A Sprouted Roots Thanksgiving Feast

Thanksgiving

0% Gluten, 100% Delicious

Thanksgiving is a time for family and tradition. Many of those traditions are enjoyed around the table.

Going gluten free does not mean you need to give up your traditions. We have compiled some of our favorite family Thanksgiving recipes, tweaked them ever so slightly to accommodate a gluten free lifestyle and laid them out in an easy plan to ensure a successful, enjoyable day. You will not feel like you are missing anything!

Warning: The following may cause your mouth to water and your tummy to rumble! Lucky for you Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Like all good Thanksgiving Feasts we focused on an amazing Roasted Turkey first. There are so many great ways to prepare a turkey for the holidays, but the best way to ensure a moist, flavorful turkey every time is to start the process with a brine. If you are not familiar with a poultry brine, don’t be afraid! It’s actually super simple. If it’s your first time, you will wonder why you hadn’t tried it before after experiencing the results. (Click here for the science behind the brine process.)

Once you have your turkey planned out, there are two things necessary to perfect for a 100% gluten free feast that you may have considered out of the question. First, amazing tasting gluten free dinner rolls! And yes, its possible; more on that in a minute. Second, the piece de résistance… Pumpkin Pie! Seriously, if you left out either of these holiday traditions you might feel like you were cheated! Our gluten free roll recipe will deliver fresh, hot rolls with the texture and taste of traditional rolls. Your family will love these. You will be thankful! (When creating your cooking plan, be sure to build in enough time for the dough to rise.) To make them extra special for your feast, whip up some special herb butter. Also delicious on mashed potatoes!

Just like the rolls, Thanksgiving just wouldn’t seem right without a freshly baked pumpkin pie. Make your life a little easier by making the crust the day before; it tastes even better and it will be one less thing to do while the chaos of family and friends starts to invade the house. Double bonus! Not only is this recipe gluten free but dairy free too!
Tip: Make your dairy free whip cream the day before while your crust is cooking. To get your Thanksgiving morning started right, “test” a dollop of whipped cream in your coffee! Why not, it’s a holiday!!

Once you have these three things squared away on your menu, you can start looking at the sides. Don’t think just because you are going gluten free this year that the stuffing has to be forgotten completely. Chef Laurel created a wonderful gluten free Thanksgiving Stuffing made with quinoa that has become her family’s preference over traditional bread cube stuffing! The depth of flavor will have guests humming away. Consider doubling the recipe if you have a family that loves stuffing or you are hosting a large group.

Next we turned our attention to the sauces, the things that dress up and enhance this lovely feast: Cranberry Goodness and an Old Fashioned Gluten Free Gravy. There is nothing better than homemade cranberry sauce, not to mention the beautiful touch of color it brings to your festive table. This is another dish that is great to make ahead. The flavors will develop overnight and you will buy yourself a little more breathing room the day of Thanksgiving. Along with cranberry sauce, a good gravy is a must have! Traditionally, the gravy was always last in our house to be made. Grandma would anxiously await the turkey drippings and then feverously work away to create the perfect mix of creamy, gravy goodness. In an attempt to create a dairy free version of grandma’s gravy, we ended up creating a wonderful vegetarian, dairy free, gluten free, savory mushroom gravy. So good, that it has replaced our more traditional. It is a must try and it comes with the added bonus of less stress! You will love it.

To round out this feast, and re-create some of your childhood memories of Thanksgiving, the side dishes will need a little attention. What would Thanksgiving be without buttermilk mashed potatoes and green bean casserole? Sure, you can save some time with some pre-made/instant sides, but I guarantee a little extra effort, making these from scratch will set your Thanksgiving feast apart and having you dreaming of leftovers before you are fast asleep!