Three Unique Thanksgiving Side Dishes for Your DC Dining Room
Thanksgiving is the one true American holiday that was built around food. From the first Thanksgiving feast to the one you’re holding in your Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, D.C. dining room, it’s an opportunity for us to be thankful for our friends and family while enjoying some creative time in the kitchen, whether it’s a commercial kitchen or your home.
Everyone has their own way of doing turkey – in the oven, fried, smoked – but some of the most unique Thanksgiving dishes are the sides. Here are a few to consider:
BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Start with a food that every kid loves to hate unless you make it with an ingredient that kids love, actually, an ingredient that everyone loves – bacon. Try pan searing some bacon lardons, throw in some shredded Brussels sprouts, and add some chopped fresh fig at the very end. Plate, drizzle with a balsamic vinegar cream, and you’re good to go.
PUMPKIN CURRY
Curry for Thanksgiving? Yep. Begin by sautéing some finely minced onion and garlic. Add pumpkin purée, coconut milk, chicken broth, and some curry powder. Believe it or not, these flavors work really well together and will add an unexpected flavor profile to your entire Thanksgiving meal. For an added touch, consider pouring your bisque around a large bruléed marshmallow or top it with a dollop of yogurt. Add a cut of sage for some color and additional aromatics.
STUFFED ONIONS
Stuffed onions can be a beautiful and tasty addition to any Thanksgiving table. Try to find large onions of a sweeter variety, and grab a good knife. The prep of the actual onions is the most important part. Start by slicing off a thin layer on the bottom, rounded end of the onion so it can sit upright. Then slice off the sprout end, and peel the onion. Remove all but the outer few layers, and fill the onion cup with your favorite Thanksgiving stuffing. Bake them in a baking dish at 350° for about a half an hour.
Shop like a chef for Thanksgiving.
You’ll have so many people over that you’ll think you’re actually running a restaurant. So, you might as well shop like you own one. Stop in to the Alto-Hartley showroom, and get professional kitchen equipment at a fraction of the cost as some of the big name commercial retailers.
