Our Favorite Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dish

Source: Laura Gaines

Question: I will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving turkey, but would like to accommodate vegetarians as well. Any ideas?

Answer: Accommodate your guests by making as many of your side dishes vegetarian as possible, including the stuffing, which can be made with vegetable stock instead of turkey stock. Many of us feel that the tastiest parts of the Thanksgiving meal are the side dishes anyway. You might consider adding a couple extra tablespoons of butter for extra richness—it is a special occasion after all.

We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Tofurky, the popular vegetarian alternative to a traditional turkey. And what is very exciting, is that it is now made with certified organic soybeans!

Finally, check out one of our favorite vegetarian dishes, below:

Balsamic Roasted Vegetables with Chickpeas
Serves 8–10

1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch dice
1 large onion cut into thick rings
10 whole cloves of garlic
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 red peppers, sliced into thick rings
4 Tbs. melted butter
6 Tbs. olive oil
5 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
3–4 Tbs. finely chopped fresh rosemary
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 Tbs. organic sugar
2–3 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt
1 28-oz. can of cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Toss together all ingredients other than the chickpeas in a large bowl and pour mixture into a large roasting pan or casserole dish. Roast for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven, stir in the chickpeas, and adjust seasoning to taste. Roast until everything is tender, about 20 minutes more. Enjoy!