegranate. It is tart and crunchy and will go well with your Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients:

• 6 cups curly or dino kale (1 large bunch), woody stems removed and roughly chopped leaving some big leafy pieces (see note)
• 2 blood oranges, thinly sliced
• 1 apple, thinly sliced (we prefer Fuji)
• 1 pomegranate, arils removed

Dressing

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons blood orange juice, (approx. juice of 1 blood orange)
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Get the instructions here: Kale Salad Recipe with Apple, Orange & Pomegranate

Medjool Dates and Carrot Salad

Vegan-friendly and gluten-free

Rich warm spices flavor this hearty Medjool date salad. Nuts, carrots, and oranges add to these hearty Moroccan flavors. If you want an extra filling recipe, then add roasted squash or brussels sprouts for a seriously nostalgic vegan Thanksgiving side.

Ingredients:

Dressing

• 2 Natural Delights Medjool Dates, pitted and coarsely chopped
• 3 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 tablespoon Red Wine Vinegar
• 4 tablespoon Orange Juice fresh squeezed is the most flavorful
• ⅛ teaspoon Cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon Coriander
• ⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon Cayenne (Optional)
• ¼ teaspoon Salt and ⅛ teaspoon Pepper Use salt and pepper to taste

Salad

• 1 c Natural Delights Medjool Dates, quartered lengthwise and pits removed
• 1 ½ c Carrots, peeled and sliced into ⅛” coins
• 1 c Parsley, finely chopped
• 4 c Kale, coarsely chopped into large bite-size pieces
• ¾ c Pecans, coarsely chopped

Get the recipe here: Medjool Dates and Carrot Salad

Thanksgiving Dinner

Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe

Vegan-friendly and gluten-free

And here we have finally arrive to the star ingredient in every Thanksgiving table: roasted butternut squash. This stuffed roasted butternut squash recipe is a great addition to your Thanksgiving menu because literally everyone will love it. It is high protein with lots of healthy ingredients and bold flavors. You could easily swap this out for roasted pumpkin or roasted carrots instead.

Ingredients:

Roasted Butternut Squash

• 2 medium Butternut Squash halved lengthwise and seeded, will have 4 pieces
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• 1 tablespoon Vegan Butter
• 1 teaspoon Thyme
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Spicy Tomato Black Bean Quinoa

• 1 cup Quinoa cooked
• 1 can Black Beans – rinsed and drained
• 1 can Diced Tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon Vegan Butter melted and cooled
• 1 tablespoon EVOO
• 1/2 teaspoon Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Lime juice & zest of Limes

Get the instructions here: Stuffed Roasted Butternut Squash Recipe

Vegan Wellington

Vegan-friendly

This easy vegan Wellington is full of umami-rich mushrooms that is super easy to make. It will be the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table that will impress all of your guests (trust me). 

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet vegan puff pastry, thawed if frozen (about 10X13)
• 2 tablespoons ground flax meal + 5 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil, or preferred cooking oil
• ½ medium onion , diced
• 2 small carrots , diced small
• 2 stalks celery, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon ground sage
• ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
• 8 ounces mushrooms, minced or finely chopped
• 1.5 tablespoons tamari sauce, low sodium (sub soy sauce)
• 1 15 oz can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained well but NOT rinsed
• ¾ cup unsalted walnuts, ground into a coarse meal (measured whole)
• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, more if needed
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1.5 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
• ½ teaspoon salt, more to taste
• Fresh cracked pepper , to taste
• 1 tablespoon vegan butter, melted

Get the instructions here: Vegan Wellington

Thanksgiving Dessert

Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Vegan-friendly, dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free

These no-bake pumpkin caramel cheesecake bars are vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free. The pumpkin cheesecake layer is topped with chocolate for a rich and lovely Thanksgiving dessert. If you don’t have pumpkin, then you could probably swap in roasted squash or roasted carrots instead. It’ll be a different flavor but still so effing delicious.

Ingredients:

Crust

• ¾ cup (100g) hazelnuts (blanched & roasted) or sub peanuts
• ¾ cup (80g) oats 
• 8 (~120g) Medjool dates
• 2 tablespoon coconut oil
• 3 tablespoon maple syrup

Cheesecake Filling

• ½ cup (80g) cashews
• ½ cup (150g) pumpkin puree 
• ⅓ cup (90g) peanut butter
• 17 (180g) Medjool dates
• ¾ cup (180g/ 6.3 oz) coconut cream 
• pinch of salt
• pinch of pumpkin pie spice (optional)
• ½ cup (80g) peanuts

Chocolate Layer

• 150g (5,3 oz) vegan dark chocolate 
• 2 tablespoon coconut oil
• ⅓ cup peanuts

Get the instructions here: Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Cashew “Pumpkin” Bliss Balls

Vegan-friendly, dairy-free, gluten-free, refined sugar-free

These pumpkin-shaped treats are full of fall pumpkin spice flavors, giving off major pumpkin pie vibes without the guilt or heavy feeling. Cashew “Pumpkin” Bliss Balls are high-protein and will give you all the fall feels, making them the perfect Thanksgiving dessert. The best part? These are so easy to make that you don’t need to reserve them just for Thanksgiving day.

Ingredients:

• 5 oz raw, unsalted cashews a scant cup
• 1/3 cup almond flour or other flour of choice
• 6 whole dates pitted
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
• 1/2 teaspoon chia seeds
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon water
• 12-13 chocolate chips

Get the instructions here: Cashew “Pumpkin” Bliss Balls

Honorable mentions:

How’d you go? Did you find your perfect vegetarian Thanksgiving recipe to share with your loved ones? I’d love to hear what you prepare for Thanksgiving day, so drop your recipe in the comments to keep this round-up growing!