Hello everyone,
Do you know that 2019 Thanksgiving falls on the first day of Nativity Lent? I know, a vegetarian Thanksgiving might seem challenging for some but not for those who are frequent guests here at Lenten Chef.
Before we jump into our amazing recipes let me give you a little story behind the Thanksgiving menu #1! I went out for a cup of coffee at Barnes and Noble a couple of days ago because the smell of books makes me happy and transfers me into the world of creativity. Guess what? I bumped into the table covered with all things Downton Abbey. The most outstanding book that caught my attention was Downton Abbey Dinners with beautiful pictures of high-class food of the XIX century served on their royal china. I could not help myself so I started looking through the recipes and getting inspired by both simplicity and the depth of quality and taste of the dishes British Aristocracy used to enjoy.
If you are the Downton Abbey fan stay tuned for the vegetarian Thanksgiving Downton Abbey dinner compilation. We are going to serve Artichoke and asparagus salad in a creamy dressing, salmon mousse on toast, trout in red wine sauce Downton Abbey recipe, sauteed spinach with raisins and croutons, and coconut rice pudding with Grand Marnier. All the Downton Abbey mentioned recipes are going to be posted each week by the end of November so you will have all your time to get ready.
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu #1
Salmon mousse Downton Abbey Recipe
Imagine a lobster or crab bisque turning into pate texture and being spread over a piece of toast garnished with the greens of your choice. Creamy pate has bite-size flakes of salmon that give the gentle pate a character texture-wise, while the extinguished New Orleans taste achieved by the cayenne pepper adds more to the attitude.
Artichoke and Asparagus Salad
I usually go poetic describing the taste of the dishes I make but you cannot go far today describing the taste of this salad. Think asparagus, artichoke, lemon, and cream. It tastes just like that. The sweetness of gentle asparagus being followed by the acidity of marinated artichoke that is soothed by the creamy dressing. Black pepper and lemon zest add the oomph that finishes the story. Four-ingredient salad that you can fix in no time is a simple yet delicious salad that is going to brighten your Lenten Thanksgiving menu.
Trout in Red Wine sauce Downton Abbey recipe
The full-bodied red wine that is being enriched with the poaching fish juices, seasoned with the blend of aromatic spices and reduced to thick, dark, gently sweet sauce makes magic. The sauce that is being hot-spooned over gentle and delicate fish creates the effect of the firework explosion and adds just enough zest to the fish without taking away its delicacy.
Sauteed Spinach with Raisins and Croutons
After reading all the nutritional benefits of sauteed spinach described below it is hard to say no to this superfood vegetable.
Leafy green vegetables, especially spinach, contain more nutrients than virtually any other vegetable. A mere cup of wilted spinach contains only 41 calories and has exceptionally high levels of vitamins K and A. The vegetable also contains high percentages of the daily values of other vitamins and minerals, including Manganese, Folate, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin C.
Coconut Rice Pudding with Grand Marnier
With this old fashioned rice pudding recipe, we have an exquisite version of the all-time favorite dessert, rice pudding with Grand Marnier. Voila!
If eating fish as a main course on vegetarian Thanksgiving does not resonate with you, go for the veg compilation below with no hesitation because our veg recipes are to die for!
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu #2
Meatless Meatballs
Fulfilling lentil goodness penetrated with Sicilian notes. The symphony of rosemary, mushrooms, anchovies, olives and sweet red pepper the marriage planned in heaven!
A side of green beans in a creamy French sauce
To celebrate the autumn serve miso roasted butternut squash for an appetizer!
Easy to make, quick to disappear butternut squash and kale one pan miso roast. Miso paste is giving butternut squash very interesting flavor along with the kale that has chewy texture make this dish a beautiful light lunch or dinner on itself, otherwise a brilliant accompaniment to any meat dish before lent. There is no way to stay indifferent to this umami taste of sweet, salty, spicy and sour.
Try our good old chocolate cake for dessert
…because whatever the season we are in, a chocolate cake is a chocolate cake, am I right?
A Real Lenten Chocolate Cake is a fabulous chocolate sponge cake coated extra generously with avocado chocolate mousse, which we use as frosting to intensify a chocolate madness for ultimate satisfaction.
How about another version of the vegetarian Thanksgiving menu?
Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu #3
Legendary Mushroom Bourguignon
Scrumptious and elegant vegan mushroom bourguignon with dried prunes over creamy no-stir polenta is an exquisite alternative to the meat version of this famous French dish. Perfectly picked spices change the body of mushroom bourguignon beyond recognition. Prunes, smoked paprika, and smoked salt add the incredible smokiness to the mushroom sauce that tastes 99.9% like beef bourguignon sauce.
A side of No-Stir polenta
Here is an amazing no-stir polenta recipe using an Italian concept of al Forno, or oven-baked. Let’s put our oven to use while we sit back and let all the action happen hands-off! The stovetop cannot claim that!
Elegant fennel citrus salad
Think thin, transparent ribbons of fennel and celery covered with juicy pieces of orange, scattered with refreshing mint and drizzled with citrus vinaigrette. This salad complements any seafood, pasta dish or any eggplant recipes. It takes a couple of minutes to put it together and it is one of those easiest recipes to wow your crowd.
Sauteed kale on a side just because we love our greens!
The French sauce takes away the light bitter taste and gives the final dish delicate white wine aftertaste. Kale turns into just-right texture slightly chewy, generously juicy, and outrageously delicious!
Finish with Lenten Pie with Orange filling
This pie tastes like those yummy homemade pies that we buy occasionally in orchards and to be honest I’m surprised that we can reach this result with the lack of dairy products as dough components. Bitter orange zest flavor is balanced with a sour-sweet orange jam-like filing that is being achieved but simply adding two tablespoons of starch to the shredded orange.
Add an amazing apple cider mulled vine!
Homemade cider mulled wine made with its apple flavor profile, brightened with orange peel, and slightly tangy flavor of intriguing spices is one tasty treat that is going to go alongside each of your fall picnic outings from now on.
Cook these recipes and there will be no questions asked why meatless because our vegetarian Thanksgiving menu will keep your guests silently chewing with no need to get distracted by unnecessary “why only vegetables” questions.
After eating this incredible menu, you will become a pinch happier, I promise!
Bon Appétit!
