3 International Dishes That Belong on the Thanksgiving Table

Happy almost Turkey Day! Even if turkey isn't your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving, most would agree that a turkey is a mandatory staple on the Thanksgiving table. Traditional sides – stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes – are all standard as well. However, maybe this year you were asked to bring an appetizer or a dessert, or you’re hosting dinner but you want to switch it up a bit. Since America is a melting pot of people from all different cultures, it seems fitting that we include a few dishes from other countries on our national day of thanks. Try out these international dishes for a change that could very well become a new tradition!

Spanish Appetizer – Antipasto Platter 

A Spanish tapas-style platter will be a crowd-pleasing start off your Thanksgiving feast. Spanish meats like chorizo or sobrassada perfectly pair with manchego and mahon cheeses. Include marinated olives and artichoke hearts, thinly sliced smoked salmon or sweet melon wrapped in Serrano ham – there are so many possibilities! Try this recipe from Mezzetta.

 Italian Side dish – Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage

Gnocchi (pronounced nyawk-kee) is a classic Italian dumpling made with everything from potatoes, to bread crumbs to ricotta. Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple no matter what form they come in and the addition of fresh ricotta cheese in this recipe makes these little dumplings a light and tasty side.

Greek Dessert – Baklava

Baklava is a Mediterranean favorite and it deserves a spot on your Thanksgiving dessert table. It’s sweet but not overpowering; it’s made with layers of phyllo dough soaked in butter, chopped nuts and spices then drenched in sticky sweet syrup. Allrecipes.com offers a recipe that’s rated 4.8 stars with over 1,500 reviews – get it here.

Happy Thanksgiving from Passports!