Indian Inspired Vegetarian Thanksgiving Menu

    If you are looking for an Indian inspired Thanksgiving menu to serve your guests, I have got you covered with these Indian vegetarian recipes. I got introduced to Thanksgiving only after I moved to the US. My favorite thing about this holiday has to be the food, and I love incorporating Indian flavors to almost everything I make.

    While many traditional sides on Thanksgiving like mashed potatoes, roasted carrots etc. are vegetarian, in this menu you will find some flavorful mains like the vegetable paneer lasagna or the roasted whole cauliflower tikka. The sides include apple chutney and tikka masala mac and cheese (look for mac and cheese recipe on my Instagram page, the whole recipe for this is shared in the captions with the video there).

    Putting an Indian spin on desserts is something I absolutely love and the masala chai cheesecake and gulab jamun tiramisu are the best example of when Indian flavors meet western desserts. All those wonderful spices in the masala chai cheesecake make it the perfect Thanksgiving dessert.

    Drinks

    Cranberry Maple Rosemary Mocktail
    This festive mocktail is flavored with cranberry juice, maple syrup, fresh rosemary and can be enjoyed by everyone! The pretty colors make it perfect for the holidays!
    Check out this recipe
    red color drink in a glass topped with fresh cranberries and rosemary

    Salad

    Butternut Squash & Pear Salad
    Roasted butternut squash is tossed with pears, walnuts, dried cranberries and drizzled with a creamy dressing made with tahini, maple syrup and olive oil. The pomegranates on top add to the festive touch! 
    Check out this recipe
    butternut squash salad with pears, goat cheese, pomegranate arranged on a plate

    Appetizers

    Masala Smashed Potatoes
    Easy Masala Smashed Potatoes! These smashed potatoes are flavored with Indian spices and make a great appetizer for the holidays or just about any party! They are also vegan.
    Check out this recipe
    masala smashed potatoes served on a circular cheese board with lime wedges placed on the side. There's also a white color dip in a bowl in the background
    Tandoori Mushrooms
    These Tandoori Mushrooms have a cheesy and spicy filling and are baked to golden perfection in the oven. They are then cooked over direct heat until a little charred for that smoky flavor! Makes a great vegetarian appetizer for just about any occasion.
    Check out this recipe
    tandoori mushrooms arranged on skewer served with cilantro chutney
    Whipped Paneer Dip with Spicy Honey
    Creamy Whipped Paneer Dip with Spicy Honey makes the perfect crown-pleasing appetizer for the holidays! Serve it with naan, pita chips or toasted baguette!
    Check out this recipe
    whipped paneer dip served in a antique bowl topped with honey and chopped mint

    Sides

    Butternut Squash Bharta
    Butternut Squash mash with Indian spices! This easy side dish is wonderfully spiced, vegan, gluten-free and goes well with any bread or rice!
    Check out this recipe
    mashed butternut squash in a bowl with some flatbreads placed in the background
    Apple Chutney
    Sweet, spicy and little tangy this Apple Chutney is versatile and good on so many things! It's easy to make in the Instant Pot and is also vegan.
    Check out this recipe
    apple chutney in a glass jar with crackers placed on the side and some spices in the background

    Mains

    Roasted Whole Cauliflower Tikka
    Roasted Cauliflower Tikka served with a creamy tomato sauce will make a great vegetarian centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!
    Check out this recipe
    cauliflower tikka
    Vegetable & Paneer Lasagna
    Indian styles Lasagna combines vegetables, paneer and spiced tomato sauce in a super flavorful vegetarian lasagna.
    Check out this recipe
    paneer lasagna in an orange color baking dish with a spatula scooping out a portion from the lasagna

    Dessert

    Masala Chai Cheesecake
    Eggless, smooth and creamy Masala Chai Cheesecake is flavored with warm spices like cardamom, cinnamon and real tea. Makes a great make-ahead dessert for just about any occasion!
    Check out this recipe
    slice of masala chai cheesecake garnished with rose petals and served on a blue plate
    Gulab Jamun Tiramisu
    Layers of rose flavored mascarpone cheese topped with coffee soaked gulab jamun, dusted with cocoa powder and garnished with edible gold leaves and pistachios, this Gulab Jamun Tiramisu makes a delightful festive dessert!
    Check out this recipe
    gulab jamun fusion dessert arranged in martini glasses with diyas in the background

    Prep in Advance

    Thanksgiving feast is usually big and you can prep in advance to make your life a little easier. Most of these dishes in this menu can be made in full or prepped for in advance.

    • The maple rosemary syrup can be make 2 to 3 days in advance for the maple rosemary mocktail.
    • For the mushroom tikka, prepare the stuffing for the mushrooms 1 day in advance. After stuffing the mushrooms and marinating them, you can keep them in the refrigerator for up to 36 hours.
    • The apple chutney lasts for a good week in the fridge.
    • The entire lasagna can be assembled a day in advance and baked on the day of serving.
    • Both the cheesecake and the tiramisu can be made 48 hours in advance. The cheesecake in fact needs to be made a day in advance so that it gets time to set.

    Hope you find something that you love from this menu and try for your Thanksgiving dinner!

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