Desi Thanksgiving Menu

How to cook a Thanksgiving meal with an Indian Inspired menu?

One of the biggest celebrations in the American calendar, where food plays a major role is the Thanksgiving dinner. It’s a US holiday that takes place on the fourth Thursday in November. This year, celebrate it with an awesome Indian inspired menu.

Desi Thanksgiving Menu
Thanksgiving Dinner with an Indian Inspired Menu

My First Thanksgiving Dinner

It’s been over a decade, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. All of us students from foreign countries were invited to the Thanksgiving dinner hosted by the University. It was a kind gesture by the administration to make us feel at home with the new land, culture, people & food. It was my first.

Just like every other new student, I was curious to learn what this much talked about Thanksgiving dinner was all about.The place was crowded with faculty, staff and students when we entered the venue.Greeting each other politely, we took our respective seats at the table.There was music, dance, laughter & cheer, all of which was fun and inviting.

It is difficult to recollect if someone served the food or we had to serve ourselves around the buffet table.One thing, I clearly remember though is the “pale looking something” on my plate.I leaned over to a friend who sat beside me and asked her what that was.She whispered ,”Mashed potato”.I looked at her puzzled.”Did they forget to add something? What do we eat it with?” Her stoic reply,”Just eat!” and I did.I was the “fresh off the boat Desi” then, she… was a year into it.

If you ever watched the show,”Everybody loves Raymond” I played Robert during our entire Thanksgiving dinner that evening. For those of you, who are not familiar with the American sitcom television series here is a clipping, of what I am talking about….

Food with no spices in it, was a totally new experience for me, having never tasted it before.I totally understand it would be vice-versa if the roles were reversed. One is more acquainted with what our taste buds are accustomed to.

A Thanksgiving meal with a twist

Touching all the bases of a traditional Thanksgiving meal, here is an Indian inspired menu, for those of us who love the Indian flavors.Being a part of the bigger celebration and giving thanks in our own way is what the feast is all about.So if you are looking for a refreshing change to shake things up a little and you also happen to love Indian food, here is a menu to suit your palate.

The Traditional Thanksgiving meal

traditional Thanksgiving dinner consists of roast turkey, turkey stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, corn, dinner rolls, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

My Indian Inspired Thanksgiving menu

In my Indian inspired Thanksgiving menu, I have tried to stick as close to the basic ingredients of a traditional Thanksgiving meal as possible, with a spicy touch to it .You will find that I have used potatoes, spinach, cranberries, carrots, bread, eggplant gravy, lamb and an Indian version of a pie in the menu. Instead of the traditional turkey, I have included chicken here (coz, for some unknown reason the size of the big bird makes me loose my appetite).

The appetizers

Desi Thanksgiving Menu
Thanksgiving Dinner with an Indian Inspired Menu

The Starters

Desi Thanksgiving Menu
Thanksgiving Dinner with an Indian Inspired Menu

Bread, Stuffed Bun & Curries

Desi Thanksgiving Menu
Thanksgiving Dinner with an Indian Inspired Menu

The Main Course

Desi Thanksgiving Menu
Thanksgiving Dinner with an Indian Inspired Menu

Dessert

Desi Thanksgiving Menu
Thanksgiving Dinner with an Indian Inspired Menu

Go on SPICE IT UP, babe !

Wow your guests, with the bold flavors of India and together “Give Thanks”!

NOTE : Please click on the menu item for the recipe link to open.

Links to my other posts on gratitude

Bottom Line

Hope you spice up your Thanksgiving meal this year with a Desi/Indian touch.There are so many choices for you to choose from our tried and tested recipes. We guarantee, you will be grateful for the menu, once you are done with our delightful spread!

We would love to get your feedback on the recipes you tried. Please feel free to share in the comments section below.

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Cindy Moore
Cindy Moore
2 years ago

Yum it all looks so amazing! I love Indian food. One of my 63 things for my 63rd birthday is to cook an Indian dish at home. I’ve vegan but I know there are lots of recipes to try. Any suggestions for a first time recipe?

Melissa Jones
2 years ago

What a neat idea!! Very festival!

Alice
2 years ago

It all sounds wonderful to me.

Danielle Ardizzone
2 years ago

I love this menu! Carrot soup is a great idea!

Marianne
Marianne
2 years ago

Your back story made me laugh! The meal sounds wonderful!

Sandi Barrett
Sandi Barrett
2 years ago

Your recipes always look so inviting. What a great twist on Thanksgiving.

Lisa Manderino
Lisa Manderino
2 years ago

That is funny! I agree Thanksgiving food is kind of bland. I like that you make it your own. Thanksgiving is more about being grateful anyway and making memories with family.

Suzan
Suzan
2 years ago

What a lovely menu!

Alyssa
2 years ago

Sounds like a unique and delicious Indian inspired menu!

Chelsea
Chelsea
2 years ago

Wow! These look so yummy! We aren’t making the traditional Thanksgiving food this year and are opting for some new dishes instead!

Barbara
2 years ago

Sounds spicy and yummy!

Tiffany
Tiffany
2 years ago

I love trying new things and am excited to incorporate some of these recipes in a few weeks!

Debbie
2 years ago

I would love to try some of these dishes. It’s always interesting to learn what others live to cook.

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

Love this. I think I will spice up my Thanksgiving. We are use to adding non-traditional dishes to our Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing.

Elaina
Elaina
2 years ago

Delicious options, everything looks so good!

Sydney Delong-Eat Simply Sweet

Looks delicious! I would love to add some of these dishes to my Thanksgiving meal!

Holly
2 years ago

Sounds like an amazing way to add new flavors and spices to enhance the traditional foods that other might do.. eggplant sounds amazing!

Megan
2 years ago

I totally want to come to YOUR house for Thanksgiving. This all looks and sounds so good!

Kathleen
2 years ago

It all looks so good! The spinach fritters and banana flatbread sound very tasty! thank you for sharing

Karen
Karen
3 years ago

Some wonderful dishes and thoughts Maya, thank you!

Maya Shetty
3 years ago
Reply to  Karen

Thank you, Karen, for stopping by my blog & sharing your kind words & thoughts, much appreciated my friend. wishing you a wonderful week ahead !