Nathalie Dupree’s Squash and Corn Pudding.
The turkey may get its photograph taken, but Thanksgiving sides are where I find myself making the hardest choices. There is only so much room on the plate, and somehow every serving dish seems to make a persuasive case.
For this collection, I have chosen three baked vegetable dishes from our Thanksgiving archive. They offer different flavors and textures: a rich potato and leek gratin, Ina Garten’s cauliflower gratin, and Nathalie Dupree’s squash and corn pudding. You certainly don’t need all three at one meal. Think of this as a way to choose the dish your menu is missing.
The Rich and Savory Choice
Sweet potatoes and Idaho potatoes share the baking dish with leeks, pancetta, cream and thyme. The result is unapologetically rich, so a small square goes a long way. This is the savory side I would choose when the table already has plenty of sweetness waiting at dessert.
Click here to read the full recipe on Chewing The Fat
The Cauliflower Choice
Cauliflower gets the Barefoot Contessa treatment in a gratin adapted from Barefoot in Paris. It is a comforting companion to roast turkey or ham and a useful alternative to another potato dish. The browned top gives it precisely the sort of invitation that makes people reach for the serving spoon.
Click here to read the full recipe on Chewing The Fat
A Southern Pudding
Summer squash or zucchini joins corn in this Southern pudding, with eggs, cream, bacon and Monterey Jack. It came into our Thanksgiving repertoire when I was planning a holiday meal in California. Frozen corn can stand in when the fresh season has ended; the original post explains the preparation.
Click here to read the full recipe on Chewing The Fat
Before settling on a side, consider the rest of the meal and the oven schedule. A gratin is a lovely addition, but it does need its place in the oven. If someone asks what to bring, send the recipe you actually want. My friend Betty once arrived at a Thanksgiving where twelve guests had brought sweet potato casseroles. A little coordination is its own holiday gift.
