Most people have a go-to dish for Thanksgiving... It's called "Turkey Day" for a reason. However, finding unique appetizers, sides, and desserts are a tad more challenging. Well, we're solving the problem with this Ultimate Guide for Thanksgiving Appetizers, Sides, and Desserts. Look no further for easy-to-make dish ideas that your family will love.
In this Food for Thought blog post:
- Smoked Prosciutto-Wrapped Brie
- Buffalo Cauliflower
- Croissant S'mores
- Cucumber Peach Salad
- Sweet Potatoes
If you're looking for the main course, check out Thanksgiving Reverse-Seared Pork Loin Recipe with Orange Cranberry Sauce by clicking here, or scroll to the bottom to see our original Thanksgiving recipes from previous years.
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Smoked Prosciutto-Wrapped Brie Recipe
Ingredients for Smoked Prosciutto-Wrapped Brie:
- 1 Wheel of Brie
- ¼ Cup House of Q Slow Smoke Gold
- Prairie Smoke and Spice Tumbleweed: All Purpose Rub
- 6 Slices Prosciutto
Directions for Smoked Prosciutto-Wrapped Brie:
STEP 1: Preheat your smoker to 275°F (135°C). As always, we're using the Yoder Smoker YS640S Competition Cart.
STEP 2: Slather the House of Q Slow Smoke Gold all over the brie wheel so that it's fully covered.
STEP 3: Next, do the same with the Prairie Smoke and Spice Tumbleweed: All Purpose Rub . Again, make sure it's fully covered.
STEP 4: Layout the prosciutto in a "X" or "bike spokes" formation (depending on how large your slices are) and place the brie in the middle. Then, fold the prosciutto up the brie so that the wheel is fully covered.
STEP 5: If needed, use Butcher Twine around the brie wheel to hold prosciutto in place.
STEP 6: Smoke between 45 minutes to 60 minutes.
STEP 7: Next, pull it off the grill and let it rest for 3 minutes to 5 minutes.
STEP 8: Serve with your choice of fancy crackers.
Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Recipe
Ingredients for Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower:
- 1 or 2 Full Heads of Cauliflower
- Oil (Canola, Vegetable, Olive or Avocado)
- KB Barbecue High Tide Seasoning
- Kosmos Q Wing Dust Garlic Parmesan
- 2 Tbsp Garlic Powder
- Blues Hog Wild Wing Sauce
Directions for Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower:
STEP 1: Preheat your grill or oven to medium heat (300°F to 325°F)
STEP 2: Wash/rinse your fresh cauliflower heads thoroughly.
STEP 3: Chop one head of cauliflower into bite-sized pieces about 2 inches in diameter.
STEP 4: Rinse your cauliflower again to make sure it's extra clean.
STEP 5: Next, lightly toss the cauliflower in just enough oil to cover the vegetables.
STEP 6: Add in KB Barbecue High Tide Seasoning and then Kosmo's Q Wing Dust Garlic Parmesan
STEP 7: Put cauliflower in a BBQ-safe grill topper tray/pan. Cook it over charcoal for the best taste, but a gas grill or oven works too.
STEP 8: Stir regularly and watch for cauliflower to start to brown or char.
STEP 9: Cook to desired doneness. Do you like it crunchy, al dente, or soft? Be sure to keep a close eye on the cauliflower once it starts to brown because it can quickly go from a beautiful char to burnt. You've been warned.
STEP 10: Once it's done, remove the grill topper from heat and place the roasted cauliflower in a large bowl.
STEP 11: Last but not least, toss the cauliflower in your preferred amount of Blues Hog Wild Wing Sauce and serve it up to your favourite friends and family.
Cucumber Salad Recipe
Ingredients for Cucumber Salad:
- 2 Tbsps. Seasoned Rice Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. Fresh Lime Juice
- 1 Medium Shallot (thinly sliced)
- 1 Cucumber (thinly sliced)
- 1 Medium-Sized Avocado (cubed)
- 2 Tbsps. Basil Leaves (thinly sliced)
- 1 Tbsp. Mint Leaves (finely chopped)
- 1 tsp. Lemon Pepper
- 3 Tbsps. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt to Taste
Directions for Cucumber Salad:
STEP 1: In a small bowl, combine rice vinegar, lime juice, and chopped shallots. Lightly toss the mix, then let the shallots sit/soak for at least 10 minutes.
STEP 2: In a separate large bowl, combine cucumber, avocado, basil, and mint. Then, add your shallot mixture you just made. Next, add lemon pepper, extra-virgin olive oil, and a few pinches of salt. Toss the whole mixture until it's well combined.
STEP 3: Taste and season with a pinch more salt, if needed.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients for Mashed Sweet Potatoes:
- 4 Medium Sweet Potatoes (peeled and cubed)
- ¾ Cup Warm 2% Milk
- ½ Cup Butter (softened and cubed)
- ¾ Cup Maple Syrup (or to taste)
Directions for Mashed Sweet Potatoes:
STEP 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your sweet potatoes. and lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer until tender. This should take about 20 to 30 minutes.
STEP 2: Drain and transfer to a bowl.
STEP 3: Mash your sweet potatoes with a potato masher. Slowly mix in 1/2 cup of warm milk at a time until your desired consistency is reached.
STEP 4: Stir in butter and maple syrup until well blended and butter is melted.
STEP 5: Serve warm.
Bonus Step: Our recipe creator decided to add the mashed sweet potatoes to a casserole dish, and topped it with marshmallows and then baked it in a smoker at 375°F until marshmallows were bubbly. Feel free to try this yourself if you're feeling adventurous.
Grilled Croissant S'mores Recipe
Ingredients for Grilled Croissant S'mores:
- 6 Croissants
- 1 Bag of Marshmallows
- 2 Chocolate Bars
Directions for Grilled Croissant S'mores:
STEP 1: Preheat the grill to a medium-high temperature (350°F to 375°F).
STEP 2: Slice croissants length-wise but do not cut it all the way through.
STEP 3: Place the croissant on a parchment paper- or aluminum foil-lined baking sheet.
STEP 4: Assemble the smores by layering in marshmallows and chocolate squares.
STEP 5: Place the croissant sandwiches on the grill and grill until marshmallows have grown and started to get golden brown, and chocolate begins to melt.
STEP 6: Remove the s'mores from the grill and serve warm while they're still gooey.
Want more Thanksgiving ideas? Here are some recommendations to see:
- Thanksgiving Dinner - Barbecue Turkey Roast Recipe
- 11 Best Accessories for Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner
- The Perfect Holiday Turkey Recipe
- The Best Thermometers for Cooking Turkey
- 7 Fall Flavour Eats and Treats - Recipes and Know How
- 8 Best Turkey Hacks for Thanksgiving Dinner
Recipe written by barbecue enthusiast Andrew Plaza. Follow him on Instagram for more barbecue goodness by clicking here.
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