4 Indian Side Dishes For Thanksgiving With A Desi Twist
Turkeys, sweet potato mash, gravies and green bean casserole are familiar Thanksgiving dishes that have been popularised even more in mass collective consciousness with American TV shows and movies. Yet, with Thanksgiving becoming increasingly commonplace in South Asian countries in recent years, the idea of the festive menu has also altered in form to include recipes and ingredients from South Asian home kitchens—chicken almost always replacing turkey, and gravies made with local produce, among others.
Here are some Indian-inspired side dishes that will make your Thanksgiving dinner uniquely your own.
Masala Mashed Potatoes
Take the comfort of mashed potatoes to a more indulgent level by infusing the potato mix with an array of roasted spices.
Ingredients:
Potatoes, peeled and boiled
Butter or ghee
Cumin seeds, mustard seeds
Green chilli, finely chopped (optional)
Fresh cilantro
Salt, pepper, turmeric, and garam masala
Method:
Mash the boiled potatoes with a masher until there are no lumps and set it aside.
In a small pan, heat the butter or ghee, and add all the spices together and let them temper for a few minutes, before adding chilli, if you prefer some heat in your savoury sides.
Once done, pour the tempering over the potatoes and add a pinch of turmeric, garam masala powder, salt and pepper, and mix everything with a wooden ladle.
Garnish with coriander leaves and serve in balls or patties.
Paneer Stuffed Dinner Rolls
Dinner rolls are a Thanksgiving staple, but you can always incorporate a filling of spiced paneer to make these rolls even more filling.
Ingredients:
Store-bought dinner roll dough
Paneer, crumbled
Finely chopped onions
Ginger-garlic paste
Green chilli
Cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, salt
Method:
In a pan with ghee, saute the chopped onions with ginger garlic paste, chilli and the spices. Add the crumbled paneer and cook for a few minutes.
Roll out small portions of the dough, fill them with spoonfuls of the paneer mixture, and pinch the edges to seal.
Now, bake in an oven till they are golden brown and crackling on top.
Spiced Green Beans with Coconut and Mustard Seeds
The classic version of this dish, Green Bean casserole can feel rather heavy, but a lighter, fresh alternative to this dish would be stir-fried green beans with coconut and mustard seeds.
Ingredients:
Fresh green beans, trimmed
Grated fresh coconut
Mustard and cumin seeds
Curry leaves, Chilli (optional)
Salt and pepper
Ghee
Method:
In a pan laced with ghee, add mustard seeds, cumin seeds, green chilli and curry leaves, and saute the mix until it starts imparting a heady aroma.
Add the green beans and cook until they are tended.
Now, sprinkle grated coconut, salt, pepper and stir well.
Saag Paneer Gratin
A popular side of Thanksgiving, spinach is the primary ingredient in Saag Paneer-inspired gratin, a combination of creamy spinach with chunks of paneer with a golden-brown cheese crust.
Ingredients:
Fresh spinach, chopped
Paneer, cubed
Onions, garlic, and ginger, finely chopped
Cream or coconut milk
Cumin powder, garam masala
Processed cheese for topping
Method
Saute the onions, ginger and garlic in a baking pan and then add cumin powder and garam masala.
Once the masala is cooked, add your spinach and let it soften and reduce.
Then, add cream or coconut milk to the pot and let everything come together. Add in the paneer cubes, cover the pot and let it simmer on low heat.
Then, top the pan with processed cheese and bake it until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
