No Turkey For Me!
I do not eat turkey. I do not like turkey or any turkey products. Never have. So each year at Thanksgiving, I make something different. I am in a funk this year and I know it is only October, but I would love some suggestions for a main meat course. Ideally it would be something I can cook/roast on my grill, and I would love some ideas for a sauce to go with it. Oh, and no ham. We only eat ham at Christmas and Easter. You guys have all the answers!
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43 Comments:
What about a roasted lamb? I know of a number of Greek families that have that for various holidays, including Thanksgiving, and it would work great, either on the grill or roasted in the oven. Plus, it pairs well with so many different side dishes that you could easily make it go with traditional American Thanksgiving sides, or Mediterraneean ones, or both!
Traveller at 1:48PM on 10/02/08
you can stuff a pork loin. if you like cranberrys & stuffing that would probaby work well to keep with the thanksgiving theme. personally i don't like cranberrys at thanksgiving but there so many yummy options you could come up with. we always have baked ziti to compliment the turkey.
what have you made in years past?
jaf at 1:51PM on 10/02/08
I was thinking pork loin, too. Maybe some cranberry chutney, a little stuffing...mm...I hate turkey, too!
embolini9 at 2:01PM on 10/02/08
I love lamb, pork, ham, beef tenderloin or filet mignon, but if you're not serving me turkey on Thanksgiving, then I want lobster - rich, tender and succulent with hot drawn butter, with a side of king crab, shrimp, steamed clams.....you get my drift. Filet mignon for a side dish would be nice, as long as there is also some pumpkin pie for dessert.
Seriously, I want turkey and all the fixin's. You come to my house and bring some extra cold water lobsters in the several pounds each range, k? You can grill them, while I check the bird in the oven. We'd love your company and your crustaceans!
PerkyMac at 2:07PM on 10/02/08
I have made prime rib, pork chops (big thick ones marinated and grilled), NY strip steaks, salmon. For years these have been in a rotation. Stuffed pork loin sounds appealing. Any recipes? I love lamb, but have only had rack of lamb.
@embo ~ Seriously, up until now, I believed I was the only person on earth who hated turkey.
izatryt at 2:12PM on 10/02/08
I am salivating right now thinking about a whole salmon on a cedar plank. You could easily do this on the grill outdoors. Fragrant and delicious, along with grilled veg like red onions, and maybe leafy greens (like mustard) mixed with olive oil and garlic and pinch of peperoncini and salt cooked along side in an aluminum foil pouch. What about a lemony aioli to go with? Mmmm!
Pointy at 2:16PM on 10/02/08
I was thinking pork loin at first, too. But that salmon on a cedar plank sounds good- and didn't that originate with Native Americans? It's possible that it could have been at the first Thanksgiving.
Kerosena at 2:21PM on 10/02/08
Hey Perkster! I will just have to run up to Maine and load up the cooler. ROAD TRIP!!!!!
izatryt at 2:25PM on 10/02/08
Hey rytasrain - pick me up first!
@Kerosena ~ I was there at that first one and we ate lobster with the salmon on the cedar plank. And I think the turkey was a Butterball. ;-D
PerkyMac at 2:55PM on 10/02/08
I ageelobster always sounds like a good idea. Maybe try grilled sea scallops or cedar plank salmon witha cranberry glaze, sweet potato mash, grilled corn, and quinoa pilaf. I love turkey but I say make whatever you love to eat. Thanksgiving is a celebration and you should enjoy your meal.
KtMc24 at 3:47PM on 10/02/08
Dang, Izzy, sounds like Surf & Turf is on the menu at your house! Can you rotisserie a rib roast on your grill? Add some of those Maine lobsters and an extra chair for wookie--if they are super fresh, I won't need my epi-pen!
wookie at 4:12PM on 10/02/08
How about duck with a cranberry orange sauce maybe with a little rum. That is what I would have if given the choice, but the extended family must have the traditional turkey or the world stops spinning for them. I do insist on making some interesting side dishes that change every year as they bring green bean casserole (with canned green beans--yeach) and sweet potato casserole (with canned sweet potatoes--double yeach) I put the brakes on Stove Top stuffing a couple of years ago to make it homemade and always make a fab dessert. We have loads of leftovers, but everyone gets what they want.
finsbigfan at 4:19PM on 10/02/08
@wookie & izatwrong
You want I should bring a box of jello to our grilled T-Day celebration?
PerkyMac at 4:20PM on 10/02/08
Try this:
Appetizer: Eggplant fritters with Aribbiata sauce for dipping.
Main course: A delicious, warm and bubbly Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna, layered with pesto sauce (made with basil, a little sage, good Parmeggiano, and lots of walnuts), a creamy Bechamel, and some oozy Mozzerella.
Side dishes: Sauteed greens with lots of garlic, red pepper flakes, and olive oil. Roasted baby carrots.
Dessert: Homemade Pies with Ice Cream or a Fruit and Cheese Platter.
This is a meal so delicious, you'll never miss the meat!
Brownie at 4:31PM on 10/02/08
Any other poultry would make it sort of traditional, but you might want to go with something that's not as everyday as a regular frying chicken. So maybe a capon? Or duck, even. Or, to get away from the birds completely, you could do a rib roast or beef tenderloin.
dbcurrie at 4:45PM on 10/02/08
Yo Perkalater ~ Did you know that Jello is the state dessert in Utah? Yep it is true. I lived there and that is what I leanrt.
Duck! Delightful idea!!!! Thank goodness for you guys.
Brownie ~ What a wonderful menu! How about a recipe for the eggplant fritters?
Wookie ~ Can't get any fresher than Lobsters alive and kicking doing a swan dive into a big pot of boiling water. ;-D
izatryt at 4:46PM on 10/02/08
@wookie ~ I meant to tell you, I just throw the rib roast right on the grill and roast it over indirect heat. I put wood chips in the smoker right at the start.
izatryt at 4:52PM on 10/02/08
@Izzy--I'm there! & Perkster--only if it's blue jello bc it looks so natural...
wookie at 4:57PM on 10/02/08
@izatryt -- Because the Main course is so cheesy, I would skip the Smoked Mozz in these. I've done it before and they are still absolutely delicious. That having been said, though, the Smoked Mozz elevates them to a whole different level. Dipped in a nice, spicy Aribbiata sauce, they are outstanding. I have never served them when they didn't disappear quickly, leaving nothing but a bunch of requests for the recipe!
Crispy Eggplant Fritters with Smoked Mozzarella
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/CRISPY-EGGPLANT-FRITTERS-WITH-SMOKED-MOZZARELLA-239053
Enjoy them... They are yummy!
Brownie at 4:57PM on 10/02/08
@Brownie ~ I may be jumping a holiday here, but those recipes sound fantastic and I'm thinking Christmas Eve, although Thanksgiving Eve would work too. My family would disown me if we didn't have turkey on T-day.
Y'all sure do have some fabulous ideas. Making me hungry!
@wookie ~ blue, eh? I'll look for a blue box, but I don't cook or eat that stuff, I just bring the box if they want I should.
PerkyMac at 5:32PM on 10/02/08
Thanks Brownie. I copied it into my recipe program.
izatryt at 6:03PM on 10/02/08
I always hated turkey even before I became a vegetarian. I thought lots of people hated turkey--the meat is so dry and the gravy is so bland. Yeah, I know good cooks can transform it, but still, why people love turkey so much has always been beyond me and lots of carnivores I know, too. To me, Thanksgiving as traditionally done, is 'all about' the corn bread, stuffing, and baked potatoes and the pie!
For what it's worth, I've heard that fish was probably served at the first Thanksgiving. Grilling fish like salmon with green beans and sweet potatoes would not only be popular, probably, but super-healthy, almost the 'perfect' healthy meal--maybe too healthy for Thanksgiving!
Why not do a tailgating Thanksgiving, and not have a 'main' if you like to grill so much, that would still be very 'fall.'
HeartofGlass at 8:53PM on 10/02/08
Let me preface by admitting that I have NOT read all the replies to your post... that said... I've only acquired a taste for turkey in the past 10 years, and that's only because I actually know how to cook it properly (not bragging, just a fact that I always hated it because it was hatefully prepared).
Even so, I still do something "untraditional" every few years, just to keep out the boredom. My suggestions, at risk of being redundant:
Venison (or other game)
Fruit Stuffed Spiral Pork Loin
Duck or Goose or Pheasant (or some other fowl you actually like)
Cornish Game Hens (substitute for game-type fowl above)
Fish -- this one in particular always goes over big when I do it, and it's well suited to grilling. I highly recommend it! Try for something you can do whole for a big "wow" presentation (e.g., salmon, etc.)
Note that these "untraditional" meats are actually the foods that were most likely eaten at the original Thanksgiving.
Good luck!
LoCo at 1:13AM on 10/03/08
You know thanksgiving is about celebrating the giving thanks for whatever it is you have with whomever you care to. Although turkey is the stereotypical main course there is no reason why you cannot roast a chicken, make a lasagne or any ethnic food that you like.
In my home we are again preparing for a good crowd of family and friends and I put my best game on for turkey day. We cook together and we make something for everyone.
If I was not making a turkey I would make a nice porchetta
http://www.allrecipes.com/Recipe/Porchetta-Italiana/Detail.aspx
with garlic and herbs and butterfly it up, stuff it roll it and tie it. I would make a nice lasagne and a few small sides. Do it in courses and finish with some pies and a nice pastry of some sort.
Most important thing is for us to get you out of the funk and into the spirit.
Food is love baby. Give us some time to inspire you.
JerzeeTomato at 1:29AM on 10/03/08
A big boned leg of lamb, marinated, garlicked and grilled to perfection, would be a perfect way to thumb your nose at tradition! Bonus - it's irregular shape ensures that lovers of all degrees of doneness are happily served.
therealchiffonade at 11:38AM on 10/03/08
Looks like all the good ideas were taken...I was going to say fish or chicken or pork chops/tenderloin. Was thinking maybe a Pig Roast for you-but you said no ham...The Seafood Bonanza sounds awesome-I want an invite if that is to occur. :)
Maybe a themed dinner? Perhaps Thai or Chinese. There's also Italian style-make all types of pasta dishes and sauces...
How about different stir fry's (spl?)...Shark, steak, shrimp, etc
Butrflygirly at 12:02PM on 10/03/08
when i was in college my friend and i both had jobs that kept us from getting home for the holidays, so we would hang out together and celebrate other holidays instead. for instance, at thanksgiving we would do fourth of july food and grill burgers, etc. then at xmas we would celebrate cinco de mayo and eat tacos, etc. it always amused us and kept our minds off being alone and turkeyless.
my suggestion is to make frogs legs.
gastronomeg at 12:04PM on 10/03/08
Stuffed pumpkin looks impressive!
KarynMC at 12:11PM on 10/03/08
Roast a lovely goose or duck. They are rich, decadent and tasty.
tatianak at 2:49PM on 10/03/08
I'll throw in a vote for duck. My mom used to get us Peiking Duck on Thanksgiving (she's Chinese, it sort of makes sense), so it seems Thanksgiving-y to me.
masha339 at 2:51PM on 10/03/08
In lieu of turkey, my vote goes to the Leg of Lamb. The duck sounds great. Anyone who has a large outdoor turkey fryer can deep fry the whole duck the same way to get the "crispy" duck. All of your ideas sound fabulous. I believe the only reason people get stuck on baking the big turkey for Thanksgiving is for the leftovers.
dianeb at 4:12PM on 10/03/08
I think prime rib sounds good. I've never grilled one, but I have roasted one in the oven for a holiday meal and everyone loved it!
barbara_flay at 5:22PM on 10/03/08
Another vote for the duck. While the whole bird is impressive, you could alsomake seared duck breast and and an elegant and delicious braise of duck legs with prunes and calvados. Or a roasted goose stuffed with apples or sauerkraut, although this sounds more Christmas-y. And you can always keep the lobsters to please Perky:-).
brooke29 at 6:28PM on 10/03/08
I'm going to repeat venison. I always hated my mom's turkey, so when my now-fiance, whose family hunts and eats a lot of game, spent Thanksgiving with us for the first time, she did venison special for us. It was really good, and went especially well with this red wine cranberry sauce that I make every year. I'll probably put the recipe on my blog next time I grab a bag of cranberries at the store: http://runwithknives.blogspot.com
Be sure you roast it pretty rare, though.
RunnerChef at 7:01PM on 10/03/08
Hell I love turkey but for some reason I get never eat anything but the side dishes on holidays. I dive in to the stuffing and gravy mainly (I even make my own reserve stuffing), plus all the other dish of yums. But if you really must have a meat dish, just have what you feel like having at the time.
pjracz10 at 1:56AM on 10/04/08
I eat turkey once a year at Thanksgiving. I can only deal with it smothered in gravy so the gravy being great is important.
AnnNY at 9:58AM on 10/04/08
Why not 'beer can chicken'? Your still having "bird", and you can still stuff them.
Prime Rib cooked on the grill would be yummy as well.
Raiders757 at 2:22PM on 10/04/08
I'm with the game/venison idea or a seafood themed meal - lobster with oyster dressing.
My family would label me a heretic for changing out turkey for either of the above, but boy, after reading the above ideas, I am tempted to risk it!
moibec at 3:20PM on 10/04/08
Ooh, you could have an "offal Thanksgiving." Nothin' but guts. I know in Peru they grill thin slices of beef heart; it's super delicious. If, like you say, you're down with roasting on the grill, a lot of offal dishes could be a delicious alternative.
BangieB at 6:02PM on 10/04/08
I'd vote for tenderloin -- pork or beef.
IndyGal at 9:43AM on 10/05/08
I'm going to answer this from a vegetarian point of view, as there are clearly tons of meat substitutes. :) You can eat Tofurkey (which you can buy at Whole Foods) which is decent if you want to feel like you are eating turkey like everyone else, or you can skip the meat part of the meal all together. There are plenty of other delicious things to eat at Thanksgiving and if you skip the turkey, you can still enjoy all the rest...
yummydietfood at 3:40PM on 10/05/08
@Bangie ~ That would be stretch for the people I will be feeding! ;-0
izatryt at 9:04PM on 10/05/08
My husband's family made Chilean Sea Bass one year. It was tasty!
I remember one episode of "Deadliest Catch" where one of the crew members held up a crab and said, "Imagine this on your Thanksgiving table!" Can you picture a whole Alaskan king crab for Thanksgiving? How awesome would that be!
IbisFlight at 1:03AM on 10/06/08