Vegetarian Thanksgiving Inspiration

[Kerry Rivers]

Thinking about taking vegetarian experimentation to the next level this Thanksgiving? Don’t fret – it does not have to include “Tofurkey” (unless you like that!). There are so many delicious vegetarian options to get excited about.

 

Check out some recipes below for vegetarian/vegan recipe inspiration this Thanksgiving!

 

Main Dish: Vegan Meatloaf

Recipe from Jessica in the Kitchen

 

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons coconut oil

1/4 cup chopped red onion

2 stalks celery, chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

15 oz. can of chickpeas, drained and thoroughly rinsed

1 3/4 cup freshly cooked lentils or 15 oz. can, drained and throughly rinsed

2 tablespoons liquid smoke

2 teaspoons vegan Worcestershire sauce (or more liquid smoke)

1 1/4 cups gluten free breadcrumbs

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 flax eggs

3 tablespoons organic tomato past

1/2 teaspoon thyme

Tomato Glaze

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

 

DIRECTIONS

Tomato Glaze

Mix your ingredients for your tomato glaze and set aside.

Meatloaf

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a loaf with by lining with parchment paper so that it's hanging over the sides. This helps to remove the loaf with ease.
2. In a skillet over medium high heat, heat the coconut oil. Add the garlic, red onion and the celery. Sauté until onions are translucent and celery has softened, about 5 minutes.
3. In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients, and mix together slightly with a wooden spoon. I find that this helps to distribute the liquid ingredients equally one the beans and breadcrumbs.
4. In a food processor, add all of your ingredients. I have a 10-cup food processor, so if yours is smaller, you may want to put it in in increments. Pulse a few times until everything begins to come together. Do NOT over pulse - it will turn to mush and not firm up in the oven. You want to see chunks of celery, lentils and other ingredients. I like to pulse about 10 times.
5. Pour/scoop the ingredients into your parchment paper lined loaf pan. Smooth down the top with the spatula and then pour the glaze over, smoothing it down.
6. Bake for 45 minutes to 60 minutes. My loaf was done at around 55 minutes. It's ready if a toothpick comes out mostly clean.
7. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Remove from loaf pan and slice up and serve. Enjoy! 

Main Dish: Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto

Recipe from Cookie and Kate

INGREDIENTS

Butternut squash risotto

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 small yellow onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
• 4 cups (32 ounces) vegetable broth, divided
• 1 cup water
• 1 ½ cups brown arborio/short-grain brown rice
• 1 small butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled and sliced into ½” cubes
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese* (about 2 ½ ounces)
• ½ cup dry white wine, optional
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
• 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• Pinch red pepper flakes, to taste

Fried sage

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 16 to 20 fresh sage leaves, chopped (to yield about ¼ cup chopped fresh sage)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To prepare: Place your oven racks in the lower third and upper third positions (we’re going to bake the risotto on the middle rack and roast the squash on the upper rack at the same time), then preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for the butternut squash. Reserve 1 cup broth from your container and set it aside for when the risotto is out of the oven.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium-to-large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and turning translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Add 3 cups broth and 1 cup water, cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and stir in the rice. Cover the pot and bake on the lower rack until rice is tender and cooked through, about 65 to 70 minutes. It will seem pretty dry when you take off the lid, but don’t worry!
4. Immediately after placing the pot of risotto in the oven, toss the cubed butternut with 2 tablespoons olive oil on your lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and some freshly ground black pepper and arrange the butternut in a single layer on the pan. Roast on the upper rack until the butternut is fork tender and the edges are deeply caramelized, tossing halfway. This took 55 to 60 minutes for me, but start checking for doneness around 40 minutes.
5. While the risotto and butternut are in the oven, fry the sage: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the sage and toss to coat. Let the sage get darker green and crispy (but not brown) before transferring it to a plate covered with a paper towel. Sprinkle the fried sage lightly with salt and set it aside.
6. Carefully remove the Dutch oven from the oven. Remove the lid and pour in the remaining cup of broth, the Parmesan, wine and butter. Stir vigorously for 2 to 3 minutes, until the rice is thick and creamy. Stir in the salt, a generous amount of pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
7. Stir in the roasted butternut. Taste and add more salt and/or pepper, as needed. Divide the risotto into bowls and top each with a sprinkle of fried sage.

Side: Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Shallots

Recipe from Food Network

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup olive oil

6 medium shallots, sliced into rings (about 1 cup)

1 1/2 pounds thin fresh string beans or haricots verts, trimmed

1 pound button mushrooms, sliced

6 large cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

3 cups low-fat (1 percent) milk

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Olive oil cooking spray

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add 1/4 cup shallots and cook, stirring, until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining shallots, cooking 1/4 cup at a time. Reserve the oil in the skillet.
2. Place the green beans in a steamer basket fitted over a pot of boiling water. Cover and steam until bright green and still crisp, about 3 minutes. Heat 1 tablespoon of the reserved shallot oil in a large, deep nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushroom liquid is evaporated and they begin to brown, about 12 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Transfer the mushroom mixture to a bowl. Whisk together the milk and flour until the flour is dissolved. Add the mixture to the skillet and, whisking constantly, bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low, whisking occasionally, until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the green beans, mushroom mixture, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, the parsley, nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
3. Coat a 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon the green bean mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle the top with the crispy shallots and the remaining 2 tablespoons cheese. Bake until golden on top and bubbling, about 20 minutes.