Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I’m sure you guys are all set to prep your Thanksgiving meal right?
Well, what’s on the menu this time? Not yet ready with it? if not, guess what, we have the perfect Thanksgiving recipes right here, to get you the perfect meal!
From the roasted turkey, baked vegetables, gravy and mashed potatoes to go with it and of course, the delicious pumpkin pie with cranberry sauce for dessert, it’s all in here, so check it out below!
Thanksgiving Recipes for the Perfect Meal
1. Turkey Roast Recipe
Ingredients:
- 12-20 pound turkey
- 1 onion, peeled and quartered
- 1 lemon, quartered
- • 1-2 sprigs fresh rosemary
- • 1-2 sprigs fresh thyme
- •1-2 sprigs fresh sage
- salt and black pepper
For the herb butter:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 6-8 cloves garlic, minced
- fresh chopped herbs – thyme, rosemary
Method:
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and pat the outside of the turkey dry with paper towels. Season the cavity of the turkey with salt and pepper. Then fill it with the onion, lemon,
and fresh herbs.
In a small bowl, make the herb butter by mixing in all the ingredients. Loosen the skin of the turkey gently by sliding your fingers underneath. Then rub about 1/3 of the herb butter between the skin and turkey breasts.
Rub the remaining herb butter all over the entire outside of the turkey.
Place the turkey on a roasting rack or on top of a bed of vegetables. Place the turkey in the oven and roast for about 13-15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 158°-160°F. The turkey will continue to cook once it’s removed from the oven and will rise in temperature to 165°F, after it’s rested.
Let the turkey to rest for 30 minutes before carving. Carve and serve the turkey. And make sure to save the juices from the pan to make turkey gravy!
2. Mashed Potato Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 pounds potatoes
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 cup milk or cream
- 3 tbsp butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Method:
Peel and quarter potatoes, place in a pot of cold salted water. Add cloves of garlic (if using) & bring to a boil, cook uncovered 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain well.
Heat milk on the stove top until warm.
Add butter to the potatoes and begin mashing. Pour in heated milk a little at a time while using a potato masher to reach desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.
3. All-Purpose Gravy Recipe
Note: This gravy can be used both for the turkey roast and for the mashed potatoes.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups stock
(chicken, beef or vegetable) - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp butter or oil
- Pepper and salt to taste
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Method:
Into a pot, add in the butter and let it melt on low heat. Thereafter, add in the flour and whisk until combined with the butter and cook for a couple of minutes. Make sure to keep mixing so that the butter-flour mixture doesn’t burn.
Next, add in the stock, along with the salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder and give it a mix and let it come to a boil. When the mixture begins to thicken, continuously stir and turn off the heat. It is then ready to serve.
4. Baked Veggies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 150 grams Brussels sprouts (halved)
- 100 grams quartered potatoes
- 50 grams whole beans
- 2 carrots (peeled and cut into ½ inch pieces)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Dried herbs to taste
- Pepper and salt to taste
Method:
Into a baking tray lined with foil, toss in the vegetables and season with pepper, salt and dried herbs. Then, mix it with the balsamic vinegar and olive oil, give it a mix until coated and bake in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for about 20 to 25 minutes until cooked.
5. Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 pound fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (or honey)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional add-ins: cinnamon stick, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, chopped pecans, blueberries, etc.
Method:
Add all ingredients to a pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have popped and the mixture has thickened to your liking, about 5 to 10 minutes.
Let cool completely before serving as desired; leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
6. Pumpkin Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 9-inch Homemade pie crust
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 large eggs
- 15 ounce can canned pumpkin
- or fresh pumpkin puree
- 12 ounce can evaporated milk
Method:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a bowl beat the eggs and pumpkin together. In a another bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger and cloves, and add this to the pumpkin mixture. Gradually stir in the milk. and then pour the mixture into the pie shell.
Bake for for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F; bake for 40 mins longer, or until the pie is set. Cool completely and then Serve with whipped cream, if desired.