All the vegetarian Thanksgiving recommendations
Diwali celebrations and the upcoming cookie season!
Hi friends!
It has been a while since I wrote a post here on substack. Life has been really hectic, with my day job, with my kids’ schools and preparation for Diwali - the biggest Hindu festival of the year.
DIWALI Celebrations!
We had a couple of celebrations for Diwali. A friend of ours hosted a beautiful Diwali party at her house and cooked all the food for 50 people! Cooking for so many folks is a feat in itself and to be able to entertain as well - that is beyond. I took my famous Pani Puris to her house to serve all the folks. Pani puri is a famous Indian street food - super popular. It is essentially puris or wheat puffs, that are smashed on the top to make a hole, stuffed with a spiced boiled potato filling, then a tad bit of Date-Tamarind Chutney goes in, along with a spicy cilantro-minty-chaat masala water that is really refreshing. The idea is to put the whole thing in your mouth at once, and get a burst of flavors. I do not know anyone who does not love it! I made almost 200 puris that night with the help of my dear friend. It is always fun to serve others, especially when you know that they are enjoying it.
Diwali is a moment to reflect on the happy moments in your life, a time to bring friends and family together and celebrate the good over evil. It is also the Hindu New Year - per the Lunar Calendar and a time for a fresh start.
Here are is a family picture from our little celebration at home. We do not have family in the area, so we do a little ritual or puja as an offering to God, and simply ask for good healthy for our loved ones.
Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak (Happy New Year!) from our family to yours!
A VEGETARIAN THANKSGIVING
When I first came to the United States in August 1999, to start my Master’s Program at USC, Los Angeles, and I encountered by first Thanksgiving, the thought that crossed my mind was - why would people make a pie out of a vegetable - pumpkin?! And then the foods did not seem enticing to me at all - turkey? (I am vegetarian!), mac and cheese (never eaten mac and cheese before this!), green beans casserole? (too bland - especially coming from the land of spices!) and so on. I did not enjoy the food. No offense Americans! Just sharing my thoughts as a immigrant to a new country!
Over the years, I have loved and enjoyed mac and cheese, and developed recipes that are vegetarian centric, plant based, and full of flavor! I have also fusionized (is that even a word?!), American recipes, to the Indian taste buds, so that we can bring our own spin to Thanksgiving in a wonderful way.
We celebrate Thanksgiving with our friends who are like family here in the Bay Area. In the recent years, we take some time off for a staycation somewhere close by. It gives us four as a family - a chance to wind down from the hecticness of life and give us a moment to enjoy each other’s company.
Thanksgiving vegetarian recipes from my Cookbook - Mumbai Modern
Sharing a few recipes from my cookbook - Mumbai Modern, which is available for purchase at any bookstores in the country, or online as well. Linking the Amazon link here.
Smashed Masala Potatoes: This is a really easy recipe that comes together quickly. The potatoes are boiled, smashed, doused with Indian spiced oil on the potatoes, and baked. They are best eaten with a Cilantro sauce that is delicious!
Winter Beet and Citrus Salad, with a Fennel Vinaigrette and Paneer nuggets: Using the in-season golden and red beets, along with the citrus popping up at the markets, this salad is a great one for the Thanksgiving table.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Walnut and Date, Pomegranate Arils with a Cumin-Coriander Vinaigrette: One of my most popular recipes that has been made by so many! The key is to toast the cumin and coriander seeds, which gives a lot of flavor to the vinaigrette. It is always the little things!
Pear and Chai Masala Cinnamon Rolls: With gorgeous pears in season, I make a pear and chai masala jam, using homemade chai masala (recipe also in the cookbook). The jam makes a fantastic gift to give for the holidays as well. We love the jam paired with vanilla ice cream. The jam is then spread on a yeasted dough, rolled out, cut into pieces and proofed. Once proofed, it is baked, spread with a vanilla icing and devoured, for the day after Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Vegetarian recipes from my blog : https://thejamlab.co
Here are some vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes from my blog that I have developed over the past few years. I am proud of them, and love how they have all turned out!
Garam Masala Root Vegetable Gratin: This recipe was posted on my blog in 2017, I revamped it last year to give it an Indian twist by adding garam masala, which adds warmth and coziness to this amazing dish. The gratin uses all the winter root vegetables such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, beets, parsnip, along with cheese and creamy base. This recipe is also posted on the Sunset Magazine website. There was a time in 2017 when I did a bunch of videos with my recipes for Sunset and they live on the Sunset website. Here is the link to the video from 2017. I love seeing my brown hands in the video - which was uncommon at that time!
Indian Spiced Butternut Squash Tart with Caramelized Leek and Gruyere Tart: I love this tart so much. This post shows how to make puff pastry from scratch, and gives a crash course on Laminated dough. It is my favorite thing to make. It is time consuming, but it is one of the most therapeutic baking activities. This tart has caramelized leeks, gruyere that melts beautifully, and spices of butternut squash that is doused with Indian spices. The tart bakes up beautifully and makes a lovely center piece for a vegetarian thanksgiving!
Fall Panzanella: I had made this recipe in 2016 for a brand. It is one of those recipes that are made again and again. Toasted sourdough, roasted butternut squash, brussels sprouts, pumpkin seeds, pomegranate arils, apples, herbed goat cheese and a maple-apple cider vinaigrette, makes this salad a meal by itself! It is SO good and well received and loved by whoever has it!
Winter Squash Ravioli in Mushroom Sauce: This recipe is an old one but one that my kids love. I need to revamp the recipe, take better pictures yada yada! We love making homemade ravioli. It is a fun family activity - where everyone joins in and has a part in the making. The reward ofcourse is comforting ravioli that is so delicious!
Chai Masala Apple Struesel Cake: I love this cake. It has warmth from the chai masala, halvah in the struesel, and ofcourse in-season apples that are so juicy and sweet right now. The Cake also has rose petals, and rose water in it, which gives it a slight floral touch. Make this dessert for Thanksgiving and expect no less than thumbs up for it!
A Modern Thanksgiving for S.F.Chronicle in 2022
I have a bi-weekly column called Modern Vegetarian with S.F.Chronicle. In 2022, I was given the assignment to put together a Vegetarian Thanksgiving - with a modern and Indian twist! Here is the link to the entire article that I am really proud of.
I loved the challenge and I came up with an eclectic yet manageable menu that could be made by anyone! If you are looking for a curated menu then here it is.
Here are the recipes that I made:
Charcuterie Board
Spiced Pear Chutney
Tandoori Brussels Sprouts
Red Salad with Sumac and Red Chili
Delicata Squash stuffed with Paneer Wild Rice Pulao
Chai Masala, Bourbon and Halvah Apple Crumble
I hope I have provided tons of inspiration to have a wonderful vegetarian Thanksgiving feast.
COOOKIEEEE Season!
I am looking forward to cookie season! It is truly one of my favorite seasons - to make cookies and give them to friends and family. One of my most favorite recipes from last season was this 3-way sesame cookie - that was absolutely divine!
Look out for more cookie inspiration in my next substack post.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Be blessed.
XO
Amisha