Here’s My Secret to Tweaking a Favorite Family Recipe for Thanksgiving
Tweaking a traditional Thanksgiving recipe is a dangerous game.
I once saw a TikTok where the host was completely chewed out at the Thanksgiving table for using a random recipe from social media (probably a TikTok recipe) instead of the one the family was used to. My friend checks my menu every Friendship Day to make sure his favorite dish is included, and I always give my mom a hard time if she doesn’t make my favorite appetizer (the “pumpkin” soup that doesn’t actually have pumpkin in it). in it, but the name is what it is).
Many family members like to stick to the classics, so what if you want to add your own twist? Is it possible to change the dish without yelling? Here are my workarounds for these scenarios so everyone can get what they want during the holiday feast.
Start with small changes
If you’re committed to change but don’t want to upset the apple cart, start small. For a big savory dinner like Thanksgiving, I add a little personality to old favorites with fresh herbs, flavored oils, and tiny garnishes.
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Add herbs. I often have picky tastes at Thanksgiving, so for a classic mashed potato with a kick, I add chopped onions on top. But look, I don’t mix them up. Every muscle in my body wants to mix them up, but I leave them alone. Then if someone wants the classic puree, they can skip the onions, others can take it if they want. The same goes for side dishes: you can add a handful of fresh herbs anywhere, which will highlight the flavor already present in the dish. The filling is ideal because most dry mixes include ground versions of sage, thyme and parsley. Your family will notice a difference just because it tastes better than last year. Same with the main dish: add lemon halves and fresh sage sprigs under the bird to add flavor.
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Experiment with oils and other luxurious embellishments. I like to add subtle flavors with chili oil and garlic oil. Most people love these savory flavors, but adding bits of garlic or hot chili peppers is sure to divide your crowd. However, infused oil is thin. Use the oil that floats to the top of a can of chili chips or the oil from cooking garlic confit to drizzle over salads or roasted vegetables. Chili oil can be made or purchased at the grocery store, and garlic confit is easy and delicious to make .
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Don’t make big substitutions , such as replacing mashed potatoes with parsnip puree – you’ll likely lose your hosting rights for the next year. If you’re determined to add something new or, say, your nephew goes vegan (to the shock of the rest of the family), add dishes, but don’t leave out the classics.
Be bold (but within reason)
Some people like to put themselves in danger. I’m one of them. But to be honest, the results are random. However, I have the urge to test recipes and try new things, hoping that I stumble upon a true keeper. If this sounds like you, try the tips mentioned above that go a step further and replace or add ingredients.
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Swap similar ingredients and dishes. Swap white bread croutons for pumpernickel croutons in the filling, or try making soft and comforting corn pudding instead of skillet cornbread. This year for my friends’ Thanksgiving, I made a kale Caesar salad instead of the usual quinoa salad with parsley, and I had almost no leftovers.
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Add to level up. If substituting ingredients seems too safe, try adding them. Place the chestnuts and sausage into the boxed stuffing mixture and top with crispy roasted garlic and crispy bacon. Traditional mashed potatoes can be seasoned with crushed fried garlic and toasted butter. Cranberry sauce is versatile , so add orange zest, a splash of cherry liqueur, or a cinnamon stick. Favorite: Add pecans and bacon to an old sweet potato casserole .
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Don’t screw it up. A word of warning: if you’re going to cross the line, you better do it well . I know it seems obvious, but you can’t become a fraud and end up looking like a fool. Test your experiment before preparing it for your (possibly judgmental) loved ones. Especially if it’s something baking-related, don’t add the chocolate chip pumpkin pie you made for the first time on the big day.
Offer options
The easiest way to introduce a change of taste to a crowd of people who despise change is to prepare the food as usual, but decorate the table with lots of fragrant accessories : the easiest way to serve condiments is in jars, bottles and small bowls. a lift for the chef and a passive invitation for people to dress their plates however they see fit.
Think of the table as a giant cheese board – all you have to do is fill in the blanks. Place a bowl of gherkins here, a bottle of hot kimchi sauce there. Keep the soy sauce nearby and the Thousand Island sauce next to Aunt June. There’s nothing wrong with serving a bowl of grated cheddar or parmesan cheese. (Actually, I think we should all do this more often.)
You know your guests best, so I’ll leave it to you to decide whether you should start with small changes or take a bigger step. I hope you inspire some guests to take more flavor risks. And just in case things don’t work out, maybe have a spare supply of green bean casserole warming up in the oven.